The Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum is pleased to present RYDABUS 2018: a vintage Bus Running weekend offering transport enthusiasts and members of the public alike the opportunity to re-live Ryde area bus operations from years past.

Saturday 19th May 2018
11:00 – 17:00

Sunday 20th May 2018
10:00 – 17:30

Ryde has, for many years, been known as the gateway to the Island, being the main port for ferry services from Portsmouth and Southsea as far back as the early 19th century. Ryde Pier Gates, Ryde Esplanade and, since 1974, Ryde Bus Station, have been major terminus points for motor omnibus services since they started operating on the Island in the early 20th century.

From 1929, the main bus operator on the Isle of Wight has been The Southern Vectis Omnibus Company, whose name combines the initial interests of the Southern Railway and the Roman name for the Island. However, Ryde was also the last stronghold of a long lived stage carriage route between Ryde and Seaview operated by local independent, Seaview Services.

Our event’s RYDABUS title derives from the late 1970’s when the National Bus Company undertook its Market Analysis Project.

Southern Vectis was not actively involved in the full scheme, however it did re-brand loss making town services in a similar manner, introducing local identities such as RYDABUS, which name was applied to buses, bus stops, timetables and publicity throughout the Ryde area.

RYDABUS 2018 offers a network of free bus services replicating routes that ran in and around Ryde in the mid-1970s, before MAP.

These services will be operated by preserved buses and coaches from the Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum collection as well as by privately owned vehicles from the Island and mainland, many of which are typical of the types used on the Island over the years.