Free tickets to ride and party celebrations will mark a new era of public transport in Bradford.

The city will follow Leeds - which has two schemes - Essen in Germany and Adelaide, Australia, with buses running on special tracks down the middle of Manchester Road traffic.

It's been a nightmare year during construction for motorists who have had to put up with long delays.

But Andy Campbell, managing director of Bradford's First bus company, believes from day one on Thursday things will be better.

He predicted the speed and efficiency of the £12m guided bus scheme would persuade drivers to leave their cars behind.

The new lanes, he is convinced, are the best way to ensure buses have a clear passage through traffic.

He said: "We hope drivers who have lived through the construction period over the last 12 months will see the benefits.

"The other guided bus schemes have been very successful."

My exclusive first journey on the new system was a far cry from those all-too-familiar scenes of a snarled up Manchester Road.

Drivers say they have suffered sheer hell during the construction of Britain's fourth guided bus lane.

But gone were the queues as I whizzed right down the middle of the main road on this revolutionary journey.

I had been given the opportunity to 'test-drive' scheme before its grand opening on Wednesday.

Two days before my journey there had been more chaos as the final white lines were painted.

Now, on a wet and windy morning, the traffic either side of me was running smoothly although, admittedly, it wasn't peak time.

The zany bus shelters on their own little platforms were ready but boarded up until Transport Minister John Spellar opened the scheme today.

It might be easy to miss the bus going past listening to music on a seat warmed up by a wind turbine. But it will only be three minutes before another turns up.

Two years ago when the scheme was first announced the thought of waiting for a bus in the middle of Manchester Road seemed horrifying to many people.

In fact it's easy, with 11 new pelican crossings ending the need to use dingy and dangerous sub ways.

The only problem will be if the many stops and starts lead to traffic jams - but no-one will really know until the passengers arrive.

My bus passed from the normal roads into the special tracks smoothly and seemed to be faster, although driver David Sutcliffe insisted it wasn't the case.

We got priority at traffic lights because a special loop in the tracks recognised the presence of the bus and the sequence was electronically changed.

Only the mini buses in the First company fleet will be excluded from the guided bus scheme.

Single and double deckers have been fitted with special guided wheels which activate automatically as the vehicle goes into a guided stretch.

The company's 400 drivers have all been trained to use the system and haven't found it difficult.

Mr Sutcliffe, head of the company's training school, said: "There is a slight difference because you ease off the steering wheel and you have to let go through crossing gaps. It's better because you don't need to worry about cars on the bus routes. I think there are benefits all round for all road users."

Mr Campbell said good public transport schemes were critical to Bradford's future because of the predicted increase in traffic volumes.

A bus was set to be driven through a banner when the scheme was launched today by Transport Minister John Spellar.

Its opening coincides with another major public transport anniversary when the first electric trams were introduced in Manchester Road.

Bradford city footballers Andy Tod and Claus Jorgensen were set to join the celebrations in Centenary Square handing out balloons, prize draw tickets and free open day passes.

The passes can be used on Wednesday on a guided bus which will leave Channing Way outside City Hall every half hour from 11am to 3pm.

There will be music and street artists and an exhibition marquee with information.

But on Thursday services will begin to run normally and passengers will have to pay fares.

The guided buses will eventually link into a park and ride scheme at the redeveloped Odsal staium, using a tunnel under Rooley Lane.

Chairman of West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority Councillor Mick Lyons said: "By improving reliability, reducing journey times through inventive public transport systems, we are making a positive contribution to the economy as a whole."