Safe Rider, the transport scheme used by 153 local women last year, begins again in September after its summer break.

Thanks to £20,000 a year from Keighley Area Panel and £13,800 from Keighley Single Regeneration Budget, the company is now able to use two mini buses provided by Keighley Community Transport. Both need to be pre-booked at least two days in advance and both are accessible to wheelchair users.

The service was introduced by Bradford Council in 1991 following a Safer Cities campaign which recommended the creation of safe transport schemes exclusively for women.

Safe Rider is now run by a management committee of eight volunteer directors and tickets are on sale at the information centre at Keighley town hall and at Silsden library. In order to use the service women must become company members. In the 1997-98 year passengers travelled 15,724 miles in safety compared with 10,904 miles the previous year. Passenger numbers rose gradually throughout the year, peaking in February. The service is popular with non-drivers who are able to travel door-to-door to make hospital visits, attend evening classes and enjoy social events. Some users say that without Safe Rider they would be unable to go out at night. Many depend upon the service almost entirely for their personal safety when travelling after dark.

Any woman or girl over 13 can use the mini-buses and children of either sex under 13 travel free if accompanied. Call (01535) 611800 for details.

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