Buses in Bristol

Buses are the main form of public transport in Bristol, England. Most bus services are operated by First Bristol within the city, and First Somerset & Avon from the city to surrounding areas. Wessex Bus has a growing number of mainly council supported services. Other companies offering services include: Abus, Buglers, Eurotaxis, Somerbus and Stagecoach South West.

Horse-bus services in Bristol were started in 1887 by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, with a service from the Victoria Rooms (connecting with the trams) to Clifton. The horse-buses were replaced by motor buses from 1906, first on a service from the Centre to Clifton.

From 1887 to 1986, Bristol Tramways (renamed Bristol Omnibus Company in 1957) had an almost complete monopoly of bus services in and from Bristol. The exceptions were in the 1920s, when Greyhound Motors provided competition until taken over by Bristol Tramways in 1928; a few small independent operators, the last of which, the Dundry Pioneer, was acquired in 1950; and Red & White Services, which started joint services with Bristol Omnibus Company to South Wales when the Severn Bridge opened in 1966.

Between 1937 and 1978 Bristol Omnibus Company was the operating partner in Bristol Joint Services, a joint undertaking with Bristol Corporation which controlled bus services within the city (and initially also its trams). The company owned and operated the buses, and shared revenues with the Corporation. BJS included services to suburbs outside the city limits (e.g. Filton, Patchway, Staple Hill and Kingswood).

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