Oxford Bus Company has debuted what is thought to be the first provincial zero-emission bus to carry a Pride livery in a member of its Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner fleet.
The Go-Ahead subsidiary is among a growing number of operators to show its support for the LGBTQ+ community by suitably adorning a bus. The StreetDeck Electroliner was launched to coincide with Oxford Pride on Saturday 8 June, and it took part in that event.
Oxford Bus Company was one of the founding businesses in the city to support Oxford Pride in 2018, and that partnership “has gone from strength to strength” since then, the operator notes. The latest livery includes colours from the Progress Pride Flag and Citypride branding.
In addition to external branding, the bus has internal artwork displaying the history of LGBTQ+ in the city. The operator further backed Oxford Pride by continuing its partnership via the sponsorship of stewards’ hi-vis jackets.
Speaking about the ongoing support, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director Luke Marion says: “The bus looks fantastic, and we are proud to once again back Oxford Pride this year.
“One of our core values is embracing diversity, and it is an important belief system that guides our business and inspires us to support organisations like Oxford Pride. It has been great to have supported Oxford Pride for some time, and to see it develop and support our community.”
In addition to carrying Pride livery, the StreetDeck Electroliner is also the first example of Oxford Bus Company’s growing zero-emission fleet to be branded in community-based colours. Another will receive a suitable scheme to support the Oxford Hospitals Charity, which won the operator’s Brand the Bus Competition for 2024.
