The scheme was started September 2002 by a Sabbatical Officer, after the old Women’s Safety Bus scheme became unviable. It’s been recognised by the Home Office, and there are loads of other similar schemes at Students Union’s around the country which have started since the OBSU one started.

With all these other schemes running around the country, you may be wondering what’s so special about ours! The OBSU Safety Bus is the only one that runs without a timetable. That’s right, you just call the safety bus phone, and tell them where you are, where you want to go and how many of you there are, and one of the buses will come and pick you up.

Although the scheme is subsidised by the Students Union, it also rely on the donations given by the passengers to keep the scheme running. The money goes towards the hire costs of the vehicles, maintenance and petrol. And contrary to what people may think, it does not go towards paying drivers.

The drivers and co-drivers are all students, volunteering to give something back to the Union and to the students who live around Oxford. Lots of people hear about the scheme and want to get involved. The Safety Bus is exciting, for a start you never know what’s going to happen, you never know who you’re going to meet while you’re on the bus, and you get to meet loads of other people who also volunteer. Interested in volunteering?