Ryde

The First Island Motorbus Service

The first Island of Wight motor service started from Ryde in April 1906. Initial it operated between Ryde and Seaview but later covered most of the island, the initial service encountered many technical problems and there were delays in implementing the service.

Each bus was equipped with a post box and handled the delivery of newspapers to villages on the service route. The lack of business in the winter months and the poor state, which caused operating problems, lead to the company failing in 1907.

The buses were fitted with Milner Daimler engines.