Pride Bus in Birmingham is returned to routes following threat

A National Express West Midlands’ double-decker bus wrapped in the colours of the LGBTQ+ pride flag has been returned to public routes after being pulled from service following a threat to staff. The rainbow bus was removed from one of its scheduled circuits – on the Number 60 route, which runs from Cranes Park to Birmingham City Centre – due to intimidation toward staff, however, the bus has now been returned to usual service following a risk assessment.

A spokesperson for National Express West Midlands explained: “If we receive specific threats to our people or our vehicles, we carry out a risk assessment and may change scheduling, which in this case we had done on one route. Following the review of the risk assessment, the bus is now running on all routes and this will be kept under review going forward.”

They added: “We proudly serve and celebrate our diverse colleagues, customers and communities across Birmingham.

“In line with policy, if we receive specific threats we carry out a risk assessment and for a period of time we may change scheduling to mitigate a risk.

“Our colleagues and customers’ safety and wellbeing is of utmost importance and we do not tolerate abuse or threats of any kind.”

The spokesperson said they could not comment any further on the nature of the threat made to staff. This threat comes at a time when hate incidents are on the rise. The Peter Tatchell Foundation have reported a 62% increase in sexual orientation hate crime reports since 2012, with the West Midlands listed as one of the top ten hate crime hotspots in the UK.

The rainbow-coloured pride bus was first launched in 2019 and has been used during various pride events across the West Midlands including Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry, and Birmingham Pride parade, the latter of which National Express West Midlands has had a bus at since 2012. When it is not being used for pride events, the bus is used on all public routes in Birmingham, all year round.