IT WAS a bird brain wave … why fly when the bus can take the strain for getting around Reading?
Passengers on a Reading Buses service were joined by a feathered friend on Friday, February 17, as a swan hitched a lift.
The Great Knollys Street-based company says that while swans have previously held up traffic on roads such as Caversham Bridge, it’s believed to be the first time a bird has tried to hail a ride from a single decker bus.
They hopped on the roof as the 19a bus was in West Street.
As normal emergency services were unable to assist, Swan Lifeline was called to help out the unusual – and non-fare paying – passenger.
Reading Buses marketing manager Jake Osman said: “This is definitely a first for me and, as far as we can tell, anyone else in Reading.
“We have seen seagulls and pigeons sitting on the tops of buses and we’ve even seen them riding for a few metres before flying off when the bus started moving more quickly.
“However, we obviously did not move the bus while the swan was on board.”
After getting down, the swan was then contained by staff and members of the public on the pavement until Swan Lifeline appeared.
They then took the swan away for a couple of days of observation to ensure it was OK.
Mr Osman said: “A big thank you to Swan Lifeline for attending and making sure no harm came to the animal. We hope the swan enjoyed its brief stay on our bus and that it recovers with them.
“It is welcome back on board any time.”
And while the swan was making the most of his new mode of transport, a replacement bus was arranged for the human passengers.
