Three coaching concerns of J & B Travel, Hunters Coaches and R & B Coaches
together began providing a bus service in Leeds under the Optional Bus name in August 1997, each contributed vehicles in the form of Leyland Nationals and
Atlanteans.

Later that year R & B Coaches withdrew from the operation and selling its interests to the other two partners, although it did continue its coaching operations.

It was J & B Travel who were contacted by the West Yorkshire PTE to cover
contracts surrendered by another operator, so using ex London Country Nationals whose livery was adopted for the Optional Bus operations, service 66B to Leysholme began, further services were added in the shape of the 44A and the X17. Almex ticket issuing equipment was used although no company name appeared on the tickets.

All three companies shared workshop and garage facilities for its coaching and private hire fleet, but when bus operations commenced these proved too cramped
alternative facilities were found just a stones throw away further down Low Hall Road in Horsforth, which provided much more parking space for its expanding fleet.

Ex London Country Atlanteans, two Ex Crosville Bristol VR's and three MCW Metroriders were purchased to cover its service and school contracts.

Parts of its routes did conflict with routes of its bigger neighbour First Leeds and as with many smaller operators the inevitable had to happen. Services were taken over by First Leeds in August 1999 along with several Atlanteans which were
transferred to its Quickstep Travel fleet, two coaches in the shape of one Leyland Tiger and a Volvo did transfer from First Leeds to Hunters Coaches.

Many operators who have succumbed  to there bigger neighbours fail to survive but Optional Bus still thrives albeit not in name but as J & B Travel and Hunters Coaches both business still travel to the continent under the Leger Tours name and provide private hire and school contracts.

The remaining Atlanteans may have gone but there replacements are smart
Ex Arriva Metrobuses one of which it outshopped in an overall advertisment Livery for a skip hire firm and the two VR's remain providing backup for the school
contracts,

(Please refer to Fleetlist for extensive fleet details).