Focus of work
Thanks to funding from FIT, Better Buses has already won a victory in Greater Manchester, with Mayor Andy Burnham promising to regulate and improve the buses. Building on this promise, the Better Buses for West Yorkshire campaign seeks clear commitments from the mayors of West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire to deliver a step-change in bus services in those regions – delivering the fares, timetables and routes that local people need.
Work in West Yorkshire started in February 2021. The project has already managed to obtain a commitment from Mayor Tracy Brabin to improve buses for passengers and communities; now they need to build on that commitment and get a similar one in South Yorkshire. They will continue to build on the existing coalitions in Yorkshire’s City Regions, drawing on the successful model used in Greater Manchester.
Impact
- A high-quality public transport option that delivers a great service and reduces congestion across the city
- Integrated smart ticketing and lower fares
- More frequent buses and the reinstatement of vital services that have been cut
- A well planned, integrated, accessible public transport network with seamless connections between different modes
- Services that deliver what people need across boundaries; cross-subsidy and coordination between commercial and supported services
- Low emission or emission-free buses to reduce air pollution and tackle the climate crisis
- Buses that are accountable to passengers, staff and communities