The Mayor's Big Bus Chat

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This page relates to an engagement that took place between 11th July to 18th September 2022, please note contributions to this engagement are now closed.

You can view a summary of the feedback in the headline report and the 'you said, we will' report below:

Due to the scale of this engagement there are three outcome reports. To view the outcome report of this engagement, please download from the 'Outcome Report' section of this webpage (to the right hand side if viewing on a computer, and below if viewing on a mobile) or follow the links below:

As part of The Mayor's Big Bus Chat, we held a number of Tell Tracy About Buses meetings. For more details about those meetings visit our Tell Tracy Your Voice Page.

Thank you to everyone who contacted us and shared their feedback. Some of the feedback we received needs support from bus companies and other departments to help fully answer, this is causing a delay to responding. Please be assured that if you have contacted us and have yet to hear a response, we haven't forgotten about you, and we will be responding as soon as we can.

The information below was presented during the public engagement.





We have big ambitions for buses in West Yorkshire and know that services don’t currently work well for everyone.  

We want your feedback on our latest plan for better buses. Have your views changed since the pandemic? What are your key priorities? 

We will be using your responses to feed into our ongoing bus improvement plan and ensure we are making changes that local communities want.  


Read The Mayor's Big Bus Chat brochure and FAQs



Do you need any information in a different language?

You can select your language at the top of the page

Możesz wybrać język u góry strony

ਤੁਸੀਂ ਪੰਨੇ ਦੇ ਸਿਖਰ 'ਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਚੁਣ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ

يمكنك اختيار لغتك أعلى الصفحة

آپ صفحے کے اوپری حصے سے اپنی زبان منتخب کر سکتے ہيں

Požadovaný jazyk je možné vybrať v hornej časti stránky




About the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)

We published our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021, and in April 2022 we were notified that we had received an indicative £70m in funding to support activities including reducing fares and consulting on new routes to be introduced. Find out more about our plan by reading The Mayor's Big Bus chat Brochure.

Our Key themes for better buses are:

  • A safe and inclusive bus system - meaning we want to get the basics right by ensuring all our buses and supporting services are accessible by all and suited to different people's needs. This includes designing the bus service for more than just the urban commuter and doing our best to make sure everyone - particularly women, girls and other vulnerable groups - feels safe when using the bus.
  • Better connected communities - we want to make sure buses serve all our region's cities, towns and villages to ensure that people living in them have fair reliable access to all the employment, education and leisure opportunities our region has to offer. This means extended services throughout the day, better frequencies and regularity of service, as well as new models like 'Park and Rides' and 'FlexiBus' services to suit different travel needs.
  • Decarbonisation and integrated and sustainable travel - as part of our region's response to the Climate Emergency, we are committed to reducing dependence on private car use and achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2038. To support this, buses must also be better integrated as part of a multimodal public transport offer so that alongside rail travel, cycling and walking, passengers are able to make sustainable journeys from door to door.

 As well as the key themes, the actions we aim to deliver through the BSIP include:

  • An enhanced, fully inclusive and more cohesive bus network - which takes people where they need to go, when they need to go
  • Clear and simple fare - to make paying for bus travel more affordable, easier, convenient and flexible
  • Improved, more inclusive customer service and support - so passengers have the tools to travel with confidence and help they need if their journey does not go to plan
  • Priority for buses on our road - so journeys by bus are quicker, with less time spent stuck in traffic, and are a viable alternative to the private car

  • More green and better vehicles - to improve the onboard experience and make bus the sustainable choice for travel in West Yorkshire


More information about our BSIP can be found here - Bus Service Improvement Plan information



How can you help?

Having set the foundations for our bus plan, we want your views on how these plans and ideas reflect your ambitions for bus services. We need the opinions of bus users and potential new bus users to make sure any plans we have around buses are fit for purpose and reflect your ideals.

This is just the start – we hope this initial bus conversation will be able to guide the Combined Authority, but we want this to be the start of many bus conversations.


This engagement opportunity is open from 11th July 2022 until 18th September 2022.


If you want to stay up to date about any future bus conversations we have, register to Your Voice to be one of the first to hear about it!


Come and speak to the Your Voice Team

Throughout the Mayor's Big Bus Chat we will be holding drop-in events where you can come and speak to the Your Voice Team.

Take at look at the list below to find your nearest event.

AreaAddressDateTime
Keighley Bus StationBow Street, Keighley, BD21 3PBThursday 21 July2pm - 5pm
Dewsbury Bus Station

Aldams Road, Dewsbury. WF12 8AR

Wednesday 27 July10:30am - 1:30pm
Leeds Rail StationNew Street, Leeds, LS1 4DYTuesday 2nd August7am - 9:30am
Hebden Bridge Town Hall


St. George's Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BY

Thursday 4 August10:30am - 1:30pm
White Rose Shopping CentreDewsbury Road, Leeds, LS11 8LUSaturday 6 August11am - 2pm
Wakefield Bus StationUnion Street, Wakefield, WF1 3AQFriday 12 August8am - 11am
Bradford InterchangeBridge Street, Bradford, BD1 1GYTuesday 16 August10:30am - 1:30pm
Huddersfield Bus Station

Upperhead Row, Huddersfield, HD1 2JN

Thursday 18 August10am - 1pm
The Piece Hall HalifaxBlackledge, Halifax,
HX1 1RE		Tuesday 23 August10am - 2pm
Pontefract Bus StationHorsefair, Pontefract, WF8 1EZWednesday 24 August10:30am - 1:30pm
Heckmondwike Bus HubHeckmondwike, WF16 0HRFriday 26 August3pm - 5pm
Castleford Bus StationAlbion Street, Castleford, WF10 1EGMonday 5 September10:30am - 1:30pm
Leeds Bus StationYork Street, Leeds, LS2 7HUTuesday 6 September10:30am - 1:30pm


We also hosted two online webinars (24th and 30th August at 6pm) for those that were unable to attend a drop in. 

Recordings of the sessions can be found here: 24th August webinar recording and 30th August subtitled webinar recording.




Need any extra support?

If you need any extra support to access any of the information on this topic, or want to share your views by email, telephone or in writing, please find the details below:

Email

yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Telephone

0113 2457676 (MetroLine)

In writing 

Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA)

(no stamp is required)





This page relates to an engagement that took place between 11th July to 18th September 2022, please note contributions to this engagement are now closed.

You can view a summary of the feedback in the headline report and the 'you said, we will' report below:

Due to the scale of this engagement there are three outcome reports. To view the outcome report of this engagement, please download from the 'Outcome Report' section of this webpage (to the right hand side if viewing on a computer, and below if viewing on a mobile) or follow the links below:

As part of The Mayor's Big Bus Chat, we held a number of Tell Tracy About Buses meetings. For more details about those meetings visit our Tell Tracy Your Voice Page.

Thank you to everyone who contacted us and shared their feedback. Some of the feedback we received needs support from bus companies and other departments to help fully answer, this is causing a delay to responding. Please be assured that if you have contacted us and have yet to hear a response, we haven't forgotten about you, and we will be responding as soon as we can.

The information below was presented during the public engagement.





We have big ambitions for buses in West Yorkshire and know that services don’t currently work well for everyone.  

We want your feedback on our latest plan for better buses. Have your views changed since the pandemic? What are your key priorities? 

We will be using your responses to feed into our ongoing bus improvement plan and ensure we are making changes that local communities want.  


Read The Mayor's Big Bus Chat brochure and FAQs



Do you need any information in a different language?

You can select your language at the top of the page

Możesz wybrać język u góry strony

ਤੁਸੀਂ ਪੰਨੇ ਦੇ ਸਿਖਰ 'ਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਚੁਣ ਸਕਦੇ ਹੋ

يمكنك اختيار لغتك أعلى الصفحة

آپ صفحے کے اوپری حصے سے اپنی زبان منتخب کر سکتے ہيں

Požadovaný jazyk je možné vybrať v hornej časti stránky




About the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)

We published our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021, and in April 2022 we were notified that we had received an indicative £70m in funding to support activities including reducing fares and consulting on new routes to be introduced. Find out more about our plan by reading The Mayor's Big Bus chat Brochure.

Our Key themes for better buses are:

  • A safe and inclusive bus system - meaning we want to get the basics right by ensuring all our buses and supporting services are accessible by all and suited to different people's needs. This includes designing the bus service for more than just the urban commuter and doing our best to make sure everyone - particularly women, girls and other vulnerable groups - feels safe when using the bus.
  • Better connected communities - we want to make sure buses serve all our region's cities, towns and villages to ensure that people living in them have fair reliable access to all the employment, education and leisure opportunities our region has to offer. This means extended services throughout the day, better frequencies and regularity of service, as well as new models like 'Park and Rides' and 'FlexiBus' services to suit different travel needs.
  • Decarbonisation and integrated and sustainable travel - as part of our region's response to the Climate Emergency, we are committed to reducing dependence on private car use and achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2038. To support this, buses must also be better integrated as part of a multimodal public transport offer so that alongside rail travel, cycling and walking, passengers are able to make sustainable journeys from door to door.

 As well as the key themes, the actions we aim to deliver through the BSIP include:

  • An enhanced, fully inclusive and more cohesive bus network - which takes people where they need to go, when they need to go
  • Clear and simple fare - to make paying for bus travel more affordable, easier, convenient and flexible
  • Improved, more inclusive customer service and support - so passengers have the tools to travel with confidence and help they need if their journey does not go to plan
  • Priority for buses on our road - so journeys by bus are quicker, with less time spent stuck in traffic, and are a viable alternative to the private car

  • More green and better vehicles - to improve the onboard experience and make bus the sustainable choice for travel in West Yorkshire


More information about our BSIP can be found here - Bus Service Improvement Plan information



How can you help?

Having set the foundations for our bus plan, we want your views on how these plans and ideas reflect your ambitions for bus services. We need the opinions of bus users and potential new bus users to make sure any plans we have around buses are fit for purpose and reflect your ideals.

This is just the start – we hope this initial bus conversation will be able to guide the Combined Authority, but we want this to be the start of many bus conversations.


This engagement opportunity is open from 11th July 2022 until 18th September 2022.


If you want to stay up to date about any future bus conversations we have, register to Your Voice to be one of the first to hear about it!


Come and speak to the Your Voice Team

Throughout the Mayor's Big Bus Chat we will be holding drop-in events where you can come and speak to the Your Voice Team.

Take at look at the list below to find your nearest event.

AreaAddressDateTime
Keighley Bus StationBow Street, Keighley, BD21 3PBThursday 21 July2pm - 5pm
Dewsbury Bus Station

Aldams Road, Dewsbury. WF12 8AR

Wednesday 27 July10:30am - 1:30pm
Leeds Rail StationNew Street, Leeds, LS1 4DYTuesday 2nd August7am - 9:30am
Hebden Bridge Town Hall


St. George's Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BY

Thursday 4 August10:30am - 1:30pm
White Rose Shopping CentreDewsbury Road, Leeds, LS11 8LUSaturday 6 August11am - 2pm
Wakefield Bus StationUnion Street, Wakefield, WF1 3AQFriday 12 August8am - 11am
Bradford InterchangeBridge Street, Bradford, BD1 1GYTuesday 16 August10:30am - 1:30pm
Huddersfield Bus Station

Upperhead Row, Huddersfield, HD1 2JN

Thursday 18 August10am - 1pm
The Piece Hall HalifaxBlackledge, Halifax,
HX1 1RE		Tuesday 23 August10am - 2pm
Pontefract Bus StationHorsefair, Pontefract, WF8 1EZWednesday 24 August10:30am - 1:30pm
Heckmondwike Bus HubHeckmondwike, WF16 0HRFriday 26 August3pm - 5pm
Castleford Bus StationAlbion Street, Castleford, WF10 1EGMonday 5 September10:30am - 1:30pm
Leeds Bus StationYork Street, Leeds, LS2 7HUTuesday 6 September10:30am - 1:30pm


We also hosted two online webinars (24th and 30th August at 6pm) for those that were unable to attend a drop in. 

Recordings of the sessions can be found here: 24th August webinar recording and 30th August subtitled webinar recording.




Need any extra support?

If you need any extra support to access any of the information on this topic, or want to share your views by email, telephone or in writing, please find the details below:

Email

yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Telephone

0113 2457676 (MetroLine)

In writing 

Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA)

(no stamp is required)





Have a story about your bus trips? Let us know!

We want to hear from you if you have used the bus in West Yorkshire and have a story to share. Whether you want to share ways someone went above and beyond, share how your local commute went, or just want to share something you noticed on buses - we want to know!

These stories will help to build a picture about how people use our buses and what we can do to improve.

Please note, your username will be shown with your comment. If you share personal information or comments that are seen as abusive or harassment we will not share your story publicly but it will still be used in the analysis.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Poor and expensive on Facebook Share Poor and expensive on Twitter Share Poor and expensive on Linkedin Email Poor and expensive link

    Poor and expensive

    by GamePlayer, almost 2 years ago
    I currently use buses 2 days a week.

    They are regularly late. As I write this, I am currently at a stop waiting for a bus that is late.

    The timetables are not accurate.

    The information boards at stops are not accurate.

    And for this service, the prices rose over 30% in December. For what?


    It needs improvement.

    When the buses aren't late, they are often just canceled instead. And then when you eventually get a bus, its a single decker that is overcrowded.


    Covid rules weren't enforced properly either. Often I'm the only person wearing a mask, despite the... Continue reading

  • Share Improvements in Halifax on Facebook Share Improvements in Halifax on Twitter Share Improvements in Halifax on Linkedin Email Improvements in Halifax link

    Improvements in Halifax

    by RosieLee, almost 2 years ago

    I live in Halifax, where they are building us a swanky new bus station due to be completed next year I believe. The old one was a nightmare, like standing in a greenhouse in summer and a wind tunnel in bad weather, only partially covered over. So we're glad to be having a new one. However, (and I realise that the logistics of planning this must be a nightmare) whoever has done the planning has obviously has never been to Halifax. Most bus stops have been relocated around the town centre, only ones coming towards the town from Leeds/Bradford direction... Continue reading

  • Share Fragmented provision leads to poor overall service on Facebook Share Fragmented provision leads to poor overall service on Twitter Share Fragmented provision leads to poor overall service on Linkedin Email Fragmented provision leads to poor overall service link

    Fragmented provision leads to poor overall service

    by Jerryd999, almost 2 years ago
    1. New to the area, I was pleased to read on First West Yorkshire's website that I could buy a day travel ticket for £5.20. Later that day I boarded a bus, only to be told by the driver that the ticket wasn't valid (different company) - but, had I spent 30p more I could have bought a ticket that would be valid on all buses in West Yorkshire. Of course, First has no incentive to tell customers this, so they don't. As a result I stood in the rain for 20 minutes waiting for a First bus to come... Continue reading
  • Share Bad ending to a good evening on Facebook Share Bad ending to a good evening on Twitter Share Bad ending to a good evening on Linkedin Email Bad ending to a good evening link

    Bad ending to a good evening

    by Izzi, almost 2 years ago
    On the evening ofThursday 21 July I caught a bus from Halifax to Hebden Bridge to see a friend sing in a very successful concert. I couldn't hang around to congratulate her as I wanted to be sure of getting to the bus stop on Market St to catch the 21.46 bus back. After waiting ten minutes past the due time I walked to the main stop where there is an electronic info sign. There were two young women there who had been waiting for some time and who told me there were no buses leaving Todmorden according to info... Continue reading
  • Share Real Time travel Info is rubbish on Facebook Share Real Time travel Info is rubbish on Twitter Share Real Time travel Info is rubbish on Linkedin Email Real Time travel Info is rubbish link

    Real Time travel Info is rubbish

    by Rob39, almost 2 years ago
    Bus travel is not a problem, the issue is the so called real time info displayed at bus stops, bus stations etc. The displays show phantom buses, or display that a bus is due that never turns up or the information disappears from the display at the last minute with no bus appearing. If the display showed a bus was cancelled it would be a lesser issue as people could then plan. This sometimes means people miss an alternative bus due to lack of time to get to another bus stop.
  • Share Mrs W on Facebook Share Mrs W on Twitter Share Mrs W on Linkedin Email Mrs W link

    Mrs W

    by Mrs W, almost 2 years ago

    What I’d like to see most improved is reliability. I have three teenage daughters and regularly get a phone call to say the bus hasn’t turned up leaving them, in my eyes, vulnerable stood at bus stops for lengths of time. Like tonight my daughter was at her friends in Todmorden, we had both looked on the first bus app to agree which bus she would get and then arrange for me to pick her up in mytholmroyd. The bus never came and I ended up driving to Todmorden. It’s worse when the evenings are dark.


  • Share Improved but still poor. on Facebook Share Improved but still poor. on Twitter Share Improved but still poor. on Linkedin Email Improved but still poor. link

    Improved but still poor.

    by RedDragon, almost 2 years ago

    Onboard information

    This is somewhat of a joke. FirstBus is very proud of their announcements and displays, but they're only on selected routes. And on those routes, the screens are either missing, off, or frozen 80% of the time. The announcements are mumbled and completely inaudible when the bus is moving or anyone is talking. And what's with it randomly blurting out random place names? You're not in Beeston! This route goes nowhere near Beeston! Not to mention the farce of at least three stops in a row being given as simply "Woodhouse" on buses heading out of the city... Continue reading

  • Share Information Screens No Longer Work on Facebook Share Information Screens No Longer Work on Twitter Share Information Screens No Longer Work on Linkedin Email Information Screens No Longer Work link

    Information Screens No Longer Work

    by Psel, almost 2 years ago

    So I was stood at the bus stop on Spen Lane waiting for a no 19. The info screen said the bus was due 2 mins then it said Due then the bus came off the screen and the next bus was due in 15 mins. After a couple of mins I left the bus stop to find another way to Kirkstall and then the bus turned up 5 mins after it disappeared from the screen. I went for a no 19 because it is safe to get there and the stop has a shelter. Really easy to improve bus... Continue reading

  • Share An experiment in bus use on Facebook Share An experiment in bus use on Twitter Share An experiment in bus use on Linkedin Email An experiment in bus use link

    An experiment in bus use

    by Deedey, almost 2 years ago

    I am independent in mind but, due to a life-limiting illness, less so of body. I loved driving, but now must be driven everywhere, but I used to live in London, where we took public transport for granted.
    I occasionally take the bus back to Wetherby from Harrogate Hospital to help my driver get on with their life. Said driver was heading off for a Man U home game (Don’t ask about the time they tried the train; 2.30am arrival back). So we agreed to run some errands in Leeds, then they would head west, and I would catch the... Continue reading