YEP says: WE need to change our attitude to bus travel

The timing of the announcement could not have been better for day two of the Yorkshire Evening Post’s transport series - but those trying to navigate around the city centre could be forgiven for saying it was long overdue.

Enhanced bus travel is an essential element of Connecting Leeds, the council says, at it is currently frustratingly unrealiable. If the council is to achieve its goal of doubling the number of bus trips made in the next decade then it will have to improve how those buses move about the city.

Taking three key routes into and out of the city centre is the starting point for the plans to upgrade bus lanes and bus stops to amke it “faster, more efficient, reliable and cleaner”. But this cannot be another talking shop and we must see improvements very quickly. But it’s not about building bus lanes. Hearts and minds have to be won. Bus travel does not feel like a first-choice service in this city. We won’t change transport in Leeds if we don’t change our attitudes.

In London buses are taken by everyone. They’re efficient, realiable, clean, easy to pay for and there is up-to-date passenger timetable information. It works there and it can work here.