Leeds bus chiefs to unveil '˜quick-win' improvements

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has revealed that following a meeting of bosses, ideas have been proposed which could address people’s concerns.

During our week-long coverage of issues with buses in Leeds, readers have told us about their frustration with delays, cancellations, price hikes and more.

WYCA will this year release a strategy which aims to create “the best bus system in Europe” by 2036.

A spokesman yesterday said: “The Combined Authority has recently undertaken a three-month public consultation to find out what we, in partnership with district councils and the bus companies can do to improve bus services.

“Analysis of the feedback is still ongoing and will form the basis of a 20-year Bus Strategy.

“However, unsurprisingly the themes emerging are the kinds of things people have been telling the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“Those themes are reliability, punctuality, affordable services and better integration of services making it easier for people to change between buses and between buses and trains.”

He said the strategy would “build upon successes” such as the Elland Road Park and Ride.

But he added: “Bus Service Managers from across West Yorkshire recently took part in an event which was the first stage of a process that will see a raft of ‘quick-win’ improvements designed to address the problems people are facing, unveiled later this month, including fewer timetable and route changes.”

Ticketless travel, which allows people to pay for journeys on their smartphones, is currently being tested.