Wanted - Your ideas to help make Leeds a city with the best bus service in the UK

Over the course of the next few months Leeds Civic Trust we will be gathering practical ideas to improve the bus service across the city.

Trust bosses want to hear from everyone who uses a bus service in the city - whether they are a commuter from Otley who works in Bramley, a football fan from Morley who needs to get to Elland Road, or someone from Wakefield who uses the bus service to visit relatives in Beeston. They are also keen to hear from people who are put off from using buses in the first place.

They plan to go beyond the usual 'box-ticking' exercise and plan to gather information via an online survey and interactive map, through discussion groups and via a competition of ideas with cash prizes. They also plan to host a series of discussions and webinars finding out about what works best elsewhere and how they can adopt these ideas in the city.

A new website has been launched - www.ExcellentBusesLeeds.org.uk - where people can find out how to get involved.

Although the project is focusing on the area covered by Leeds City Council, the ideas we generate will apply to the service across West Yorkshire as discussions intensify about whether our buses should be brought back under public control following the election of a Metro Mayor for West Yorkshire earlier this month.

Leeds Civic Trust director, Martin Hamilton, said: “We want to reach those who use buses but think they could be better but also those who never consider using the bus service to find out what needs to happen to change their minds. We hope that our findings will influence the development of our bus service in the years to come.”

Trust project co-ordinator Gwen Thomas added: “I am looking forward to speaking to residents about what they really want out of their local bus service and how it can improve.”

The project has won the support of Living Streets, a group set up to bring together all those who want to create a liveable and walkable city.

Ruth Gelletlie of Living Streets, said : “We need to get away from a car dependent city by offering people alternative travel options. Buses are a more efficient and environmentally sustainable way of travelling than the motor car. If we can find out what would get more people on the bus we can start to create a safer and healthier city.”

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