A new on-demand bus service has been launched for residents of East Leeds by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council and First West Yorkshire, connecting local people with transport hubs and key destinations in the area.
The pilot scheme is the first digital demand-responsive service in the region, and is part of West Yorkshire’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
A new fleet of seven electric buses, each able to carry 12 passengers, has been funded by the Leeds Public Transport Improvement Programme.
The service will help people get to medical appointments, educational settings and workplaces, as well as some supermarkets and hospitals outside of the bus zone.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: ‘I welcome the introduction of the new bus service in East Leeds. We absolutely must work hard to make transport easily accessible, reliable, and affordable. The East Leeds areas that are taking part in the pilot fall into the bottom 10% of scores from the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) scores in England. I want to see this improve for the residents of East Leeds.
‘The quality of transport options available for people affects their ability to participate in social and economic activities and access healthcare. Transport that enables greater social engagement will consequently deliver significant benefits to mental and physical health. Our ambition is to ensure that people who may feel marginalised have opportunities to fulfil their potential, not only for those individuals, but for communities as a whole.’
Cllr Kim Groves, West Yorkshire Transport Committee lead member for public transport, added: ‘This is an incredibly positive step to improving connectivity for people in East Leeds. The new bus service is easy to book, very reasonably priced and it is flexible. Buses are available to all members of the public and can be easily accessed by booking via an App with phone support also. Buses will pick up passengers at a safe and convenient place no more than 3 minutes’ walk of their location and will then drop off passengers at a safe location, a short walk from their destination.
‘If people are travelling further afield, FlexiBus will connect them to buses on main routes and to trains at Cross Gates. I encourage people to take advantage of this new service, to access amenities and services to help them out in their everyday lives.’
Photo supplied by Leeds City Council