Route to a better bus service

If you are one of those who have not been able to make head nor tail of York's baffling bus timetables, or if you're simply fed up of buses being late or not turning up at all, then take heart. From next spring sweeping changes look set to be made to York's chaotic bus network that First York bosses are describing as the biggest revolution in public transport in the city since almost the year dot.

The entire network of bus routes is to be re-organised as a simplified 'metro' system.

Eight colour-coded 'core' routes will run from out-of-town destinations such as Haxby, Stamford Bridge and Skelton into the city centre. Buses will run along the routes every ten minutes at least - so there will be no need for a timetable. You just turn up and catch the first available bus.

To supplement the network of main routes, less frequent 'easylink' routes will connect with York's housing estates and residential streets.

The aim is to make bus services in the city simpler, easier to understand and use.

And to help, new colour-coded bus route maps are to be produced - similar to the London Underground route maps - which should tell passengers at a glance which bus they need to catch and where to get off.

First York managing director Brian Asquith conceded today that while substantial improvements had been made in the city's bus network during the last four years - proved, he said, by the ten per cent surge in passenger numbers in the last two years - the bus network is, for many, too complicated.

"A lot of the problem is that people have difficulty understanding it," he says. "Many of the timetables have variations and every other bus will go down a different street. It's not only difficult for the public, but for drivers too."

The new routes aim to put an end to that. The changes, says Stuart Render of Oldham-based First Group, First York's parent company, will be the 'biggest thing that has ever happened to public transport in York'. As part of the proposals, a bid has been put in by First York to its parent company for cash to invest in the new network. No figures are yet being given, but it is likely part of the money would go towards new buses. Measures are also being taken to ensure buses in future do not get stuck so often in York's traffic jams.

As part of the city council's own transport plan, bus priority measures are to be introduced in areas of the city such as Clarence Street, Gillygate and the Holgate Road/ Blossom Street area to help ensure the new, high-frequency core-route buses don't get snarled up in traffic. To help bring back passengers driven off the buses by frequent changes in bus routes, First York managers are also hoping to make sure that once the new routes have been finalised, they will stay in place for at least three years.

"We see this as being a stable network which has got to remain in place for at least three years without changing," says Mr Asquith.

"What we want is to get people out of their cars on to buses. It will be a simpler, easier to use service and it should help ease traffic congestion in the city."

But if the new network is to work it is vital the new routes run where people want them to go.

To help with the route-planning process, bus company bosses will later this month begin what is believed to be one of the biggest transport consultations of its kind in the country.

Consultation leaflets will be sent out to every home in the city in the week beginning November 20.

The leaflets will include a proposed route plan - and a questionnaire, designed to find out how often people use buses and where they need to get to, and from where.

This information will be used to fine-tune the bus routes.

First York bosses stress it is vital that people with an interest in public transport take the time to complete the questionnaires. Commercial manager John Fletcher says: "We want there to be a chance for everyone to comment, to make sure we don't send buses down the wrong estate roads."

Mr Render added: "Everybody should have the chance to comment, whether they are a bus-user or not."

The proposals have met with a broad welcome. One bus driver described them as the 'light at the end of the tunnel'.

Strensall-based mechanical engineer and bus-user John Hart, who spoke out in yesterday's Evening Press about the problems of York's troubled bus services, says: "If it is designed well, it sounds very encouraging. I think we do deserve a better bus service. There would be a much more positive attitude towards getting out of one's car and using public transport if it was relatively reliable - and that in turn would lead to a significant improvement in the traffic situation within the city."

City of York Council has also welcomed the proposals - and the consultation about the routes.

Principal transport planner Dave Pearson says the council would work closely with First York to ensure the new routes were what passengers really needed. But he did sound a note of warning. "There will be winners and losers," he says. "The bus company is a commercial organisation.

"They are going to want to adapt their services to the best commercial benefit.

"We will want to make sure there are not any major social consequences and that the bus routes still meet social needs."

All the more reason for everyone to take part in the consultation process itself - and make sure the voice of the people of York is heard in the public transport revolution.