More buses needed to maintain social distance

MORE BUSES will be needed across West Yorkshire later this year to maintain social distancing, senior councillors have said.

The number of services on the region’s roads is increasing this week as commuters who have been unable to do their jobs from home return to work with lockdown measures gradually being relaxed.

But government cash allowing operators to put more buses on runs out in 12 weeks.

Now councillors say that raises questions about what will happen come September, when social distancing measures will almost certainly still be needed, and have called for more longterm planning.

A drop in services could lead to more crowded buses as more workers become reliant on public transport over the coming months. Leeds councillor Kim Groves, chairwoman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s (WYCA) transport committee, said: “It is important to remember that the support being made available by the government is only designed to restore bus capacity lost during the first phase of the pandemic.

“However, social distancing means significantly more buses will be needed to deliver a reliable service for those who really need it.”

Local politicians have also called on the government to hand cash for bus services directly to WYCA, rather than to the bus operators.

Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said: “Sadly the government is prioritising short-term relief for the bus industry’s strained finances over a long-term managed approach which would help public transport recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Funding and empowering transport authorities to commission the services that meet local needs is the best way to secure the best outcome for passengers rather than funnelling money to operators to use as they see fit.”

“Social distancing means significantly more buses will be needed to deliver a reliable service.”

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