York’s Voice for Bus Users
Welcome to the website of York Bus Forum – the voice of bus users and potential users in and around York.
Our aim is “to get York people where they want to be, when they want to be there, in a manner that is reliable, comfortable and efficient”.
The Forum was formed following a public meeting held in April 2016 to protest about cuts in evening and Sunday bus services. Following a successful battle to retain evening and some other services the Forum was established as a city-wide bus users’ group. It also includes bus users from outside the York boundary who need/want to use public transport to access York for work, shopping, leisure, and study as well as to travel to the Hospital, the University or the major out of town shopping and leisure centres.
Now recognised as a Council stakeholder group, we hold regular meetings with Councillor Groups, with frequent briefings to transport leads. We work with the Council Transport Team and the Bus Operators (their “critical friend”) to get the best bus services and both attend our monthly meetings. These usually include presentations by expert speakers from the bus industry, transport authorities and academia to demonstrate best practice.
We have set up – with Council, Age Friendly York and York Disabled Rights Forum support, a bus stop survey open to all York’s bus users – ‘Improving the bus stops of York’ https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ImprovingBusStops
One of York’s new electric double-deck buses – now being used on several Park and Ride services
It includes the need for all transport authorities (including York) to produce a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). Guidance on producing the BSIP was issued by the Department for Transport on 17th May. York’s BSIP will feed into its next Local Transport Plan – due in Autumn 2022.
YBF issued a note setting out the implications for York (including the BSIP), which is being updated as more information becomes available
Prior to our 18th May meeting (addressed by Julian Ridge – City of York Council’s Sustainable Transport Manager) we also issued a briefing note to members, seeking their questions
A summary of the key issues raised was sent to Julian prior to this meeting
The Forum was asked by Julian to provide its Five Priorities for the BSIP. These were finalised (with the full endorsement of the York Civic Trust) and submitted on 7th June:
The Council Transport Team have advised us that they found our BSIP priorities document extremely helpful. The Team is in the process of commissioning consultants to identify gaps in York’s bus network and to identify delay points for bus services, using funding from the Department for Transport. The results will form a key input to the BSIP.
https://www.itravelyork.info/downloads/file/82/york-s-bus-service-improvement-plan
We provide a channel for bus users to make their voice heard with the decision makers and the opportunity to find out about future proposed changes. Why not join us and strengthen our voice?
We have a monthly meetings programme with expert speakers from the bus industry, transport authorities and academia to demonstrate best practice. We document these to maintain and share our transparency as a public forum. You can download our meeting minutes, presentations and other useful documents by visiting the link below.
We have established ourselves as the voice for bus users in York, working with the Council’s Transport Team and the bus operators. Five Parish Councils are now affiliated to the Forum and we are keen to encourage more to join us – it’s only £10 a year. Read about our latest news and updates here.
In our events diary section, you can find out more about our upcoming events, latest meetings and important dates in the York Bus Forum calendar.