First Bus is on a mission to make journeys smoother, smarter, and more enjoyable, and your voice matters. Whether it’s about routes, timetables, or how they keep you informed, your feedback could help steer real improvements.
Got five minutes? Fill out theirquick survey and share what’s working, and what could be better. Your input could make a real difference for everyone who use the buses.
Community Transport Customer Consultation Reminder
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is launching a consultation aimed at current registered users and non-users of Community Transport (CT) Monday 14th July, for an opportunity for CT users and non-users to tell (SYMCA) what they think of the service and/or any barriers to using the service.
Registered customers who have not used CT for over 6 months will receive a paper copy of the survey and have until Sunday 24th August to complete and send back via the pre-paid envelope. This survey will also be available on the Travel South Yorkshire website or via the QR link.
The 257 service to Bakewell is up and running, with a better timetable!
That’s great news for local travellers! The 257 service is now operated from Monday to Saturday by Andrew’s of Tideswell, using former Hulleys buses. The updated timetable is available on Travel South Yorkshire, Derbyshire County Council, and Andrew’s websites. As of last week, the timetables at bus stops haven’t been updated but should be shortly
It’s good to hear that bus stop timetable updates are on the way! Keeping timetables accurate makes a huge difference for passengers! Have you noticed any improvements with the new operators?
This 12-week public consultation is a critical opportunity for residents and stakeholders to express their views on the proposed bus franchising scheme, which could see SYMCA taking control of bus operations, including routes, timetables, and fares. The aim is to improve the reliability and efficiency of the bus network for the public benefit. Everyone is encouraged to participate and contribute to shaping the future of South Yorkshire’s public transport.
You have until Thursday 15th February to send us your views.
FirstBus is keen to hear your feedback on various aspects of bus travel in South Yorkshire and work together to improve your journey experience. Before the service change on 7 April, FirstBus will be visiting bus stations and local communities with a breakfast bus, where you can chat with them about bus services in your area. Look out for the dates and locations of their visits throughout March.
You may have heard that our South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has launched a new region-wide campaign for a Fair Bus Deal.
Due to persistent under-investment from the central government and a lack of a national strategy that prioritises public transport, we have seen a 42% reduction in services over the last 10 years – some routes cut altogether; others seeing reduced timetables.
Oliver and his team are visiting communities across South Yorkshire where people have been hard-hit by cuts and a decline in the quality of bus services – and they want to hear from as many members of the public as possible, to raise a huge campaign that he can take to Westminster to try to convince government ministers that they must invest in South Yorkshire’s public transport.
KEY DATES FOR OUR AREA
Thursday 26 October, 5pm (doors open for registration at 4.30pm) – Public meeting at St Columba’s church, Manchester Road.
Friday 27 October, 10am – Virtual meeting online (sign up to receive Zoom link)
Tuesday 31 October, 12 noon – Virtual meeting online (sign up to receive Zoom link)
All the details of the campaign are here: https://southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/fair-deal, including sign-up for the virtual meetings, and a feedback form where people can relate their experiences of public transport to help Oliver build the case for a Fair Deal.
If you travel by bus in Crosspool, you may have seen a new addition to the 51 route. An electric vehicle has been operating on this route since last week, as part of a trial to reduce emissions and noise pollution. The electric bus is quieter, cleaner and more efficient than the diesel ones, and it also has a modern design and features. The trial is expected to last for several months, and if successful, more electric buses could be introduced on other routes in the city.
First Bus, a UK bus operator, is running a pilot project to test electric and hydrogen buses in Sheffield. The company chose Sheffield, and especially the 51 route, as a challenging environment to measure the performance and range of the vehicles on steep hills and gradients. The project aims to demonstrate that if the buses can run efficiently in Sheffield, they can do so anywhere.
This is part of a trial of different models from various manufacturers, starting with the Volvo BZL double-decker going (from Lodge Moor 0716, 0935, 1152, 1414, 1645, 1924, 2120, and 2320) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The trial schedule may change, but the aim is to keep the electric vehicles on the 51 route as much as possible.
It has parallels with trials going back to the 1970s (see below image of the ‘famous five trials’) as well as the far more recent trials up to and including 2014.
First Bus would appreciate people offering some feedback where possible on things like comfort, ride quality, noise, layout, etc. Email: andy.metcalfe@firstbus.co.uk
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is seeking views from members of the public to make sure they are best using the public money they have to support South Yorkshire’s bus network in a public survey, which launches on Monday 1 August.
Why are buses changing in South Yorkshire? Buses are a lifeline, the backbone of our transport network, used to get people to work, school, – to visit places, family and friends. They help to cut car use, traffic and pollution and are a big part of helping us all tackle climate change.
As you are aware we are facing the biggest cuts to the network for a generation, with nearly a third of services at risk. This is because most of South Yorkshire’s bus network is run by private bus companies who choose where to run services and can make changes to reflect when and where people are traveling most.
The pandemic has had an impact on travel patterns and the income bus companies make from fares. The government has been paying bus companies throughout Covid-19 but when this funding ends in October, bus companies plan to cut routes or sections of routes.
What is SYMCA doing in response to the service cuts? We are doing all we can with the limited powers and money we have to protect bus services and have already stepped in with emergency funding for school buses. This includes paying bus companies to run services through a contract where there isn’t a profitable route. But the scale of cuts being made by bus companies means our budget can only buy back around half the network at risk.
Between April 2022 and March 2023 our budget to support the bus network is £11.9 million. It would cost around £23 million to pay bus companies to replace all the services they plan to remove.
We, therefore, want to make sure we are making the best use of our budget – the council tax we all pay for public transport – to run bus contracts where people rely on them most. We want members of the public in our region to tell us what kinds of bus services are most important to them.
How can people take part in the survey? The survey launches on Monday 1 August and will close on Sunday 21 August and is open to anyone over the age of 16. The easiest way to take part is online at https://travelsouthyorkshire.com/haveyoursay. Please note that the survey will not be live until Monday 1 August.
Information about how people can have their say will also be available in interchanges, via Traveline and publicised across social media, radio and the press.
Feedback will help us with our decision-making about buses and how we use public money to support bus services in South Yorkshire.
How can you help? If asked about the public engagement, please advise people that the easiest way to take part in the survey, from 1 August, is online and direct them to www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/haveyoursay.
Alternatively, anyone without access to the internet can call our Traveline team on 01709 51 51 51 who will be happy to help them complete the survey over the phone or paper copies will be available at our interchanges.
Just Four More Days left to enjoy the experience of traveling on the inexpensive and convenient X57 bus route over the picturesque Snake Pass to Manchester.
The SnakeX57 service, operated by Hulleys of Baslow, provided a useful link from Sheffield – Crosspool – Ladybower – Derwent – Glossop – Hyde and on to Manchester. Â Sadly this socially friendly and efficient service will no longer run after this Saturday 8th January 2022
Crosspool News - crosspool.info 