By Don Mort, local democracy reporter
Almost a million fewer bus journeys were taken in the city in the three months after fares were last increased, a report has found.
Transport bosses revealed a dip in passenger numbers in April-June this year compared to the same period in 2024.
West Yorkshire-wide figures show there were 2.3m fewer journeys, an eight per cent decline.
In Leeds, bus use was down 6.9 per cent, one of the lowest falls in the region.
But a West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) report said: “However, that still equates to an absolute decline of almost 1m journeys.
“Given that there were 2.33m fewer journeys between those two quarters, the change in Leeds district accounts for 43 per cent of this.”
A Leeds City Council scrutiny board was told reductions in services and an increase in ticket prices from the end of March were among reasons for the decline.
Under the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Fares scheme, the cap on single fares rose from £2 to £2.50 and the DaySaver price increased from £5 to £6.
Kayleigh Ingham, commercial director for First Bus North and West Yorkshire, told councillors: “We have experienced some patronage decline in Leeds.
“And we put that down to a result of customer-facing fare increases, which was a result of the mayoral decision to increase the single and the day ticket.”
A report to the meeting said a survey of 2,221 people found ten per cent were using buses less frequently since the fare increase.
Some 69 per cent said they could afford to use West Yorkshire bus travel whenever they wanted, down from 75 per cent last year.
The report said: “These findings suggest that fare increases have contributed around two per cent to fare-paying patronage decline, a measurable though not sole impact on overall bus patronage.”
Labour’s Councillor Peter Carlill, deputy chairman of WYCA’s transport committee, said keeping fares down meant higher financial subsidies being paid by the authority.
Councillor Carlill, who represents Calverley and Farsley, said: “We do still retain one of the lowest single fares in the country, given the national fare cap is £3.”
Horsforth Labour councillor Ray Jones said he frequently dealt with complaints over bus companies’ customer service.
He said: “I’ll be absolutely honest, I’ve stopped using the buses, simply because it’s unreliable.”
A new franchised bus network is set to be launched in 2027, giving WYCA control over fares, routes and timetables.
Councillors were told talks were being held with prospective operators.
Sponsored content
‘Uw could’ave possibly forseen this happening….
Still , at least West Yorkshire Devolution means we have cheaper bus tickets than most of the UK thanks to the decisions and priorities of Mayor brabin and WYCA. So, could be worse.
Make bus tickets cheaper.
The decline in the usage of bus travel as more to do with the unreliable bus services.
I live in Farsley and have often gone for a bus towards Pudsey or Leeds mainly the 16 service, and there as been a gap of nearly an hour in the afternoon and some evenings when they haven’t turned up with no information at all about cancellations.
The 16 must be one of the worst bus sevices in Leeds.
The 16 must be one if the worst blue sevices in Leeds.
the main reason for the fall in bus service footfall is because 1/3rd don’t turn up and passengers are sick of it and given a chance trains are used. the no49 at Bramley centre are nearly always empty of staff and are abandoned causing chaos.
It would help if buses did turn up
I try and get the no’s 55,65 or 75 from Park row when I have finished shopping but nearly bus no 24 seem’s to be priority and mine are always about 25/30minutes before arrival,so instead of waiting I walk home.How about a bit of consideration to people that live in Holbeck?
I live in Rawdon and the number 27 only runs once every 40 minutes it is the only bus that runs through the actual village where a lot if the residents are quite elderly i don’t think that the council consider this at all or just aren’t bothered as it doesn’t affect them directly .
Yep unreliable 16/16A daren’t go for the last bus as frightened it’ll knock , can’t go see an evening concert at the Arena or O2 as no bus home after , complete joke that public transport towards Seacroft from Leeds stops around 22.30
Public transport is not cheap anymore. I can’t blame people from reducing their amount of journeys per week and keep them down to essential travel. Our bills are going up, prices in the shops are going up just the wages are still the same. If the fares were lower more people would be considering using our buses. The public transport in Italy and Spain is far much cheaper if you top up your bus travel card. In Poland in many towns public transport is for free. More people are able to travel by buses or trains. Public transport in Leeds it’s also unreliable as well. Luckily, from Crossgates to Leeds we have got quite a few buses to choose from so if one is not on time there’s a chance to get another one.
If you go to Otley or Wetherby and where you have to rely on one bus service and it’s cancelled or delayed you are stuck!
49 and 50 bus they come togethet. And if you miss one you have a long time to wait for the next bus other day 49 50 50a came togethet
2 of the buses was empty
Come on first sort this service out 49 should start from seacroft bus station first dont know how to run the service 49 50 50a get the inspectors back cheaking
Far to expensive… £2.50 minimum fare a joke.. 1 stop for that or you can go from Leeds to Scarborough for the same price.. Surely 40 people paying a £1:00 is better than 10 people paying £2;50… But if there’s 4 of you get a TAXI doorstep to doorstep… !
I assume it’s down to more people using all the miles of cycle lanes on Leeds, I never seen the so busy
Really simple remedy. Buses turn up as listed on the timetable. The number of buses on a night that say out of service reinforces this. Also the park and ride services now give the alternative bus to catch if that bus doesn’t turn up – what part of walking through Leeds on your own makes us feel safe and protected? Respect Tracy Braibin for trying to sort this but quite simply it hasn’t worked. Time for bus inspectors to be on the services, even late at night, to ensure the buses run and also protect the bus staff.