Metro's budget cut by £10m

[westyorkshirebus]

And Manchester have had free buses for years before Leeds got in on the act.

Although you could say that has worked both ways, and the only reason Bolton and Stockport now have free buses is because they saw the success of Metro's free buses in their secondary towns.

[kendall17]

Dear All,



We have made some great input and effected change on some bus routes in and around Leeds, Changes to the Headingley Corridor from May the 1st is great work. Obviously we are still fighting to develop this further across Leeds, so good to hear which areas you want us to challenge next!



Leeds Free City Bus has provided a valuable service to the residents and visitors to the city as well as people commuting in to work, the service costs £370,000.00 a year to fund.



Save Leeds Free City Bus



This gives a route service of the Education, Hospitals and Shops in and around the Centre, even if every person in Leeds was to use the service a day a year and pay fifty pence for one journey this service could be kept running. We ask our friends on the campaign front to sign up to keep this service and let us tell the full council meeting this Wednesday 23rd February 2011 that this is a service that helps our great City.



If you have already joined us to save the service then thank you and pass on to friends & family, Let’s get as many as possible!



Kind Regards,

Fairer Fares

Just received that from Fairer Fares.

Will see if anything comes of it, but, doubt it.

[timelesstable]

On that basis that 6 buses in Leeds on their free service costs £370K to operate then
Wakefield and Bradford with 3 each would be circa £185K each
Huddersfield and Dewsbury with just the two each would be nearer £120K each

That little lot would cost a total somewhere around £950K. Whoever pays, Metro or the local authority I would question the inconvenience caused by their withdrawal would be less than pulling some of the other fringe socially desirable services.

I think now would be a good time to position my tin hat and take refuge somewhere out of the firing line.......

[sharksmith]

Quoting from the T&A on Saturday in an article about Bradford Council's cuts.

'The future of the Free City Bus was assured for another year despite fears it would be discontinued by campaigners'

So if we in Bradford are keeping our Free City Bus you can be absolutely sure that Leeds won't give up theirs, wouldn't do to be outdone by it's poor neighbours in Bradford!

[driver6540]

Never could see the point of that 'Free town bus' for Dewsbury anyway, Lets face it, even the most severely disabled person could limp/hobble or stagger round Dewsbury town centre in about 30 seconds flat. The place is bloody tiny. The only folk ive ever seen use that bus are the 'friends of Karen Matthews' brigade who are too fat and idle to walk from signing on to the pub.

[kendall17]

Agreed, i've never used it and i park at one side of the town centre and go to college on the other. All of a five minute walk.