Advocacy Groups Urge West Yorkshire Mayor to Maintain £2 Bus Fare Cap

Advocacy groups have appealed to the Mayor of West Yorkshire to sustain the £2 cap on individual bus fares, notwithstanding an impending national increase. During her Budget address, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that England’s national cap for single bus fares would be elevated to £3, effective January. Better Buses for West Yorkshire stated that any fare increase would disproportionately affect the most economically vulnerable individuals and urged Tracy Brabin to emulate Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s decision to extend the fare cap into 2025. In a public statement, Mrs. Brabin affirmed her dedication to maintaining fares at the lowest possible and most accessible levels, indicating she would address the forthcoming changes “in the coming days”. West Yorkshire initiated a £2 fare cap in September 2022, becoming the inaugural region in England to do so, with the national government adopting a similar measure in January 2023. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority had previously declared earlier this year that the fare limit would remain in effect until at least March 2025. The Authority noted that the initiative had resulted in an increase in bus ridership throughout the county. Nevertheless, subsequent to the chancellor’s declaration, advocacy groups pressed Mrs. Brabin to pledge continuation of the scheme past its current expiration date. Gareth Forest, representing Better Buses for West Yorkshire, emphasized that retaining the discounted fare was “incredibly important”. Referencing Mayor Burnham’s choice, he stated: “We want to see Tracy Brabin do exactly the same thing.” Ms. Brabin commented: “I believe that affordable, simpler fares are how you get more people using public transport, which helps reduce congestion, improve air quality and tackle the climate emergency.” She continued: “In West Yorkshire, our £2 Mayors Fares scheme has proven a huge success by increasing bus patronage and helping people manage the cost of living crisis, since it was introduced in September 2022.” She added: “We are committed to building on this success and keeping fares as low and affordable as possible in West Yorkshire. ” Ms. Brabin concluded: “The government is setting out a new national scheme to cap bus fares next year, and we will respond in the coming days about what this means for passengers in our region.”