Disabled bus pass holders in West Yorkshire will be able to travel for free at any time of day as part of planned changes linked to the Weaver Network. The change will first be introduced as a trial in Wakefield, with any wider rollout across West Yorkshire dependent on the outcome of that trial.
Currently, disabled and companion pass holders must pay before 09:30 on weekdays. Removing that restriction will make it easier for people to travel to work, education and appointments.
The announcement follows wider work across the region to design a bus network that works better for passengers who rely on it most, including disabled people and communities who face barriers to travel. You can read more about the announcement on the BBC website.
Forum Central has supported engagement between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to help ensure community voices are included in regional transport planning.
Community voices shaping the new bus network
As part of planning for the new buses, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority ran the On Board Buses consultation to gather feedback on how the vehicles should be designed and what features matter most to passengers.
Read the consultation summary found on their website.
Around 500 people took part in the VCSE roundtable discussions and supported questionnaire sessions. Of those involved, 31 per cent said they have a long-term health condition.
Engagement with accessibility and community groups also influenced practical design decisions, including the use of synthetic leather seats for hygiene, more legroom, and dedicated luggage space to help keep floors clear for people using wheelchairs, prams or mobility aids.
Supporting VCSE engagement
Forum Central has also worked with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to ensure the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector could contribute to the region’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) – the long-term strategy that will shape decisions on buses, trains, walking, cycling, road safety and accessibility across West Yorkshire.
You can read more about this work here.
As part of this work, Forum Central supported community participation by offering small grants of £370 to community organisations to host local discussion sessions.
These sessions created space for communities to share their experiences of transport and the barriers they face in accessing work, health services and community life. Feedback from these discussions was gathered and fed into the wider consultation process, shaping the future Local Transport Plan.
The sessions aimed to hear from communities whose voices are often underrepresented in transport planning, including culturally diverse communities, women, people with disabilities or sensory impairments, and people experiencing mental health challenges.
Designing buses with accessibility in mind
Alongside this wider engagement, consultation activity has also focused specifically on accessibility and user experience on the buses themselves.
Sessions in Leeds invited people with learning disabilities and autistic people to help shape key features of the new buses. Topics included seating priority, wheelchair and pram space, Wi-Fi and device charging, audio announcements and screens showing journey progress and stops.
Transport plays a vital role in connecting people to work, health services, education and community life. For many residents across West Yorkshire, buses remain the most accessible form of public transport.
As the Weaver Network begins to roll out, these changes alongside continued community engagement aim to help create a bus network that reflects the needs and experiences of the people who use it every day.
