East Yorkshire says the move is a backward step which goes against the council’s own climate change goals
Go-Ahead Group operator East Yorkshire Buses has voiced its deep disappointment in response to Hull City Council’s decision to downgrade bus priorities within the city. Managing Director Ben Gilligan described the move as a significant backward step, which he said potentially leaves a perception that the council has a lack of commitment to supporting the bus network during a crucial stage of recovery.
The company said the decision comes at a time when it is actively investing in increased frequencies to encourage more people to travel by bus, with key city routes due to see additional buses from Sunday 28 January. Over the last 12 months, East Yorkshire says it has seen a 15% increase in passenger numbers, attributed to the popularity of the £2 fare cap and successful recruitment efforts which have resulted in improved service reliability. The company said it has communicated extensively with local political leaders, emphasising that the proposed reduction in bus lane hours would not benefit car drivers’ journey times, but would instead significantly impact the reliability of bus services, especially during afternoon peaks.
The company said that the decision was surprising, considering that it comes from a Liberal Democrat-led council, given the party’s commitment to sustainable transport. It highlighted that at the Liberal Democrat conference last year, the party emphasised the importance of buses as an accessible and affordable mode of public transport, pledging support to local authorities in increasing public transport usage.
Furthermore, the operator pointed to Hull City Council’s 2030 Carbon Neutral Strategy, which identifies mobility as one of its eight key themes, focusing on enabling a shift to sustainable travel. The reduction in bus lane provisions contradicts the city’s own strategies, says East Yorkshire Buses, by hindering consistent and attractive journey times and impending the efficiency of the bus network.
The company said it has been working with transport officers to develop Hull’s Bus Partnership (the Hull Bus Alliance), which demonstrates all partners’ commitment to public transport in the city. As part of this, a joint bid was submitted in December 2023 to revolutionise Hull’s transport network and bring nearly 40 electric buses to the city in 2025, which will play a major part in improving air quality and reducing environmental impact of bus operations.
Ben summarised: “Public transport is a very efficient use of road space, and a double decker bus can take up to 75 single occupancy cars off the road, making a substantial difference to congestion levels within the city. We are very disappointed to learn of Hull City Council’s movement to reduce bus lane operations. We will continue to work in partnership with the City Council to deliver the best outcomes for our customers who will be most affected by this change.”
