On-demand bus service get thumbs up from passengers in first year of service

Residents of east Leeds have praised a new on-demand bus service for improving their options in getting to work, shopping, leisure activities and health appointments as the service celebrates its first year in operation.

FlexiBus East Leeds is the first Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service in our region. It doesn’t use the conventional bus stop network and instead customers make digital bookings through an app with designated pick-up points.

As part of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s strategy to create a well-connected transport system, it has funded a three-year pilot with a fleet of seven fully electric buses, each able to carry 12 passengers and run by First Bus.

‘It’s almost like getting a taxi’

Kayleigh Thomas, 30, who lives in Osmondthorpe, was one of the first customers to try FlexiBus. She uses it every morning to travel to Colton, where she is a sales advisor for UK Safety Management, which provides electrical and fire risk assessment to businesses.

“It’s really convenient as it enables me to book a trip that gets me close to the offices and I have time to chill before starting work,” said Kayleigh. “It’s almost like getting a taxi.”

She also travels at weekends to the Arndale Centre in Cross Gates and supermarket shopping in Seacroft. “I think because the bus in nearly door-to-door it is good for elderly people as they can get out more easily and explore,” adds Kayleigh.

Convenience is also cited by Lavinia Robinson, 37 from Harehills, who uses the service for her job at the Living Care health clinic at Thorpe Park. “The drivers are really friendly and chatty,” she adds. “This makes you want to use the bus, it’s almost a personalised service.”

FlexiBus operates in the areas of Richmond Hill, Cross Green and Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone. Residents in the area east of the A64, Seacroft, Whinmoor, Stanks, Swarcliffe and Manston also benefit and links are provided to Killingbeck Asda and Hunslet Morrisons that are external to the zone.

Passenger numbers growing

Cllr Peter Carlill, Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee, West Yorkshire Combined Authority,  said: “To see this service providing valuable support to the daily lives of people in the community is really satisfying. We are pleased with the progress being made as more customers discover its benefits.

“The evidence we are gathering from this trial will be important as we look to other areas in Leeds and the wider region where a DRT service could be introduced. Travel behaviour has altered since the pandemic and understanding how this type of bus service can meet our aspirations to grow the network and provide the connectivity West Yorkshire needs will inform future discussions.”

Passenger numbers have been growing steadily and are currently some 30 per cent higher per week compared to April this year. Among the top destinations are St James’s Hospital, Cross Gates train station and Newlands Community Centre.

The charity Cross Gates & District Good Neighbours Scheme CIO has seen the popularity of FlexiBus increase among the people it supports. From the Newman Centre it organises around 30 group meetings a week for those aged over 60 in a range of activities such as coffee mornings, exercise classes, IT skills and lunch events. And at the Crossgates and Whinmoor Community hub in the Crossgates Shopping Centre, it provides information, guidance and IT support to the community.

Samantha Haggart, Digital Co-ordinator, has held teach-in sessions for over 50 people to help register with the app and use the journey planning tools: “Once people start using it, they like it and realise they can easily book repeat trips and use their pre-set address information to get to other destinations,” she said.

Will Pearson, Head of Operations for First Bus in West Yorkshire, said: “From day one we’ve had strong interest from our drivers in joining the service. Their enthusiasm and commitment has really helped to promote FlexiBus and it’s great to hear the feedback from customers about travelling with us.

“It takes time for an innovative service likes this to settle and we’ve learnt a lot about route planning. We continue to work closely with the Combined Authority team to build on the achievements in this first year and grow a successful complement to the bus network.”

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