PEOPLE are being invited to have their say on taking back control of the buses as a major consultation launched today into how buses should be run in the region.

The 12-week public consultation aims to get the views of people, businesses and organisations in South Yorkshire on proposals to introduce bus franchising.

You can access the full consultation document or summary of it and respond by using the long or short survey at www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/bus-reform.

Under bus franchising, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) would take control of the bus network including depots, bus fleets, routes, timetables, service standards, tickets and fares.

Buses are the most used mode of public transport in South Yorkshire. Since 1986 bus services in the region have been deregulated, meaning private bus companies are currently responsible for the bus network and are mostly running buses commercially to make a profit.

However, some bus services in South Yorkshire need to be funded by SYMCA, such as evening and weekend services, which do not make a profit but are vital to the communities they serve. SYMCA pays nearly £24m a year in subsidy for these bus services.

There are currently 23 bus companies operating in the region and over 100 types of tickets available, which can be confusing for passengers.

Over 60 per cent of respondents to a survey said they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the reliability of bus services in South Yorkshire, with around 1 in 5 buses arriving late.

Also, in recent years, there have been significant cuts to the bus network. In 2007 the bus network in South Yorkshire operated 43 million miles but this has now more than halved.

SYMCA has the power to reform bus services to make sure they work better for the public and under a bus franchising scheme, SYMCA can reinvest any profit back into improving the system for the public.

The government set out a number of steps SYMCA must follow before it can introduce bus franchising which included a Franchising Assessment looking at different options to run bus services. The Assessment concluded that SYMCA taking control of the depots and bus fleet under franchising was the preferred option.

At the SYMCA Board meeting on Tuesday October 8, the Mayor and South Yorkshire leaders agreed to proceed to the next stage of the process which is a 12-week public consultation on the proposed franchising scheme.

Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Martin Swales, said: “We’re at a pivotal stage in our journey towards reforming our bus network in South Yorkshire.

“Before any changes are made to how we run buses, it is vital that we hear from the public, businesses and a range of organisations about what they think of our proposals to take back control of our buses.

“We want as many people as possible to have their say so we can decide the best way forward to a better-connected region that works for everyone who lives and works here.

“We will listen and consider all opinions before a final decision is made on the future of how bus services are operated.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has been committed to improving buses in South Yorkshire since his election, with feedback from over 30 public meetings on bus services across all four boroughs in South Yorkshire making clear that the current system is not working for them.

Once the consultation has concluded Mayor Coppard will listen to and consider the responses before making a final decision.

Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said: "As a statutory consultee, the council will be responding to SYMCA’s consultation on bus franchising for South Yorkshire.

"The consultation opens on Wednesday 23 October for 12 weeks, and I encourage all our residents and businesses to have their say."

How to have your say on the future of buses

The 12-week consultation will run until Wednesday 15 January 2025.

If you want to get involved and give your views about the proposals in the bus franchising consultation, you can read the full consultation or summary of it and respond by using the long or short survey on SYMCA’s website. All the information you need and the surveys are available here.

There will also be a series of public information drop-in events across South Yorkshire where you can talk to the consultation team and ask any questions.

The consultation is open to all members of the public, businesses and organisations. You do not have to be located or live in South Yorkshire to take part. The deadline to respond to the consultation is 11.59pm January 15 2025.

Following the consultation, the results will be published, and a final decision is expected to be made on the future of South Yorkshire’s buses in spring 2025