The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is aiming to increase the emphasis on digital channels for providing information on the region’s buses.
Its transport committee has been presented with a draft strategy that advocates a ‘digital first’ approach, ensuring that online information is always available, driven by what customers need and cost-effective.
The strategy proposes that the production of printed information should be phased out, and the West Yorkshire Metro website upgraded to become mobile-responsive with a webchat facility.
Other plans include reviewing the online journey planner with a view to reducing its cost, making more information available at bus stops with the introduction of 1,000 more screens, and providing more digital self-service facilities in travel centre.
Among the detail on the use of existing digital services is that over 650,000 timetables are downloaded every month and information is accessed 4.6 millions per month through the relevant website and apps.
25% increase target
Councillor Kim Groves, chair of the WYCA transport committee, said: “Providing accurate, up-to-date information in the form that people want to use it will be essential to us achieving our aim of a 25% increase in bus use across West Yorkshire over the next 10 years.
“Increasingly we are seeing people using the digital options to plan their journeys, stay updated and pay for their travel and the new draft of the Bus Information Strategy reflects this.
“However, it is important that we continue to make printed information available while there are still people who want it in that format, while at the same time ensuring we are achieving cost effectiveness for council tax payers.”
The strategy will be considered at a meeting of the committee on Friday 15 March.
Image from WYCA
