28 March 2025

Mayor’s Fares making it easier to get around West Yorkshire

Over three-quarters of people surveyed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority said that the fare cap made it easier for them to make multiple bus journeys on the same day.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, introduced Mayor’s Fares in September 2022, the first scheme of its kind in the country at the time, to help make travel around the region easier and cheaper and to help people with the cost-of-living crisis. This initiative was followed by the Government in January 2023.

Of the 2,013 respondents, over half agreed that Mayor’s Fares had saved them money, while nearly half said the cap had improved access to job opportunities.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:

“Our Mayor’s Fares have had such a positive impact on people using buses across the region.

“We have worked hard to keep fares low so that people have access to affordable bus travel across the region.

“Improving our bus network and bringing it back under public control is central to our plan to build a greener, better-connected region that works for all.”

One in five respondents to the survey have used buses more or started using buses in West Yorkshire since Mayor’s Fares were introduced.

Over half of the people surveyed said that Mayor’s Fares encouraged them to get out and explore the region.

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:

“It’s great that we’ve been able to use our powers as a combined authority to keep fares low. Improving transport services while keeping fares affordable is key to our growth ambitions for West Yorkshire.”

From Sunday 30^th March 2025 until the end of the year, the price cap will be set at £2.50 for single bus fares in the region – 50p below the national bus fare cap. A DaySaver ticket will be priced at £6.

This survey was commissioned by the Combined Authority and the results come off the back of a national Transport Focus survey which rated West Yorkshire as having least satisfaction in its bus services – further justifying the decision to bring buses back under public control which will give the Combined Authority more power over routes, frequencies, fares and overall standards for buses in the region.

A link to the survey results can be found on our website.