Mayor Oliver Coppard defends Sheffield bus gate plans as he sets out aims for "world-class" public transport
“If we're taking on control of the buses and the tram as we are, we've got to make sure it's easy for people to use and that they get there on time”
The Mayor of South Yorkshire has said he wants a “world-class public transport system” as he defends plans to change a controversial bus gate layout.
Oliver Coppard spoke about his ambitions in the first sit down Q&A with The Star, where readers got their chance to ask their most pressing questions.
The topic of buses was raised as South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) prepareS to bring the service under public control next summer.
“I want a world class public transport system in South Yorkshire,” the mayor said.
“The reason I want a world-class public transport system in South Yorkshire is because that's what we used to have when I grow up - and I'm determined to get give that back to the people of South Yorkshire.”
He saID that under his reign, trams have improved in both reliability and cost effectiveness, and that the same can be done for buses.
When buses come under public control, it is hoped the various public transport services will be better coordinated under the new ‘South Yorkshire People’s Network’ banner.
Proposals for buses include free travel for children under 18 - which has already been trialled in Barnsley - and reconsidering routes to protect “important” services that may otherwise be cut.
“At the moment, the private sector runs all the buses in South Yorkshire,” Mr Coppard continued.
“They're the ones that run the network, they're the ones that cut the routes, and when they cut the routes they come to us and say, ‘well, you pay for it, we can't make it work’ - which is why we're bringing it back under public control because we want to have the entirety of the network under our control.
“[Then] I can say when there is a route that is not profitable, but it's important, we can use the profit from the other bits of the network to subsidise it - at the moment, that's not possible.”
Expanding tram routes were also discussed, however the mayor explained that they are currently having to “look at all the options”.
He went on to say: “This is what I find frustrating, just like anybody else - I was to be able to say ‘right that line there needs a tram, we’ve got some money over here, move it over there, let’s get on with it’.
“In this country, sadly, that is not quite how things work.”
He also defended plans to change tram and bus gates in Hillsborough, saying that “33 buses full of people are getting delayed every single day” due to the junction around Holme Lane and Langsett Road.
Sheffield City Council IS currently planning to extend the existing bus gate to run for 12 hours a day, while changing road layouts that would result in reduced parking options.
“If we're taking on control of the buses and the tram as we are, we've got to make sure it's easy for people to use and that they get there on time,” Mr Coppard added.
“Some of that is about making changes to some of those junctions and that's what we're trying to do.
“We’ve got to balance that with the needs of car drivers - I drive through there and I can find it frustrating sometimes, but sometimes this is about a balance so that everybody has freedom and choice.
“Some people can't drive, some people need to use the bus, some people don't have a car, some people want to use public transport - they've got to be able to use those routes as well and at the moment, that junction holds them up.”