People in North Yorkshire are being invited to give their views on the countywide improvements they would like to see to improve bus services.

The county council is consulting the public on proposals in its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) ahead of the creation of an enhanced partnership, which will see the council and local bus operators working more closely to improve services.

The BSIP sets out proposals to transform bus services across the county by making buses more frequent, more reliable, easier to understand and use, better co-ordinated and cheaper. 

The plan is dependent on funding from the Department for Transport and is in response to the Government’s National Bus Strategy, which aims to transform bus services with the aim of encouraging more people to choose to travel by bus.

Read more: Arriva respond after claims it shouldn't run services in County Durham

The consultation invites views on how to achieve a more effective bus service, improving information for customers, having consistent fares and increasing bus services based on customer demand rather than running on set routes at set times.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said: “Across North Yorkshire, buses play a vital role in supporting rural communities and helping residents to remain independent.

"Efficient bus services also enable and encourage us to leave our cars at home in favour of more sustainable transport, which reduces congestion, improves air quality, and helps us to keep fit.

“Through this consultation, we want to learn what developments are important to you, so that when the Department for Transport announces the funding the county will receive, we can prioritise the most effective measures.

“This consultation is about those countywide changes that can make a real difference. In this instance, we are not focusing of specific routes or services.”

The consultation will run from January 10 to February 7. Take part in the consultation online at www.northyorks.gov.uk/bsip.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated North Yorkshire Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054