REGIONAL transport bosses have welcomed Government plans to invest £5 billion in improvements to bus services and cycle links outside London.

Councillor Kim Groves, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority transport committee, said the funding would help build upon work already being carried out.

She said that through the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, investment was helping to make services more punctual and reliable, introducing new cleaner buses and improving affordability and ease of use – particularly for young people.

Councillor Groves added: “Each year people in West Yorkshire use buses to make nearly 150 million journeys so I am pleased to see the Government finally recognising their importance.

“I have long been calling for a national bus strategy and look forward to seeing details from the Government on how it proposes to help us ensure bus services can support all our local communities, underpin sustainable growth and achieve our targets for combating climate change.”

She said the cash could also support cycling and walking infrastructure plans to make town centres safer for cyclists and pedestrians and to further develop the authority’s hugely-successful CityConnect programme.

“Through CityConnect we have already delivered 67km of new and improved cycling and walking routes," she said.

“Being able to build on this work without having to go through a bureaucratic bidding process will help us make the progress required to meet our commitment to becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038 at the latest.

“The funding announcement is a welcome start, but we need to see a Government commitment to significant and sustained, long-term investment that will level up the years of under-investment that have frustrated the ambitions and potential of city regions across the north.”

News of the funding comes as figures show that a free adult cycle training scheme in the region has been a massive success.

More than 1,860 people have benefitted from the project, delivered as part of the CityConnect programme.

Of the participants, 450 people – including jobseekers and apprentices – also received a bike.

Nearly 60 per cent of those who have taken part say they now cycle more often.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Cllr Groves.