Can you go BIG to win better buses in West Yorkshire?

Our buses are in crisis. We've lost nearly half our bus routes in the last decade. Fares are increasing, even when they're supposed to be capped. Buses never turn up on time.

It doesn’t have to be like this. Franchising our buses gives power back to the public and unlocks new ways to add routes, boost reliability, and improve affordability (read more about how here). Basically? It puts people over profit.

Thanks to campaigning by people like you, Tracy Brabin has announced plans to take buses into public control. But the Government will only do it if she can show the public are behind bus franchising in a 3 month consultation.

The consultation is starting in late October. That's why we want to release a video every day in November from a local person who is backing the plans. Not only will this get the attention of the press. It'll also encourage other people to take part when they see your video on social media.

These will be our 30 reasons to regulate our buses in the public interest. They’ll be personal stories about why we need better buses.

We need your help to reach the 30! Please use the guide below to draft, record, and submit your video. Need support writing your script or filming the video, email matthew@weownit.org.uk.

Want to know more about why we should franchise our buses? Take a look here!

How to take part?

Stage one: write your script!

  1. Go to our draft script here and download it (File>Download>Word). You can also copy and paste the link here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nLfTVGIJ95ppKHBxlVcbOV6B4p3cMKHB7jYRnDFC4ZU/edit?usp=sharing
  2. Open the file (30 Reasons Why Scripts WY.docx) on your phone or computer.
  3. Edit the draft script as directed to tell your story about why you need buses in public control. Concentrate on describing how bad your experience is right now. That’s the most important thing. If you can link it into why franchising can help, that’s just a bonus. Use our cheat sheet to link up your problem with the case for franchising: https://weownit.org.uk/why-franchising

Want an example script to read? Have a look at these two from Matthew. An example video? Here's one we made earlier for a different area! See their example videos here.

Stage two: record your video!

  1. Pick where you are going to record your video (e.g., at home, ideally at a bus stop).
  2. Decide how you are going to record your video (e.g., on your phone, using zoom on your computer).
  3. Decide if you’re going to hold your phone/camera (e.g., selfie mode) or if you’re going to have a friend, family, or colleague hold it for you.
  4. Record your video! Don’t worry if it takes a few times to get through your script OR if you slip up. We want our videos to look like they’re by members of the public to show the region’s leaders that the public really care about this issue.

If you want support to record your video, please email Matthew Topham on matthew@weownit.org.uk to arrange zoom session to record it.

Alert! If you’re recording on your phone, please record a portrait!

Stage three: fill in the consent form!

  1. Before you upload your video, please fill in our consent form for us to store your video and post it on our social media channel: @BetterBusesWY
  2. Please go to the form online here: https://forms.gle/ZRZhRerqiFLGh9iX8

Stage four: upload your video!

  1. Now that you’ve filled in the consent form, it’s time to upload your video!
  2. Go to our DropBox and upload the video file: https://www.dropbox.com/request/rn49aeYN4DCsEH60MR9E
  3. Make sure you complete the form and upload your video. You should get an email confirming it has been submitted. If not, try again.

You’re done! Thank you SO much for taking part. If you have any problems or questions, please email matthew@weownit.org.uk.

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