Bus drivers have been urged to "make eye contact" and be friendlier towards passengers, after it emerged bus use was falling in West Yorkshire.
The suggestions were made in a report into public transport use in the region, which explained how drivers could provide "increased emotional satisfaction".
The comments were among findings in the report by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) transport committee.
The report, which is set to be discussed by the committee this week, stated: “The role of the driver emerges as a key factor with the potential to address some of the negative emotional responses to bus travel.
“Improved emotional satisfaction and connection with bus services could be achieved, for example, if drivers are constant on the same route at the same time; acknowledge passengers and provide eye contact; help with passenger queries; keep customers informed; and help customers onto buses, if needed.”
Women have 'more negative views'
The report suggested that existing evidence “based on a number of international research studies” shows that women generally have more negative views of public transport than men.
It added: “Bus users experience a wide spectrum of emotional responses to bus use.
“These range from a sense of pride and trust in services which are reliable and good value for money, to anxiety and irritation whilst waiting for buses to arrive, or feeling unsafe whilst using a bus, travelling to and from bus stops, or waiting at bus stops.”
The findings come alongside plans from WYCA’s West Yorkshire Bus Alliance to provide an “improved customer offer”.
The priorities for the scheme include a driver training programme, which will “deliver further training to improve driver interaction with customers”.
The Leeds Transport Strategy, was released by Leeds City Council back in June 2018 and included a target of doubling bus passengers in the city over the next 10 years.
Figures released late last year had in fact shown a decrease in passengers.
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