BUS passengers in York face another major shake-up, with a swathe of changes to First routes. The Number 16 service is to be withdrawn altogether, with passengers on that route being served by a re-directed Number 5 instead.

There will also be timetable changes to the Numbers 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13, and route changes on Numbers 11 and 13.

Ticket regulations on Park & Ride services will also change, meaning passengers can no longer use weekly or monthly tickets to get between intermediate stops along the route. First says many of the changes are the result of its new Park&Ride contract, and will improve timetables. Others will increase the reliability of services. We understand the desire to improve services. But the key to a reliable, accessible bus service is regular routes and times that passengers know and trust.

Constant tinkering is not the way to encourage people to ditch their cars in favour of the bus. It just makes them fed up and frustrated.