The idea of a bus network modelled on the London Underground system is an interesting one. First Bradford's Overground system presents a selection of key routes in a clear and logical manner and is well worthwhile.

It has given a new look to the bus services in and around Bradford and in the long run could persuade a growing number of people to leave their cars at home and give public transport a chance - especially as new, clean and quiet buses are employed on those routes.

However, there is much more to Bradford's bus system than the Overground routes. There are a lot of other routes, too, which were changed to accommodate the new network. It is on these new routes that many of the problems seem to have arisen - problems which have brought a flood of letters to the T&A and countless complaints to First Bradford, including a 5,000-name petition from residents of Ravenscliffe and Thorpe Edge who have lost the direct link between their estates.

Something appears to have gone wrong with the fine detail, a situation which many people have blamed on a lack of public consultation before the changes went ahead.

There seems little doubt that First Bradford could have avoided a lot of the criticism if they had talked their proposals through with their customers before implementing them. Now that the company's managing director has admitted that mistakes have been made, let's hope that an amended scheme can be made to work successfully so that, as was intended by the changes, more people are attracted to travel on Bradford's buses.