Reversing the decline in passenger numbers
Reversing the decline in passenger numbers
(02 Jan 2020, 2:47 pm)Andreos1 https://twitter.com/alextransdev/status/...07169?s=19
An interesting thread regarding Sunday services within Harrogate.
(02 Jan 2020, 2:47 pm)Andreos1 https://twitter.com/alextransdev/status/...07169?s=19
An interesting thread regarding Sunday services within Harrogate.
https://twitter.com/ChronicleLive/status...78272?s=19
Interesting read and interesting comments.
Obviously price is a factor, depending on your journey it can vary wildly (and as i commented elsewhere, if you have to make a change the prices go up exponentially, unless you have a day ticket)
For me, a bus is far, far cheaper than car. £95 a month (it could be £68 if I was willing to use the app, which I'm not) is a bargain in my opinion for a month of unlimited travel on GNE (except X9/X10)
But for shorter journeys, the price of a day ticket is absolutely off putting. And as I've also brought up several times (and have been told by MG that they're 'looking in to it') is the lack of multi operator tickets in County Durham!
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(28 Jan 2020, 2:20 pm)Andreos1 https://twitter.com/ChronicleLive/status...78272?s=19And a Stagecoach Hull bus to illustrate it.
Interesting read and interesting comments.
(28 Jan 2020, 2:20 pm)Andreos1 https://twitter.com/ChronicleLive/status...78272?s=19And a Stagecoach Hull bus to illustrate it.
Interesting read and interesting comments.
(28 Jan 2020, 7:42 pm)BusLoverMum And a Stagecoach Hull bus to illustrate it.
(28 Jan 2020, 7:42 pm)BusLoverMum And a Stagecoach Hull bus to illustrate it.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-51815726
More than. 1.3 million people live 2km or more from a bus stop with a regular service. This data has been collated for BBC's panorama, tomorrow might at 8:30.
(15 Mar 2020, 8:41 am)BusLoverMum https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-51815726
More than. 1.3 million people live 2km or more from a bus stop with a regular service. This data has been collated for BBC's panorama, tomorrow night at 8:30.
(15 Mar 2020, 8:41 am)BusLoverMum https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-51815726
More than. 1.3 million people live 2km or more from a bus stop with a regular service. This data has been collated for BBC's panorama, tomorrow night at 8:30.
(15 Mar 2020, 9:16 am)Andreos1 I've literally just been reading this.It's quite startling, isn't it? And it's probably not one single issue. The cost will be a factor. People aren't going to pay £7+ return for a food shop when they have a £40 weekly budget and can share a taxi for much less and not have to juggle bags. People aren't going to take a trip out to a bigger town for a nice change when their hourly bus sometimes doesn't show up. People aren't going to take the bus to work when they work shifts and their evening services have been cut. My parents are in the 1.3 million after losing their bus to Hull, so they're not going to catch the bus, either, unless enough other people want to use the dial A bus.
Further in to the article, is a section showing this graph!
Scary stuff.
(15 Mar 2020, 9:16 am)Andreos1 I've literally just been reading this.It's quite startling, isn't it? And it's probably not one single issue. The cost will be a factor. People aren't going to pay £7+ return for a food shop when they have a £40 weekly budget and can share a taxi for much less and not have to juggle bags. People aren't going to take a trip out to a bigger town for a nice change when their hourly bus sometimes doesn't show up. People aren't going to take the bus to work when they work shifts and their evening services have been cut. My parents are in the 1.3 million after losing their bus to Hull, so they're not going to catch the bus, either, unless enough other people want to use the dial A bus.
Further in to the article, is a section showing this graph!
Scary stuff.
I think this is a double edged sword of getting people on the bus and passengers can be broken down into 3 groups although some overlap.
1 Enthusiasts. We all like buses on here so we will go on one whenever we can despite any alternatives there is because it's a hobby to us. We try getting certain buses or having days out on them.
2 People who don't have a car. They have no choice but to use the bus. They don't care if it an 04 plate Dennis Dart or 69 plate Streetdeck they want to get from A to B as quick as possible. WiFi and charger points are just a bonus.
3 People who can drive and using bus as a last resort. It's these people the company need to try encourage to keep using the bus.
It's this group what need the most encouragement. Go North East having a big picture on the back of the street decks showing people standing won't encourage people to use the bus. Neither does covering the Windows with pointless branding ( smaller companies doing it for advertising purposes to get revenue I can understand). The way to encourage people to use the bus more is having services that people want and getting them there as quick as possible. Why would people in Elwick or stillington who have a car want to use the bus at all when none of the company's can be bothered to serve their area. A family who parents don't work why would they get bus when it cheaper for them to use a taxi. The only way to get people who don't already regularly use the bus and keep people who are is by making sure every area has at least a semi regular service and cheap fares along with journeys been as quick as possible. Obviously the problem is most companies won't do that because they are a businesses and won't serve anywhere unless they know they can make money or get a subsidy for it. They buy the buses so can cover the Windows if they want because the management like having a nice shiny new branding on the bus and the first two groups will use the bus either way. So unless bus companies start providing services for people instead of profit or councils find the money to subsidise services again passengers are likely to stay the same or keep dropping no matter how many new buses have WiFi charger points and next stop announcements.
A study carried out by a transport consultancy has found that there will be a significant drop in passenger numbers once this Covid19 stuff is over.
No idea on the sample size used (remember that one eezypeazy?), but it will be interesting to see if their results are replicated in real life.
Edit: found the source http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2020...wer-trips/
(25 Apr 2020, 10:00 am)Andreos1 A study carried out by a transport consultancy has found that there will be a significant drop in passenger numbers once this Covid19 stuff is over.Well, in the next year or so, which is realistically how long we have before the end has any chance of being in sight, many people will be finding alternative transport for work, shopping, etc.
No idea on the sample size used (remember that one eezypeazy?), but it will be interesting to see if their results are replicated in real life.
Edit: found the source http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2020...wer-trips/
(25 Apr 2020, 10:00 am)Andreos1 A study carried out by a transport consultancy has found that there will be a significant drop in passenger numbers once this Covid19 stuff is over.Well, in the next year or so, which is realistically how long we have before the end has any chance of being in sight, many people will be finding alternative transport for work, shopping, etc.
No idea on the sample size used (remember that one eezypeazy?), but it will be interesting to see if their results are replicated in real life.
Edit: found the source http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2020...wer-trips/
Roger talks about the latest satisfaction figures
https://busandtrainuser.com/2020/04/28/f...isfaction/
(25 Apr 2020, 10:41 pm)BusLoverMum Well, in the next year or so, which is realistically how long we have before the end has any chance of being in sight, many people will be finding alternative transport for work, shopping, etc.
Supermarkets that have initially struggled with delivery capacity will have it well and truly sorted, as will high street retailers with previously half arsed online presence.
A small proportion of people are never leaving the house ever again.
(25 Apr 2020, 10:41 pm)BusLoverMum Well, in the next year or so, which is realistically how long we have before the end has any chance of being in sight, many people will be finding alternative transport for work, shopping, etc.
Supermarkets that have initially struggled with delivery capacity will have it well and truly sorted, as will high street retailers with previously half arsed online presence.
A small proportion of people are never leaving the house ever again.
http://www.movingforwardtogether.uk/late...-recovery/
The CPT are pushing for more investment of taxpayers money for a 'passenger led recovery'.
If ever there was a contradiction in terms, it's that one.
A passenger led recovery isn't passenger led, if it's funded by the taxpayer.
An operator led recovery would be one I would be in favour of.
Actual ownership and taking responsibility for operating the services they're supposed to and attracting passengers like they're supposed to.
Or am I missing something glaringly obvious here?
(08 Dec 2020, 1:06 pm)Andreos1 http://www.movingforwardtogether.uk/late...-recovery/I think that the problem is that during the first COVID lockdown, the Government and the media did a really good job of stirring people into a frenzy, making them think that it is not safe to go outside and it is not safe to use public transport.
The CPT are pushing for more investment of taxpayers money for a 'passenger led recovery'.
If ever there was a contradiction in terms, it's that one.
A passenger led recovery isn't passenger led, if it's funded by the taxpayer.
An operator led recovery would be one I would be in favour of.
Actual ownership and taking responsibility for operating the services they're supposed to and attracting passengers like they're supposed to.
Or am I missing something glaringly obvious here?
(08 Dec 2020, 1:06 pm)Andreos1 http://www.movingforwardtogether.uk/late...-recovery/I think that the problem is that during the first COVID lockdown, the Government and the media did a really good job of stirring people into a frenzy, making them think that it is not safe to go outside and it is not safe to use public transport.
The CPT are pushing for more investment of taxpayers money for a 'passenger led recovery'.
If ever there was a contradiction in terms, it's that one.
A passenger led recovery isn't passenger led, if it's funded by the taxpayer.
An operator led recovery would be one I would be in favour of.
Actual ownership and taking responsibility for operating the services they're supposed to and attracting passengers like they're supposed to.
Or am I missing something glaringly obvious here?
(08 Dec 2020, 5:33 pm)IRHardy I think that the problem is that during the first COVID lockdown, the Government and the media did a really good job of stirring people into a frenzy, making them think that it is not safe to go outside and it is not safe to use public transport.
Therefore there are a lot of people who still feel scared about using public transport even though the messaging has changed.
These people will not return to using public transport no matter what the operators do, even if the operators offered free travel, so the government needs to get public transport out of the hole that the government created by its messaging (well actually, they need to sort out the whole country and the economy, but as this is a public transport forum, lets not go there).
(08 Dec 2020, 5:33 pm)IRHardy I think that the problem is that during the first COVID lockdown, the Government and the media did a really good job of stirring people into a frenzy, making them think that it is not safe to go outside and it is not safe to use public transport.
Therefore there are a lot of people who still feel scared about using public transport even though the messaging has changed.
These people will not return to using public transport no matter what the operators do, even if the operators offered free travel, so the government needs to get public transport out of the hole that the government created by its messaging (well actually, they need to sort out the whole country and the economy, but as this is a public transport forum, lets not go there).
Boris has plans to ban the sale of new petrol cars within 10 years, as part of his green agenda, and force motorists to buy electric vehicles.
I'm guessing these plans will be quietly forgotten as people realise all the costs and problems associated with this, but if we assume it does happen, it will need levels of public transport investment and subsidies on a level never seen before, as millions of motorists will be unable to afford cars.
Outside of the biggest cities, we'll need massive spending on more bus routes and services, demand responsive transport and so on, if people are going to be able to commute to and from work.
Like I said, Im sure the plans wont happen due to the logistics and costs nightmare, but interesting to think how much extra public transport would be needed for such an event .
(09 Dec 2020, 1:03 pm)tvd Boris has plans to ban the sale of new petrol cars within 10 years, as part of his green agenda, and force motorists to buy electric vehicles.
I'm guessing these plans will be quietly forgotten as people realise all the costs and problems associated with this, but if we assume it does happen, it will need levels of public transport investment and subsidies on a level never seen before, as millions of motorists will be unable to afford cars.
Outside of the biggest cities, we'll need massive spending on more bus routes and services, demand responsive transport and so on, if people are going to be able to commute to and from work.
Like I said, Im sure the plans wont happen due to the logistics and costs nightmare, but interesting to think how much extra public transport would be needed for such an event .
(09 Dec 2020, 1:03 pm)tvd Boris has plans to ban the sale of new petrol cars within 10 years, as part of his green agenda, and force motorists to buy electric vehicles.
I'm guessing these plans will be quietly forgotten as people realise all the costs and problems associated with this, but if we assume it does happen, it will need levels of public transport investment and subsidies on a level never seen before, as millions of motorists will be unable to afford cars.
Outside of the biggest cities, we'll need massive spending on more bus routes and services, demand responsive transport and so on, if people are going to be able to commute to and from work.
Like I said, Im sure the plans wont happen due to the logistics and costs nightmare, but interesting to think how much extra public transport would be needed for such an event .
Some of the negatives of bus travel even now are that the bus doesn’t go to where people want to go, they’re too infrequent, don’t run on an evening or on a Sunday, have to change buses.. and so on.
If it ever came to be that millions of people couldn’t afford cars, without huge and expensive changes, many people wouldn’t be able to travel to work, particularly in lower paid jobs.
In those circumstances it would be virtually impossible to connect all local towns and villages in any local area with a realistically good enough bus service.
For most parts of the country I would guess a comprehensive local demand responsive transport network would have to be in place, like a bigger and better version of our Tees Flex.