Pricing
Pricing
Its when zones are set up with the sole intention of making money that frustrates me.
Key/popular routes with no competition often go through 3 zones end to end, whilst a similar duration/distance journey with competition will only have 1 or 2 zones.
Additional zones were added to the west of the region too.
The old system (which has been mentioned earlier) of Tyne & Wear, Co Durham etc was great for customers, easy to understand and was very affordable.
I have used a similar example previously on the old GNE facebook discussion page, but if I was to buy a red ticket - I could travel from Shiney Row to Woodstone Village to drop the kids at school, change buses and head to Houghton to pay some bills. From there, I can go to Hetton to go to the gym, change onto the bus to Seaham and eventually work my way up to South Shields to do some shopping and get some fish & chips - before making my way to see a mate in Hebburn. Heading home I have a range of options staying in the red zone.
I've travelled miles, used at least 7 buses just to get to Hebburn, but it is cheaper than getting a red/purple ticket from Shiney to Hebburn via Heworth or Gateshead and not being able to drop the kids off, pay the bills, do the shopping or have any fish & chips at the coast...
Aureloin also used the example previously about needing a 3zone ticket to travel between Washington, Chester and Shiney Row (we all know how far you can get on one of those tickets!).
From Bournmoor, it is cheaper to go to Sunderland on the bus, (even though it is further and in a different county) than it is to pop down the road to Chester le Street...
