Reversing the decline in passenger numbers
Reversing the decline in passenger numbers
Making driving more expensive just punishes people and families on low incomes who can't afford to run anything more than a banger, anyhow, but can't afford bus fare, possibly times 2 to get to work - or work somewhere not well served by public transport. Husband's office is in a business park a good 15 minutes walk from the nearest active bus stop, not that he can get there for an 8am start, by bus, anyhow. Admittedly his commute is long, Durham to Teesside, but we moved closer to littlun's special school because he struggles with long journeys. (thank fudge for working from home!)
I certainly can't see people being desperate to use the bus in Durham, if they don't have to, for a while. Had to make another visit to the optician's, this afternoon and while it's a nice walk in, I'm too sore and arthritic to manage the uphill slog home again, at the moment, so decided to catch the bus home. There was a 21 in but a massive queue for it. Never mind, anything that takes me up to the hospital is welcome. Fought my way through the crowds on North Road and just missed a 16. Kept going and just missed a 62 and then an X20. Annoyingly, the X20 didn't get very far as it got stuck in a queue, not helped by a broken down E200 on the 49a. Eventually a 64 turned up (they're on reduced frequency, at the moment) and it was a JH president. It had to stop in the road because the bus stop was blocked in. And it's a good thing I took my handbag and not just my card wallet because they're cash only. That'll catch a lot of people out.
