(28 Dec 2016, 9:56 pm)Ambassador wrote You sort of miss the point with that analogy. The car is competition for one off users. Take a group of friends going from Low Fell to Birtley. Anymore than 2 and a taxi is cheaper, that really shouldn't be the case. Bus companies aren't ever going to beat or try to beat the car in provincial towns and cities.
The vast majority of bus users are not by choice. They don't or cannot drive and they are at the whim and mercy of monopolies, poor timetabling and inflation busting fares.
With all due respect, when the vast majority of forum members get older and begin to rely on public transport at full fares and perhaps live away from flagship routes they'll get out of the enthusiast bubble and realise all operators are no better than any big business, they just lack the customer service and foresight to grow.
Yes taxi is cheaper for 1 trip or a short distance yet pay £5 for day ticket and you can travel to town metrocentre Washington Blaydon. You can rack up to 10x the miles you can in a taxi for same amount.
Also in regard inflation busting fares. Nexus is the worst offender. If you live in Washington and work in newcastle, you have to pay almost double the price per month for a Network One compared to a buzzfare.
Nexus force it's Network One users to pay for metro and ferry even though they might not use it.
Least with month tickets/ route savers from GNE you only pay for the services in your area