Without studying overall population figures and number/percentage of households without private transport, the basic issues are many and complex, but very similar across the northern conurbations. I think Andreos is bang on the money with his reasoning, and the "nowt to do with us" attitude of the Operators is typical of the private sector throughout industries that millions depend on; Usual pattern, we develop policies forcing millions out of our business; those millions of individuals find alternatives that create major problems across society and then the private sector whinge about problems THEY largely created. Supermarkets are the same; Try finding a ready meal with wholegrain instead of white rice. try finding any ready meal without unnecessary amounts of sugar; try finding fresh fruit in affordable amounts that won't go off before a single householder can get through them; same principle - they make things as unhealthy as possible an them whinge about taxes going to the NHS.

Equally, though the story highlights basic flaws in other parties, although this first one might apply in Greater Manchester more than Tyne & Wear.

1. This narrow obsession that traffic congestion is something that only happens within a mile of the regional centre (or on Motorways). Tonight, I made the fatal mistake of a bus in the hand is better than two buses (or even one bus and one train and a long walk) on the bush. With yet more warnings of the notorious MSIRR works and Champions League football creating the usual Wednesday night "perfect storm", I came out of Manchester Royal Infirmary at the right time to catch a 42A, which although the journey distance is easily double the 4 miles it would have been if I had been a proverbial crow, it meant I wouldn't have to fight for a space for an inbound bus past the University, risk said perfect storm and then risk a repeat getting out of M'cr again. The signs were even better when the 42A arrived not only on time, but the correct type of bus (E400H). The 42/42A/42B (along with others along Wilmslow Road) are designated hybrid services, but last Wednesday when I attended an identical appointment ALL buses I saw on this group of services (and the majority on the other Wilmslow Road services) were 10yo Euro4s.
Note I said it arrived on time, and given the usual school traffic through Fallowfield etc, pretty much maintained time within the increased peak hour timings (this was 1545-1600hrs). However, once beyond Withington and into the borough of Stockport, it lost TWENTY-THREE minutes.

2. The news report states that "Manchester" are considering charging private vehicles for entering parts of the city. It doesn't mention that "Manchester" are also considering punitive charges for buses below Euro6 or even Euro7, nor does it say how much "Manchester" are being dictated to by Whitehall under "CleanAir" given that GMCA plans were always to charge/ban buses below Euro *4*.

Its usual media reporting; Motorists are human beings; Rail users are human beings; bus passengers are statistics.