(12 Dec 2018, 9:37 pm)Tamesider wrote 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.
There is a rehash of this story with NO extra detail and the same "easy target" blame on buses/passengers on the MEN website tonight. The only things to add are that it is clearer that Whitehall are dictating this CleanAir edict to "Manchester" and indeed many other local authorities up and down the country. They in turn are supposedly driven by "ClientEarth" whose clients I assume are the Rail Lobby and uber/gett/wambamm etc.
Also, after a private meeting last week there will be a "public" meeting on 11th January, 14 days *after* the plans have to be submitted to Whitehall.
Lastly, it is confirmed the IPPR North figures quoted 6 months ago are based on Euro6 and electrics only (not Hybrids). As all talk locally until then had been based on GMCA banning just Euro3 and worse, this indicates that not only have Whitehall moved the goalposts, but IPPR *knew* months ago that they would.
(14 Dec 2018, 10:04 am)Andreos1 wrote Operators are quick to jump on the back of Transport Focus type surveys or awards ceremonies that tend to massage the ego a bit.
However, have they ever tried finding out why punters mooching around Eldon Square chose the car over the bus?
As I see it, the on-board surveys and industry awards ceremonies, give a skewed view of their business.
'we must be doing alright. We scored 91% on a survey of our passengers and we picked up a couple of trophies at the last dicky bow tie event we were at. People must be leaving us in droves because of traffic jams and roadworks'.
The potential passengers or passengers who have given up using the bus aren't spoken to or consulted.
They aren't involved in sharing thoughts or ideas.
They don't have any input or voice that could help shape or improve public transport.
The ignored majority.
People are going to accuse me of being your "man in GM" because again, I totally agree. Obviously, these "on bus" surveys are contrived by talking to people on the routes giving the best value. It also helps that passengers don't know which services are making the most money and the massive fares differences between individual services, alongside service cuts v enhancements. Dare I say that they will also exploit the fact that people on captive market routes have lower expectation levels, partly because they are more likely to have other big problems to contend with in socio-economically divided Britain, nay socio-economically divided Greater Manchester.