(30 Jan 2019, 12:53 pm)Andreos1 wrote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-47045872
Huge drop in passengers according to latest report.
"It's nearly impossible for councils to keep subsidising free travel".
Well here we have the same old problem - ENCTS. Councils are forced to pay for the bus travel of all pensioners, regardless of if they can afford it or not. The only result can be marginal services are cut for the entire population.
(30 Jan 2019, 9:13 pm)Tamesider wrote Less than 2% is hardly huge in the context of lost patronage. GM has lost more than 2% a year every year for many years and historically has only seen a couple of "blips" in 32 years when it has either stabilised or increased. Typical BBC to use stills from Manchester where their stories are often inappropriate and always inaccurate. Doubtless the original caption said "this hybrid bus is killing your child - not the unregulated 15 year oid diesel taxis clogging up the city; not the 44 tonners crawling through every junction on the M60 8, 10, 12 hours a day - its Euro4, 5, 6 and hybrid buses, used by lobbyless oiks".
Not wanting to repeat a previous conversation; but is Manchester not slightly different in that there's been a modal shift to Metrolink? I maintain I'd rather be a bus user in a PTE area than a non-PTE area. When changes occur TFGM produce a 91 page document to asses the impact and any necessary action to be taken [ https://www.gmcameetings.co.uk/meetings/...-committee ]. Conversely, Stoke-on-Trent city council respond with 'Not our problem, guv'.