(08 Dec 2020, 5:33 pm)IRHardy wrote I think that the problem is that during the first COVID lockdown, the Government and the media did a really good job of stirring people into a frenzy, making them think that it is not safe to go outside and it is not safe to use public transport.

Therefore there are a lot of people who still feel scared about using public transport even though the messaging has changed.

These people will not return to using public transport no matter what the operators do, even if the operators offered free travel, so the government needs to get public transport out of the hole that the government created by its messaging (well actually, they need to sort out the whole country and the economy, but as this is a public transport forum, lets not go there).

Whatever ambitions of grandeur they have or however big their begging bowl is, the fact is the numbers have been dropping for the last 34 years.
This year was just a little bit more spectacular than previous for obvious reasons. 

Whilst I agree that numbers have been low across 2020 for a reason, I do think operators need to take some responsibility for their marketing and pricing, taking ownership of an issue which has affected many industries and organisations across the country. Why should the multi-million pound bus industry be the one to get all these bailouts, funding and grants? 

I don't think the lines about the environment, regeneration and being key to the economy recovering is nothing more than patter to be honest. There is no way all of those things are a priority. The shareholders are. 

These operators are private companies who try to make money for their shareholders. They want to be de-regulated, running things their own way - but want local and national governments to help them along the way, by chucking a few quid their way. 
It stinks of hypocrisy imo and this is just another example of that hypocrisy. 

There was discussion elsewhere in the forum about the 21 and X20 being stuck in retail park traffic and obviously we've seen many examples over the years of the 93/94 being stuck in associated shopping traffic. 
I won't go in to the ins and outs of what was said, but if the operators aren't offering a viable alternative to the car, then those people in the car won't make the switch.
Operators improving the network and sending buses through the same areas the cars are coming from will encourage punters to switch their mode of transport.
If for example it's found the residents of Lanchester prefer Sainsburys at the Arnison to Tesco at Delves and the switch to public transport is an option - then that's on the operator to fund and ensure commercial viability. 
Ditto those in Lobley Hill who prefer a mooch around Retail World (contributing to the delays with  93/94) on a Saturday as opposed to Gateshead High Street. 

It's not local or national governments job to fund a service, kick-start a route or offer attractive pricing.