(25 Jan 2021, 10:35 am)Dan wrote ...which is largely what the strategy is, but sadly the perception seems to be that it's either black or white and no in between!
There may be a subtle nod to one of the colours on cross-boundary services; such as how Cityrider and Crusader includes red at the rear, Cobalt & Coast includes blue at the rear, and Connections4 includes pink at the front, but it's not the be all and end all, 'farce' and 'flawed strategy' that it's being made out to be, due to a very small reference included within an internal team briefing.
I realise we are getting in to eezypeazy levels of splitting hairs here, but there's either a scheme with a uniform identity for local areas or not at all.
If there's some sort of middle bit or 'in-between', then isn't it flawed? It's either one or the other, not a bit of everything.
Some buses in the 2 year old strategy are going to all one colour, some have hints at the rear and some have their entire front end coloured.
Then you have other brands, such as those seen on the express network (which sometimes ties in with the operating area - more often not), specific route branding as seen on the 21 or 78 (which in the case of the 21 works for a small portion of its route - tying in with Gateshead colours) and unique branding as seen on the 53/54 or on the Q3.
Or, you have the corporate id which has no links to specific operating areas whatsoever.
Diluting brands or corporate identity was discussed at length in the past. Which brand or identity is being diluted here? Cos as far as I'm concerned, if there is any diluting of brand or corporate identity - then the strategy is flawed.
I'm looking at this from the outside in and I'm struggling to see anything other than a farce.
I've seen mention elsewhere on the forum that perfectly usable, functional tables are being replaced - but yet people can't get to hospitals or important appointments without having to faff on with changing buses.
I'm seeing DDA best practice ignored with regard to the blinds - but yet people can't get home from work using public transport cos the buses head off to the depot early in the evening.
I'm seeing complaining from senior stakeholders that the public purse needs to spend more on bus priority measures - but there's a chain of different numbered buses following each other for miles, carrying nowt but fresh air.
Howay man. Priorities and all that.