(01 Jul 2021, 10:03 am)Andreos1 wrote Always get mixed up with the 2/2a. Are they not circulars any more?
Unless I need to get off on a unique section (and check with the driver if it goes to Shiney or not), I tend to just board whichever version comes first.
The loop roads are funny things. Apart from Fallowfield Way and the back of Barmston, I'm not sure of any that have suitable places to stop. Hail & ride or otherwise.
There's either bends or some sort of camber on most of the ones I can think of.
I agree that it should be an option. But whether it could be or not, not sure.
Yeah I remember when I first moved to Washington in the very early 90s that the old minilinks used to operate on a hail and ride basis around the likes of Barmston and I remember it being a bit awkward for drivers as to where to stop etc. In recent years they have put more paving around one side of the village loop road, and on the other side they have small areas of paving along with Bus Stop road markings so that the buses can serve all parts of the village safely. Maybe this is something Sunderland Council can look to do with all villages in the area.
I know there are many villages in Washington (Blackfell, High Usworth, Teal Farm just to name a few) where the buses go through only one side of the village, meaning a fair walk for some, which will feel like a long walk for the elderley. No the wonder people don't see the bus as an attractive option anymore because it is clearly all about streamling which of course I can understand to a degree. I would rather see Go North East priortising ways of providing all people with a good reliable bus service for each village rather than constantly throwing monety at painting and chopping and changing brands every 5 minutes. In my opinion all villages should really have a minimum of a half hourly bus service within 5 mins walking distance of their home unless it is impossible to do so. If bus companies really want to encourage people to "be more green" and leave the car at home they need to be making it more attractive at least.
(01 Jul 2021, 10:32 am)ASX_Terranova wrote In regards to the loop roads, why did the services stop.
I also think a taxibus would probably work for these areas.
I'm also going to make a suggestion for another washington taxibus (see attachment).
I think Go North East should consider looking at buying some of these types of minibuses to serve areas with lower passnger numbers and areas where it is tight to get bigger buses around
https://www.flickr.com/photos/46986413@N07/35122150323/
(01 Jul 2021, 11:21 am)Adrian wrote I disagree with you there. The Little Pinks network is clearly designed around operational efficiency, rather than the customer. There are still a number of issues that exist from when the Galleries split first happened.
The Galleries terminus still allows through-fares, but it is not possible to get a return fare, other than from Concord. For example, the 84 becomes an 82 at the Galleries and continues to Birtley, but on the return leg, that 82 becomes an 83 at the Galleries and serves a completely different set of stops between the Galleries and Concord. As there's no route saver tickets available, nor an area saver that covers the whole route, it leaves you needing a Purple Zone Go Zones ticket to cover the return journey via 3 buses.
Despite the through-journeys still existing, they are no longer advertised on the GNE timetable and have never been shown on the bus stop timetables (Nexus advised me that it wasn't possible, as they print timetables to the same standard throughout the network). So only those with knowledge of the services will know they don't have to get onto another bus at the Galleries. This isn't helpful to customers, especially those that infrequently use buses.
Dear me I never realised it was this bad! When I do use the Little Pinks I tend to only used the 83/4 to the Galleries or Concord and have never used the 81/2 since the changes! What a mess! Looking further into this am I right in thinking Rickleton only has a bus every 2 hours during the day on a Sunday?