(05 Sep 2022, 5:29 pm)54APhotography wrote BBC reported the £1 as the flat single fare throughout Somerset this morning, not surprised if they didn't confirm that before whacking it on their web upload. 
I can't see it working, cap initiatives rarely do, and for three months it may prove popular, but if the bus you go for is cancelled, immediately it loses the attraction. A quick look over the plethora of cancellations today offers little hope of any stability during the promotional period. 

As you say, a clear and permanent strategy is needed, however with this cabal in power, there are no long term policies towards public transport...

Yeah, and that's the big problem at the minute. GNE were running really (and some say too) cheap fares last Summer and into this year, but it was against a backdrop of the most horrendous reliability issues that most of us have ever seen outside of industrial action.

The fares could be 20p, 50p, whatever... but if people turn up to use a service and are inconvenienced by it, then it'll be a long time before they ever try again, if they have other options available.

(05 Sep 2022, 5:51 pm)Rob44 wrote I disagree with this like.  Those OAPs who put there hand out for the bus, it sops.  Engine ideating, they get on sit down then immediately ring the bell to get off at the next stop...... they would all of a sudden find the ability to walk to 100 metres i bet if they had to pay. Nowt should be free

I've often had conflicted views on this, but the only reason we tend to complain about it, is because the model of reimbursement has never been right. Less so after fuel duty rebate was replaced with BSOG.

Ultimately we should be widening access to public transport, in a similar vein to what the SNP have introduced in Scotland for Under 22s. But like everything else, it needs proper Government funding.

(05 Sep 2022, 6:57 pm)Storx wrote Personally flat rates don't work outside urban areas as the urban fares aren't particular cheap if it's Low Fell to Gateshead for example but outside of it, it's stupidly cheap.

It should be based on milage imo, £1.00 + 10p per mile with a maximum fare of £4.50 or something along those lines with zoned caps, similar to oyster so it's all automatically calculated once some form smart card is done.

Journey, Single (Return)
Byker to Newcastle, £1.20 (£1.80)
Low Fell to Newcastle, £1.50 (£2.75)
Cramlington to Newcastle, £2.00 (£3.00)
Consett to Newcastle, £2.50 (£3.75)
Ashington to Newcastle, £3.00 (£4.50)
Durham to Newcastle, £3.00 (£4.50)
Berwick to Newcastle, £4.50 (£6.75)

They all seem fair fares to me and more reasonable.

Single journey caps are useless with a hub and spoke model too. What should have been introduced here, if anything, is a £2 hopper fare. Because if I wanted to go from say Low Fell to the Metrocentre, it's still going to be £4 (or £8 return). By which point I'd have been daft not to use the £4.20 day ticket.

I largely agree with a mileage-based system too, because it also resolves the lack of short-hop fares that are available.