(30 Jan 2014, 11:25 am)gtomlinson wrote Very good!
I don't think GNE can do much more, the loadings on the Angel are good (but how much of that is down to lack of car ownership and concessionary is another debate) and the timetabled frequency can't be knocked (though its very rarely running at that frequency as you say due to other issues)
But the Angel is only going to get worse in terms of reliability. They've tried with the pointless Durham Road bus lane from Newcastle Bank through to Low Fell but the addition of another 2 sets of lights in Birtley won't help and might even drive more folk from longer distance to the X21 - not a bad thing.
I do sympathise but sometimes it is simply just easier to take the car and no amount of bus lanes etc will ever change that
Lights outside St Josephs Church and Morrisons?
You are right, it isn't going to help and will only add to issues the service has with reliability.
Going back to the point regarding routes, services and stopping places - the impact of four sets of lights in Birtley alone, will be felt either side of the town.
Maybe loadings will increase on the x21 and the 1 & 51/52 (which can already struggle due to traffic).
Personally, I would concentrate on ensuring loadings increase on the latter 3 for Low Fell -Gateshead/Newcastle runs (maybe even adding additional local Gateshead services), whilst making the 21 a limited stop between the Harlow Green and Gateshead.
Bus lanes and endless amounts of the ever changing white paint, chucked about with abandon on the dualed section of Durham Road over the last 20years hasn't helped. Neither has the removal of footbridges or replacing them with crossings in Low Fell.
Maybe it is time GNE took some control back and used their own initiative, rather than rely on Gateshead Council to come up with ideas.