(24 Nov 2022, 1:57 pm)logidoodah wrote Yes they may not be cheaper vs distance or time on the vehicle. However everywhere SNE operate they have little competition due to having the most stable network in Tyne and Wear and Teeside. You can also get from Throckley to Whitley Bay for a day ticket (although it takes a while, but good for budgeting)
It is also a lot simpler having the same ticketing and prices across all operating areas. Being Singles, Dayrider, Megarider (& + options for cross boundary eXpress services) and U19.
That's a different discussion though to be fair. The prices are way too expensive, a day ticket should be what it says on the tin - a day ticket for more than 2 journeys.
I can bet that the majority of people don't do that and are after a return ie. High Heaton to Newcastle which is also £4.50 each with Stagecoach and a higher car use area.
2 adults and a kid that's £11 for the journey or you can get in the car for 3 miles which is negligible Petrol price (which you already have) and pay for parking for 2 hours easily with the added convenience.
£4.50 for a return from West Road, Benwell, Fenham, Gosforth, Fawdon, Walker and High Heaton are all very expensive for the journeys taken and are arguably the journeys that should be done by bus rather than people living in villages 15 mile away who usually get beaten by the brush on here for daring to use their car. None of those fares should be above £1.80 for a single imo which means a return should be on the £3.40 mark.
It's not unique to Stagecoach as the 21 with GNE is just as bad aswell as the Arriva 63 in Middlesbrough to pick another two. We so badly need an Oyster type system with singles prices accordingly and sensible zones with caps.