(19 May 2023, 8:58 am)Adrian wrote I tend to agree with this. Team Valley is fantastically convenient to travel there by car, given the location, road layout and the vast amounts of free parking available. If you have access to a car on a regular basis, then I can only ever seeing you using that for this particular trip.
In terms of a bus service, it already has a 20 minute frequency during the day in both directions with the 93/94. On top of that, you have morning and evening services to the likes of Newcastle, Chester-le-Street, Washington and Sunderland. I'm not sure it needs more than that?!
(19 May 2023, 9:04 am)Rob44 wrote In may view the team valley was built ( or at least targets now) car users only. There's very little recreational there to make someone use the bus unlike the metro centre or toon. Maybe build a bowling ally or a cinema or even a wet and wild and i think footfall from bus users would increase.
At the minute I don't think "humping" a double bed from dreams, or a table and chairs for Denholm to the bus stop, then on the bus ( with no room for bags never mind out else then off the bus and a walk home is doable!
In all honesty, I mentioned Team Valley as it was the first thing that came to my head.
There are many other examples that could be used.
However, when I look at the billions being spent/has been spent on the Western Bypass and look at the traffic jams that fill Kingsway or spill on to Saltwell Road, or check over the bus priority measures at the bottom of Lobley Hill/top of Kingsway, I just can't help thinking that there's a huge opportunity to improve and increase public transport in the area.
I also look at how GNE had to remove the 93/94 from Retail World because of traffic issues and delays (hence it now going around the back of Mothercare).
It's how thousands of people in spitting distance to Team Valley, have to walk, drive or use a public transport system that sends them off in different directions - adding time, making it far less attractive etc.
It's about more than just having a couple of workers services that don't cater for the people working 9-5 or on various other shift patterns when using a bus just isn't feasible.
It's about more than squeezing a bed in to the back of a Ford Focus.
It's then seeing a potential P&R 2miles up the A1 that ignores the thousands of people using a (soon to be widened A1).
It's seeing a pithy £1/£2 fare offer become less attractive due to the number of buses you need to use to get there.
There's a far bigger picture to look at here, it harks back to a network that isn't fit for purpose and Team Valley is just one example.