(24 Sep 2024, 10:55 am)Andreos1 wrote What is the alternative? Maintain the status quo and just let the roads fill up with cars and impact on bus users/reliability or actually try and be proactive, encouraging bus use?
The status quo hasn't worked (just look at your mates anecdotal evidence re the 44) and people are switching away from public transport. So clearly an alternative is needed.
As has been pointed out previously, if you attract people on to public transport when they're younger, there's a greater chance they will use it when they get older.
It goes without saying the basics need to be right and it needs to suit changing travel patterns.
Quite interesting in your last point. Before covid, Uber, Blueline and Nearby were gathering pace and making private hire far more attractive to complicated bus fares (before MG's bargain bonanzs or the national £2 max fare) and infrequent services at anti social times.
The problem with new builds unless heavily populated, is that if the bus provision is poor during anti social hours (evenings & Sundays)......people who are p***ing hundereds per month on car finance for cars sitting on the drives of their £300k+ new builds will happily just open the private hire apps, or suck up parking / fuel bills during peak times.
The only way to address the new builds, is either more frequent bus services during anti social hours, or where not exactly viable, better bus & metro integration for estates such as Holystone Park using minibuses & other local routes.