(11 Jul 2014, 3:11 pm)Dan wrote I'd prefer to get on a bus than a taxibus, that's for sure.
They really annoy me in Houghton as they don't even look to see if anyone wants to get on - just fly past.
I don't think any bus routes should be ran by a taxi. It's unacceptable. I get on a bus and I know that my driver has gone through extensive PCV training. This isn't the case with a taxi bus, and is also one of the reservations I have if it turns out that GCT will be operating using Bluebirds. As the vehicle only has a maximum 16 seats, I could drive it in passenger service on a normal car licence - which is quite worrying. I obviously couldn't drive something like a Solo SR or Versa, as I haven't had the additional training and qualification to do so.
(11 Jul 2014, 3:17 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote There was the 177 and 178 which served various streets in Fencehouses.
The 71 serves part of the 177 route through Avenue Vivienne - GNE refused to pick up the gaps left by the 178 being withdrawn, hence Nexus stepping in and having to fill the gap.
If the TB20 operated a different route, maybe via Sedgeletch Road and then followed the TB21 route, it would save a few quid and pick up a few more passengers.
I think the timings may be out for the 79. If you look at the 79a on a night, the timetables don't follow any consistent pattern.
Whilst I think we'll both completely agree that in a deregulated market there are passengers left without a bus service, I do think there are better solutions.
Both the 73 and 37 for example have been set up to provide links and service for pockets of folk that have been abandoned by commercial operations - Biddick Woods and Teal Farm for example, both of which were said not to need a bus service because of house value and car ownership.
Under the current system it's evident that commercial operators aren't going to serve areas which the TB20 and TB21 serve, but could part of a route not be secured? e.g. half of the 71s are diverted to run via the old 178 route? It'd still be running the 71 route for the majority, and the operator would have a guaranteed source of income for that section of the route. Surely that's got to be cheaper than having a taxi running round all day?