(14 Mar 2015, 9:20 am)Drifter60 wrote Although I'm not sure it justifies a frequency increase, I certianly don't think empty runs out Sunderland are common place, as someone who is frequent user of the 61- ive been on runs out of park lane during early afternoon which have been quite busy.
I also don't think anyone waits for a 60 because it's wifi, you have to get a StreetLite workinf (at one time Solars were quite common on 60s, less these days though) and the wifi has to be even workinf and I'm sorry to those that work on wifi at GNE, but it's sometimes hard to connect too. Plus most people have data packages on phones/tablets anyways, the idea of wifi is just to save using your money! Mind if they had plug sockets it could be a different story.
Those are my observations. Feel free to disagree based on your own observations, but until recently I too was a regular user of all Sunderland - Ryhope bus services and I know I've regularly seen fairly empty buses on the xx:02 and xx:32 departures out of Sunderland. Arriva's X21 suffers from the same problem, as it is sandwiched in between the streamlined 22/23 service 15 minute frequency.
The Streetlites are very rarely off the road these days. There was some teething issues when they first entered service but these have been stamped out since.
Many scholars use the 60 opposed to the 61 as it offers free Wi-Fi. I have a lot of friends who do this.