(02 May 2016, 10:07 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I agree completely.

Lots of families with tiny tots, yesterday - same level of enthusiasm as littl'un who just loves things on wheels. Thanks to the weather, though, it was already more heavily balanced towards nerds with cameras (nowt wrong with being a nerd with a camera, but still) than last year's event, which was the one that really sparked Big'un's interest in buses. We went last year because it was something to do on Littl'un's birthday that we could all enjoy, then go for lunch, afterwards.

Selling programs for those wanting a ride is a good idea. Programs were being sold at last year's Shildon event - paid extra for ours, since there was 4 of us. That said, the route advertised put us off the ride, yesterday. We'd already spent long enough sat in traffic, getting there and the near miss we witnessed with the Ulsterbus Tiger on our way in was a little offputting, since all the properly interesting vehicles were not made with that sort of traffic in mind.

Hopefully, if funds were being raised, there would be more of an incentive to run an appealing schedule. The metrocentre is a bad example as there's little flex in the routes available. But it would be great if organisers has the mentality 'if we get more vehicles running, on an organised & advertised schedule, we can sell more tickets and make more money for the owners'.

Surely everybody wins?