(13 Apr 2018, 11:22 am)Jamie M wrote I used to follow this stuff a lot closer, but now I feel most of the time I feel completely disconnected to what's happening and how the country is even being run. Not sure if this is passive or active ignorance.
I would have thought changing passenger fairs and reusing the VED else where or to improve systems, but hard to really say. I still don't think it will come close to actually happening, but that may just be my complete lack of confidence in any government system at present.
My opinions are based on my experiences -- I bought bus passes and drove, so I can't relate to that point.
I don't think it'll deal with congestion either, or not in any noticable way. It'll maybe stop some new drivers starting, but wouldn't convert many to bus imo.
My idea was to subsidise fairs with VED in order to be cutting fairs and having more money free to invest back into the system or elsewhere.
As Chris said, lowering the price has the potential to reduce car usage and increase patronage.
There are all sorts of studies and theories which back this up. Market equilibrium being one.
However, the only way I can see lower/reduced/free ticketing working effectively, is to re-organise the way the services operate.
To get that younger, minium wage worker on to the bus, that journey time needs to be attractive and probably not involve a change of buses (particularly during off-peak periods, when frequencies are reduced).
Cold, wet, April evening and finishing a shift at 10pm at the Metrocentre, but needing 2/3 buses to complete the trip home? I can't see how that will be attractive to many. Regardless of how reasonable the fares are.