(17 Jun 2019, 1:14 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote

I'd also like to add to Markydh's comments, that Northumbria University have an established agreement with Stagecoach which entitles free transport for students at five designated stops along the eastern side of the route - Civic Centre, Sandyford Road-Portland Terrace, Portland Road-Warwick Street, Warwick Street-City Stadium and the corner of Simonside Terrace-Chillingham Road. The University pay Stagecoach a substantial amount of money for the privilege, as Stagecoach are losing out to UniRider sales with this. 

I agree too that mini-buses isn't a goer, after all, university lectures, seminars etc finish at specific times, the 1 doesn't see a steady stream of passengers - more like student stampede. 

As a Heaton resident myself (Whitefield Terrace) I would disagree with the route suggestions. I currently work in the East End and when I don't drive in I get the 1 direct to work from my house, so your suggestions wouldn't be great like..... 
Heaton is a large student area, so losing the link to Central Station wouldn't be great for them going home from uni (from experience...). 

Parked cars have never really been a huge problem for a 'major disaster', no different to anywhere else. Although, recently parking has been little bit relaxed as of late - but why should Stagecoach alter a route because of people who cannot park? The council is well aware and are introducing new enforcement measures around Heaton on the back of feedback from both residents and Stagecoach. Traffic warden patrols have also been stepped up too, there is a satisfying yellow glow of tickets here and there.

Apart from the corner of Whitefield Terrace-Sackville Terrace and Cardigan Terrace-Second Avenue, the route is relatively fine. Whitefield Terrace-Sackville Terrace in can be iffy in the event of two buses meeting on the junction resulting in a little bit of shuffling, apart from that there are passing places marked out for traffic, as it is a well established bus route after all - so I'd be interesting to know where navigation became very challenging - perhaps one for myself to prod the council on if it isn't one of knowledge.

Also as Mark has said the Cobalt extension was purely to give Heaton and High Heaton a Cobalt link - anyone being picked up in between is a bonus. It loosely does okay at peaks I gather... but agree I'm sure it runs to Cobalt a little later than it should really. However, if the extension was such a bad performer it would of been pulled by now, probably at the same time as the Night Buses.

Danby Gardens/Sackville Road and then Sackville Road/Whitefield Terrace were the main two points were the 1 got stuck last saturday evening and had to reverse and renavigate to get down said roads.