(04 Jan 2020, 11:06 pm)Adrian wrote Isn't it crazy that we're even talking about reducing services into Newcastle, because of the introduction of a clean air zone?I can't understand these posts either, can say we can provide shuttles or use Metro all we want but many people absolutely hate making changes in their journeys, I know people who would sooner get train journeys that have a longer journey time just to avoid having to change train at a station, tbh half the time when I connect from X12/X21 from Durham and intend to catch a X66 I want to cut across the road where the X10 stand is as the thought of walking right round Gateshead Interchange is unappealing to me.
We should be talking about increasing services., and asking questions why buses are being used as a scapegoat, whilst private cars are getting away without being held to account.
It's interesting that apparently numbers of bus journeys being made around Newcastle over the last few months have seen a fair drop purely from Blackett Street being blocked off over the festive period which was just a total inconvenience especially if you wanted to say connect with services to/from Eldon Square, Haymarket Bus Station's, you end up having to walk all the way from the Gate and then there's the increased traffic round by the Gate as a result, walked round there one day and so many buses were trying to get round at one point that it just caused a blockade for about 10-15 minutes.
Realistically with a clean air zone you want to get more people using public transport not put them off more so, if anything we need more buses, not less I'd say.