(11 Feb 2020, 9:15 pm)Andreos1 wrote Reading an article about this new lot of funding, I saw this image:2010 Redcar and Cleveland (plus other Teesside authories) still had bus service funding, which ironically is exactly what it feels like the 81 needs. Lots of boroughbus patronage will be in that 'lost' figure.
R&C is on the list for the biggest drops in patronage.
I appreciate the new Teesflex initiative could help to arrest the fall in some of the area, but there needs to be acknowledgement amongst the main operators, that what they're doing isn't working.
I think the question needs to be asked about what they're doing to arrest that fall, which doesn't involve cuts and consolidation.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that cuts don't equate to more bums on seats.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-51460437
With the exception of Service 71, the Redcar and Cleveland bus network is largely similar to now, so 36% decline can't be solely down to chopping bus services by Arriva (obviously won't be helping!)
Incidentally, that's probably why we never heard of or saw as many cuts back then, as we perceive now, as local authories had money to put in and secure stuff like this. That's where it needs to be put back in, is my opinion.
All of the operators are doing the same thing - GNE reduced alot of their frequencies a few years ago, similarity most of Stagecoach Teesside services have seen big frequency drops too in recent years. It's an industry thing and no obvious solution in sight.
TeesFlex might work, but what if it abstracts from the core bus network and Arriva contact in size again. The funding for TeesFlex won't last forever and come 5 years down the line, everyone is worse off for it! Will be interesting to see what's going to happen...