(18 Aug 2021, 6:18 pm)DeltaMan wrote Do buses take people where they want to go?
Yes
Do buses take everybody where they want to go?
No
Why not?
There isn't enough resource available to do that.
If I'm running a bus service and I am seeing 1 or 2% drop in passenger numbers each year and making a modest profit, yes I am thinking how I am going to get that back, but I cannot forget about my EXISTING customers - which still make up the bulk of my passengers. If I do a huge change in an attempt to get back some of that 2% or even get new customers then I am undoubtedly going to upset my existing customers, which means I could lose even more.
I actually think these GNE changes are pretty risky with that in mind.
Is that the case though?
I've mentioned the impact the 71 has on the 21 in the past.
Another poster mentioned something similar recently.
Axeing a 21a and introducing a 71, to link in to the 21 - but then reducing early morning runs on the 71, isn't thinking of the bigger picture with the 21 nor the 2% of passengers who used the 21a.
To then look at culling the 71 altogether, doesn't think of the bigger picture with the 21 nor those 2% who need to connect to the 21.
Using your logic, of that 2% and applying to GNE commercial decisions... Well, I think it says it all. Don't you?
It's those existing customers you mention.