The bus network regardless of where you are isn't helped by a number of different factors.

The obvious one is increased car ownership.

Modern housing estates that are built to suit car owners, and are built in such a way that it's difficult to send a regular size bus service through these new estates when roads are only suitable for breadvan style minibuses, plus the fact that most of these estates are one way in and out. Really devlopers should make bus travel attractive by providing a bus road that runs the length of the estate which also prevents the need for the bus having to go back on itself to regain its normal route. It brings the bus closer to the doorstep of those living on the far side of these new estates.

The rise of budget supermarkets. People shoping habits have changed, once upon a time people would look down their noses at you if you shop at Kwik Save or Netto etc. These days, people happily do their weekly shop at Lidl or Aldi, even at a push Herons. They've become so popular that they are popping up everywhere, you cannot go too far without finding one of these, just look at Pelaw, there's a Lidl and an Aldi accross the road from each other. Because they are everywhere, most people don't have to travel as far by bus, some might even walk there on a nice day and get a taxi back once they've got all their shopping in. Even the bigger supermarkets don't do the bus operators any favours by making it harder for bus users to travel to them with a long walk over a windswept car park, and it isn't very appealing having to cross back over the car park back to the bus stop. There used to be a time where buses actually went to the front door of the Hypermarket (now Benton ASDA) and Boldon Asda where people get off the bus and walk straight into the supermarket, and wait in the comfort of the supermarket waiting for the bus home too. Only supermarket that comes to mind where the bus actually drops you off at the store entrance is the Sainsbury's in Whitby (https://flic.kr/p/2mtcqDJ). I'm not sure if the 16 actually goes into the Tesco car park at Consett which the free bus used to (https://flic.kr/p/2kUBV3v), that stopped next to the entrance. Again design the car park where a bus road runs along and stops at the entrance of said supermarket, it's not as if some of these supermarkets are pressed for space. Think the Morrisons at Alnwick is pretty much spot on considering the Bus Station is next to the supermarket. I know some supermarkets do have dedicated bus stops like Morrisons at Jarrow and somewhere in Middlesbrough, but they aren't at the front door to the place. Annoyingly when they built Killingworth bus station, I feel that they put the bus station in the wrong location and should have been placed closer to the entrace to the morrisons along by where Greggs and Ladbrokes are, least it make it more safer for passengers considering the Ladbrokes and Betfred that are there are open to 10pm every night, so if someone felt threatened they could always take refuge next to or in the shop.

The final one is that people are losing confidence in their bus service, with services going missing whether they have been announced or not, doesn't really help people if they had planned a few days before hand to get a certain journey to find the day before it has been cancelled and they have to re-arrange their travel plans.