(02 Jun 2022, 11:24 am)Adrian wrote Go North East aside, I don't think operators helped relay the message that public transport is safe either, coming out of the pandemic. Stagecoach and Arriva were running with the 2m exclusion zone, front seats taped off and social distancing signs up until about a month or so ago.
Agreed - I’m not sure how going up to full capacity but taping off seats near the driver shows how buses are clean and safe…
(02 Jun 2022, 11:24 am)Adrian wrote I think it's a complete myth to suggest that more people walking and cycling is responsible for a supposed (up to) 20% decline in passenger numbers. I don't actually think there's any understanding of why this is yet, other than suggesting people aren't returning to public transport, but I think the issue is bigger than that. For me, the two largest contributing factors are full home/hybrid working and social isolation.
Full home and hybrid working are going to be here to stay, until the Government start levying businesses (or even employees) for being able to do that. Even though I personally benefit from being able to work from home when I want, it's clear that it's going to decimate high streets that are already on life support, never mind bus services. If I didn't get enough use out of my monthly ticket as a leisure user, I don't think I'd bother going in more than the odd day, as I don't think operators have recognised and provided a true cost-effective hybrid worker travel ticket yet.
It’s definitely a combination of things in my view although the Government messaging about public transport not being clean and safe does play a part.
ENCTS usage is a big player in patronage levels being down, and I’d suggest this is a big part in the point about it not being safe. That, and, without being too crude and to the point, the fact that some haven’t made it through the last two years.
Commuters are another big chunk of the market gone - through hybrid and home working, which, as you say, is here to stay, and is down to operators to adapt their product to keep on top of the game.
I think the leisure market is probably back to pre-Covid levels, if not greater than it previously was.
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