(13 Feb 2024, 10:04 pm)Dan wrote A change in frequency can and does have an impact upon patronage, even one as minor as an increase from 4 buses an hour to 5. Just in the same way that increasing a bus fare by 5-10p also has an impact.

Likewise there would have been a reduction in patronage when the service dropped from every 10 to every 12, then from every 12 to every 15.

Of course, adding 3 PVR is a significant investment, so continued marketing activity is crucial to deliver the growth in patronage required to generate the additional revenue.

I find it truly baffling that the operators and Local Authorities are facing criticism for improvements being made to the network. The comments about using the BSIP funding to start from afresh and try something new are completely fair and I don’t disagree (though I can understand reluctance as it will be difficult to prove sustainability), but I really don’t think the criticism for increasing frequencies on their existing network is fair. Hopefully they are sustainable and there is no need for a cliff edge once the funding is no longer available to be spent.


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I understand your points, but personally I'd rather see this money on long term fixes. So instead spending money on forcing a frequency, go for the opposite option and reduce the journey times which naturally reduces the PVR.

Like in the other thread where we we're talking about the X7/X8 big issues, I'd rather see the money spend on investing in a bus lane from South Gosforth to Blue House Roundabout, or at least as far as they could, this would be better money spent as no doubt the changes on the 352-355 are all relating to same problems, noticed they were all over the place again tonight aswell. Similar with a bus gate at Peter Barratts, but this side of the BSIP has just vanished.

I don't know the 56 route, that well - but I'm sure there's places like Wrekenton where similar money could be spent, a bus would be much more attractive if it passed you on the road. It's not very attractive if you're parked behind it - regardless to frequency.

Obviously local and national government are more interesting about shoving cycle lanes in everywhere to carry fresh air, making public transport even worse in the process. Rake Lane in North Tyneside being a prime example of that, another place where a bus lane could've been built instead.