(24 Sep 2024, 10:55 am)Andreos1 wrote What is the alternative? Maintain the status quo and just let the roads fill up with cars and impact on bus users/reliability or actually try and be proactive, encouraging bus use?
The status quo hasn't worked (just look at your mates anecdotal evidence re the 44) and people are switching away from public transport. So clearly an alternative is needed.
As has been pointed out previously, if you attract people on to public transport when they're younger, there's a greater chance they will use it when they get older.
It goes without saying the basics need to be right and it needs to suit changing travel patterns.
Imagine if we had joined up thinking between planning, local authorities and transport, instead of all working against each other?
As much as comparisons with London are slated by some within the industry, their ongoing research and development is second to none. Constantly assessing 'external' factors in advance of them happening, and coming up with well-thought out options as potential solutions. I was specifically looking at the Southall Bus Study: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/southall-deve...study-.pdf
There's many others here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publication...ent-papers