(17 Apr 2025, 7:52 am)V514DFT wrote I always thought imo that a "tree" method might work, i.e keep the trunk routes so the likes of the 10, 21 and stuff then have your branches, i.e local routes

It's generally how it works in Europe that, but it only really works if the trunk is some form of rapid transport ie. metro / train / tram. No point having a bus duplicating a rail line which we seem to love up here.

Buses don't really work as a trunk though as it takes too long and it's unattractive, who wants to travel 15 minutes in the wrong direction to then get another bus which uses the same road you could've been driving along 20 minutes earlier. GNE tried it and it doesn't really work, Washington is a prime example of that and it's a bit of a mess really.

Trams etc are generally different as they're quicker so you can make up that 15 minutes bombing by the traffic lights and what not, not to mention the time pissing about parking etc.

Bolton is a good example of that btw, see: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/53.56862...875240!3e3 for example.