(3 hours ago)robisdave4554 wrote Bring back good old days when none of this affected the buses - I can't help but reminiss, maybe there should be, or already is, a thread.
Service 65 operated hy United ran between Middlesbrough and Whitby. I remember times when it was so busy it was duplicated. There were always spare crews and vehicles.
We've talked about the 4 Bus Stops model which worked so effectively.
There were independent operators filling the gaps through the villages and estates
We didn't on the flip side have the direct provision provided by the X4 and X93.
Some things were better than they are now and some things worse.
Car ownership, even 20 years ago, was much lower than it is now. For many people, buses were the main way of getting around. That has changed significantly, and while some point to privatisation, I think it is mostly down to generational change.
Buses are no longer seen as an attractive option. For many young people, having a driving licence is expected. Cars represent freedom and status, and the cost is treated as a normal household expense. Even frequent bus services are unlikely to change that. Some argue service cuts caused this shift, but a private company would not reduce a profitable operation, it simply would not make sense.
At the same time, bus operating costs have risen, while second hand cars remain relatively affordable. In most cases, the desire to own a car outweighs cost considerations.
Buses are also stuck in the same traffic as cars, and there is little political appetite to restrict car use in town centres. So there is very little to make buses a better option. Franchising will not change that, journey times and delays will remain, and cars are unaffected by who runs the buses.
While services have reduced, private operators have largely responded to falling demand. A local authority would likely be slower to react, while still needing additional funding behind the scenes (this is then perceived as by the public or even politically spouted as "doing the right thing by maintaining these services for the small numbers who use them").
Buses will always have a role, but as usage declines, maintaining current service levels becomes unsustainable. Franchising is unlikely to be viable long term without ongoing public subsidy. As more areas adopt it, government support will be stretched, meaning either local taxes or similar service reductions. It will not work out. Companies who run buses now, may show millions of profit in their accounts, but if you dig deeper, Arriva for example make most of their money from European franchised markets, not UK Bus. However, politicians and public are seduced by the top number and assume its their to be had.
Local authorities would be better focusing on supporting the edges of the network and making changes that genuinely encourage bus use. Instead, it remains an emotive, vote winning issue. Bus operators these days are happy to take franchising, as they guarantee a profit margin and focus on the operation.
Give it 10 to 15 years and many will be saying “I told you so.”