(2 hours ago)Superman wrote 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.”
imo the biggest problem is the UK treating public transport as a profit and loss exercise. If you can reduce the number of cars on the roads, then you can start to reduce to amount of money on 'fixing' roads.
Even the yanks in the big cities understand that and that's the American's who hate state control of anything.
The lack of trains and metros/trams in the urban areas are the bigger problem though. Saltburn should be an interchange station picking out East Cleveland, with the X4 being an extension of the rail line not being a duplicate service as it does nothing unique between Middlesbrough and Saltburn. There's no need for trains and buses doing the same thing imo.
It's one massive benefit that Manchester has as they have a decent tram and rail network unlike everywhere else bar London which a lot of people don't like to discuss because for some people have an obsession with Bus vs Rail vs Bike vs Car when it should be Public Transport vs Car