(30/10/2018 21:23)WhiteVanMan Wrote: [ -> ]This is something that KendalKing on another forum has complained about. A couple years ago he complained about stagecoach cutting his local service by over 70%. He says his first bus is now at 09.40 (previously was at 07.05), which he says is of no use for commuters.
I have no idea who KendalKing is but I suspect he lives in a rural area of Cumbria or Lancashire which suffered grievous cuts to subsidised services by central government in the name of austerity a few years ago. This thread is for Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan.
(30/10/2018 20:50)iMarkeh Wrote: [ -> ]Transport authorities can very easily fund services to make them run earlier/later so in some ways they do have control. A little bit of money goes a long way.
Haven't you heard of "Austerity"? Transport Authorities are under constant pressure to cut tendered services, not increase them and under competitive tendering, potential loadings would be affected if the cheapest bid for the first or last buses came from an Operator other than the daytime commercial Operator. In the old days; GMPTE had a policy of awarding Tenders to the main commercial Operator on the same route, providing the price was close to the cheapest, but they had to stop after being "warned off" by the then OFT. Presumably, one of the smaller Operators (probably one that no longer runs) complained to the DfT.
(30/10/2018 13:33)Barney Wrote: [ -> ]The transport authorities have very little control over when Stagecoach and commercial operators run their services. I agree that that transport needs are constantly evolving and I do find it ironic that the bus services around the UK were infinitely better evenings and Sundays prior to deregulation when all shops closed at 5pm and city centres were like ghost towns on Sundays when shops, pubs, restaurants closed all day.
Exactly. They have it all back to front!
(30/10/2018 21:59)Brickmill Wrote: [ -> ]Haven't you heard of "Austerity"? Transport Authorities are under constant pressure to cut tendered services, not increase them and under competitive tendering, potential loadings would be affected if the cheapest bid for the first or last buses came from an Operator other than the daytime commercial Operator. In the old days; GMPTE had a policy of awarding Tenders to the main commercial Operator on the same route, providing the price was close to the cheapest, but they had to stop after being "warned off" by the then OFT. Presumably, one of the smaller Operators (probably one that no longer runs) complained to the DfT.
Austerity there's a laugh. Throwing tonnes of money into metrolink and cycle lanes And hubs yet constant cuts to subsidised services. Oh but that's 'sepetate' pots.
Enviro 19479 now has an allover advert for BBC Sounds.
(30/10/2018 23:20)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]Austerity there's a laugh. Throwing tonnes of money into metrolink and cycle lanes And hubs yet constant cuts to subsidised services. Oh but that's 'sepetate' pots.
Not only is it seperate pots but it's investment. Subsidy is a dirty word in this country. Irrelevant of how inappropriatly you think taxes are spent the rules are made in Westminster not in local authority offices
(31/10/2018 07:45)Brickmill Wrote: [ -> ]Not only is it seperate pots but it's investment. Subsidy is a dirty word in this country. Irrelevant of how inappropriatly you think taxes are spent the rules are made in Westminster not in local authority offices
How is building pointless cycle lanes that once clear of a town centre suddenly lead nowehere investment?? Likewise these cycle hubs. They want people to ditch cars and travel by bike and then bus/tram yet what happens after 7pm?? There's no buses.
(31/10/2018 10:03)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]How is building pointless cycle lanes that once clear of a town centre suddenly lead nowehere investment?? Likewise these cycle hubs. They want people to ditch cars and travel by bike and then bus/tram yet what happens after 7pm?? There's no buses.
The clue is in the word "building". If you build something it requires Capital spending, which Whitehall/Westminster sees as "good", as it usually benefits floating voters, the business sector, strong lobbies - including the strongest lobby of all; the Media. Subsidy is current spending, which is automatically seen as bad as it benefits those with poor wealth and/or poor health, who in turn have no lobby, are despised (or simply denied) by the "Judas" Media and either always vote Labour, or increasingly (like me) consider the 10 minute walk to the Polling Station a total waste of 10 minutes.
(31/10/2018 14:17)Brickmill Wrote: [ -> ]The clue is in the word "building". If you build something it requires Capital spending, which Whitehall/Westminster sees as "good", as it usually benefits floating voters, the business sector, strong lobbies - including the strongest lobby of all; the Media. Subsidy is current spending, which is automatically seen as bad as it benefits those with poor wealth and/or poor health, who in turn have no lobby, are despised (or simply denied) by the "Judas" Media and either always vote Labour, or increasingly (like me) consider the 10 minute walk to the Polling Station a total waste of 10 minutes.
You should apply for a postal vote - much less trouble.
(31/10/2018 17:15)EDB325 Wrote: [ -> ]You should apply for a postal vote - much less trouble.
This is totally off thread but if you choose not to vote - which is your right - you get a government (local or national) that you deserve and have no cause for complaint. As we approach the anniversary of the end of the War to End All Wars you need to think about that, unless you are female because they didn't get the right to vote until 1928.