Poll: New bus station for Accrington - Page 2

WillowTheWhisp · 06-08-2011, 12:59

So your solution is to have fewer buses and the people who have to rely on public transport have to arrange to travel all at the same time so they can fill a bus? Tough if someone living in Clayton has a dental appointment for her toddler in Ossy then like a friend of mine last week.

MargaretR · 06-08-2011, 13:24

I am not suggesting that buses should only run full but prune the timetables at the times they run almost empty.
When arranging an appointment it is logical for it to be made to fit the timetable.

cashman · 06-08-2011, 13:29

the existing bus station may be a bit less crowded if 2/3 buses didn't come along at the same time.

MargaretR · 06-08-2011, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

the existing bus station may be a bit less crowded if 2/3 buses didn't come along at the same time.

Exactly! - before privatisation the timetables were controlled by the council transport dept, so you didn't get several companies all turning up for the same passengers.

Neil · 07-08-2011, 08:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

So your solution is to have fewer buses and the people who have to rely on public transport have to arrange to travel all at the same time so they can fill a bus? Tough if someone living in Clayton has a dental appointment for her toddler in Ossy then like a friend of mine last week.

If there were less buses on the same routes so the buses had more passengers on them would the fares not come down?

Running a bus that only has a few people on must be very expensive for the bus company which has to reflect in the bus fare.

Maybe passengers would not mind if the bus was every hour in stead of every 1/2 hour if the fare was cheaper.

I was talking with a bus driver last night and even he commented on how expensive the fares were.

katex · 07-08-2011, 08:54

Thought this was interesting ... drop of 19% of young people taking their driving test since 2005 due to the cost of lessons, buying a car, etc. Do you think this could have a knock on effect and public transport will become more widely used ?

BBC News - Young drivers unable to afford cost of car insurance

My 21 year old granddaughter agreed with this in conversation yesterday. Even though she has in the past been offered driving lessons for birthdays, Christmas, etc., she never saw the point as couldn't afford to run a car when she obtained a driving licence.

Mind you, she is still a student and has the benefit of concessions on public transport.

jaysay · 07-08-2011, 09:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Thought this was interesting ... drop of 19% of young people taking their driving test since 2005 due to the cost of lessons, buying a car, etc. Do you think this could have a knock on effect and public transport will become more widely used ?

BBC News - Young drivers unable to afford cost of car insurance

My 21 year old granddaughter agreed with this in conversation yesterday. Even though she has in the past been offered driving lessons for birthdays, Christmas, etc., she never saw the point as couldn't afford to run a car when she obtained a driving licence.

Mind you, she is still a student and has the benefit of concessions on public transport.

Kate young people get a taxi now where we would have caught the bus down town on a Saturday night and one on the return trip where we would have walked it home after the con two steps forward three back

katex · 07-08-2011, 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

Kate young people get a taxi now where we would have caught the bus down town on a Saturday night and one on the return trip where we would have walked it home after the con two steps forward three back

Maybe some of them on a Saturday night, Jaysay. I am talking about their day journeys ... don't know of any that can afford taxis for these.

garinda · 07-08-2011, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Thought this was interesting ... drop of 19% of young people taking their driving test since 2005 due to the cost of lessons, buying a car, etc. Do you think this could have a knock on effect and public transport will become more widely used ?

BBC News - Young drivers unable to afford cost of car insurance

My 21 year old granddaughter agreed with this in conversation yesterday. Even though she has in the past been offered driving lessons for birthdays, Christmas, etc., she never saw the point as couldn't afford to run a car when she obtained a driving licence.

Mind you, she is still a student and has the benefit of concessions on public transport.

...and not forgetting the biggest cost for young drivers, insurance.

Which can be astronomic.

jaysay · 07-08-2011, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

...and not forgetting the biggest cost for young drivers, insurance.

Which can be astronomic.

Ya I recon if a 17 or 18 year old (the age I passed my test) tries to get insurance in their own name they'll be lucky even to get it, even then £2000 will be around the figure they are charged if not more

Neil · 07-08-2011, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Maybe some of them on a Saturday night, Jaysay. I am talking about their day journeys ... don't know of any that can afford taxis for these.

Lots of people at work use taxi's to get here.
If you can pick up a few friends on the way it can sometimes work out cheaper that the bus. Especially if all 4 are full fare paying adults.

WillowTheWhisp · 07-08-2011, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

When arranging an appointment it is logical for it to be made to fit the timetable.

I am sorry but I had to laugh at that suggestion. If other dentists and doctors are as difficult to book in with as mine then the idea of telling them you have to have an appointment to co-incide with the less frequent bus times would probably result in them telling you to find a different doctor/dentist - and that ain't easy.

I do think it's a problem on some routes where several companies cover the same journey but on longer journeys there are some differences between some routes, ie there are those which go round one estate and those which go round a different one. Between Accrington and Blackburn some are direct and some go through Ossy. Some less popular routes end up being scrapped altogether and leaving the few people who rely on buses then totally dependant on friends to give them a lift (not always available) or a more expensive taxi.

My daughter and I went to visit a friend in hospital in Liverpool last Thursday and for an hour and a half visit it took us all day travelling on public transport. It needs to be easier and more conventient, not more hassle and less available.

garinda · 07-08-2011, 21:40

Build it on top of the Coppice.

Apply for art funding, to cover the costs.