Originally Posted by
Eric the Half a Bee
I haven't said that, but council blame is very low down in the list.
Privatisation has seen operators look to profit more on the strongest routes and pull out of less than profitable routes. The notion that it would generate competition is bullshit; operators tend to avoid competition as it affects profits and costs money. Indeed, operators have come to "unofficial" agreements in some areas to avoid stepping on each other's toes. Buses, as an example, are starting to suffer the same way as the railways did after Beeching, where cutting less profitable routes, less used routes have an effect on numbers overall. Bus passengers are in decline.
London is an example of a great place for public transport. It is fully integrated, so you're not penalised if you need to use different modes of public transport. Buses are run by several operators but under one banner. Some areas have 24 hours of public transport as it is needed.
Cardiff council have not been particularly great for buses, not so much with Cardiff Bus, but with other operators as well. A lack of bus station hasn't helped, it's one of the worst places to get a bus of all cities I've been to. I'm hopeful that the new Metro will improve the situation - South Wales has such a fragmented public transport set up it's not friendly for passengers, so a body to integrate and oversee everything thing has to be welcomed, providing it is funded well enough. London has one of the most subsidied public transport networks anywhere and it shows.