New car adverts on tv

Deregulation of buses is one of the worst anti-social acts of any Government in UK IMO. Public transport covering all areas was always something that binds communities together and an essential service and was always bound come at a financial cost. Privatising and franchising it meant that those companies have to make a profit and was always 100% bound to result in a reduction of services on unprofitable routes and a lack of co-ordinated coverage. The farcical situation existed where profitable routes were swamped with rival companies and more buses were running on routes half empty whilst rural routes were just cancelled leaving people stranded. Passenger numbers, I gather have fallen to teh point where even previously profitable routes are becoming unviable without unsustainable huge fare increase driving passenger numbers down even further. As I said, UK is obsessed with everything must either make a profit or be self sufficient re funding. Public transport traains, and buses should not be part of that mentality.
Here in rural Italy most people rely on cars/Apes/scooters/MCs as farmhouses are scattered and many a considerable distance from a metalled road never mind a bus stop. Our nearest stop is 1 km exactly from our house which doesn't sound much but is on a 1 in 5 hill, is narrow with dangerous twists and blind corners with no pavements. That said, the bus service, such as it is , whilst limited seems reliable and cheap and covers all the towns and villages and major routes although (apart from trains) we have not used it. School buses make sure all pupils are transported to and from schools. Rail and road transport costs regional and National Govt a lot in subnsidies but they manage it somehow.

 

Yes mate, it's a reight bugger when you don't drive. My doctor & vets are in Hoyland & nearest for shopping. There's a bus comes through the village between Chapeltown & Rovrum, but it only runs 3 time a day & stops at 4pm.