Getting Coventry's 'car rich' to use the bus

[Sandy Lane]

In Coventry there are a lot of citizens who depend on the bus services. There are also pockets of what I call 'car rich' areas, you know with 2 or even 3 cars parked on the drive, and who very rarely use the bus. Because of this history there may be a bus that just occasionally passes through the area but very few of the car rich would ever dream of using it (for a variety of reasons). 

Without forcing people out of their cars, I wonder if TfWM has any plans to positively encourage the 'car rich' to get on the bus so that there is a permanent increase in bus patronage for the benefit of all Coventry citizens?

Maybe one for the new WM Mayor?

[Gareth]

I'm very much in favor of encouraging bus usage. It's not something that can happen too quickly though. The West Midlands is about to have a fleet of over 300 buses with a seating capacity about 10 less than the buses they're replacing. If growth comes too fast, buses overcrowd making unpleasant journies and forcing people back to their cars. Slower growth is needed. In the future we'll have larger capacity electric buses that will be needed at the likes of WT, PB and YW.
It's an unfortunate situation.

[Tony]

I'm very much in favor of encouraging bus usage. It's not something that can happen too quickly though. The West Midlands is about to have a fleet of over 300 buses with a seating capacity about 10 less than the buses they're replacing. If growth comes too fast, buses overcrowd making unpleasant journies and forcing people back to their cars. Slower growth is needed. In the future we'll have larger capacity electric buses that will be needed at the likes of WT, PB and YW.
It's an unfortunate situation.

Or you step the frequency up which is likely to happen on one Coventry route very soon which has two effects. It increases capacity AND makes the service even more attractive.

[JPC]

Or you step the frequency up which is likely to happen on one Coventry route very soon which has two effects. It increases capacity AND makes the service even more attractive.

No point in stepping up frequencies when reliability/timekeeping isn't there,
2159 is the on 17/17A today since midday and has been at least 5 minutes late at every timing point for over six hours, probably irritating hundreds of passengers and I thought this was an easy route having an average of 5 mins slack per 30 minutes.

[Lukeee]

No point in stepping up frequencies when reliability/timekeeping isn't there,
2159 is the on 17/17A today since midday and has been at least 5 minutes late at every timing point for over six hours, probably irritating hundreds of passengers and I thought this was an easy route having an average of 5 mins slack per 30 minutes.

Just to note running up to 5 mins late is classed as on time, I'm aware passengers don't see it like this 

[Sandy Lane]

In Coventry there are a lot of citizens who depend on the bus services. There are also pockets of what I call 'car rich' areas, you know with 2 or even 3 cars parked on the drive, and who very rarely use the bus. Because of this history there may be a bus that just occasionally passes through the area but very few of the car rich would ever dream of using it (for a variety of reasons).

Without forcing people out of their cars, I wonder if TfWM has any plans to positively encourage the 'car rich' to get on the bus so that there is a permanent increase in bus patronage for the benefit of all Coventry citizens?

Maybe one for the new WM Mayor?

Stepping up service frequency will help but I think there is a bigger problem that TfWM should investigate. 

I reckon there are large numbers of the 'car rich' brigade who haven't been on a bus for many many years. They are so used to doing very journey by car that they are too nervous to queue at a bus stop, board a psv, not sure how to buy a ticket, and even uncomfortable sitting next to another member of the public. They have no or very little experience of travelling on a modern electric bus. Maybe it is also a social class problem?

So how could TfWM turn this all around?

[PhageyMcPhage]

Double the price of city centre parking

[Sayeed]

Double the price of city centre parking

I'd go for introducing some sort of Congestion charge.

[joieman]

Stepping up service frequency will help but I think there is a bigger problem that TfWM should investigate.

I reckon there are large numbers of the 'car rich' brigade who haven't been on a bus for many many years. They are so used to doing very journey by car that they are too nervous to queue at a bus stop, board a psv, not sure how to buy a ticket, and even uncomfortable sitting next to another member of the public. They have no or very little experience of travelling on a modern electric bus. Maybe it is also a social class problem?

So how could TfWM turn this all around?

I think more bus stops should have proper seating, even in the absence of shelters, especially on low-frequency routes, as people will not have to stand for protracted amounts of time, which is particularly unpleasant in heatwaves or cold snaps.
As for social class, I'm not really sure much can be done about snobs.

[markcf83]

In Coventry there are a lot of citizens who depend on the bus services. 

..as well as visitors to the City too.....