I mean, Michael Long is not wrong about this, but I think we're past the point where just telling people to use public transport in isolation will help. If even 10% of those who currently drive at peak times use buses, then there will not be enough capacity on the buses either.
Sometimes it's really obvious that our local politicians themselves don't use public transport.
1-
It'll be interesting to see what difference the new north/south Glider line makes in 2028 but I feel like we're not really addressing the fact that there are many places where the nearest bus line only runs between one and three times per day. if you look at the Metro f/g/h services on any route, for instance, you'll see buses where you wonder what the point of that bus even is. Could people walk a bit further and get an a/b/c/d/e? Sometimes, yes. But not all people.
2-
One of the problems with public transport UK-wide is that there is huge resistance to running buses with smaller numbers of passengers.
I get that below a certain number you do have to question whether the emissions are worth it and whether fuel cost is covered. But it still becomes a chicken-and-egg situation because transport companies say 'not enough peolpe use this bus' and reduce the service, which immediately causes falling passenger numbers cos it no longer works for people.
3-
They then use that as a reason to cut the service altogether, and meanwhile people are no longer able to justify living in the area because they can't get in to work by bus and yet can't afford to drive.
What if we had twice as many train services per hour into the city? Is that do-able from a rail safety perspective? It'd at least cut down on people driving in from e.g. the Bangor and Lisburn directions...
4-
@marty82 You're dead right, and the Outer Ring is a solution staring us in the face for so many reasons.
Suppose I want to go to the Kennedy Centre, but I'm not fussed about trying for the fastest journey time?
With a circular route along the A55, I get to avoid the city centre crush (where you already have to get on and off the Glider in the city centre to tap on for each leg of the journey unless you hold a day ticket). Good option for hill walkers too...
bioluminescently
Mary