[Margaret Pilkington]

I guess I must be. i have travelled all over the country and indeed all over the world...it seems that some countires can run a public service which reflects the needs of the public(I cannot tell you if any of these were subsidised as I didn't feel the need to ask).

I know that bus comapnies run to make a profit....and I do not begrudge them that, but they should also be offering some kind of service too. People WILL pay to get the service they need to get about.

Many years ago(back in the early seventies) the bus services were undoubtedly better, but still there were deficiencies. If I was on an early shift on a Sunday morning I walked from Clayton le moor to Blythes chemical works at Church to get a bus that would take me into Blackburn...it was a bus the the chemical company paid for, but they let nurses travel into Blackburn on it as a courtesy.
Many other times I had to beg a lift or opt for a late shift.

More people now work those unsocial hours, but the bus services do not really reflect this.
So what do these people do...they must get taxis, for that is the only way to get about if you do not drive or if you cannot afford your own transport.