Yes the 84/85/86/88 were all very odd routes. They were certainly never busy. I am not surprised they were withdrawn.
The 84 is the one route that i think has some potential if it is bought back. Before it was basically one journey a day in each direction. So it was not surprising that it only ever had one or two people onboard. But if it was to be increased to once an hour all day then it may well get some more usage. Especially if it was extended from Woodingdean and Rottingdean to the Marina it might be more well used. I know it was very poorly used before but i think with a better frequency it has some potential to see more users.
The 85 was a very odd route. I am not sure what the point of it was. It was a very short route that only went the tiny distance from Hollingbury Asda to Sussex University non stop direct via A27 dual carriageway. It also only ran a couple of times a day in the morning and afternoon. It really baffles me as to what the point of it was. It skipped out Coldean and Varley Halls and all the places where people might use it. The only purpose it served was a quick bus to get students between the University and Asda and vice versa to do their shopping. But being so infrequent i doubt many students would find it useful. It would be easier to use the 25 (every 5 minutes) to Coldean and change for the 24 (every 20 minutes) to Asda instead. So the 85 baffles me as to why it was ever introduced. Every time i used the 85 i was the only passenger.
The 86 was odd too. It was a large loop from Sussex University going around Patcham and Hollingdean and surrounding areas. I suppose it was useful for any students living in those areas. But whenever i used the 86 it was very quiet and i was normally the only person on board.
The 88 was another very odd one. It was a very large clockwise loop around Brighton that ran in one direction only. It was basically three morning journeys and three afternoon journeys. It only served residential areas and skipped out the city centre and anywhere else where most people would want to go. There used to be a regular driver called Peter who drove it for years. It was interesting as normally B&H do not allocate drivers to the same duty but on the 88 it was always Peter driving every time i used it over many years. Again this was a very quiet route that hardly anyone used. On most of my journeys i was the only passenger.
Also the 35 was a very odd route of just two journeys a day in each direction from Westdene and Withdean in to Brighton city centre via lots of small residential roads. All the roads it served were within ten minutes walk of bus stops that were served by buses every ten minutes. I guess it was useful for OAPs who could not walk to the maim road but i am not surprised it was withdrawn after a short time.
I reckon the 55 will be the next to be withdrawn. I am surprised it still exists. It has been extremely reduced over the past ten or fifteen years. It no longer serves the University any more. I would really not be surprised if it is withdrawn.
Also i am shocked that the C1/C3/C4 still exist. These have been around for like twenty years now but the Coop are really wasting their money paying for this contract. They carry about three or four OAPs who could easily use their ENCTS free bus passes to go to a far closer supermarket. The other route C2 was withdrawn about fifteen years ago but these three have stayed.
I reckon the 55 will be the next to be withdrawn. I am surprised it still exists. It has been extremely reduced over the past ten or fifteen years. It no longer serves the University any more. I would really not be surprised if it is withdrawn.
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