Obviously, the 70 gained the nearly new Eclipses (59 plate) in 2010/1, and then the first batch of Streetdecks in 2015. I'm not so certain that the 70 is quite as bad as suggested when taken with the 74, though it's hard to keep tabs on the changes with the 71 appearing etc, and whether there's been any changes/knock ons associated with metrobus.
However, the issue south of the river has been noticeable for several years with continual reductions to services. Whilst the 90 did get new buses, and was the scene of a shortlived bus war with Wessex (and the drafting in of additional B7TLs to supplement the new Streetdecks in 2016), the whole pattern of services in the south part of the city is ailing. Is that partly because of developments at Hengrove Park or Hartcliffe meaning that fewer journeys are required? Impact of the m1? Certainly when I drive through Whitchurch, it feels like a piece of 70's suburbia where people bought off plan, had kids and is now dominated by pensioners with Nissan Jukes and Honda Jazzs rather than a vibrant bus market though First's own cuts have assisted that at various times.
I agree - I don't think First or the councils have any idea how to respond to the challenges of reinvigorating services in the south of Bristol
I'm actually a former resident of Whitchurch and lived there just short of 2 decades. For many years it suffered from a very poor standard of service, poor reliability and a lack of adequate capacity during peak times. (I believe I read somewhere that it was the 3rd most deprived area in Bristol in general.)
But what I also noticed is that car ownership seemed to go through the roof, and Whitchurch basically was turned into a giant car park. About 15 years ago, the buses stopped serving Belland Drive on journeys into town but First also started making changes to the 20 service, altering the route and cutting the number of journeys to the northern section. They also began reducing the frequency of the 51. The same ancient, single-decker buses were used until as late as 2015.
I believe things started to take a turn for the worst when First introduced the 50/51, which was frequently referred to as the Cinderella route. A very controversial change was cutting the 51 from Windways and Tanorth Road meaning residents no longer had access to Broad Walk. The 20 route was also gone, and was only partially covered by the 50. Frequencies were reduced. Vehicles often were old and in poor condition (the ex-Glasgow Tridents were the worst offenders).
And then disaster struck. First cut the 51 altogether, and the 50 stopped even going into the city centre. First also never listened to the residents of Whitchurch, who complained about a poor standard of service and cuts.