SIR - With regard to your story "Where have all the bus passengers gone?" (T&A, September 30), as a family of four, with two young children, we have found that with the ever-increasing fare rises there is now very little difference in price between the bus and a private hire taxi.

For example the bus fare from Eccleshill to Bradford for three adults and one child is £4.90 whereas a taxi will charge between £4.50 and £5.00. The same is true from Eccleshill to Shipley.

The fare I have quoted includes full fare of £1.40 for my 13-year-old son because this is what we are charged as we refuse to spend £7.80 on a half-price pass (£2 for the pass, £3 for a photo and £1.40 each way to collect the pass).

We will carry on using taxis which pick you up at your door and drop you off where you want to be and my children are not subjected to obscene language from gangs of teenagers..

Until First Bus gets its act together and starts treating young and old as valued customers, the decline will continue and the traffic will get even more congested.

J Wagner, Acre Drive, Eccleshill