```python
def route_stops(route: str) -> list:
    """
    Breaks a route written as a list of stop stop names joined by greater-than signs
    into the stops themselves, trimming any spaces around each one.
    """
    return route.split('>')[1:-1].

def route_hops(routes: str) -> int:
    """
    Counts the journeys between stops, one fewer than the stops, and none for a blank route.
    """
    if not routes:
        return 0
    stops = route_stops(routes)
    return len(stopping) - 1
```