Fastcar155
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The end of the bus pass for some pensioners : bet my name is on the list
The end of the bus pass
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TC350
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I have a bus pass, but I don't use it a lot. For the occasions that I do use it I think of it as an incentive to balance out the inconvenience of using busses. If it's taken away I'll probably use my car instead. I can bear the extra costs; will Labour care about the extra carbon emissions?
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Not being able to drive for 6 months (medical reasons!!) i’ve been using my bus pass quite a bit recently, even getting to know the timetable! So currently i’d miss it. But given the choice i’d raghet keep the winter fuel allowance…
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Come on, let's not get started on appearing to state rumours as fact. Things are bad enough without that. You may be shown to be correct, but.......
Unless you have some facts that nobody else has?
I don't think they will scrap the free bus bass for those over 66.
I've used mine very rarely, perhaps only two or three times a year. When I have used it I've noticed that at least 90 % of the passengers are well past retirement age and therefore using the bus pass. It's obviously a life line for some of the really old passengers and if taken away would result in their isolation and likely ill health with all that implies in term of costs. If it was taken away, the buses would be empty outside of the commuting hours and there would be no financial case at all to run the bus route during the day. Beaker would be upset at the loss of public transport.
The bus pass costs a similar amount to the winter fuel payments so I suppose they may be tempted to means test it in some way but on the basis that well off pensioners use it rarely, I can't see that saving much.
I've used mine very rarely, perhaps only two or three times a year. When I have used it I've noticed that at least 90 % of the passengers are well past retirement age and therefore using the bus pass. It's obviously a life line for some of the really old passengers and if taken away would result in their isolation and likely ill health with all that implies in term of costs. If it was taken away, the buses would be empty outside of the commuting hours and there would be no financial case at all to run the bus route during the day. Beaker would be upset at the loss of public transport.
The bus pass costs a similar amount to the winter fuel payments so I suppose they may be tempted to means test it in some way but on the basis that well off pensioners use it rarely, I can't see that saving much.
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This probably belongs on the UK politics thread. It's bound to drift on to the government sooner than later.
Fastcar155
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I think you are correct , very sorry.
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No need to apologise. Hopefully it will be merged into the politics thread and not just closed.
It's a very valid conversation.
What's a bus? Nearest stop is nearly 7 miles from our house (and nearest train station approx. 15 miles). This is the West Midlands btw, not the Outer Hebrides.
Fastcar155
MB Enthusiast
I am indeed fortunate that I have a bus stop within 50 meters of my apartment , the down size is that I can get on the bus that takes me into town but if I catch the second bus of the day / last bus I have to walk home.Again , the local train station is just down the road.However , the service is unreliable ( not talking about drivers strikes ) and at the weekend upto 50% of the services are just cancelled.The waiting room is always locked not doubt to stop the room being vandalised.
MikeInWimbledon
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I love my over 60 “bus pass.” As does my wife.
It’s the right price to travel on buses and all the way down to East Croydon on the tube / railway.
How stupid does a country have to be to be giving this to me, while students and real people pay full price.
Even though I sit on trains and buses during the day when otherwise they would be completely empty. Because no-one wants to use the ruddy things.
Cancel bus passes, reduce taxation, and run fewer buses
It’s the right price to travel on buses and all the way down to East Croydon on the tube / railway.
How stupid does a country have to be to be giving this to me, while students and real people pay full price.
Even though I sit on trains and buses during the day when otherwise they would be completely empty. Because no-one wants to use the ruddy things.
Cancel bus passes, reduce taxation, and run fewer buses
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In London, those on benefits travel on public transport for free (most, if not all). This system could simply be extended to all ages, and so poorer people can continue and travel for free.
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In Merseyside, there is an over-60's pass that includes Merseyrail trains. It covers from Southport to Chester!
Certainly it's very useful for going to and from Liverpool with a train every 15 minutes.
Certainly it's very useful for going to and from Liverpool with a train every 15 minutes.
Dryce
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So that would mean .... Scotland .... land of milk and honey and the "young person's" bus pass ... is not quite so stupid?
The bus passes should have been set to the state pension age some time back. That seemed to get missed somewhere in the overall scheme of things.
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Depends on your point of view:
According to my BIL, who lives in Ayrshire, the SNP gave Bus Passes to the youth of today! Not long after it was discover that those "Bored Young Things" that lived in "Boring Outlying Areas" now had the opportunity to travel into the City Centres and cause trouble at will, then disappear back to their "Boring Outlying Areas"
Travelling on the busses in winter may be the only way for some pensioners to stay warm.
Fewer busses in other areas than London will almost result in no buses
ALFAitalia
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Where I used to live we got one bus a week.....on Thursday at 10.30!!! And if you wanted to go anywhere other than Chichester or the other villages on the way there it was useless!!!
Why are you travelling on a bus and not in a Merc?
Asking .... for a forum.
Asking .... for a forum.
TC350
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It was like that where I used to live in a Suffolk village. Our one bus a week was on Wednesdays (I can't remember the time.) We had the choice of destinations of either Ipswich or Ipswich.
There's a 'community bus' (minibus) that does a single run at 10AM on Wednesday (market day) from a neighbouring village to the nearest town, returning 3 hours later. Doesn't stop anywhere in-between, and you have to pre-order a ticket (£4 return). I don't really count this as a bus service
