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time to axe pensioners bus passes?
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Normal bus fares have rocketed since these were introduced. The poorest people in society, the young, are now being priced out of busses. As well as homes and jobs.
The age of these bus passes has now gone up to 68 so young people now will probably not get them unless they live to over 128.
These passes are just a bribe to get away with a low state pension. Would rather a sustainable amount was paid than bribes to try and fool people.
The age of these bus passes has now gone up to 68 so young people now will probably not get them unless they live to over 128.
These passes are just a bribe to get away with a low state pension. Would rather a sustainable amount was paid than bribes to try and fool people.
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Also, if they were introduced as a bribe then what happens if they are removed ?
The point is they cant remove the bribe as they are scared of pensioners and don't care for the young.
I'm talking about the free bus passes brought in by labour in 2008ish.
The nationwide pensioner free bus pass is new end of.
Some people know the cost of everything but the value of nothing.
Getting the elderly in our society out and about is good for them and you, it keeps them social and active potentially staving off many of the afflictions that come with old age, as my old auntie says "It keeps my blood going round and my head clean." what of the ancillary savings to the NHS, GP visits etc. Loneliness is reakoned to be one of the countries biggest killers - the free bus pass gives social interaction.
Also I think kids on busses are more likely to behave if there are elderly people on it which makes a more pleasant journey for all!
If pensioners didn't use buses during the off-peak hours how many services would simply be cut because they weren't economically viable?
I don't think I'd want a service which only ran 1 bus an hour.
What?
Free bus passes are funded by the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments generally through funding provided to local government - nothing to do with the EU. We probably are paying for free travel passes in some member states though - with our taxes.
The freedom pass scheme in London - which is of course far more generous as it covers the tube/rail as well - costs about £320m a year. I think the overall cost nationally isn't far off £1bn.
Of course they could scrap the outside the area concession - so you only get free travel locally. Not sure for example why a pensioner from Dorset coming to London for a weekend away/theatre trip gets free travel on London buses?
They should be paid for and offer similar facilities country wide.
I suppose you could tinker at the edges of it and not let pensioners in Dorset travel for free to London, but it's not going to amount to a whole heap of beans , is it?
Gosh talk about being selfish.
Gone are the days when pensioners were the poor people in society. The poorest by far are the young. No jobs, can't afford a house and face working for their entire life.
The people that can least afford the bus end up paying for rich pensioners to use it.
There is no nationwide scheme to get even reduced bus travel for job seakers, outside of London.
Give us a chance !
It's not clear how they work out the 'cost' because those tubes and buses would presumably be running anyway.......and of course there's no guarantee that old folk would make (and pay for) the same number of journeys if they didn't get a card
Yes. And already discussed.
No because it is funded by the government, The government pay the bus company so the bus companies are not losing money.
On the Isle of Wight Job seekers get 1/2 price travel on buses, AND reduced travel on the hover (with the ferries looking to start a scheme of their own) I am sure other posters from other parts of the UK can tell your about JS reduced travel in their own areas
Why are pensioners more important than the young?
Have you ever thought about the health affects of people who are still living at home in their 30s, can't afford a car, huge uni debt and can only get a low skilled job?
Exactly - in London the freedom pass covers zone 1-9 and includes 24 hour travel on the buses, trams, DLR and tube with free travel on national rail after 9am. If you had to buy the equivalent ticket it would cost over £3,000 a year - equivalent to 60% of the state pension a year. Its an incredibly generous concession - and a lot of London pensioners have massive housing wealth (average house prices now over £400k) and good pensions so aren't what one might call all exactly poor.
Since last year all over 60s living in London get the pass - unlike outside London where age eligibilty is linked to the state pension age. So you can have a 60 year old city banker or high court judge getting free travel to work - whereas a 25 year old cleaner on £12,000 has to pay full fare.
Who am I to say what is fair?
Wrong. These passes have pushed up the cost for others as they reduce the amount they pay, the bus companies said so.