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time to axe pensioners bus passes?

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    MadamfluffMadamfluff Posts: 3,310
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    MARTYM8 wrote: »
    I think you have proved the point. Possibly the most pampered generation in history with an incredible sense of entitlement.

    Your parents earned it in the war, you spent it all and your kids will have to pay for it, and their kids and theirs too!

    let me ask you a question

    I have been paying tax and NI since August 1970 and will be paying it until 2021

    Look at your own relatives parents, grandparents may be even great grandparents work out when they retired and got their pension (don't forget any Women who were born before 1950 got theirs at 60). How many of them started getting their pension after that date.

    All the time I have been working and paying in I have been helping to pay for those pensions, not MINE, THEIRS, all that time no Government actually told me that whilst I am paying for other peoples pensions I myself would get one one day - Now of course I assumed I would because other people have been getting one but I never took that for granted and I have never complained or whined about the fact that maybe in 2021 after paying in for 51 years I might actually not get one, yet I have no grievance or spite against the people who I have already helped pay for unlike the entitled young whining about the fact that they MAY have to work for as long as me and not get anything back at the end of it all

    Already I am having to work longer to get the things that todays pensioners get, my Husband got his pension this year (actually first payment next week) at age 65, from the age of 60 he was entitled to claim for pension credit and get his bus pass, but I cant get either until I am 66 - 6 years later then him as I have to wait until I get my own pension before getting any 'perks' and don't forget that when I started work I was told I would get my pension at age 60 I had already been paying in for over 20 years before I was told it would be 65 - now of course its 66.

    I really am sick and tired of all the hatred and spite towards the elderly in this country
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    Nick1966Nick1966 Posts: 15,742
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    Madamfluff wrote: »
    I really am sick and tired of all the hatred and spite towards the elderly in this country

    You are not alone.

    I'm 47. So in about 20 years' time, it'll be my turn to receive the "hatred and spite towards the elderly" from those who are currently just starting school. When they reach working age around about 2030, their taxes are going to pay my basic state pension.
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    nobabydaddynobabydaddy Posts: 2,701
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    Pensioners don't need the bus pass. Time to save some cash and take them away.
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    Raring_to_goRaring_to_go Posts: 20,565
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    clinch wrote: »
    What are they?

    There are loads of concessions.....check them out....

    http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/concessions

    Not forgetting they also have a superb economical transport network .
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    jjwalesjjwales Posts: 48,572
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    I don't think young people should pay adult bus fare until they are at least 18 years old because until then many of them are either still in school/ college or unemployed and unable to claim JSA.

    Maybe it would help reduce bus fares if people of pension age who have access to a car don't claim for a bus pass.

    That would be a shame, as I feel we should be encouraging people to use buses rather than cars. Though if pensioners have no intention of using the bus, they'd be unlikely to apply for a bus pass in any case.
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    jjwalesjjwales Posts: 48,572
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    Pensioners don't need the bus pass. Time to save some cash and take them away.

    Yes, let's encourage older people without their own transport to stay at home and not bother to go out or socialise. A great idea.
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    nobabydaddynobabydaddy Posts: 2,701
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    It's time for the pensioners to share the burden that has affected all of us.

    People who chime about hatred and vitriol against pensioners should remember that the older generation have poured venom and hatred towards immigrants and LGBT people in huge spades for decades. You can't have it both ways. It's symptomatic of the lack of respect in society these days. We reap what we sow.
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    THOMOTHOMO Posts: 7,452
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    It's time for the pensioners to share the burden that has affected all of us.

    People who chime about hatred and vitriol against pensioners should remember that the older generation have poured venom and hatred towards immigrants and LGBT people in huge spades for decades. You can't have it both ways. It's symptomatic of the lack of respect in society these days. We reap what we sow.
    Source for that.
    Ian.
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    andyknandykn Posts: 66,849
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    It's time for the pensioners to share the burden that has affected all of us.
    ??

    It's pensioners who are seeing reduced incomes as a result of artificially low interest rates, they are seeing far bigger drops in income than those working or on working age benefits.
    People who chime about hatred and vitriol against pensioners should remember that the older generation have poured venom and hatred towards immigrants and LGBT people in huge spades for decades. You can't have it both ways. It's symptomatic of the lack of respect in society these days. We reap what we sow.

    I think you'll find most of the more strongly anti immigration squad on here are still working age.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 386
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    It's time for the pensioners to share the burden that has affected all of us.

    People who chime about hatred and vitriol against pensioners should remember that the older generation have poured venom and hatred towards immigrants and LGBT people in huge spades for decades. You can't have it both ways. It's symptomatic of the lack of respect in society these days. We reap what we sow.

    Has any hatred towards pensioners been shown? All I've seen is the rational suggestion to distribute benefits based on need and not purely on age.

    The only hatred I've seen in this thread is towards young people with the very ignorant and laughable rhetoric that "young people don't know the meaning of hard work" and "young people can't be bothered to get out of bed to work".
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    andyknandykn Posts: 66,849
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    Has any hatred towards pensioners been shown? All I've seen is the rational suggestion to distribute benefits based on need and not purely on age.

    Not what your thread title suggests.
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    MadamfluffMadamfluff Posts: 3,310
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    It's time for the pensioners to share the burden that has affected all of us.

    People who chime about hatred and vitriol against pensioners should remember that the older generation have poured venom and hatred towards immigrants and LGBT people in huge spades for decades. You can't have it both ways. It's symptomatic of the lack of respect in society these days. We reap what we sow.

    Oi who has I certainly have not how dare you say that and nor do I personally know anyone of my age who has, in fact for over 25 years I lived and worked in Brixton and I did work in the community helping people of ALL Colours and creeds so don't try and make out ALL people of my generation are racists to try and hide the fact that discrimination against the elderly especially on boards like this should be unacceptable
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    jjwalesjjwales Posts: 48,572
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    Has any hatred towards pensioners been shown?

    In a word, yes.
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    Nick1966Nick1966 Posts: 15,742
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    jjwales wrote: »
    Yes, let's encourage older people without their own transport to stay at home and not bother to go out or socialise. A great idea.

    Free pension bus passes must stay.

    The more people who use buses, the more these bus services are likely to stay for everyone to use.

    For those who have a car, the bus makes a useful alternative.

    For those who do not drive who might include the poor, the young, unemployed, mentally and physically disabled, the bus is a necessity. With their low floor access and ramps, bus are especially useful for wheelchair users.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 386
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    Nick1966 wrote: »
    Free pension bus passes must stay.

    The more people who use buses, the more these bus services are likely to stay for everyone to use.

    For those who have a car, the bus makes a useful alternative.

    For those who do not drive who might include the poor, the young, unemployed, mentally and physically disabled, the bus is a necessity. With their low floor access and ramps, bus are especially useful for wheelchair users.

    Why must they stay free (at point of use obviously because nothing is free) for the richest people in society?

    The point is the poor, young and unemployed are being increasingly prices out of buses.
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    andyknandykn Posts: 66,849
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    Why must they stay free (at point of use obviously because nothing is free) for the richest people in society?

    The point is the poor, young and unemployed are being increasingly prices out of buses.

    But they won't get any cheaper, indeed, lesser used routes may go altogether and the young and unemployed can get about by other means, the elderly often can't.
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    Nick1966Nick1966 Posts: 15,742
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    Why must they stay free (at point of use obviously because nothing is free) for the richest people in society?

    If we must have means tested bus passes for the over 65s, then how about restricting the pass to those who now receive means tested pensions credit ?
    The point is the poor, young and unemployed are being increasingly prices out of buses.

    In London, the Mayor and government via TfL set bus fares. So you can blame London bus fare increases on the government or the Mayor.

    Outside London, private bus companies set bus fares. So you can blame the private bus companies. And they only run the profitable services. Witness the steady reduction in loss making bus services supported by council - as their central government grants are cut. So you can blame the government, too.
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    MadamfluffMadamfluff Posts: 3,310
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    Why must they stay free (at point of use obviously because nothing is free) for the richest people in society?

    The point is the poor, young and unemployed are being increasingly prices out of buses.

    And do you think that the bus prices will go down - I posted up thread about meetings I have had with bus companies I suggest you take the time to read it
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    MadamfluffMadamfluff Posts: 3,310
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    jjwales wrote: »
    Yes, let's encourage older people without their own transport to stay at home and not bother to go out or socialise. A great idea.

    Or stay at home lonely and isolated without seeing anyone at all and don't forget, not being able to afford to get to their GPs or Hospital appointments so their physical health suffers as well as their mental health
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 386
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    Nick1966 wrote: »
    If we must have means tested bus passes for the over 65s, then how about restricting the pass to those who now receive means tested pensions credit ?



    In London, the Mayor and government via TfL set bus fares. So you can blame London bus fare increases on the government or the Mayor.

    Outside London, private bus companies set bus fares. So you can blame the private bus companies. And they only run the profitable services. Witness the steady reduction in loss making bus services supported by council - as their central government grants are cut. So you can blame the government, too.

    That sounds like a better way to distribute them.

    Both bus companies and government are to blame, the busses should be a service that is affordable to all.

    I'm my area a return to the airport that includes a bus change costs close to 30. The airport bus is a premium service not included on any purchased Travel cards, even if you hold a annual bus pass at 1000 for the company that runs the service. Yet pensioners get this free. Something is not right. Many pensioners can afford to pay but as its a freebie take advantage of it.
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    Nick1966Nick1966 Posts: 15,742
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    Madamfluff wrote: »
    And do you think that the bus prices will go down - I posted up thread about meetings I have had with bus companies I suggest you take the time to read it

    Exaclty.

    Back in 1985, the Conservative government trashed bus services outside London by privatising the companies and deregulating the services. Result, private operators who only run bus routes to suit themselves and their shareholders. With councils having to step in to and run all the other bus services which make losses. These loss making services are now being cut, because the councils who support them are making cuts. For instance, Skipton to Harrogate has been reduced from 6 buses per day to 2 per day. The council's running out of money and the local bus company, TransDev won't step in to run the service because it won't make them money. A pattern repeated elsewhere.

    Thankfully, the 1980s Conservative Government weren't stupid enough to do the same in London. London's buses remain publically financed and organised, with routes and fares set by the taxpayer via TfL. Result, a 60% increase in London bus use over the 10 year. London now carries half of English bus passenger journey, despite having 20% of the population.

    And West Yorkshire councils have had enough of private bus operators. And want West Yorkshire's bus services back in state hands. Just like it's always been in London.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 386
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    Madamfluff wrote: »
    And do you think that the bus prices will go down - I posted up thread about meetings I have had with bus companies I suggest you take the time to read it

    Might stop them rising so much. As I've posted countless times these passes have been one factor in the inflation busting rises.
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    Nick1966Nick1966 Posts: 15,742
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    As I've posted countless times these passes have been one factor in the inflation busting rises.

    No.

    Outside London, private companies receive money from their local council to convey pensioners with free bus passes. So for these private bus companies, they have two sources of revenue: bus pass money from the local council and ticket sales from everyone else. In turn, these private bus operators are free to choose the frequency of the service based on the profits they think they can make.

    In London, the taxpayer (via TfL) collects all bus fare revenues. So there is no additional cost to the taxpayer when another pensioner use their buses pass in London. So as you can see, the State, via TfL sets all London bus fares, routes and frequencies. That's why in London, all adult fares are £1.45 regardless of time of day or the length of bus journey.

    One of the largest private bus companies in the UK is Arriva buses. In their familiar white and turqoise liveries. Arriva Buses are owned by the state owned German State Railways. So when you next travel on an Arriva Bus outside London, your ticket money is going towards the German government via their State Railways.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 386
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    Nick1966 wrote: »
    No.

    Outside London, private companies receive money from their local council to convey pensioners with free bus passes. So for these private bus companies, they have two sources of revenue: bus pass money from the local council and ticket sales from everyone else. In turn, these private bus operators are free to choose the frequency of the service based on the profits they think they can make.

    In London, the taxpayer (via TfL) collects all bus fare revenues. So there is no additional cost to the taxpayer when another pensioner use their buses pass in London. So as you can see, the State, via TfL sets all London bus fares, routes and frequencies. That's why in London, all adult fares are £1.45 regardless of time of day or the length of bus journey.

    No. As the money paid to the privaye bus companies has reduced they have increased ticket prices to fill the void.

    London is a different story. Anyone can just move there and if they are 60+ get travel worth 3'000 a year.
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    TRIPSTRIPS Posts: 3,714
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    Been a real eye opener this thread. fact is, bus passes are essential. take them away and many pensioners will be prisoners in their own homes, they would not be able to travel for shopping, meet friends or just have a day out somewhere.
    I can understand the logic behind free bus passes for young children who live a few miles from school, it would be dangerous to expect them to walk to school,
    Cant see any reason why it is vital for a young student over 16 to have a bus pass, it would actually be healthy for them to walk a few miles every day to go to college.
    So if any government ever put forward the idea of doing away with pensioners bus passes to save money I would want to know what they are doing with students bus passes.
    I have always had sympathy for young people leaving school seems like I was a bit naive, They only care about number one,
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