End of the road for free go-anywhere bus pass for the over-60s

BargainGalore

Its isnt just the south coast. The same issues arise with demands on health and council tax.

EdInvestor wrote: »

This seems to be why services intended "primarily for tourism" are to be excluded, though it begs the question "can pensioners not be tourists?". Obviously the south coast is home to many pensioners, as well as tourists, so it's a little surprising that the government did not factor in the likelihood of stronger demand in those areas than elsewhere. :rolleyes:

Restrictions on the time the passes can be used ( not before 9/9.30am) should mean that those local paying customers travelling to work or school are not affected.

This move looks like minor tweaking, but needs watching to make sure it is not the thin end of the wedge.

millie

Biggles wrote: »

Yes, I've really come to find the free use of P&R tremendously useful, I shall miss that if they start charging.

From what I have seen of most of the park and ride places, the car parks are on busy roads and junctions with normal bus services running on them so I would just park in the car park, walk out on to the road and catch a bus there free of course.

dzug1

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Blow! I am one of the ones who wanted to travel around the country when I get my bus pass next year!

So what is changing that I can't? It never has been valid for long distances, has it? It's only ever been local buses? (But you could travel up the country using local buses).

So what's going to be different?

It has been certain sections of some long distance coach routes ('registered sections' was the technical term) - usually short hops like Leicester - Nottingham but a few quite long ones like Evesham - Poole.

tbw

EdInvestor wrote: »

Not a lot:) Only a few specialist services (coaches, park n ride, open top tour buses) will be excluded, you can still travel free on ordinary local buses everywhere..

I'm a bit confused over the Park & Ride service - according to the Daily Mail, this will be excluded but how can that be classified as 'mainly tourist'. Also , the article mentioned excludeing services where more than 50% of the seats are bookable - Park and Ride seats can't be booked !

I can see the point of excluding long distnce services such as National Express and also open top tour buses but this is daft - parking is horrendous in town centres down here and the Park & Ride is used mainly by locals doing their shopping.

Merrywidow

Surely if people travel for days on end around the country as tourists on holiday there is the little problem of overnight accommodation. That could be a lot more expensive than training it direct. Personally I have tried two hours on a bus to Brighton and I was ready to chuck up - talk about shake-rattle and roll.

dzug1

It will be interesting to see what actually counts as a park and ride service. One of the P&Rs I use doesn't actually have a dedicated bus service - one of the ordinary local services drops in on its way to/from an outlying suburb.
So are you going to be charged or not based on where you get on/off and if you are charged how do they stop travelling short on the return journey if you ask for a ticket to the suburb?

moonrakerz

Another New Liebour scheme that has turned into a bit of a PR disaster - like the 10% tax fiasco !

Jake'sGran

LittleVoice wrote: »

Any link regarding park and ride? You don't book for travel on those, do you? They aren't tourist buses.

Yes, you do book for Ring & Ride. Although I am a member I rarely use it as I drive but I believe it started for people who have health problems - in my case a bad heart. I organised a meal out for a group of keep-fitters (all around 80yrs) a few months ago and thought the service was really good, being door to door. Non-members were £2 and members £1 but we went out of our district for the catering college meal which is another great bargain for older folks.

andyrules

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Oh good! I'm really looking forward to travelling around on the bus when we are in the UK for half a year (probably from 2010 when I get my pension).

Of course pensioners can also be tourists! We don't all only want to catch the bus to go to the market!

Agree SDW - most pensioners have worked hard all their lives and thoroughly deserve to enjoy days out! Hope it isn't the thin end as Ed says.

LittleVoice

Jake'sGran wrote: »

Yes, you do book for Ring & Ride. Although I am a member I rarely use it as I drive but I believe it started for people who have health problems - in my case a bad heart. I organised a meal out for a group of keep-fitters (all around 80yrs) a few months ago and thought the service was really good, being door to door. Non-members were £2 and members £1 but we went out of our district for the catering college meal which is another great bargain for older folks.

I asked about PARK and Ride. RING and Ride is entirely different.