Free bus pass under threat?

jhendry3

There is always an answer to everything. Depending on which area of the UK you live in. Why can't everyone in the UK have the same benfits. We are all jock tamsons bairns after all.

jhendry3

cant we just all get along why do we have to be english, scottish, welsh, muslim, or anything else - we are only human beings, we are born we live and then we all die. Whats the problem:A

dzug1

jhendry3 wrote: »

cant we just all get along why do we have to be english, scottish, welsh, muslim, or anything else - we are only human beings, we are born we live and then we all die. Whats the problem:A

In a word - money

Dunwunderin

jhendry3 wrote: »

There is always an answer to everything. Depending on which area of the UK you live in. Why can't everyone in the UK have the same benfits. We are all jock tamsons bairns after all.

Can use my free travel pass in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland anytime on all public transport( including trains)
Unfortunately can't use in GB. Still,perhaps the best travel package in the UK?

Door_knockers_will_die

Just a few points - in Sheffield there is going to be a massive crackdown on Disabled Bus passes from next year. All such pass holders have to renew their passes the day before their birthday next year, and the general feeling is that 90 per cent will be withdrawn following medical examinations by "physiotherapists" who will know nothing about the person they are examining.
The reason I have been given for this is that it, firstly to save money, and secondly (although I wouldn't name the source) because the council want to issue more passes to non English speaking immigrants. Apparently this is looked on as a more urgent need - if a person can't ask for a fare or destination, how can they get anywhere ?
The real disabled don't need to go anywhere do they ?!?

Withdrawing my pass will mean I can't afford to visit my elderly relatives every day, and they will all then need carers..... which will in turn provide work for non English speaking immigrants. BRILLIANT

TurkishTutor

I am 52 and thus don't have a free bus pass - I would like to use buses but the fares are far too expensive as the few paying passengers subsidise the majority of free pass-holders on many routes. For me a 20 minute trip to Harrogate is over £6 return..... so I drive now as it's much cheaper (including parking costs), and so do many others in my area. In fact for more than one person a taxi is more economical! A sad state of affairs I think..

I'm not familiar with the situation elsewhere in the country but here in scenic Yorkshire many routes are popular "day trip" routes for pensioners. I realise that while some people may need a free pass surely the majority could pay a reduced fare? Seems a pity to price out other passengers, leading to fewer buses for those relying on them to get to work, more traffic on the roads, more pollution and so on....

Farway

TT It obviously varies from County to County, but our bus fares have always been high here, costs over £1 to go a mile, so I always used my car, now I use the free bus pass

From my observations here if the free bus passes were withdrawn I reckon that lots of routes would cease to be profitable & unused for most of day, with subsequent closure of route

If I had to pay, it would depend on cost, otherwise back to the car for me

LittleVoice

TurkishTutor wrote: »

. . . the fares are far too expensive as the few paying passengers subsidise the majority of free pass-holders on many routes. ....

AFAIK it's not paying passengers who "subsidise" the free pass-holders. Aren't bus companies paid by local authorities in respect of the "free" journeys? So in that case, it is the council tax payer who "subsidises" - and that will include many of the pensioners who benefit.

Errata

LittleVoice wrote: »

AFAIK it's not paying passengers who "subsidise" the free pass-holders. Aren't bus companies paid by local authorities in respect of the "free" journeys? So in that case, it is the council tax payer who "subsidises" - and that will include many of the pensioners who benefit.

It's not quite as straightforward as that. People may start their journey in several LA areas but make their return journey from the same honeyspot seaside town, leaving the seaside town LA to subsidise an awful lot of journeys.

Doc_N

Errata wrote: »

It's not quite as straightforward as that. People may start their journey in several LA areas but make their return journey from the same honeyspot seaside town, leaving the seaside town LA to subsidise an awful lot of journeys.

But against that, the seaside town does get the benefit of the additional spending from the extra visitors.