Please Stop Using Bus Passes - Transport Secretary

datostar

The Transport Secretary, Mr Philip Hammond, is appealing to better-off bus pass holders to leave them at home and pay the fare instead as this will help the country.
I note that a recent audit of my local Councillors' expense claims revealed that a significant proportion of reclaimed taxi trips had been made at weekends. Councillors can claim taxi fares for attending meetings on official business. No meetings are held at weekends. The audit concluded that some people must have been using taxis for shopping trips and suchlike and claiming the money back on expenses.
Well, I will certainly consider not using my bus pass, when I am satisfied that politicians, local and otherwise, are no longer wasting far more than the cost of a bus pass on taxis, first class rail travel and unnecessary aircraft flights.

Errata

Mr Hammond is living on Planet Zanussi if he thinks appealing to peoples better natures in these modern times will do the trick :rotfl:
If anything, his appeal may make the 'better off' more inclined to use theire passes.

McKneff

So because Ive worked since i was 15, brought a family up, saved to supplement my pension and have some savings I should not get one.

Someone who has wasted, drunk, smoked, hasnt saved a bean who can get pension credits, rent paid, council tax paid should be able to get bus passes.

Same old, same old.

Annie.

margaretclare

I doubt if the 'better off' bus pass holders use their passes anyway - most will still be using their car, if they can afford to maintain and run it.

I don't know why I got mine - I've never used it. DH has only used his once in recent times and that was when he took the car in for service and came back on the bus.

Errata

Limit wrote: »

I agree it should be means tested and taken from the more well off ones

Can you imagine what the bureaucratic costs of that little exercise would be ?

Anyways, it's not a benefit it's a concession, in the same way that under 25's get cheaper travel.

Mr_Oink

Errata wrote: »

Can you imagine what the bureaucratic costs of that little exercise would be ?

Possibly < the saving made? == worthwhile

Errata wrote: »

Anyways, it's not a benefit it's a concession, in the same way that under 25's get cheaper travel.

Not round these parts they don't!

KxMx

McKneff wrote: »

So because Ive worked since i was 15, brought a family up, saved to supplement my pension and have some savings I should not get one.

Someone who has wasted, drunk, smoked, hasnt saved a bean who can get pension credits, rent paid, council tax paid should be able to get bus passes.

Same old, same old.

Annie.

Some people have no savings because they have had to do low paid work their whole lives. Not as clear cut as you would make out.

A relative of mine (in her 50's) works 40+ hours a week and her wage is that of an Office Junior (when she runs the whole admin side for sales/rentals and does reception.) There are no other jobs for her to move to. She can't save, and lives from pay to pay.
She hardly falls under your generalisation.


Think the previous poster might mean 1/3 off rail travel for the under 25's? That's the only thing I can think of, and that costs £26. Free travel to me is a benefit and not a concession because concession implies discount.

bryanb

Surely bus passes are to reduce carbon emissions and save us from global warming? I feel obliged to use mine.(Anyway the wife has got the car)

McKneff

KxMx wrote: »

Some people have no savings because they have had to do low paid work their whole lives. Not as clear cut as you would make out.

A relative of mine (in her 50's) works 40+ hours a week and her wage is that of an Office Junior (when she runs the whole admin side for sales/rentals and does reception.) There are no other jobs for her to move to. She can't save, and lives from pay to pay.
She hardly falls under your generalisation.


Think the previous poster might mean 1/3 off rail travel for the under 25's? That's the only thing I can think of, and that costs £26. Free travel to me is a benefit and not a concession because concession implies discount.

That;s a joke right, in my life i have

worked in a cigarette factory
cleaner
tatie picker
egg collector
shop assistant.
poulty gutter.

Only in my later years did i do things to get better paid.
You dont get any lower paid than in my list but Istill managed to
save and i own my own house.

McKneff

bryanb wrote: »

Surely bus passes are to reduce carbon emissions and save us from global warming? I feel obliged to use mine.(Anyway the wife has got the car)

:rotfl::rotfl:

and she gave you permission to come on here and say so. eh;)

bryanb

McKneff wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl:

and she gave you permission to come on here and say so. eh;)

No, No, she's out in the car.