Please Stop Using Bus Passes - Transport Secretary

Katykat

Anyway of finding out how much Mr Philip Hammond earns, how much he claims in expenses ( particularly travel expenses) ? I'd love to know!!!

margaretclare

*Chattie* wrote: »

so why did you go to the bother of getting the passes?

Obviously, I thought I "might" use it! So far I haven't.

Mr_Oink

Katykat wrote: »

Anyway of finding out how much Mr Philip Hammond earns, how much he claims in expenses ( particularly travel expenses) ? I'd love to know!!!

FOI request ?

margaretclare

hethmar wrote: »

I dont know who it was - I heard the radio as I went into my kitchen, it was on the Jeremy Vine show. I dont think she was any one of any consequence, just some old misery who said she saw pensioners queueing for the bus "just to go on jaunts to the seaside". I couldnt believe she was saying it. I almost rang up to have a go, but I was just on my way out of the house.

You should be able to hear it on the BBC site shouldnt you?

It was almost at the end of the programme so even if you'd phoned in you probably wouldn't have got your pennorth in.

Jeremy Vine also quoted a man from Oxford who had expressed similar views, about 'people who used to go into Oxford once a week but now they go every day'.

pollypenny

As I said in previous posts, the bus pass has the 'economic' benefit to the country, if not to us, of luring us into town now and again, where my little feet lead me to Marks and Debenhams!

The begrudging woman on Jeremy Vine was also a pensioner. Perhaps by the time she has to give up her driving licence there'll be no free bus passes.

alanq

Katykat wrote: »

I dont have a pass as yet, & I can almost guarantee that by the time I get to 60, the age will have been increased.

If you are in England it already has. The age one is eligible for a bus pass (for both men and women) is rising in line with the women's state pension age. That was 60 until April 2010 but since then has been increasing by one month every two months and will continue to do so until it reaches 65 in 2020 - or until the rules are changed if sooner.
http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/ssa/benefit_information/a-z_of_benefits/ssa_retirement_pension/changes_to_pension_age_for_women.htm
(It's a Northern Ireland website but the state pension age for women will be the same as for England)

datostar

*Chattie* wrote: »

so why did you go to the bother of getthing the passes?

i would say i'm what you call a "better off" bus pass holder living in a city with no parking for my car so i'll use my pass for city trips thank you very much.

Well I dare say I am too. The bus stop is 50 yards away from my house; the bus station is right in the middle of the pedestrianised Town Centre, and one comes along every 10 minutes or so. No contest. If I take the car I have to drive around for miles looking for a car park space, pay through the nose if I find one or risk the Council Parking Stasi if I don't. If I want to go to the massive Asda on the edge of the Town, there's less walking from the bus stop outside than there is from within their own car park. Wonderful things, these big free taxis!

lilac_lady

If the free bus pass was withdrawn for pensioners perhaps there would be fewer buses and more unemployed drivers etc. We're saving jobs and keeping buses running!

Although I don't use my buspass much at the moment I can see that it's great asset.

Newly_retired

I did not claim my bus pass till I had given up work at the age of 62. Just didn't occur to me and I would rarely have used it. I neede the car because of all the books and marking I had to carry to school, and we had a free car park. Now I go into town for free on the bus after 9.30 as it saves me the hassle and cost of parking and is better for the environment. DH, on the other hand, drives his car everywhere! To be fair, his journeys are across the outskirts ie not on a bus route, and time is usually of the essence for his work.
I do voluntary work now and can claim my travel expenses, so it is a point of principle for me to travel as cheaply as possible. Even though I can easily afford the fares, I do claim if I need to get to work before the 9.30 bus- again, a point of principle.
I do occasionally use my pass for a day out - and why not? Lots of pensioners use theirs for such purposes and if it gets them/us out and about and keeps them/us active and interested in life, then that is all to the good.
There would be an outcry - and lost votes - if the free bus pass were to be taken away, but I would not be against not offering it in the future to new pensioners, in these difficult times. I guess it is inevitable that the eligible age will rise in line with retirement age.

Errata

I'm not sure what all the kerfuffle about pensioners bus passes is about. Historically, pensioners have been given 50 free bus trips a month (apols can't find the reference but AFAIR it was just after WW2), then were given a pass and paid a nominal fare, and now have free travel.
My guess is that any change in the near future might be a return to them paying a nominal fare which is cheap to administer, rather than means testing which would not be.
Of course, it's worth remembering that the free travel is something of a sop to make up for the very low level of state pension compared to other countries.