Better off on benefits

Marisco

McKneff wrote: »

:T:T:T
I agree with everything you say, except for the bus passes, I love the freedom.
to go 10 miles to our nearest town is £7.50 return. Now thats a lot of money when 2 of you are going.

I've got a car so don't need the bus pass, but TBH I'd rather see it go to someone who needs it. I don't know how the bus passes work, do the gov give the money to the bus companies? Maybe they should give bus passes to the unemployed, because they need them more than I do, it's a shame you cannot "nominate" someone to use your bus pass I know a couple of folk who are genuinely trying to find work, who would benefit from free travel to interviews and that. But I suppose like everything else, it would be open to abuse!

princessdon

I am astounded at prices of some bus/train journeys especially for children.

Where I live children get a Day Saver that covers Metro/Bus/Ferry that covers a large region for £1.10 a day, even the adults is cheap.

I have read on here people paying hundreds a month - Our All Zone is under 1K a year or £90 a month (and that covers a vast distance).

Marisco

The adult day saver on the Metro is £4.20 (I think it is) and you can go anywhere on the system - even Sunderland!! :eek::D I'm not sure how much the buses are I very rarely use them.

princessdon

I don't use it as I drive, but It's certainly cheap compared to some local transport. If you know the area - you will know it covers a huge area for that price. - I *think* you can add a bus transfer for pennies to the day saver too.

Only time I ever use it is so the kids can "go on a day trip" - Take the metro then ferry and back. LO loves this.

Man_Overboard_2

Many rural bus services are used almost exclusively by bus pass holders, and the bus companies are paid to run the services by local authorities.

Many bus pass holders would stop using the services if they had to pay, and the services would then be cancelled (many rural bus services have been cancelled anyway, in the recent austerity drive).

The small number of working people who currently pay to use these heavily subsidised bus services in order to get to work would be seriously compromised if their local bus service was cancelled.

kingfisherblue

Our local bus costs £2.30 one way to town - four miles. For just under a fiver, you can get a Saveaway, which entitles you to travel for one day throughout Merseyside, on buses, trains and ferries (not pleasure cruises, just straight over the Mersey). That's the adult cost - not sure about children's cost. Quite good value though.