MSE News: Unemployed to get free bus travel

Tarry

hmmm..........hope that doesn't mean the fares for those who pay will go up. I don't mind free bus passes for the elderly/disabled, but not sure about this. I think perhaps it should be half or something. I must have paid about £1000 plus for stagecoach over the last few years.

CRISPIANNE3

worried_jim wrote: »

Thank God we have moved on since the 80's and most people can now spell bike.[/QU

Keep taking the chill pill worried Jim. :rotfl:

Kimberley

Well I hope this puts a stop to the number of confrontations on the buses. Bus Drivers hopefully won't have yobs refusing to pay their fare and threatening the driver if the driver refuses them onboard. I qualified as a Bus driver last week and confrontations were my biggest fear.

Tarry

I guess it depends on the area?

diamonds

Free/reduced travel is good for anxiety/depressive illlness & the economy.

In Sydney the state government still owns the transport system, those on Centrelink (DWP) for $2 a day get you unlimited travel on buses, trains & ferries.

Perhaps had Thatcher got someone to run a national system with transport EXPERIENCE than a MP or mate & not sold them off from councils, EVERYONE could afford travel - DWP & those train commuting, but no sell them off then pay them private companies and people wonder why we are trillions in debt as a nation and travel ios not affordable, The United States of Kingdom....we followed their lead !

Governments local & national are the worst uneducated accountants, how do they run a household budget ? Easily...on great overpaid wages.

Mids_Costcutter

countingthepennies wrote: »

Free bus passes will be abused by those who will see it as another hand out, and tax payers will pay yet again :-(

It's actually the participating bus companies who will fund this scheme:

http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2012/2012-12-10.aspx

Of course some jobseekers won't be able to benefit as their bus services will be provided by an operator that's not taking part.

This is definitely a good idea though, as well as actually attending interviews we shouldn't forget that there are many other services you still need when looking for work and often can't access without affordable transport e.g. visiting libraries, job fairs, education, training etc.

Viberduo

Interesting, I knew years ago there was a New Deal half price travel card but at the time it was England and Wales only.

I currently have a Scotland pass due to disablity but plan to move to the border soon so if I get a job the other side of border it would be useful.

Is it bus only half price?

zzzLazyDaisy

Are you in receipt of DLA HRM? If so, you are entitled to apply for a free bus pass in England (I don't know about Scotland).

Mids_Costcutter

Viberduo wrote: »

Interesting, I knew years ago there was a New Deal half price travel card but at the time it was England and Wales only.

I currently have a Scotland pass due to disablity but plan to move to the border soon so if I get a job the other side of border it would be useful.

Is it bus only half price?

Yes, buses only. See article which is linked at beginning of thread.

SoloSailor

What next? Free Gym membership to keep the unemployed fit, maybe free holidays to make sure they turn up to interviews nicely tanned.