Free bus and rail travel for the oldies from next April ??

System

What we all know now, is that in the years we have waited for the free pass, someone somewhere has had the task of thinking up these soddin complications for users and drivers.

Gers

A report of the effects of free bus travel

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/7457581.stm

LesD

Gers wrote: »

A report of the effects of free bus travel

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/7457581.stm

Looks like another one of those 'soundbite' programmes we've been getting lately. Very little true 'research'. Just a couple of off-the-cuff comments.

What about the stimulation to the local economies? What about the funding from government (although we know that won't really be full recompense)?

Ken68

Well I've made a whole bunch of new friends by 'going on the buses', and found some old schoolmates who thought I was dead. :-))

Titch89

Does anyone know how much it costs before 9.30am? I'm disbaled, but what applies to over 60s, applies to me as well.

Ken68

Here it is £2.80 return into town....still half that of taxis.

Farway

Titch89 wrote: »

Does anyone know how much it costs before 9.30am? I'm disbaled, but what applies to over 60s, applies to me as well.

Depends where you live I guess, but it would be full fare around here, which is over £3 for a 4 mile single

In rural areas this can be very expensive, which is one reason my local council pays for all day [before 0930] for trips starting within the boundaries

Ken68

Nice touch from the hospital yesterday, the secretary has matched my future appointments with the bus times.

System

We've all enjoyed three months of free travel now. Yes, the thorn has been this weird 9.30am start up. However, we don't HAVE to accept it if we don't want to. Someone has managed to overturn this rule to 24/7 travel. See this link:-

http://www.marketrasenmail.co.uk/news/Delight-over-the-247-bus.4181970.jp

So, if everyone wrote or email their local authority then some of us might succeed, then this could escalate. I have emailed my local newspaper thus:-

Dear Jeremy (he's the editor)

Now that those who are eligible have enjoyed three months of free bus travel, there appears to be a thorn in it's usage. That being the "can I use it before 9.30am? issue. Yes, I'm aware that many people will have grasped the fundamental rules, but never-the-less, it isn't totally clear to everyone.

However there IS hope. Hope that this could be changed to 24/7 travel.

The first (to my knowledge) council to change their 9.30am start to 24/7 has happened in Lincolnshire. Someone campaigned and succeeded. The link to the story is here:.

http://www.marketrasenmail.co.uk/news/Delight-over-the-247-bus.4181970.jp

If there were sufficient interest and feeling, this could be achieved here in Northants or indeed throughout the UK. After all, you loose nothing by asking. I would politely suggest that if anyone thinks that they too would like to see a change in the rules, simply write or email Northamptonshire County Council at:-

http://www2.northamptonshire.gov.uk/AF3/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=HtFC3Utb4id


So, how about it?, would you consider writing to these people? are you sufficiently motivated to embark on such a crusade?. My bet is that you are. After all, what have you got to loose?.

Oh, my information came via http://www.buspassheaven.co.uk/

chesky369

In London, as I've mentioned before, we get free travel on buses and the tube from 9am. Last week I had to travel between 8am - 9am and in the six months since I retired, had forgotten the sheer hell of the London rush-hour.

I don't think I'll be asking to travel before 9am. Leave it to the poor bloody commuters.