Concessionary travel early riser idea

whattochoose

I live in Greater Manchester and have a concessionary pass which entitles me to free bus travel after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday, which is great.
However, there are times when I regularly have to use buses before 9.30am sometimes for up to a month. When this happens I normally purchase a monthly pass which entitles me to bus travel in Greater Manchester at any time of the day. This at present costs £70. However, from 9.30am this pass becomes virtually redundant because my concessionary pass kicks in.
I'm thinking of contacting Transport for Greater Manchester to see if consideration would be given to providing bus passes for older users which could be used BEFORE 9.30am only at a reduced rate, say £20 or £30. Perhaps it would provide a stimulus for older people to set off from home earlier and maybe even encourage greater footfall in the struggling high street.
What do you think?

[Deleted User]

 Can't you travel half price before 9.30 already? 

millie

Sounds like a good idea. In Birmingham on West Midland Travel buses you can travel for £1 before 9.30. You have to pay another £1 if you change buses. It does help with early hospital appointments.

whattochoose

_shel said:

 Can't you travel half price before 9.30 already? 

No. I think they did away with that a few years ago.

whattochoose

millie said:

Sounds like a good idea. In Birmingham on West Midland Travel buses you can travel for £1 before 9.30. You have to pay another £1 if you change buses. It does help with early hospital appointments.

That hadn't occurred to me. Good point.

[Deleted User]

 Might be different for pensioners but my hubby works in Manchester and pays half price, his card is for disability 

martindow

_shel said:

 Might be different for pensioners but my hubby works in Manchester and pays half price, his card is for disability 

Disability cards in my area at least offer free travel 24 hours a day.  The national scheme starts at 09.30 and ends at 23.00 Monday to Friday. 

To be honest I appreciate the many free journeys I get and pay cash fares in the mornings.  Where I am this is cheaper than buying a weekly or monthly pass.

MysteryMe

If there is capacity on the trains then not a problem but if there is then priority should be given to those who have no choice then to travel peak time because of work and paying full fare.

Takmon

whattochoose said:

I live in Greater Manchester and have a concessionary pass which entitles me to free bus travel after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday, which is great.
However, there are times when I regularly have to use buses before 9.30am sometimes for up to a month. When this happens I normally purchase a monthly pass which entitles me to bus travel in Greater Manchester at any time of the day. This at present costs £70. However, from 9.30am this pass becomes virtually redundant because my concessionary pass kicks in.
I'm thinking of contacting Transport for Greater Manchester to see if consideration would be given to providing bus passes for older users which could be used BEFORE 9.30am only at a reduced rate, say £20 or £30. Perhaps it would provide a stimulus for older people to set off from home earlier and maybe even encourage greater footfall in the struggling high street.
What do you think?

Surely that's the exact opposite of what they want to happen; they would prefer the older people to travel after 9:30am when the transport system is quieter and not encourage more people to travel unnecessarily during commuter hours. Plus i don't see why it would encourage more people to use the high street just because they can go a bit earlier, 9:30am isn't exactly late in the day.