Bus pass petition...

poseidon1

westv said:

poseidon1 said:

35har1old said:

smudger1964 said:

maman said:

westv said:

I'm a bit confused at to what the petition is about. 

At the moment, despite free bus passes being issued in all 4 countries and TfL, they aren't interchangeable.

 So if, for example, an English resident goes to Wales on holiday they can't use their free bus pass.

The petition calls for the bus pass to be valid across the UK. 

I misunderstood then I thought it was about people over 60 being able to get bus passes in England like they get them in Wales,Scotland and London.So making everyone in the UK equal

In NI you get you bus and train pass at 60 and when you reach 65 your are then entitled to travel all Ireland bus and rail

Same in London (60plus oyster). However freedom pass now linked to your normal retirement age ( currently 66 or 67).

What's the difference between the two?

60 plus oyster is London specific, so does not permit bus travel outside of the London area. 

marcia_

zagubov said:

Most of the locations for free 60+ travel are devolved nations and regions like Scotland, Wales, NI and Greater London.
Other devolved city regions in England could presumably do this to - Liverpool already does.
https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/tickets-and-pricing/over-60s/

 Yes Liverpool already had that in place before the government bought out their card. Instead of changing it to meet government rules they kept it as it is. This includes off peak travel for disabled card holders 

Sarahspangles

zagubov said:

Most of the locations for free 60+ travel are devolved nations and regions like Scotland, Wales, NI and Greater London.
Other devolved city regions in England could presumably do this to - Liverpool already does.
https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/tickets-and-pricing/over-60s/

West Yorkshire are taking a different approach, the max bus fare for all adults under SPA is £2 and £5 a day rover. I’m seeing more people at bus stops. In the next step services will move to a franchise model. It will be interesting to see if this resolves the decline in services - passes are only useful if you have a service that actually runs. Subsidising free travel for pensioners, when other users are priced out or the services were flaky, meant buses were turning into free double decker taxis for the elderly.

Pollycat

Sarahspangles said:

zagubov said:

Most of the locations for free 60+ travel are devolved nations and regions like Scotland, Wales, NI and Greater London.
Other devolved city regions in England could presumably do this to - Liverpool already does.
https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/tickets-and-pricing/over-60s/

West Yorkshire are taking a different approach, the max bus fare for all adults under SPA is £2 and £5 a day rover. I’m seeing more people at bus stops. In the next step services will move to a franchise model. It will be interesting to see if this resolves the decline in services - passes are only useful if you have a service that actually runs. Subsidising free travel for pensioners, when other users are priced out or the services were flaky, meant buses were turning into free double decker taxis for the elderly.

Not just West Yorkshire...

£2 bus fare cap - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Sarahspangles

Pollycat said:

Not just West Yorkshire...

£2 bus fare cap - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The difference in West Yorkshire is the ‘locally run Yorkshire and The Humber £2 fare cap initiative’ which means you can ignore the list of services that are not included on that page. Effectively the only buses not included are the airport service and buses that travel out of area.  Similar to the Greater Manchester and London schemes. 

I’d be interested in understanding whether people will switch from car to bus if there is the ‘friction’ of having to check routes in advance.  Obviously if you’re pricing up a switch for your commute it’s worth spending the time.

Both our cars were bought for commutes, but OH is now retired and I work from home and plan to retire soon. So I’m interested in trying out other modes of travel before our next decision about replacing one or both cars.

Gandalf644

Am in two minds about signing the petition.

 I mean, do we really want elderly Scots, or even worse, the aged Welsh being encouraged to travel on our English buses?

 The aisles will be awash with Irn Bru tins and/or the air thick with that oniony leak smell.

 You will be deafened by a chorus of Octogenarians singing loudly about flowers in Scotland or blokes in Harlech!

 I won’t even mention sheep!

 Keep things as they are!

 Only joking – (before anyone takes this post seriously)

 

Grumpy_chap

westv said:

BlackKnightMonty said:

rebs said:

westv said:

poseidon1 said:

Same in London (60plus oyster). However freedom pass now linked to your normal retirement age ( currently 66 or 67).

What's the difference between the two?

The over 60 oyster has a nominal cost - initially £20 then £10 annually to renew.  Freedom pass is free.

Free to whom?

Anyone living in London over state pension age.

Plus some with certain disabilities - though the "Disabled Persons Freedom Pass" does have different rules from the "SPA Freedom Pass".  Always nice to keep things simple. 

Hoenir

Petition doesn't appear to be gaining much traction across England. No great surprise. 

zagubov

There might be more support in the west of England and Wales where there are large cities near their shared border.The population centres in Scotland and England are pretty far apart so probably wouldn't be as useful for most people there.

Ganga

Here in the N.E. of England we have free bus pass for the retired BUT you cannot use it at peak times in the morning unless you have a hospital appointment ,you have to show the driver the letter .