Adapting to retirement

kimwp

westv said:

kimwp said:

westv said:

katejo said:

zagubov said:

BikingBud said:

katejo said:

westv said:

I am envious of those over 60 in London that get free travel wherever they want to go in the capital.

Only off peak (after 9 or 9.30 depending on type of transport). 

Why would you want to travel at peak time though?

I am jealous of the free facility but not too bothered about London, although it is a major inequality with people outside the grand metropolis.  

My father, some way beyond 60, has and continues to exploit the free bus pass in and around N England, seeing how far he can get in a day. Save power on heating and lighting, keep warm on long distance buses, visit different towns and locations.

Hospital appointments may need travel during peak time. Also I still work part-time teaching and need to get to work promptly.
It's not just London has the facility, Liverpool has it too. Houses are more affordable there.
Northern Ireland has free travel for 60+ residents but at 66 they can travel free in the Republic as well.

I still have to keep my old Oyster account and top it up on days when I go into work in the morning. Of course I could just use contactless but prefer not to. Someone I know told her employer (on reaching 60) that she would be coming in later in the day from then on. I found that cheeky and unreasonable! 

I use my very old Oyster card when going to London.
For me, it's more convenient than contactless - just take out of pocket, tap, back in pocket. Contactless would be wallet out, take out DC, tap, return DC to wallet, put wallet back in pocket.

I use my contactless now so I don't need to faff with top ups, but I definitely preferred the oyster card as being something I could have in a pocket to take out without having to open up my wallet in the middle of all the crowds.

Mine is still set for auto top up.

I didn't know that was a thing (though makes sense)- I topped up with the machines

arthurdick

leosayer said:

westv said:

GibbsRule_No3. said:

In those days though, I don’t think school kids got free travel, I try hard to avoid travelling when schools end, nightmare travelling on the bus so not much difference from being an “am I too early”?

In the 70s in London I had a pass to get me to school, but it could only be used on that route. Every other journey was, if I remember correctly, 5p.  

That may well have been Ken Livingstone's "Fares fair" promotion. 

As I recall for kids, all bus journey were 5p and for adults, 10p. Travelcards for kids were 30p (Red Bus Rover?).

Ha. it is nice to remember all of this, that used to be our little Saturday treat, going to the shop to buy a Red Rover for 25p for all day travel on London buses., but only after we had our 5p Saturday  morning pictures at Lewisham Odeon

westv

arthurdick said:

leosayer said:

westv said:

GibbsRule_No3. said:

In those days though, I don’t think school kids got free travel, I try hard to avoid travelling when schools end, nightmare travelling on the bus so not much difference from being an “am I too early”?

In the 70s in London I had a pass to get me to school, but it could only be used on that route. Every other journey was, if I remember correctly, 5p.  

That may well have been Ken Livingstone's "Fares fair" promotion. 

As I recall for kids, all bus journey were 5p and for adults, 10p. Travelcards for kids were 30p (Red Bus Rover?).

Ha. it is nice to remember all of this, that used to be our little Saturday treat, going to the shop to buy a Red Rover for 25p for all day travel on London buses., but only after we had our 5p Saturday  morning pictures at Lewisham Odeon

Our Saturday morning pictures was in Peckham.

LHW99

Ah, all these Londoners They don't know how the rest of the country lives - one bus to the nearest town every 2 hours (if you're lucky). Bus fares getting on for £3 if you've no pass.

Even as a child buses took 45 mins to get to the main town, and school bus passes only worked Mondaty to Friday. If you were going to the next village to the shops or meet friends it was a half hour walk. We used to do it regularly.

BikingBud

Not only an extensive and frequent service but then complaining that the subsidised free travel has to be paid for, apart from those that have not fully retired that may have to travel to work early and maybe cannot get a hospital appointment after rush hour.

And trying to suggest it is a reasonable offset for overpaying for houses, don't quite get that!

BikingBud

k6chris said:

Cus said:

Also, I haven't retired yet but I came on this forum I think because I want to retire due to not enjoying work. It might be just my own reflection but it does seem that there are a lot on here who also don't enjoy work and are looking forward to not working.  I think if you are one of those, like I am, then you don't need to retire to something as just not having to work is enough. Maybe those who enjoyed their careers and then retire are the ones who need something to go to.

Or I could be completely wrong 😁

I think the "not working" benefit might last for a few months, but for a fulfilling retirement many people need to find something else to do, even if (like today) it is simple watching all the sport on telly! 

And with the Olympics already started that's a lot to watch. Although there has been a slight lull from the Tour de France and summer rugby international finished.

MallyGirl

BikingBud said:

k6chris said:

Cus said:

Also, I haven't retired yet but I came on this forum I think because I want to retire due to not enjoying work. It might be just my own reflection but it does seem that there are a lot on here who also don't enjoy work and are looking forward to not working.  I think if you are one of those, like I am, then you don't need to retire to something as just not having to work is enough. Maybe those who enjoyed their careers and then retire are the ones who need something to go to.

Or I could be completely wrong 😁

I think the "not working" benefit might last for a few months, but for a fulfilling retirement many people need to find something else to do, even if (like today) it is simple watching all the sport on telly! 

And with the Olympics already started that's a lot to watch. Although there has been a slight lull from the Tour de France and summer rugby international finished.

indeed there is - as a non sports fan I will be getting through a fair few DVDs I think.

pterri

BikingBud said:

Not only an extensive and frequent service but then complaining that the subsidised free travel has to be paid for, apart from those that have not fully retired that may have to travel to work early and maybe cannot get a hospital appointment after rush hour.

And trying to suggest it is a reasonable offset for overpaying for houses, don't quite get that!

BikingBud said:

Not only an extensive and frequent service but then complaining that the subsidised free travel has to be paid for, apart from those that have not fully retired that may have to travel to work early and maybe cannot get a hospital appointment after rush hour.

And trying to suggest it is a reasonable offset for overpaying for houses, don't quite get that!

Yes, the rest of the country should have excellent public transport. Go to France, loads of very average medium sized towns have trams and extensive affordable busses. Londoners pay through council tax (a proportion of which goes to TfL), Manchester is trying to emulate TfL. Let’s hope they succeed. London still has too many cars, paradoxically it makes those journeys where a car is the best solution a nightmare, so the disincentives to drive (congestion charge, parking restrictions etc) actually make those important journeys viable. 

Everyone love to whinge, I look forward to doing more of it when I retire. There are 10 million Londoners, we cant all be pr**s.