Free bus travel for the over 60s in England

donnajunkie

i thought sightseeing buses were already excluded. when i went to manchester in november the sightseeing bus didnt accept bus passes then.
i woull like to know how people will know which buses they can use there pass on in future if the case is that councils can call a bus a tourist bus to get out of paying for the free fares.

munsterforever

we all know whats going to happen.... what about the poor old people living in cornwall say? every destination in the summer is a tourist attraction in the duchy!! ...disgusting....shame on the UK government who clearly are not funding the scheme properly.
Moreover older folk who have worked all their lives should not be begrudged free travel on any mode-they should be allowed on National express coaches and trains free of charge not just buses...... as they are in the North of Ireland...so much for a "UNITED" kingdom

System

As I understand it, when originally it was stated that oap's (and disabled) would be able to travel on buses throughout the UK, many people took it to mean just that. Now after a period of people being unsure due to exact terminology, all they have done is clarified so that "tour" buses, ie open-topped/commentary buses are not within the scheme.

Some people considered that if they used the "park & ride" scheme, that also would be free, the clarification confirmed this also was not part of the scheme.

Another anomaly is that whilst I may be able to travel to a neighbouring town before 9.30am, if I wished to return before 9.30am, I may not be able to if that particular council has decreed it. This we must accept. This is something we may experience when on holiday in the UK too.

As for National Express, originally I think everone accepted you could not use your pass for them, however it emerged that within some routes, parts of the route were said to be "registered" and some "unregistered", on one of those (I cannot remember which one), the pass could be accepted. The question was, how would we know where it was applicable?.

The clarification is now "from 1 April, will no longer be valid on coach routes where more than half the seats can be booked." So, I'll leave it to someone else to explain that.

If anyone is interested in reading the BBC's take on this clarification, then this is the link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7969839.stm

roddydogs

What about the unfair situation that anyone in Greater London can use Tube and Train.........anyone else cant, and before someone posts "Its paid for thru council tax" we pay more than most London Boroughs in Council Tax.

pineapple123

I cant believe people are complaining about restrictions regarding bus passes.
I live on the south coast and the buses in summer are so overcrowded I usually have to stand and I have to pay for the privilage, children around here have to pay for adult bus fare over the age of 14 even to get to school and thats regardless of income.

Yes i agree that every person over 60 should be entitiled to free transport (with restrictions) but also all persons under 18 and students should also qualify.

Instead of moaning, be grateful for what you have because Im sure that when I hit 60 this scheme will be a thing of the past likewise the NHS as we know it ,due to the politcs (national debt)of today and less money going into the system with decreasing work age people and ever increasing elderly population .

alared

pineapple123 wrote: »

I cant believe people are complaining about restrictions regarding bus passes.
Instead of moaning, be grateful for what you have because Im sure that when I hit 60 this scheme will be a thing of the past .

I`m sure that if it was really up to this government we wouldn`t have it at all.
They pay the lowest pensions in Europe and they couldn`t care less about pensioners who they treat as a burden.
In Spain pensioners have had free travel for years.
They also,upon reaching retirement age receive a free holiday from their government and get into museums and galleries for free.
This government is not giving the over 60`s anything because they have paid for this throughout their lives as well as their miserly pittance of a pension.

I don`t know for certain but I wouldn`t be surprised if this over 60`s travel is something to do with EU law and this government,much as it would like,can`t weasel out of it.

roddydogs

So where would you like taxes to rise to pay for all the above?

P4ula

roddydogs wrote: »

What about the unfair situation that anyone in Greater London can use Tube and Train.........anyone else cant, and before someone posts "Its paid for thru council tax" we pay more than most London Boroughs in Council Tax.

Don't some disabled people get a free bus/tube/train pass when visiting London?

I recall chatting to a chap on a train to London last year about the all England bus pass and he was telling me something about the Mayor had allowed disabled visitors to have tube and train passes, I cannot remember the full details though.

Paula

alared

roddydogs wrote: »

So where would you like taxes to rise to pay for all the above?

Taxes don`t have to rise to pay for this just diverted from other wasteful projects.
Just give the banks a couple of billion less and cut MP`s expenses.
It`s marvelous that for years we`ve been told,there`s no money for this,that and the other but suddenly there`s BILLIONS available for the crooked banks.
This used to be a rich country but we spend too much money and time looking after people that have never paid in anything to the cost of those that have.

harryhound

I've used my home counties issued "national" bus pass in London after 09:00 and after 23:00 without any problems.

Also check the web site "buspassheaven" for their clarification of the latest rules.