Free buses 1st April 2006

[Spycam]

Over 60's and/or disabled

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/df...10099.hcsp

[shuffy]

Thats super Frank and I often go into Chorley on the bus instead of the car as its better than trying to Park and we both have invalid passes (me because of my epilepsy) and Frank of course because of his leg and not being able to walk very far without pain. Mind you as I am an OAP now I would qualify anyway!!!

[noel]

I'm looking forward to getting them in December.

[Martin]

I've a long wait until I get mine.

[Spycam]

The pass I have at the moment is a disability NOW card. It is a flat rate of 50p per trip and it is for journeys that start or end in lancashire and covers Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Merseyside. Don't know what the free pass will cover yet.

[accy stan]

The last time we were over we applied and received bus passes, all we had to do was give them the sister-in-laws address, a photo and a bill showing their address and we had them within a week. Just for a laugh I asked for the winter fuel allowance, the lady said no because we live in Canada but if we lived in France or a euro country we could have it. Does that mean if you winter on the Costa Brava you get the winter fuel allowance?

[anacortesdamp]

I drive for our county transit system,Skagit Transit. The fare is 25 cents a ride for senior citizens and 50 cents for everyone else. That applies from beginning to end of your trip, no matter how many times you change buses.

You can go from Mount Vernon to Bellingham (about 30 miles) or from Anacortes to Concrete (about 60 miles) for that price.

Needless to say, the system doesn't rely on fare-box revenues. About 85 percent comes from local taxation.


Frank

[anacortesdamp]

I hadn't realised until I read an article in the LEP the other day, that the bus operators issue a ticket for the discounted ride, put it in a bag and then claim the fare back from the local government. What a bloody rip-off!

If you're running a 72-passenger double decker with only about 30 people on board, four or five OAPs on discount tickets don't make a measurable difference to the cost of running the trip. The bus weighs maybe 25,000 pounds empty, 30 passengers paying their way add another 1500 pounds. The effect of four more passengers on the direct operating costs couldn't even be measured.

Whoever dreamed up that compensation algorithm must have worked for the bus company and conned the government into buying it. What a crock!


Frank

[shuffy]

Frank apart from 'rush hours' the buses are just full of old people on a 'freebie'

[noel]

They are pretty small people Frank if they only weigh 50lbs each. Although I have a pass I have only used it 3 times, on park and ride. I would have thought folk had more pride than jump on a bus just for a freeby, but apparently not.