General Chat

There is a piece on the news tonight about bus passes for pensioners. They are too expensive. This from a load of graspers with their hands held out for our money. There are no buses where I live, so it doesnt affect me, but I can still take umbrage for those who do make use of them.

To take my precious Bus Pass away from me,Jean, they would have to be very brave! lol BCXX

We could always revolt, Rita:-) I wouldn't worry as there would be such an outcry if that happened. BC XX

I bet the Health Service saves money because of the use of the free bus pass for pensioners. Getting out and about certainly helps to keep me fit.

I wonder how many bus drivers would be put on the dole if we pensioners were not passengers anymore.
That would be another cost to the country. More people receiving benefits instead of paying in to the system via their wage packet.

Of course if there were then less buses running, people who lived in some areas and at the moment were getting a bus to and from work etc. would have to use their cars instead.
More traffic on the road, more pollution, congestion and possibly accidents. Another add on cost to the country.

As you can probably guess, I love having a free bus pass. I paid bus fares for many years. Have always looke forward to travelling for free
I would be LIVID if anyone tried to take it away from me.

Tess

Im sorry you should all lose your free bus passes and other concessions etc....But you should receive a pension that is based on a decent living standard not a survival one

Hello Jean....just seen this....l thought l heard this evening that Wales will not lose the bus pass. Hope l'm right as l have only just got mine!!

jude:o) x

well we dont have busses so not an issue here

Just heard on sky news to night that some goverment department has come up with the idea that "middle class" over 60s should be means tested for their bus passes but this is not likely to happen before the general election.
lynn

Well the government wants people to use cars less, so what are they up to.
With the price of petrol and car parking, they are a God send.

Mo

The reason they are considered to be too expensive is because local authorities are having to subsidise the bus companies out of the council tax as the government only party funds the scheme.

In some areas where the local authority can't afford to pay, the bus company has simply withdrawn services so no-one wins.

I would much rather see a scheme where where reduced fares are charged, perhaps a third of the normal full fare, rather than free to all.

Brinsley, that would be OK for most, but some would really suffer. There are not enough passengers for any buses to run in my area, though they run constantly 1mile and a half down the road. We either have to have use of a car or take a taxi. £10 there and back the 2 miles to the town centre.

Hi Rita we have to rely on cars but since my stroke in April and follow on fits I'm unable to drive, so have to rely on when OH is around

My Mum was ranting down the phone to me last night on this subject.

She goes out most days of the week, mainly to get out the flat, and probably uses her bus pass 2 or 3 times a week.

Most of the time she uses the bus for her shopping, hairdresser, dentist etc but does go to visit the cemetary.

She would not be happy to lose her bus pass

Maureen

Hi Rita sorry about your husband. If I lost mine I know I would have to move and I do fully agree with bus passes. It sounds such a trek for you to get to the hospital. Is there not a transportation system at the hospital you could use

They have said that it was mis-reported about the means testing and that there are no plans to do so, they are just looking at other ways of managing the passes because the way it is done now is not working properly. We were able to use our passes in exmouth to Exteter this week and it was great.

Ann
Glos

When asked by a passenger Why she as taking note of ALL passengers getting on bus and was it to find out how many were traveling for free, the lady said the powers that be like to know which bus routes are well used etc,on tihs another person commented that She expected that the bus company ran at aloss due to ALL the Bus passes! To which the Lady told her in very firm tones that without the money that the Goverment pays towards the bus passes many bus companys would go under. WHO are we to belive? I Will say that any Political Party that says it going to do away with them will have a fight on their hands.the freedom and sence of worth they haven given some would be VERY Cruel to take away.It makes so many of us independant,which keeps us active, which keeps us well!!
Which keeps us OUT of our doctors surgurys as much as we possibly can.

The bus pass scheme is for your own country and is not for across border use.
Scottish and Welsh bus pas holders cannot use them in England and we English cannot use ours in Wales or Scotland.

Rita, in our area, South Wales, there is free transport by hospital car if you need it. The sister on the dept that you visit can authorise it. It is also free in Herefordshire no matter how often you need it. Are you sure you have enquired everywhere? Try your hospitals transport office.

I agree with Colin, the pension should be higher but there should be no concessions so that we are free to spend our money as we wish.

If I choose to spend my time at home doing family history and my neighbour spends his travelling to the seaside on buses, why should I subsidise his past-time but he not subsidise mine?

Does anyone know if there is a petition re keeping the free bus passes?

I would be interested in signing one if there is. I know that there is now a Downing Street site for petitions, how do I find out if there is already a petition on there?

even if they are now saying that bus passes are not going to be withdrawn, a petition signed by thousands+ + + of people would probably dissuade the powers that be, from withdrawing them in the future.

Tess