London over 60s lose free peak travel. the pay-back begins...

Fair do’s.
Londoners are very lucky with their Freedom Pass. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to bring it into line with rest of the country’ bus passes/the Senior Railcards etc and exclude peak time travel, dies it?

Would that not be because they want the transport system to be as clear as possible for those having to make their way to work?
I'm our region, we have never been able to use a bus pass before 9.30

Sadiq Kahn has increased the congestion charge to £15 a day and it is now payable on Saturday and Sundays, forcing people onto public transport. He has cut bus and train services so they shall be even more overcrowded.

Obviously he will blame the government.

I have the Freedom Pass, I haven't used much lately, correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think you could travel at peak times with it anyway, not before 9.30 was my understanding.

That's fair and just brings it in line with the rest of the country.

Terribull the Freedom Pass, and the 60+ pass which I have, can be used at any time - the only restrictions as far as I know are weekday Peak Times on some of the overground trains.

The Tube and buses can be used at any time.

If it allows more room and safety for those going to and from work then surely this is worth doing at the moment.

I would hate to have to travel on public transport as packed as we see it in London.

We are all going to feel the pinch one way or another.

I've got a Freedom Pass and, in normal times, I use it a lot.

I think it's reasonable that at the moment it won't cover peak time travel - and maybe it will be retained if there are continuing worries about this virus or other viruses.

I don’t think I’ll be going a bus or train for the foreseeable so won’t be affected but I hope it’s not thin edge of the wedge.

As I understand it, children will have to pay in London, too. I assume it’s to keep public transport as empty as possible for people who need to get to work.

I have a bus pass, but it doesn't allow free travel at peak times. Before 9:30 and between 4 and 7 pm we have to pay the full fare.

The transport in London is so heavily subsidised it is unfair- eg children travel free, free peak hour travel for 60+ and it is cheap anyway!

public transport should be free for everyone,it would stop a lot of the congestion on the roads.I know there are plans for Glasgow to try this though it wont be this year now with the virus complicating everything

I think that is fair enough, but I am disappointed all the school kids are going to have to pay to get to and from their place of education.

My bus pass is up for renewal this year---don't think I'll be bothering with public transport.

There'll be a mad scramble now to claw back money any which way.

I don’t seem to be able to find this on news Can I ask where you’ve seen this in the news?

Found it now .

I use my freedom pass a lot in 'normal' times. However, I think it's only right that use should be restricted at present. Anyone without the common sense to avoid busy times will have to pay the fare.

In Luxembourg all public transport is free, to everyone.

I think there should be more equality as regards to concessionary travel .
Up to March , my own County Council (Northamptonshire) decided to follow suite like others and brought in the 24/7 use of the bus pass.
Yet we are told by Boris and the Cabineteers ,that over 70`s,are strongly advised to stay at home.
Shop local being the trend, but if you live in a village and you get a bus service , in order to buy essential items you can travel to your nearest town to shop.
This also includes appointments at Surgery's or Hospital Outpatients.
I think London Freedom Pass needs to be in line with rest of UK, but its not only London which has other than Bus only use West Midlands , Greater Manchester , Liverpool , West Yorkshire all have there perks added on.
Mick

Our London Freedom Pass does not allow free travel on trains before 9 or 9.30, I forget which. If you want or need to go before then, you pay. No problem on buses or the Tube, though TBH I’m not sure why it doesn’t apply to the Tube, too, given how crowded it can be during rush hours.

It’s a fantastic concession, but dh and I do often wonder how long it can last, especially now.

One advantage of it that’s not often mentioned is that it keeps a great many cars off the road. Like many others, dh and I drive a lot less since we had our FPs - that is until lockdown kicked off. We now drive to the supermarket where formerly I (who did most of it) would have walked the 20 minutes or so and got the bus back - shopping more frequently than now.

Ok don’t see a problem with that. In other parts of the country you can’t use bus passes/ train tickets until after 9-30 when the rush hour has passed. Why would you want to travel in peak time ? They are trying to keep the trains as empty as possible for people returning to work, thus lowering the virus risk

I would use my freedom pass at 9am for an appointment, otherwise I am out later in the day. At the moment I won't be going anywhere by bus or train (no tube here) in line with the lockdown, so don't see how temporary restrictions affect anyone.
I do wish I could drive so I could travel once lockdown is lifted more!

I'm in London - our Freedom Pass normally can be used at any time on buses, tubes and trams, and after 9.30am on trains. If it's just for the current crisis to ease the congestion on public transport during peak hours that's fine.

However, I don't want to feel that this is the beginning of the privilege being withdrawn for over 60s, as I know that's what they'd like to do.

And although some people think it should be in line with the rest of the country, ie bus passes only, I can't agree. Our basic state pensions are the same throughout the country, but believe me, living in London in general is much more expensive than elsewhere.

Yes, I could move - but all my family is here so I don't want to, and I think not paying for transport goes just a very small way to evening things .