Free Bus Pass scheme labelled "unsustainable& quot;

They seemed to manage a means testing system for child benefit.

paddyann54, we should have that sensible, Scottish system everywhere (especially here in London) as it reduces traffic on the roads - and makes full use of public transport.

The air quality here is just horrendous, damaging the lungs of children, reducing their length and quality of life, irreparably harming the environment. The only 'answers' are free public transport and/or increasingly expensive car ownership.

We live in London, use our freedom passes nearly every day. If we had to pay we wouldn't be able to afford to go up to museums, theatres, eating out etc . Cost of a day travel card in London is now over £15. Means testing is very costly. Perhaps the freedom pass could be part of taxable income?

For some older people the bus is a lifeline. In the winter leaving a cold home to have a free bus ride and spend some time in heated shops and library was essential to their wellbeing. I hope those who really can't afford to pay can retain a free pass.

No one gets anything free like that where we live, I am quite envious. We do get a cheaper rate but it isn’t super cheap.

Hetty58

paddyann54, we should have that sensible, Scottish system everywhere (especially here in London) as it reduces traffic on the roads - and makes full use of public transport.

The air quality here is just horrendous, damaging the lungs of children, reducing their length and quality of life, irreparably harming the environment. The only 'answers' are free public transport and/or increasingly expensive car ownership.

Electric cars.
By-passes to towns.

Forcing people to use public transport is fine if it goes to where you want to go when you want to be there!

I didn't even know I would be able to get a Bus pass.
However Buses on my part of the world are about 1 an hour.
To get anywhere you have to change at least once or twice.
Both my children couldn't get buses directly to senior school either.

Think the bus company knows this? So don't think it's worth the bother putting them on more frequently as there is not the uptake. It would never cross my horizon to get a bus.

We don't live in the country just the outskirts of a very large City.
Perhaps if they had a good service people would use them around here? Especially if they need to go to the Hospital or into the City.

maddyone

I have a bus pass, but never use it. I think people should pay a subscription for it.

Agree, 10 pounds per year. Will bring in a substantial amount. Those on pension credit can still go freely.

grannysyb

We live in London, use our freedom passes nearly every day. If we had to pay we wouldn't be able to afford to go up to museums, theatres, eating out etc . Cost of a day travel card in London is now over £15. Means testing is very costly. Perhaps the freedom pass could be part of taxable income?

Theatre going and eating out is expensive and beyond the means of many with or without free public transport. What you're doing in effect is to expect the tax payer to subsidise these luxury activities for you.

I definitely don't think they should be means-tested, but I don't think that anything should, really. I would prefer to see subsidised public transport for everyone, extended into rural areas, with charges made for using cars, so that more people would opt for the cheap and convenient option of buses.

Witzend

Where we live (very good public transport) I’m sure they keep quite a few cars off the road. I certainly use mine a lot less since I’ve had the Freedom Pass.

Yes, I think that is true here too. Sadly, since it only operates after 9am, I have to pay the fare when I take my granddaughter to school in the morning - though I can usually use it on the way home.
Personally I think that those who are still working should not get a pass but I've no idea how that could be managed.
I certainly wouldn't mind paying for it as I use it very regularly so it's worthwhile for me. Here in Greater London we can use it on underground and overground trains too.
I think they could also use the pass to replace the Senior Railcard and wouldn't mind having to pay a reduced level train fare.

If it wasn’t for free bus passes I think our local shopping centre would be empty in the week. And people probably spend the money they save on a coffee while they’re out. The reason why I stay in my house is because it’s on a good bus route and I know I can get out and about if I stop driving. And many people use their bus pass to get to the supermarket in the next village or our doctors which is in the nearby town.

Public transport here is dire, and yes, I think that is reflected in the state of many high streets, as well as loneliness and limited aspirations for people who can't get from town to town easily.

My home town is fairly affluent, and I can walk from home to the centre of it to get to shops and restaurants etc, but the poorer areas are on the outskirts and people with young children, older or disabled people can't easily walk in. This is divisive even before you factor in that those in surrounding villages have no GPs or schools, and that whereas it is possible for those in the various towns that surround the nearest city can get to the city centre relatively easily (if not cheaply) there is no service between the towns themselves. This means that businesses can't rely on customers or clients from people who may live only 15 miles or so away, as they will have to go into the city centre and out again to get to them without a car.

Londoners can get about very easily and cheaply, and it is high time that this model was extended across the country.

Have also to factor in that now impossible to find easy parking in towns in order to encourage people to use buses despite fact that in many places there are next to no buses.

Buses should become a public service and funded adequately through council tax. Yes, increased council tax, including IMO a modest annual charge for bus pass for all over 70s ex those on income support. Much can be done without means testing.

Well it surely wouldn't be a vote winner, I don't think any Party in power would do it.

We deliberately bought a house near a bus stop with frequent buses into Edinburgh. DH commuted to work every day for 35 years. I used the car for carting DC and shopping.

I have had my free bus pass for 15 years and I use it often.
I agree with Elegran that removal of it could lead to much loneliness and isolation for many which would inevitably cost an awful lot for the public purse
Like others, I could afford something towards the cost for myself from my pension which would be preferable to losing the pass and the freedom which goes with it.

winterwhite

Have also to factor in that now impossible to find easy parking in towns in order to encourage people to use buses despite fact that in many places there are next to no buses.

Buses should become a public service and funded adequately through council tax. Yes, increased council tax, including IMO a modest annual charge for bus pass for all over 70s ex those on income support. Much can be done without means testing.

In my home town there are so many new peripheral estates too far out of town to walk easily, and every house seems to have two cars. As a consequence, there are never any parking spaces, and those that do exist are on meters, which puts off visitors who prefer to drive a bit further into the city.

When we moved there, there were shuttle buses from the town centre to the edges of town (in different directions) and the majority of people used them. They stopped years ago when the council (Tory) cut the subsidies. Mostly they were used by young mums who paid the same fare as they would have done on public transport and older people who used their passes.

I doubt they broke even, but it made such a difference for people wanting to get to day centres etc in the town centre. Now there is a huge gap between people with cars who can use things like U3A, the WI and so on, and those who can't afford the fares to get to meetings, even if there is a bus to take them. It really is a quality of life issue, and all the cars on the road are bad for the environment, too.

You ned to add in disability bus passes and people on basic state benefits. But councils have seen their income cut year on year and it's so difficult -take the money from care provision? Child protection? It has to be nationally recognised and councils adequately funded.

I also recognise great efforts from especially rural communities who have made community bus arrangements part volunteer run, good for them.

I'm not aware of free transport for people on benefits, but yes, disability passes would be included. I understand about cuts to council funds, but IMO transport should be a central matter, rather than a postcode lottery.

Of course it is more viable to run a transport system in a large city than in a small town, and it is rarely going to be even possible to break even in an area with outlying farms and villages. But we all pay tax at the same rates wherever we live, and should all be able to get from A to B to be able to access services and facilities. Busy routes should subsidise quiet ones, and nobody should be unable to get to a doctor or a shop for want of a bus.

sassysaysso

grannysyb

We live in London, use our freedom passes nearly every day. If we had to pay we wouldn't be able to afford to go up to museums, theatres, eating out etc . Cost of a day travel card in London is now over £15. Means testing is very costly. Perhaps the freedom pass could be part of taxable income?

Theatre going and eating out is expensive and beyond the means of many with or without free public transport. What you're doing in effect is to expect the tax payer to subsidise these luxury activities for you.

On the other hand, free public transport takes people into towns and cities where they mostly go to spend money. Museums, theatres, restaurants - not to mention shops - employ people.

If the footfall drops considerably, business will close, city centres and towns will die and become desolate and empty eventually.

We need an infrastructure, we need integrated and affordable public transport, for the benefit of the nation as a whole.

I heard that bus passes were given to pensioners because UK pensions were so low. No idea if it's true.

I heard that too ,Sky dancer.
I believe that the old age pension is among the lowest in Europe.

I don't agree that bus passes should only be available to people on pension credit, UC, some older people are living on state pension alone, and they really could not afford to lose the freedom pass.

It should not be a post code lottery. My county council has recently taken over some rural bus routes where the companies were going to axe them as unprofitable.
I live very near a bus stop on a good bus route into the city. It takes huge numbers of cars off the roads, saves on parking problems and encourages people to get out and about, putting money into the local economy, socialising, getting to appointments. It is one of the reasons we chose to live here. But not everyone is as fortunate.
I would gladly pay a reasonable annual sum to keep my bus pass, like the senior rail card. Some places let you choose one or the other fee. I didn’t bother getting one when I was still working. It didn't feel right somehow. The first free bus of the day, after 9.30 is always full of pensioners. It helps to keep a good service running.

Figures I have found :

max weekly UK :£141, Germany £ 507, France £ 304
Spain £ 513.
Iam sure I will be told that these are not accurate.