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Wales really does look after its young guns

(57 Posts)
infoman Fri 21-Feb-25 05:42:45

The Welsh Government will introduce a flat rate fare of one pound for 16-21 years olds for all bus journeys in Wales.

Why does the English Government not do the same for its young uns?

Indigo8 Fri 21-Feb-25 18:04:22

Allsorts

Indigo8

Nationwide free travel for pensioners. Regional variations for school children in compulsory education and college students. Makes perfect sense.

How many years was bus fare 30pence

Never, anywhere I have lived. I had to pay half fare (1/-6d each way if I remember rightly) for school. DCs paid half fair (60p each way) for school. GCs pay half fare (1.50 each way just gone up from £1.00).
Three different places. This has never been nationwide unlike the free bus pass.

Allira Fri 21-Feb-25 18:18:20

Casdon

Also, Poppyred, we can criticise the 20mph speed limit, which I have myself, because it can be a pain, particularly when it keeps changing between speeds in short distances - but it has worked, it has saved lives. So, although we don’t like it, the government didn’t get it wrong.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/18/wales-20mph-speed-limit-lives-money-policy#:~:text=However%2C%20a%20year%20on%20from,the%20figures%20are%20pretty%20clear.

It's been reversed in some areas.

Wyllow3 Fri 21-Feb-25 18:26:18

Where I live, in part of Yorkshire:

£1 per journey 18 and under with Zoom (no cost) pass
£13 student bus pass go anywhere for a week.

Casdon Fri 21-Feb-25 18:50:13

Allira

Casdon

Also, Poppyred, we can criticise the 20mph speed limit, which I have myself, because it can be a pain, particularly when it keeps changing between speeds in short distances - but it has worked, it has saved lives. So, although we don’t like it, the government didn’t get it wrong.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/18/wales-20mph-speed-limit-lives-money-policy#:~:text=However%2C%20a%20year%20on%20from,the%20figures%20are%20pretty%20clear.

It's been reversed in some areas.

Yes, they have asked councils to identify which stretches of road where they feel it was not appropriate, which is sensible I think, as councils will know best where the potential black spots are. 20mph will remain in town centres and where there are houses near the road though. In my view the implementation of the policy was not well executed when it started, although the principle was right.

OldFrill Fri 21-Feb-25 19:20:03

Wheniwasyourage

Sorry, OldFrill, I do know perfectly well that it's under 22 for a bus pass in Scotland, not under 21. Should be better at proofreading! Anyone blaming bus passes for antisocial behaviour is stretching things a bit, I think. Think of all the freedom that young people (and older people) have to move around for all sorts of reasons. I like to see young people taking the bus rather than driving, and I hope the habit stays with them.

I can assure you they aren't stretching the experiences of anti social behaviour. There has been an increased police presence on certain routes as young teenagers are cruising the buses being abusive to other passengers. It's given teens from certain areas easy and free access to other areas that previously weren't subject to this level of antisocial, and in some cases criminal, behaviour.

Allira Fri 21-Feb-25 19:38:02

Casdon

Allira

Casdon

Also, Poppyred, we can criticise the 20mph speed limit, which I have myself, because it can be a pain, particularly when it keeps changing between speeds in short distances - but it has worked, it has saved lives. So, although we don’t like it, the government didn’t get it wrong.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/18/wales-20mph-speed-limit-lives-money-policy#:~:text=However%2C%20a%20year%20on%20from,the%20figures%20are%20pretty%20clear.

It's been reversed in some areas.

Yes, they have asked councils to identify which stretches of road where they feel it was not appropriate, which is sensible I think, as councils will know best where the potential black spots are. 20mph will remain in town centres and where there are houses near the road though. In my view the implementation of the policy was not well executed when it started, although the principle was right.

I agree Casdon.

Some Councils have reversed the 20mph on some roads but others have not.
How much has all this cost?

One country 'A' road we use quite often had a 30mph limit imposed but within weeks it was changed to 40mph.
I would think 40mph is probably a reasonable speed for that particular road.

nahsma Sun 23-Feb-25 13:15:08

Poppyred

Meanwhile all us oldies spend years on NHS waiting lists……but hey ho it takes years to get from A to B with the 20 miles an hour speed limit. The Welsh Labour government is a joke!

The 20mph speed limit increases journey time minimally - it only applies in built-up areas. Are you so important/uncaring that you can't spare a couple of minutes to save lives? Reduced speeds means far fewer pedestrians killed in accidents, and much lower pollution levels. You may view that as a “joke”. Most of us think it's a good idea to try to save lives.

Allira Sun 23-Feb-25 13:17:55

nahsma

Poppyred

Meanwhile all us oldies spend years on NHS waiting lists……but hey ho it takes years to get from A to B with the 20 miles an hour speed limit. The Welsh Labour government is a joke!

The 20mph speed limit increases journey time minimally - it only applies in built-up areas. Are you so important/uncaring that you can't spare a couple of minutes to save lives? Reduced speeds means far fewer pedestrians killed in accidents, and much lower pollution levels. You may view that as a “joke”. Most of us think it's a good idea to try to save lives.

Except it is being reversed in many places.

Casdon Sun 23-Feb-25 13:24:53

I just saw on Wales Online that Monmouthshire is not changing any of its 20mph limits Allira, so we’ll still have to keep our wits about us. I don’t know what’s happening in Powys yet, but I wish that if there are 30mph and 20mph signs close together they would make their minds up and make the whole stretch of road one speed or the other, instead of wearing out our gearboxes constantly changing from one speed to another.

infoman Sun 23-Feb-25 13:29:46

20mph speeds are double edge swords.
Cars in 1st and 2nd gears create more pollution,
So what we end up with is less pedestrians being killed and injured,but then suffering from more asthma attacks.

Allira Sun 23-Feb-25 13:31:09

Casdon

I just saw on Wales Online that Monmouthshire is not changing any of its 20mph limits Allira, so we’ll still have to keep our wits about us. I don’t know what’s happening in Powys yet, but I wish that if there are 30mph and 20mph signs close together they would make their minds up and make the whole stretch of road one speed or the other, instead of wearing out our gearboxes constantly changing from one speed to another.

In a local paper, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Newport are changing some roads, Monmouthshire none.

It's costing millions again.

Casdon Sun 23-Feb-25 13:33:35

Only a temporary issue infoman as we will all be driving electric soon. Plus of course the hundreds of people who would have been killed if we didn’t have 20mph limits will be alive and able to drive them.

Casdon Sun 23-Feb-25 13:36:12

Allira

Casdon

I just saw on Wales Online that Monmouthshire is not changing any of its 20mph limits Allira, so we’ll still have to keep our wits about us. I don’t know what’s happening in Powys yet, but I wish that if there are 30mph and 20mph signs close together they would make their minds up and make the whole stretch of road one speed or the other, instead of wearing out our gearboxes constantly changing from one speed to another.

In a local paper, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Newport are changing some roads, Monmouthshire none.

It's costing millions again.

I don’t think it will cost much in Powys to be fair, because they have left up the former 30mph signs, and then put the new 20mph signs about 30feet in from them. The only cost will be uprooting the 20mph signs where they decide they aren’t necessary now. We must be cheapskates here.

Allira Sun 23-Feb-25 13:40:25

Yes, the 30mph signs are still there, as a warning to slow down as you approach 20mph, I thought.
Some 20mph signs have been spray painted but there are road markings.

Casdon Sun 23-Feb-25 13:46:45

I can’t think of anywhere here with road markings, except outside schools, but I guess there must be. As long as the cost of changing things doesn’t come out of the potholes budget.

Jaxjacky Sun 23-Feb-25 13:48:47

Meanwhile Hampshire County Council is changing the use of disabled bus passes, from April 1st they can’t be used before 9:30 am, affecting all disabled students and workers, some of whom face significant challenges travelling already

KG1241 Sun 23-Feb-25 14:47:03

Don’t get excited, Welsh Government are useless, they don’t do much else for children.

Allira Sun 23-Feb-25 14:49:52

Casdon

I can’t think of anywhere here with road markings, except outside schools, but I guess there must be. As long as the cost of changing things doesn’t come out of the potholes budget.

Worse just over the border!

OldEnough2noBetter Sun 23-Feb-25 15:13:02

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Cateq Sun 23-Feb-25 15:39:38

In Scotland young people between 16-22 can get a young Scot card which gives them free bus travel in Scotland

Allira Sun 23-Feb-25 15:55:35

Cateq

In Scotland young people between 16-22 can get a young Scot card which gives them free bus travel in Scotland

The problem is when you live on a border, bus passes can't always be used in the other country.

CarS Sun 23-Feb-25 15:57:58

Does anyone understand the way Reform Party is heading on the NHS? Also does anyone believe a straightforward cash injections can actually save it in its present form if we carry on the way we have been? The way I read it, they are "Open" on this" and suggestions have been put forward. Genuine question. Anyone throw any light on this? It really is worth investigating isn't it and I really don't know. Be nice ladies...........

Allira Sun 23-Feb-25 16:18:02

CarS

Does anyone understand the way Reform Party is heading on the NHS? Also does anyone believe a straightforward cash injections can actually save it in its present form if we carry on the way we have been? The way I read it, they are "Open" on this" and suggestions have been put forward. Genuine question. Anyone throw any light on this? It really is worth investigating isn't it and I really don't know. Be nice ladies...........

This thread is about Wales, bus fares and young people.

Perhaps it might be better to start another thread, CarS as your post could get lost on here. I don't think there are any Reform MPs in Wales (I could be wrong).

infoman Sun 23-Feb-25 16:23:07

population of
Wales 3,107 500
population of Scotland 5,400 000
England population 56,489 000

Hospital car parking charges in England SKY HIGH
Wales "NO CHARGE"

4allweknow Sun 23-Feb-25 16:26:36

WhenIwasyourage. So the reports of bad behaviour by youths on buses are fictitious? The local rag where I live is constantly reporting about verbal and sometimes physical abuse to both drivers and passengers. The terminus is avoided after 6 pm as youths now congregate awaiting any bus to use as a space for their own aims. Yes, free bus travel for over 60s, that's if you can find a bus. I have to walk ine andca half miles to a bus stop, diwn a busy A road with very narrow pavement, couldn't take pushchair abd tgen ut takes 45 mins to town centre as bus basically covers half the town in its route. Or, I can catch another that runs every two hours, but stops between 3 pm and 6 pm (needed for school runs) and doesn't run on a Sunday. Oh, and by tge way I luve in a town, not way out in the countryside. The bus pass is free but just how much does it actually cost nowadays compared to when it was first issued given the reduced bus provision.