Greater London, over 66's free transport under threat?

I also use my pass mainly for buses, just occasionally the underground and trains. I think it would simply result in more car journeys if we couldn’t use passes for everything. I’d simply drive to where I could park without charge and catch buses to my destination easily if they’re in the congestion zone.

How are the Labour Government against pensioners? If they were, surely they would have scrapped the triple lock on state pensions, which probably isn't sustainable, and would not have U-turned on Winter Fuel Allowance?

Ju but
How do you know they are illegal immigrants?

I just come into Greater London area and I get free underground train and buses. I would be quite happy to pay a fee as I do for a senior rail card to allow me free travel. I don’t drive and use free travel a lot . I also buy theatre tickets exhibitions and art gallery tickets and eat in London. I would certainly not be able to or have the inclination to without my travel card.
But I also think young people should be subsidised too. There are also other areas in the UK where pensioners get free local train / metro services.

Cambia

Living in a rural area, it would be quite nice to even have a bus available free or not!!

I live in a fairly large town but even here bus services are abysmal, especially as the only one I've used has just been discontinued. I'm just outside London but too far to benefit from a free pass for trains. I've used my bus pass elsewhere in the country when visiting friends and relatives, and my grandson considered it a great treat to be taken on the bus to a park a bit further away than the one they normally walk to. He lives in a city with great bus services.
I think free travel should be equalised across the country, but increasing provision requires money from somewhere and probably at the expense of motorists.
My ex moved to The Netherlands after our divorce and there public transport is much more efficient and affordable, but it is much more expensive to drive a car. He only drove if on holiday and he hired a car then. Since returnig to the UK he rarely drives as he lost confidence in the pandemic. His partner has a car though. He will get his bus pass soon but I think he cycles quite a bit.

I currently volunteer for a charity that is staffed ( for free) by hundreds of pensioners - all using our Freedom passes.
We probably won't continue work for free if we have to pay transport costs .
I also hardly use my car anymore - but I will if I lose my Freedom pass.
I can't see how it costs anything to give free travel to pensioners really, as the trains and tube have to run anyway and we can't travel during peak hours.
I won't use public transport if I have to pay - so how will they make money ?
I feel so depressed that people seem to want to be unkind to pensioners now, yet when I was young, we wanted only the best for them.

JuBut Wed 07-Jan-26 13:59:30. "I pay for travel and get annoyed when I pay bus fare and illegal immigrants get on for free!!! I've worked 46 years in the NHS contributing to everything, and no further forward".

FYI- Those who are eligible for a free bus pass;
people who have reached state pension age, people with a specific disability (e.g sight or hearing impairment or learning disability as defined by the government), people receiving PIP.

There are also bodies also that can issue a travel pass in certain circumstances- e.g. the police when a vulnerable person who has been at the police station for whatever reason, so they can get home, or a prisoner being released from prison.

JuBut- You are making some big assumptions about how you discriminate whether any of the passengers on your bus are immigrants, "illegal" or otherwise.

Plus what do you actually mean when you say passengers get on a bus "for free"? Unless they are a small child all passengers must either pay or have their bus pass verified. No busses in my area take cash- so ALL passengers click their phone, credit card or bus pass on the same electronic pad.

I don't stand by the driver examining every single passenger to see whether they are clicking credit card or alternatively a bus pass- why would you?

Free Bus Travel is nationwide in England ,with Scotland and Wales having there own bus passes .
Maybe Greater London might have additional perks such as rail travel and tram travel as part of there current deal , these additional means of travel might be scrapped to bus use only.
Places like the West Midlands have similar schemes for those living the respective postcodes which fall within the Greater London perimeter .
Mick

Calls to scrap over-60s free bus pass as it costs taxpayers more than
There are calls to scrap the over-60s free bus pass as it is considered to be financially unsustainable and not targeted to those genuinely in need of support. The 60+ Oyster card is expected to cost up to £185million by 2027, while the Freedom Pass is set to hit £498m by the end of the decade. These costs are being met through increased taxes and higher ticket prices, which are seen as a burden on the taxpayer. The petition to extend free bus travel for people over 60 in England had garnered over 100,000 signatures, indicating public concern over the current system.

I would like to have a decent bus service. Two hourly service Mon - Frid to small shopping centre but 4 hourly for a return trip. Nothing at weekend. No transport to Drs, train station. I have a free bus pass somewhere in the house but never use it as not prepared to carry shopping half a mile from supermarket to bus station and then pass the time of day there awaiting the return four hourly service.

If public transport is not used by all generations then it will fail. the younger generation may need some persuasion to use buses and trains by being subsidised-but that can only be for the good of all people and all ages.
I have no problem with people using buses for free as long as they don't occupy 2 seats when they have a ticket for one seat, not talking loudly on their phones, and not eating smelly food. I live in an area where some of the residents feel they are "entitled" and get upset when you ask them to make room . Generally not the younger generation

My sentiments concur with those expressed by @SusieB50. West End theatres desperately need the income we provide, as do galleries,etc. I would have to give up my Saturday college class if I had to pay for the travel as the cost would be prohibitive.
However , I would also suggest that people still in full time work should maybe not get the full free tube travel because although they may be of pensionable age they’re not, to my mind, actually pensioners. A moot point, I admit.

As far as I know, the only "younger people" that get free public transport are people under the age of 19, who generally, nowadays are at college/school and still dependent on their parents. What a strange attitude. No doubt, these young people will also go on to work for 40 more years or more as well which will even things out as they will be subsiding the next generations to come.

My partner and I had a great time travelling around London for a few years for free but we now live in the country and have to run a car as there is little public transport. I really miss those days but I don't regret moving to a rural area.

I'd like to see free rail, buses, trams - all across the country.

RosiesMawagain

^effecting rail and trams mainly^.
its a nice perk to have,not sure if it has restricted hours though

I didn’t know there were trams in London.

Croydon has trams.

DH and I don't live in London but do use our bus passes when we visit. Much nicer than using the Tube and we're not usually in too much hurry. We always go to the top of the double deckers.

LemonJam

JuBut Wed 07-Jan-26 13:59:30. "I pay for travel and get annoyed when I pay bus fare and illegal immigrants get on for free!!! I've worked 46 years in the NHS contributing to everything, and no further forward".

FYI- Those who are eligible for a free bus pass;
people who have reached state pension age, people with a specific disability (e.g sight or hearing impairment or learning disability as defined by the government), people receiving PIP.

There are also bodies also that can issue a travel pass in certain circumstances- e.g. the police when a vulnerable person who has been at the police station for whatever reason, so they can get home, or a prisoner being released from prison.

JuBut- You are making some big assumptions about how you discriminate whether any of the passengers on your bus are immigrants, "illegal" or otherwise.

Plus what do you actually mean when you say passengers get on a bus "for free"? Unless they are a small child all passengers must either pay or have their bus pass verified. No busses in my area take cash- so ALL passengers click their phone, credit card or bus pass on the same electronic pad.

I don't stand by the driver examining every single passenger to see whether they are clicking credit card or alternatively a bus pass- why would you?

Not entirely true....there's a good few local authorities ( my own included) that provide free transport at 60 ....we get free local travel on buses , trains and ferries

That’s great LOUISA1523

I hope Pen50 doesn't sit in the first 3 rows - commonly known by those in the industry as the suicide zone or death row. That is because in an accident such as hitting a bridge, you would not survive

The over 60s Oyster card has an annual charge of £10 ( I know because I used to pay it).
Freedom pass system could do the same to reduce costs - maybe £25 a year?
The advantage of the Freedom pass is it gives free bus travel nationally.
Also don't forget those of us over 66 used to pay fares when we were younger!

I've lived in London my entire life. When I was a child, children over 2 years and under 14 on tubes and under 16 on buses paid half fare. Older than that they paid full adult fare. This charging regime continued all through my children's childhoods.

As a non-driver I've always used public transport, and when my three children were young it cost an enormous amount for the four of us to visit my parents and siblings living on the other side of the Thames - even though it wasn't far as the crow flies.

Nowadays all under 18s get free travel on the tube, trains and buses. This also applies to over 18s in certain circumstances such as for those on work placements and apprenticeships.

I would now hate to lose the travel concession it took me 60 years to receive. I travel during the day when the trains are two-thirds empty in outer London.

I wonder if in return Sadiq Khan will reduce the Mayor's precept, (which is added to our Council Tax) for pensioners. Not holding my breath.

Doodledog

Yes, it would be better if public transport were free or heavily subsidised for all ages. The current cap on fares is an excellent scheme, and I hope it continues. I would also like to see more investment in slower and less busy routes, so that people living in isolated areas can get around more easily. If every builder putting more then x number of houses on the fringes of towns had to subsidise a shuttle bus to the town centre for 20 years (or whatever seems reasonable) then town centres wouldn't end up given over to car parks, schools wouldn't have parents parking up and creating accident blackspots, and people would be able to get from a to b more easily, which would make employment easier, improve footfall in the centres, and reduce loneliness and poor mental health. The air would be cleaner, and accidents would, presumably, be fewer.

The short-sighted assumption that everyone has access to a car is behind a lot of problems that could easily be solved with a bit of forethought, and investment in public transport.

Doodledog, you have hit several nails on the head! We use our bus passes and our Senior Railcards so often that we have been able to give up our car, as we are fortunate enough to live in a town which has reasonable public transport. We also use our bus passes when visiting friends and family in various Scottish cities, and have appreciated the English bus fare cap when we've been on holiday in England.

In Scotland, under-22s can also have bus passes and our DGC use theirs a lot. I am happy to see our local young people able to travel to work or college without cars, and I would be very happy to see free public transport open to anyone. It might reduce the horrendous traffic on so many roads. Let's invest in public transport and encourage the alternative to cars for people who can manage without. That would also make it easier for those who cannot manage without.

Al public transport should be free.

keepingquiet

I was shocked to read that OP was annoyed about young people getting free transport.

When I was young bus fares and most other things were much cheaper. I travelled long distances to schools and colleges which clearly helped me get a good job and pay my taxes.

How does he expect young people to get around otherwise?

Quite.

Sueinkent

Al public transport should be free.

How would you pay for it?