Free bus pass threat to services

[super jumbe]

Bus services are facing the axe as councils struggle to fund free travel for elderly people.

Government funding for free, off-peak travel for elderly and disabled people has fallen by 39% since 2010, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).

It added that councils are being increasingly forced to subsidise this concessionary travel at the cost of other essential services.

The LGA said that Buckinghamshire, Cumbria and Somerset were among county councils cutting back on services due to funding problems.

Peter Box, the LGA's economy and transport board chairman said: "The concessionary fares scheme provides a lifeline for our most vulnerable residents to go shopping, pick up medication, attend doctor appointments or socialise with friends. However, it is now under real threat.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/free-bus-pass-threat-services-113919908.html#Dkv0STF

[super jumbe]

Most pensioners never apply for a bus pass, they use cars and get mobility allowance, my next door pensioner hasn’t been on a bus since he retired 6 years a go, I will only use bus when my car run out of gas.

[Meat-Head]

No mate, you get one there magic. Did hear of some old farts hoing all over ingland, they traveled 3455688776543334566.8 miles with no problems, untill they came to meat city, where tgey were stuck iver a weekend.

[GastonJ]

So what percentage of pensioners do you see on buses? (I don't use them, so of no help, buses that is) I doubt pensioners using bus passes make up 100% of the passengers, in which case what does it matter if they are travelling for free - the bus would be going that way for the rest of the passengers anyway. Let's face it OAP's get very little else free, they don't even get the equivalent of the so called living wage a week after working all their lives. The ones that haven't worked can walk anyway....

[Meat-Head]

Mixed views

1) oaps are the ones with most money, there the ones who
Jingle their change, need their car back asap as theres an offer on at b&q
Gets the sods out the way

2). You hear about them freezing to death, catch the free buss to tye airport, shit their bogs up, use their wifi for dk, then home in time for trffids world on the tv

[GastonJ]

Mixed views

1) oaps are the ones with most money, there the ones who
Jingle their change, need their car back asap as theres an offer on at b&q

2). You hear about them freezing to death, catch the free buss to tye airport, shit their bogs up, use their wifi for dk, then home in time for trffids world on the tv

1) So they are, they earned their money over their entire working lives, some of them have worked for 50 years to have that money in their pocket. It's theirs, they earned it - good luck to them.
2) And? if you could sit on a bus all day and surf DK for nothing you'd be off like a shot