Bus passes could go.

[TheOstrich]

Well, we do use our oldie ENCTS (English National Concessionary Travel Scheme) bus-passes for travel into the city centre; also to various local shopping centres. Without them, we would rarely visit these places as driving in Birmingham is a nightmare at the best of times and car-parking fees extortionate. Also I tend to use public transport whenever I can for my football matches. But we are in a city with plenty of buses and routes; if we lived in a rural area, these passes would be pretty much next to useless due simply to the lack of bus services.

Certain local authority transport areas who administer the scheme for the Government have added various perks, such as free travel beyond 23:00 to the end of the day's services, or cheaper fares before 09:30 on weekday.. Here in the Centro region, we can also use the tram and trains within the West Midlands for free. Centro have just being reviewing these perks in the light of the cutbacks, but thankfully they are retaining the tram and train travel perk for the next two years. South Yorkshire pass holders are not so lucky as I gather their similar local train travel perk is being withdrawn from April this year.

The annual charge idea (WM's £30) was looked at as an option here in the West Midlands, but wasn't persued. I guess the costs of administration were simply too high.

As I understand it, rightly or wrongly, I think I read somehere (don't quote me as I can't remember the source) that the way they divvi the money up here, the local bus companies receive just 80p per OAP journey. That compares with a £2.10 single fare. So if you made a 25p flat rate charge, who does that 25p go to - the bus companies or the transport authority? Take away the concessionary bus passes and how many old folk are going to want to make regular journeys for a minimum £4-odd round trip? I'd say a very high number of passengers after 09:30 are pass-holders - take them away and many routes would simply become uneconomic.

And as an aside, London Buses will shortly no longer be accepting cash for fares, it will be all smartcard technology in future - which adds another layer of complication on charging cut-rate fares ..... West Midlands and other areas will no doubt be going down this route themselves.

[Workingman]

if we lived in a rural area, these passes would be pretty much next to useless due simply to the lack of bus services.

I take a slightly different view. Where (rural) bus services are scarce they become a lifeline. To charge full whack for them puts them out of reach of the poorest, whereas a bus pass at least allows them to be used.

As I understand it......... the local bus companies receive just 80p per OAP journey. That compares with a £2.10 single fare. So if you made a 25p flat rate charge, who does that 25p go to - the bus companies or the transport authority?

It goes into the overall pot. The local bus company gets 80p + the 25P fare - still half the price of the single fare - and pass holders get to keep their passes even though they have to chip-in, and the scheme remains (more) viable for the LTA .

[TheOstrich]

if we lived in a rural area, these passes would be pretty much next to useless due simply to the lack of bus services.

I take a slightly different view. Where (rural) bus services are scarce they become a lifeline. To charge full whack for them puts them out of reach of the poorest, whereas a bus pass at least allows them to be used. .

Point taken, but I think the trouble is that "scarce" actually means "non-existant" these days. Worcestershire is a case in point - many, many local services are no longer being supported / subsidised by the county council and have been / will be scrapped, because I can't see local bus firms trying to run them without financial help.

From the MP for West Worcestershire's website:
http://www.harriettbaldwin.com/content/ ... ural-buses

and
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/108 ... ing_fails/

[Rodo]

Surprised to read about people receiving free train or tram travel. Nothing like that has ever been on offer here, and yet Cruiser isn't that far away from here. Such differences in adjacent areas.

[Kaz]

Rodo I think you will find that cities and local authorities that are historically Labour have these schemes and the Conservative ones don't - as a rule That's probably over simplifying a little, but in general...........

[KateLMead]

Many, many years ago the bus company decided that it wished to stop going to the village where my mother and many other pensioners lived. the bus was their life line to get to Shefford for shopping and to the doctors etc. All the old people and there were many of them were beside themselves. I was visiting my mother that week end and within 24 hours I had rallied most of the elderly from her village and the adjoining one who we pushed in wheel chairs to town where necessary, I made banners on bed sheets I think I wrote Reduced pensions, "no transport.. what next euthanasia"!!!. We had Union Jacks and about 60 old people who braved the cold and sang "We will not be moved" as we held up two double decker's. the bus drivers gave us the thumbs up! as did locals and the press. As a result the bus company changed its mind and they are still running to this day

[Kaz]