stop Clegg removing the free bus pass for pensioners
Nick clegg wants to means test pensioners bus pass which allows them free transport on local buses anywhere in England
vicki gilbert
shared this idea
110 comments
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R & L Edwardson
commented
Fewer buses......fewer shops..... less socialising ......more loneliness and depression for the elderly......increased NHS costs !
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Paul Cave
commented
Think there's larger issues atm. Such as stopping rising prices for all on buses from companies who can't run services well and still take a huge profit. Wouldn't rich pensioners drive anyway? How many people would this actually effect?
Tho on the other hand I'd imagine the cost of the extra paper work might mean its cheaper to leave things as they are.
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Anonymous
commented
Put money into the economy directly by extending the free pass to all British citizens. This would be better than 'quantitative easing' where the money goes mostly into bank vaults to re-build their capital base (!) and bankers bouneses. It would also speed up the busses by freeing the driver from wasting time collecting the fares.
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anon
commented
This is a disgrace Lib Dems showing showing who they are!
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Mrs C. Edwardson
commented
A very unhealthy move!
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Simon Norton
commented
This petition though worthy will be worthless if we don't also save our buses. Why have so few supporters of this one signed up to the "Saving rural bus routes" campaign (1935511) ?
If charges have to be imposed then the best way to do so would be to charge for the pass itself but keep all journeys free. That way people will continue to use buses without being deterred by the cost of fares (which even under a flat fare system would be quite high when several changes are necessary).
I may say that if the age threshold hadn't been raised a few years ago I'd have a pass now. as it is I'm wondering whether passes will survive the nearly 2 years till I qualify for one.
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UKtransportuser
commented
The cost of concessionary fares to the taxpayer is significant when compared to the total DfT budget and the cost is increasing every year. Free universal travel for the elderly and disabled has only been introduced fairly recently. My simple solution would be a national subsidised travel e.g. 60p per single journey or £1.20 travel all day, increasing by average increase in incomes, RPI, or 2.5% - whichever the govt. increased pensions by.
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Anon
commented
The sheer number of free passes makes the system fatally flawed by doing this the cover ment will save a billion pound a year, surely that money would better be spent on the NHS or something, pensioners get more than enough hand outs. If you can afford to be out at the clubs every weekend then you can afford to pay your bus fares!!!
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Nigel Trott
commented
Means testing bus passes would create two tiers of senior citzen passenger on public transport-the fare paying senior citizen and the free travel senior citizen. The fare paying senior citizen would already be paying more tax than the free travel senior citizen and therefore is indirectly contributing more to the concessionary travel scheme. There is no justification for scrapping the universal nature of the bus pass.
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Anonymous
commented
I've lost count of the number of times "its the politcs of envy" has been used by tory supporters against my valid criticism of "banker's pay for failure" and other iniquities (for the record, I don't want to be paid a bankers income) so it is good to turn the phrase "it's the politics of envy" against Beverley Common. The free travel should instead be extended to give everyone free travel. The buses would be used more, more money would be put into the economy ( better than more quantitative easing0 and many more economic benefits which i haven't time or room to enlarge on here.
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Thomas cooper
commented
I am sure one of the comments by a minister was that cutting our tax allowance would protect our bus paases
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Anonymous
commented
Re the last comment frm Beverley Common, pensioners have earned th right to free travel on buses. She wouldn't be enjoying life in a free society with equal opportunities had it not been for pensioners!!
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beverly common
commented
Withdraw this waste of tax payers money ASAP !!!! i work and pay tax for pensioners to ride around on buses all day, They think because they have that pass that its their god given right to have free travel and take the mick out of it. Getting on the bus for one stop its no wonder buses are always late !! Now im not saying they shoudl pay full fares but charging them at least a small amount will stop them taking the mick out of it
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Anonymous
commented
Since getting my concessionary bus pass I find that I do more walking and get more fresh air just by being out and about. This benefits my health and hopefully will benefit the NHS (ultimately the taxpayer) if it results in less visits to the doctor/hospital. Free bus travel means money being spent in local, often rural locations, on food and services which in turn helps these communities. It seems to me that this government finds it easier to target the more vulnerable sections of society, often simply for purely ideologically reasons, looking for short-term savings at the expense of long term benefits. The UK might begin to move forward if the government of the day, whichever brand, planned for the futures of it's people rather than it's own re-election. The majority of pensioners have worked long and paid their taxes, why should they 'pay' for the greed and lack of proper governance of those in power.
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Mr.W. Wilcox
commented
in our case my wife and I use our bus passes for days out, the money saved is spent on lunches at our destination. If bus passes are withdrawn we will no longer go on days out, consequently, the money we spend on lunches will not go into the economy, transport staff will lose jobs because of lack of customers. The effect will have a negative effect on the economy and the Liberals will no longer get my and many other pensioner votes. Everyone loses. Mr. Purnell has little or no concept of the complex nature of cause and effect if he thinks his idea has no hidden consequences, this boy needs to improve his IQ and perhaps find a different career in preparation for his removal from Parliament at the next election.
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helen allott
commented
If these bus passes are lost,there will be fewer passengers, fewer buses will run and we will eventually lose all but the most popular routes.
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Mrs Margaret Malloy
commented
A small charge for each journey would be acceptable to the great majority of Pensioners, say 50p.
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Paul George
commented
This is a vital lifeline for most pensioners, surely after working most of their lives they deserve to be looked after. Mr Clegg will hpoefully reach the age of retirement and wonder if he can afford a trip to the shops for vital supplys.
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Lucy Shewchuk
commented
Stop attacking the poor you evil lot!!!!
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Margaret Reynolds
commented
Getting out and about on the buses with our free bus passes is very important for our health and social mobility. So leave the pensioners alone to allow us our independence for those of us who do not have any other forms of transport.
