A question about : Please Stop Using Bus Passes
The Transport Secretary, Mr Philip Hammond, is appealing to better-off bus pass holders to leave them at home and pay the fare instead as this will help the country.
I note that a recent audit of my local Councillors' expense claims revealed that a significant proportion of reclaimed taxi trips had been made at weekends. Councillors can claim taxi fares for attending meetings on official business. No meetings are held at weekends. The audit concluded that some people must have been using taxis for shopping trips and suchlike and claiming the money back on expenses.
Well, I will certainly consider not using my bus pass, when I am satisfied that politicians, local and otherwise, are no longer wasting far more than the cost of a bus pass on taxis, first class rail travel and unnecessary aircraft flights.
Best answers:
- Mr Hammond is living on Planet Zanussi if he thinks appealing to peoples better natures in these modern times will do the trick
If anything, his appeal may make the 'better off' more inclined to use theire passes. - So because Ive worked since i was 15, brought a family up, saved to supplement my pension and have some savings I should not get one.
Someone who has wasted, drunk, smoked, hasnt saved a bean who can get pension credits, rent paid, council tax paid should be able to get bus passes.
Same old, same old.
Annie. - I doubt if the 'better off' bus pass holders use their passes anyway - most will still be using their car, if they can afford to maintain and run it.
I don't know why I got mine - I've never used it. DH has only used his once in recent times and that was when he took the car in for service and came back on the bus. - Surely bus passes are to reduce carbon emissions and save us from global warming? I feel obliged to use mine.(Anyway the wife has got the car)
- if u are entitled to a bus pass u should use it....if the powers that be decide people shouldnt have the passes for what ever reason thats one thing but to ask people not to use them is daft ...if i had one id use it
- If I were God and I were reviewing the 'Free Bus' gig, I'd insist that (1) they were means tested (2) only usable off peak that is after 9am and but not between 4 & 6pm. But as God, I'd have lots to do before I got as far as bus stops like removing a large portion of the bankers bonuses and giving it to the Farepack Hampers victims.
- But as God, I'd have lots to do before I got as far as bus stops like removing a large portion of the bankers bonuses and giving it to the Farepack Hampers victims.
Ive just seen a few pink pigs flying past my kitchen window, lol - Bus passes can only be used off peak Mr Oink, well in my town anyway. But the point is, where would the money go if the elderly had to pay. It sure as hell wouldn't go to help pay of the national debt. I dont have a pass as yet, & I can almost guarantee that by the time I get to 60, the age will have been increased ( not got a problem with that by the way), but I dont see it as a benefit really. I think we dont give our senior citizens enough concessions. Other countries look after their elderly much better than we do, and they respect them more too. Its only in the past few yrs that this counrty has recognised the value of our older generation. Power to the silver Brigade
- Someone on Radio 2 was complaining about pensioners using their passes to go into town and meet for a coffee - ie not essential shopping!
Tough! If a bus pass means that some old people are not stuck in the house, hardly seeing a soul, that's a plus!
We go into town a couple of times a month, have lunch ( using a voucher) and invariably buy something. All helps the economy.
- 553 reads