If YOU have a Bus Pass

A question about : If YOU have a Bus Pass

If you have a bus pass for whatever reason, you might like to read this. Last week, I decided to travel to Dorchester on Market Day. This is a popular service from Weymouth a there is a queue all day normally. I was second in the queue at 9am, in readiness for the 9.30 curfew. The person who was first, told me that the previous week, an inspector announced fare paying passengers on board first, and they wondered if this would be repeated.

Sure enough, with about 50 people queuing, the inspector arrived and made his announcement and folk who were way back, came forth, paid and boarded.

I thought about this and decided to phone First Head Office in Southampton. Once connected I said this didn't seem right, as disabled, infirm, elderly could end up standing or have to go to the upper deck. I was told that the inspector was wrong. He should have been passing down the queue, offering to issue tickets to pass holders and sell tickets to those who were due to pay, simply to speed up the process.

It now seems to have been corrected. The reason I am providing this information is by way of an alert if you find something similar happening where you are.

It is my belief, and only my opinion, that the crafty sod has a thing about us pass holders.

Best answers:

• Certainly not an issue with our FB services, but even concession card holders can purchase a reservation to guarantee their seat, those who pay cash, with no reservation, load last.
• Not an issue here [Portsmouth area], but times change. Thanks for the alert
• Not an issue here, our buses are never full. I will keep it in mind if I travel to other parts of the country though.
  Ilona
• I agree that FARE PAYING passengers should have priority, Anyone on a free pass (Except people in a wheelchair) should be made to wait until the actual people who pay for the bus service are catered for.
• I'm so glad I live in London - no inspector would dare try this on, they'd be lynched. Anyway, there aren't enough inspectors to go round.
• Reminds me of the time last year when we were on the bus from Goodrington Sands to Paignton.
  We asked the driver in a joking manner if he could pull the bus up a couple of yards so we could see the sea. He replied that sea views were for paying passengers only, not bus pass holders. We hoped he was also joking!!!
• I too would be prepared to pay but don't want to have to do it every time I board the bus. That's one of the joys of having a bus pass, not having to try to find change
  Something like a tenner a month through Direct Debit would be OK.
• Bus passes should be for local use only.
• I'd also be willing to pay a Ј1 to keep my pass but unfortunately London buses are now cashless so not sure how that could work..
  thanks for the heads up anyway