No More Totally Free Bus Rides - Yeeeeesss!!
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
September 16, 2012 1:59pm CST
Mum made me laugh (yet again) today. She's making a habit of it lately lol.
Anyway, on the way back from Town yesterday she went on the No.9 bus ("the one that sits there forever before the driver decides to set off") and Mum decided to do a bit of light reading i.e. notices dotted around the bus.
One of them caught her eye. In it it said that Blackpool Transport were advising free bus pass users to contact them well before the expiry dates on their passes - because they are bringing back 50p concessionary fares.
Whoopee! "That got the Pensioners attention!" Mum told me. Apparently, they were all rubbernecking on the bus with one exclaiming, "Ooo, the fares are going UP!"
"Are they?"
"50p"
A look of horror on their faces, according to Mum, who, by the way, does not object to paying 50p here and there if it stops me moaning about having to pay full price lol.
Well, the thing is, the "paying for fares" thing isn't strictly true. Yes, there will be a 50p concession fare but ONLY if you are travelling outside the main zone of Blackpool itself. To me, this is a brilliant idea as many people living in the posher areas of Lytham and Cleveleys at the other end CAN AFFORD IT!
So, bring it on! I've been paying £2.35 each way to Fleetwood and Lytham for ages. It's about time rich pensioners were made to pay their 50p concession which only covers long-ish journeys anyway.
Do you get free travel where you are? What is the public transport situation like, any good?
Anyway, on the way back from Town yesterday she went on the No.9 bus ("the one that sits there forever before the driver decides to set off") and Mum decided to do a bit of light reading i.e. notices dotted around the bus.
One of them caught her eye. In it it said that Blackpool Transport were advising free bus pass users to contact them well before the expiry dates on their passes - because they are bringing back 50p concessionary fares.
Whoopee! "That got the Pensioners attention!" Mum told me. Apparently, they were all rubbernecking on the bus with one exclaiming, "Ooo, the fares are going UP!"
"Are they?"
"50p" A look of horror on their faces, according to Mum, who, by the way, does not object to paying 50p here and there if it stops me moaning about having to pay full price lol.
Well, the thing is, the "paying for fares" thing isn't strictly true. Yes, there will be a 50p concession fare but ONLY if you are travelling outside the main zone of Blackpool itself. To me, this is a brilliant idea as many people living in the posher areas of Lytham and Cleveleys at the other end CAN AFFORD IT!
So, bring it on! I've been paying £2.35 each way to Fleetwood and Lytham for ages. It's about time rich pensioners were made to pay their 50p concession which only covers long-ish journeys anyway.
Do you get free travel where you are? What is the public transport situation like, any good?5 people like this
12 responses
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
16 Sep 12
Well here in the Seattle area they are doing away with the free zone downtown for everyone come the 29th of this month. This will make it even harder for the homeless to get around anywhere but I can see due to budget cuts due to the economy something had to be done. I think only 50 cents is nothing compared to the $2.50 here unless you are disabled.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
Well, that's just it, it was the well off Pensioners that were using the service more than anyone else. You could tell by the way they dressed more than anything, how well off they were..and whenever anyone poorly dressed got on the bus they would turn their noses up at them..I've witnessed them doing this many times. They would do the same if the bus wasn't up to their cleanliness standards but would still go on it simply because it was free for them to do so. They would put up with it for that reason alone. It was their "right."
That's a shame about the homeless round your way though. They should be helped more than anyone as travelling means a sense of freedom to those who haven't got the luxury of a vehicle of their own or cabs (something that is expensive everywhere it seems).
That's a shame about the homeless round your way though. They should be helped more than anyone as travelling means a sense of freedom to those who haven't got the luxury of a vehicle of their own or cabs (something that is expensive everywhere it seems).
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
17 Sep 12
I'm in the Greater Manchester area and not only do I get free bus travel, but free travel on the trains and trams that run within GM 
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Sep 12
Darn it, I've got a few years left yet. Can't wait until I'm 60 but I bet there is no free travel anywhere by the time I'm that age, knowing my luck!
Can't wait until I'm 60 but I bet there is no free travel anywhere by the time I'm that age, knowing my luck!
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
16 Sep 12
No public transportation to speak of here in town. Taxi and Senior Bus mainly. If you are a senior or disabled you can get reduced fares but it is still $1.50 each way. You can catch a bus out of town but I do not know the rates.
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
17 Sep 12
The town is about 3 miles across east to west and the same north to south. The Senior Bus will go where ever you book it if you call in advance, just like a taxi, but it is also wheel chair equipped.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
That would be less than £1 here I would think. Not bad. How far would that be in miles? For £1 in Blackpool that wouldn't even meet the minimum fare which is £1.10 now for me, each way.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Sep 12
Yes, we have those..provided by..er..I dunno, probably the Health Service!
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Sep 12
LOL! 'Free travel' here is a joke. Our public transport system is lousy and I wouldn't use it anyway, in my opinion it is WAY too expensive for the value, there are not enough stops, they don't run often enough, and they are not close to anywhere I go. I've owned vehicles and driven for years, about 20 years. If there was light rail or a much better and cheaper bus system, it might be worth it to use for LONG trips where it would be expensive or a pain to store or park my car but it would have to cost roughly half or less what it costs me to drive or the inconvenience of it would drive me away, no pun intended.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
Haha!
Here in Carlisle the car is King. My husband would be screwed big time if he didn't drive as public transport is a bit hit and miss (usually miss) lol.
At least in Blackpool (where my Mum lives) they're quite spoiled by public transport in a way but Blackpool Transport are struggling to survive purely due to the free fares for Pensioners (which was a national thing brought in by the Labour government) that are prizing people like me away, who have to pay full price of course.
The one major rise in fares have been the trains though. I used to commute to Preston from Layton (the first stop after Blackpool North) for around £23 but now it's got to be £30+ and there are more people using the trains every year but the rolling stock remains the same. I don't know how people cope travelling into London to work on the trains/Tube system as it's an absolute FORTUNE!
Here in Carlisle the car is King. My husband would be screwed big time if he didn't drive as public transport is a bit hit and miss (usually miss) lol.
At least in Blackpool (where my Mum lives) they're quite spoiled by public transport in a way but Blackpool Transport are struggling to survive purely due to the free fares for Pensioners (which was a national thing brought in by the Labour government) that are prizing people like me away, who have to pay full price of course.
The one major rise in fares have been the trains though. I used to commute to Preston from Layton (the first stop after Blackpool North) for around £23 but now it's got to be £30+ and there are more people using the trains every year but the rolling stock remains the same. I don't know how people cope travelling into London to work on the trains/Tube system as it's an absolute FORTUNE!
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
18 Sep 12
I have never heard of any free rides in our country except for those sponsored by the biggest mall chain her in country. But that would only allow you to get on the bus at one of their mall branch to go to their other mall branch which is about 2 hours drive. I don't think you can get out of the bus in the middle of the ride.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Sep 12
That's a shame but I suppose they all want to go on the bus for the same purpose..I guess?
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
19 Sep 12
Yes, they are. So, practically those who get in the bus are headed to only one destination alone.
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
3 Oct 12
Thats how it starts then it goes up all the time from there. Here, they keep on raising the bus fare as well as the train fare and the bridges and tunnels. As it is right now for me to go over the Verrazano Bridge to go to Staten Island, it costs 13 dollars. Thats sick. And the buses and trains are 2.50 a fare. So, I wish we only paid a small amount of money. They keep saying they do not have the money. But they just recently found that the MTA had a major surplus of cash. so they are lying. Its all about the money.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 Oct 12
It's the same for me whenever I go to Blackpool (I don't need to use public transport here in Carlisle as hubby has a car so I use him lol) and, whenever I go there, you can almost guarantee the fares have gone up..yet again. It's like they're subsidising the free fares for the elderly and disabled by over-charging people like me who have to pay full fares all the time. This is why I'm pleased about the 50p concessionary fare (as it was before) but still I will have to pay full as there is nothing wrong with me and I'm not 60.
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27960)
• United States
5 Oct 12
I hear you. It does make you wonder where all the money is going. I wonder that here in NYC. Where is all that money going? Someone is padding his pockets with some of it. Its like the lottery money, that is supposed to be used to improve the school system and other things as well. But yet the schools are falling apart, nothing seems to be getting done anywhere.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Sep 12
hi janey we senior citizens ride the Orange county transist au thority buses for one dollar and 25 cents all d ay while younger
ones pay as m uch as four dollars. however I am phyiscally handicapped and use the a ccess bus to go to doctors a ppoints and lab for blood work or to grocery store etc. we are picked up i n f front of our place and taken to the doorway of our appat and
brough back home again for 2. 70 dollars each w ay which is much cheaper then cab fare plus the drivers willhelp u s with walkers'and s uch even have a lift to put you on without climbing steps. also the drivers are all so kind and helpful too..I do not mind paying this as its so m uch easier for me to get aro und that way ,nn the city bus my walker would create problems
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
Hiya the lovely Hatley! Aww, what a great service that's provided for you, I'm pleased.
The Pensioners I'm on about..well, to be honest, they're not short of a bob or two AND they are able-bodied. You cannot imagine how much they used to make my blood boil not paying a penny on the buses (and they've probably got a car back home) so I'm well pleased they're going to have to pay..and 50p is not a big amount - a few cents in your money. I thought the free fares for every Pensioner was a bit much anyway as a few can pay the full fare without a problem, never mind the 50p, which in actual fact was the system they had before it all went free.
The Pensioners I'm on about..well, to be honest, they're not short of a bob or two AND they are able-bodied. You cannot imagine how much they used to make my blood boil not paying a penny on the buses (and they've probably got a car back home) so I'm well pleased they're going to have to pay..and 50p is not a big amount - a few cents in your money. I thought the free fares for every Pensioner was a bit much anyway as a few can pay the full fare without a problem, never mind the 50p, which in actual fact was the system they had before it all went free.
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
17 Sep 12
Public transportation in this country is limited to large cities. Since I have lived in small towns and the country most of my life I have had very little opportunity to use it.
I have however lived where there was public transportation a time or two. We didn't have any free passes though. We could buy a pass that lasted all month which would let us ride any bus all day every day if we wanted. I have seen some homeless people use this method to get out of bad weather at times. They would just get on the bus and ride all day long.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
Aww, I really feel for the homeless when the weather is bad. I'm not sure if any of them are allowed free travel in England, though..probably not.
Don't want to upset the locals.
@agent807 (751)
• United States
18 Sep 12
Around here, there are reduced bus fares, but no one rides the buses for free. I'm not saying that it is bad, because there are two bus systems here, and they need money, which is why they constant raise the fares, while reducing service. Brilliant idea, I say. There service around here is atrocious at best. Constant delays, breakdowns, overcrowding, and political fighting is not helping people who rely on buses to get to appointments, school or work. I don't mind paying as much for the bus fare, as long as I know there is reliable service, but right now, there isn't.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Sep 12
That doesn't sound like fun. The public transport system where I am now (Carlisle) isn't great but in Blackpool (where my parents are) it's not bad at all, mainly due to the extra trams on the promenade that the holidaymakers like going on..therefore the buses go with it really as they all come under the same company, Blackpool Transport.
They have changed some routes, however and even cut services to a degree.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16784)
• China
17 Sep 12
Over here I live in,you can be bussed to anywhere you want to get off on certain No.bus ,as long as you put 1 dollar RMB into the ticket machine when you get on the bus.Old people of seventy and above are allowed to travel free on buses.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
Is car ownership low where you are? I have heard that car ownership is on the increase in China but does it depend on where you are living?
I'd really like to know.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16784)
• China
19 Sep 12
Yes, over here more and more people have their own cars ,especially in metropolises.I live in a small city with hundreds of thousands of people.There are a few people around who have cars.I ,for one,have no car.I don't know what is the good of the car for me.I now needn't go to work and the shopping centre is just a 10-minute walk from my house.In addition, many smaller stores are only several steps away.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
I know the younger generation over here can get reduced fares but I'm not sure they can get them free. It's just the pensioners and those on benefits that are exempt at present. I don't think there is anything wrong with a 50p concession fare; I only wish I could pay such a small amount when I'm in Mum's Town!
