 |
In The News
Bus Pass users Feedback |
We hear that someone wrote into the Daily Telegraph saying they had heard that that free bus passes from outside London could not be used in London. This has to be nonsense of course. In plain language the Government website says: "Local bus and coach travel in EnglandEveryone aged 60 or over is entitled to free off-peak bus travel anywhere in England. Off-peak travel is when you travel any time after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends." With thanks to PB of Kent for drawing this to our attention. This story may eminate from a report in the Daily Telegraph 6th April which sounds like a simple case of a bus driver being confronted with a new pass and not being quite sure, which is understandable at this early stage. He did accept the pass.
Fantastic offers available on thousands of different ‘home grown’ days out, trips, attractions, holidays and more! from Walkers Crisps Delightful website too ! |
1st April 2008 passes and for many - no National bus Pass!They said they have it in hand !Reports from around the country - Suffolk, North Yorkshire and elsewhere - indicate that many councils have yet to despatch the new bus passes that were due in time for 1st April. The Daily Telegraph say that approx 300,000 bus passes have not been sent of the 6 million awaited. (10th April - my bus pass arrived today ! [Website Editor] (N Yorks) ) The New National Bus Pass scheme will prove a great boon to the over 60s and Disabled -most local authorities set out on their websites what is happening about the issue of the new passes, and those that don't spell it out (we have contacted a number) have all told us that they have it in hand. Judging by what most say, a lot of bus passes will be in the post in the last week of March. If you are an existing bus pass holder and haven't heard from your local council about the new pass, it could be worth contacting them. Congratulations to Richard Elloway (the Times 10th April) who becomes first pensioner to travel free from Land's End to John o'Groats. (He was able to do this we read as he arranged free travel in Scotland, which isn't covered by the England National Bus Passes. A report in The Sunday Times (9th April) 'Cry freedom with my bus pass' gives an interesting report by Hunter Davies of a pensioners delight in using his free bus pass. |
|
| Are you a 'SAGA LOUT'? - we hear that drunken 'Saga louts' are causing trouble abroad. An increasing number of 50-somethings - known as "Saga louts" - are over-indulging in alcohol and food and becoming abusive to locals, an analysis of surveys shows. Read more about this on The Daily Telegraph online Record Journeys by Bus Pass We're so keen to hear of the best opportunities being taken with the new National Bus Pass that we are offering a pewter hip flask for the best (longest/most interesting) itinerary submitted to us by 30th April 2008. |
Various issues arise with the new scheme, e.g. the local conditions in certain areas where for instance Bus Pass Users are not required to wait until 9.30 am before being able to use their bus pass. Ken Livingstone has raised this issue in his Mayoral re-election campaign, and promises to do away with the timing limitation. Some areas say it will continue to be possible to use bus passes before 9.30 am e.g. Wiltshire & Swindon. |
||
We are pleased to recommend this entertaining book (Wrinklies Wit & Wisdom) available from your local bookstore  or from this website |
Bus users are well aware of the advantages, in personal convenience as well as energy conservation of bus travel over taking the car, and yet another instance has shown it's head recently with the decision in Wales to outlaw parking charges in hospital car parks
- see this article in The Daily Telegraph 4th March 2008 whilst in England hospital visitors will still have to pay.
|
||
