http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 25759.html

Right wing Social Market Foundation say axe pensioners' bus passes.

This might actually be worth looking at. I was talking to a driver in Ripon who said that his bus service lost money every single day, even though it was in a tourist area. He was old enough that he probably could retire but understandably he'd rather do it at the time he chooses rather than when the bus route gets cancelled. He reckoned 50p per pensioners' journey would make the bus viable. I wouldn't necessarily go that high, but 20p might be useful, and keep pensioners active, with all the benefits that entails.

Still, could never happen, could it? The opposition would think up some childish nickname for the minister whereas bus routes shutting down would be blamed on the council in question employing diversity officers.

Despite the shock headline of this story, I bet it's far from being the silliest thing our wanktankers have suggested this week. At least it will be if the Adam Smith Institute have published anything. Can you believe these clowns are still using Ireland as an example of how great corporation tax cuts are?

I believe that whoever sponsors the bus passes gets billed for usage.

Where I live the driver rings up something (anybody know what) when a bus pass user gets their free ride.
I'd assumed this was used to bill the council/govt appropriately.

I think that's how it works. The bloke in Ripon reckoned his council wasn't getting the money back it could. For somewhere with a big tourist industry like North Yorks that would be very odd. But he was a knowledgeable bloke and I'd be surprised if he was wrong.

It's a funny thing really because councils have to provide them, so not very "localist". But given the low proportion of local government money raised locally, perhaps it isn't so anomalous.

I know you can't use your English pass in Wales and vice versa.

As I understand it the bus companies are reimbursed by government, although I'm not sure whether local or national. The on bus ticket systems are all computerised and auto time stamped. The main reason why they won't let pensioners ride for free at 9:27 when the time starts at 9:30 is that the automated system will only pay for tickets issued within the allotted time.

_________________
Wars of religion always make me laugh because basically you're fighting over who has the best imaginary friend.

Yeah, silly really (though don't know who's to blame). We can do a 27 country single market, but bus passes between two parts of the UK. Almost like the point of devolution is that neither works with the other.

My dad was quite bemused by what was said here when I asked before, he worked on Buses for years and as said it's distributed by local government, though can sometimes be offset by subsidy to run said service so perhaps that is were the cross wires happen.

On this subject Cornwall Council wanted to take a certain number of routes away that were heavily subsidised yet vital to some places in Cornwall, they backed down after strong opposition, however the council have recently had these routes up for tender and they have put them in the hands of the main bus company after they bid over the odds for routes they have never ever shown an interest in. The rumour is that as they run services similar but not exactly and nowhere near as frequently that they will axe said services claiming they are unviable, while of course running the services they currently run and diverting them slightly to meet the need which is I think one bus to a place and back every day.

This I know will leave alot of people in that area who need that bus for employment having to walk a good 25 minutes down a hill to the nearest bus (and of course back up a hill). For some of those I used to deal with in employment services it's going be very difficult. I really do despair for that county sometimes as it gets shafted while you get Caroline Quentin flaunting around all the expensive parts suggesting how wonderful everything is.

England's poorest county, by some metrics.

Are you a home ruler? Dick Cole seems OK. I was surprised he didn't do much better in the general election.

Peter Tatchell is a Cornish home ruler.

One hopes that's not some kind of Rhyming slang.

I must admit, I like their anthem, and the flag's also rather fetching.

This is exactly what has happened here, with the result we have no bus service now.

The bus always ran at 9;45, stopping at the nearest town with a supermarket,on to Newcastle, then returning at about 12. Then repeated this in the afternoon. This meant if people needed to go shopping they could, and the bus was well used.

The company changed it to one bus at 9;15, a returning bus at 2;30, and it no longer traveled to Newcastle. Usage declined dramatically as only the hardiest of souls would choose to spend 5 hours shopping in our very small local co op. Bus cancelled due to lack of need.

The parish council is trying to get the figures pre the change last April, but the company are proving very reticent to reveal them.

_________________
Blog...http://itsjustahobby.wordpress.com/

Soon, if we are not prudent, millions of people will be watching each other starve to death through expensive television sets. Nye Bevan

I remember some pensioners in Surrey moaning about the bus leaving them with an hour to kill in Banstead.

It's truly soft down south.

Have you ever been to Banstead?

Only to the rail station. I used to live near Epsom Downs.

I can spend an hour anywhere. Except Liskeard.

Drive by capital of the retirement belt.
I hear they had a littering last month.

Someone burned Waitrose down.

I always think that the old farts (puppets) from the Wonga ads live in, or near, Banstead. It's where people go when they are too nouveau riche for Cheam.

However, it is home to a very fair farm shop, albeit on the Carshalton border, next to the lavender fields.