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AIBU?

To think bus company should let OAPs on at 9.27

85 replies

Mitmoo · 02/08/2011 21:27

My mum can hardly walk, degenerative heart disease and nearing 80, the bus driver couldn't let her on as it was 9.27 and the bus was not even half full. He was very apologetic but said he could lose his job if he did.

AIBU for thinking the bus company are being unreasonable for not allowing drivers to use their common sense. ie. empty bus, let the OAPs on a few minutes earlier than they are supposed to?

OP posts:

Report

LineRunner · 04/08/2011 18:28

The whole point of the NHS's 'Choose and Book' service is to allow pensioners to ask for a time of day when they can afford to get there; or the hospital should arrange patient transport if it is for an early clinic.

I went to Neighbourhood Watch Meeting [fucking sad, I know] last year where a 60 year old was moaning that she couldn't use her free bus pass to get to work. We were all a bit

RevoltingPeasant · 04/08/2011 16:36

I still don't understand why the OP's mum couldn't've just paid her fare if she was so concerned about getting to hospital on time?

I also have to take two buses to get to hospital. It costs about £4 for a return where I am (through my suburb, right across town, and out the other side). I wouldn't want to pay that every day but for a one-off appointment it's not the end of the world, unless you're really destitute.

squeakytoy · 04/08/2011 16:26

That does sound ridiculous. I would say the majority of the time it is one parent taking the child out, while the other works.

Mandy2003 · 04/08/2011 16:22

Just read this thread and it's reminded me to get on to my county council. Up till this year children have been able to travel for 45p flat fare throughout August. This year, it's one child concession per TWO fare-paying passengers!

Now let me think in how many ways does this discriminate against single parents (try finding another adult to come with you on the bus!) AND disabled parents who have a free pass. And discouraging children from exploring the county independently (although that's not against the law as yet).

Obviously it's the bus company's change of policy but I think the council (who subsidise the company) would be the right people to tell them they were in the wrong.

mollymole · 04/08/2011 16:14

but she wasn't refused travel was she - she was just expected to pay
if they say 9.27 can be 9.30 why not 9.20 can be 9.30 or 9.15 can be 9.30
you either pay or wait for the free time

squeakytoy · 03/08/2011 22:33

And if they do have a need to travel so early, then they can pay, like the rest of us mere mortals have to do... :)

A1980 · 03/08/2011 22:30

No need for them to travel so early.

A1980 · 03/08/2011 22:29

What you can do, however, is lobby your local Council to increase the validity if the free passes to include all services all day.

EdithWeston, that is unfair to people who work, who actually pay for their passes and who have no choice but to ride at peak times.

My buses and trainsa re already so full of school children in the morning that I struggle to get on board. School children alos have no choice but to travel in the early morning to get to school on time. If pensioners were allowed to travel free 24/7 this would increase the congestion considerably. There is need for them to travel so early, they don't work and don't need to be anywhere in particular every weekday morning. If they have the odd early doctors appt they can pay for their fare to travel outside the pass validity.

If free travel round the clock was introduced, the OAP's can damn well stand up. I'm not giving up seat for them when I pay £2000 a year.

LineRunner · 03/08/2011 21:47

Mitmoo, the way it works with free bus passes is that the bus company keeps an electronic record of all journeys undertaken by pensioners and then it charges the cost back to the Local Authority.

Most Local Authorities are not getting the full cash amount from government that it costs to run the free bus pass service.

Allowing 'off peak' journeys is all that is affordable for Local Authorities. And that means all journeys have to begin at or after 9.30am.

InTheNightKitchen · 03/08/2011 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mitmoo · 03/08/2011 21:40

she didn't steal anything"

No, she tried steal something, got caught and was prevented. Very honest.

FFS she asked driver to let her on at 9.27 she was refused, it hardly makes her Ronald Biggs!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

InTheNightKitchen · 03/08/2011 21:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuePurblybilt · 03/08/2011 07:42

Why did she say it'll be the last time she goes into town? Is that the only bus in the morning?

cjbartlett · 03/08/2011 07:38

Perhaps you should give her some extra cash op as it sounds like she's struggling
The 9.30 rule does sound a bit daft
Most people have to get to work for 9am don't they?

EdithWeston · 03/08/2011 07:26

It does vary - each local Council issues the passes and sets the terms for their use: including paying the bus companies for the "free" fares (they're not genuinely free - they're funded from Council Tax).

I don't think it would be right (or indeed workable) to have in place a situation where you give individual drivers the right to let passengers off their fares.

What you can do, however, is lobby your local Council to increase the validity if the free passes to include all services all day. But, to be fair, you should also indicate a countervailing cut or be clear about how much this adds to council tax.

We've had a different problem with unlimited access - buses so full of free pass holders that others cannot get on. Council unable to increase payment from current Council tax revenue (and unwilling to raise council tax). Bus company cannot afford to run loss making services (which is what these in effect become). Fare paying passengers cannot get to work/school on the bus, and then don't come home on the bus either. Apparent demand is thus lower.

Trying to preserve rural bus routes is hard work! The more of us who join in and lobby, the better!

KeepCalmAndPrayToCastiel · 02/08/2011 22:47

I can use my free bus pass at any time - even morning rush hour. And I would be a bit annoyed if I couldn't get on the bus a few minutes early if there were restrictions here. I wouldn't argue with the driver but I would mutter to myself as I waited for the next bus.

Marjoriew · 02/08/2011 22:45

Where I live, I can use my bus pass any time after 9 am in the week and 9.30 on a Saturday and Sunday.
I didn't realize it varied across the country.

Birdsgottafly · 02/08/2011 22:44

Funnily enough, i was having this discussion today.

When my mum was a lollypop lady very few drivers would take the money off her, she was only going three stops. To be fair, if the drivers let them on then the buses would be full of pensioners of a morning, adding to the rush.

Those that are very ill can use the free travel service, those on CT/HB can have their fares refunded. So i suppose that there isn't a reason why they cannot pay, many are on as good a income as people who work, at minimum wage or with high housing costs.

Mitmoo · 02/08/2011 22:44

Inthenight She asked, she was very smpathetically refused, she didn't steal anything, she is a very honest, used to be hardworking, and very ill OAP.

OP posts:

InTheNightKitchen · 02/08/2011 22:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DeWe · 02/08/2011 22:37

It may well be that he can't give the ticket (even the free ones!) before 9:30 as the ticket machines are computerised and have timer on. They were last time I went on round here, and they're fairly old buses here. If he'd let her on without a ticket and an inspector got on, he could be at risk of losing his job as well as her being fined.
I think it depends on the council what exactly their rules are for the OAP passes.

What I do wonder is why the free tickets they give round here are about three times the length of an ordinary ticket.

A1980 · 02/08/2011 22:37

I'm not anti OP either ,but they have to abide by the rules just like the rest of us

Amen to that. They're OAP's they're not senile. They understand the rules, they just don't want to accept and live by them.

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usualsuspect · 02/08/2011 22:36

OAP*

usualsuspect · 02/08/2011 22:35

I'm not anti OP either ,but they have to abide by the rules just like the rest of us

A1980 · 02/08/2011 22:34

I have a pass that is valid for zones 1-5. One evening after work, I needed to get to zone 6 which my pass is not valid for. It's simple, I just need to to add money on oyster prepay to cover the extra zone.

I only needed to add £1.50. The manned ticket offices were closed so i had to use the self service machine which needs you to have exact money. I stood in a long ATM queue to withdraw cash. Then I stood in a long queue in boots to buy a chocolate bar to have change to top up by £1.50. it took me over half an hour to get the top up.

Notwithstanding the fact taht I already pay £2000 a year for my travel card, it wouldn't occur to me to just get on the train and ask to be let off as it's only £1.50.

Pensioners shouldn't expect to be let off either.

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