Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think new mums should be given free bus travel?

191 replies

bella411 · 09/01/2014 10:07

I know there's a recession and it is more an idealism but why couldn't / shouldn't new mums have free bus travel during their maternity leave run much in the same way as pensioner bus travel. Money is often tight they have appointments to go to such as drs and health centre and maybe even hospitsl visits.

My "local" play groups are all not really walking distance, neither is my drs. Also visiting friends and family I have to rely on them picking me up or public transport.

Where I live the public transport is good and reasonably priced £3.40 for unlimited daily travel.

But I feel in free bus passes were given it may help encourage some new mums to get out and visit more playgroups and maybe even get out more.

What do other people think?

OP posts:
highho1 · 09/01/2014 17:24

Sorry op yabu. People on jsa really should get bus travel. It costs £6 to go to sign on for a friend and she takes home £71 per week. She only pays this because they closed the local office down.

ikeaismylocal · 09/01/2014 17:24

I live in a country where parents with a pushchair get free bus travel.

I think it is great, we go on the bus every day, to playgroup, visiting friends, to the shops, to the next town.

I would find it hard to justify spending 3 pounds 40 a day just to go to playgroup or shopping but I also feel it is really important for parents not to feel isolated.

highho1 · 09/01/2014 17:27

Yo get fares refunding for training but not your usual 2 weekly appointment.

Applefallingfromthetree2 · 09/01/2014 18:38

Agree IKEA, anything that reduces isolation for new mums, the elderly and the disabled has to be a good thing. Public transport should be prioritised over the car in cities.

Bus passes for teenagers is a good idea too, gets them out and about and independent.

IMO the problem in the UK is that we are too individualistic and not fond of schemes that have wider social benefits.

formerbabe · 09/01/2014 18:41

Well while we are on this topic, how about free hairdressing appointments, new clothes and make up for new mums...afteral, having a baby can lower your self esteem.

Jeez, take some personal responsibility and pay ur own sodding bus fare!

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 09/01/2014 18:46

I'd much rather my kids were given free travel. I'm disabled and have a bus pass for myself, but have to then pay for my children, who would be free (one of them anyway) if I was paying for myself. Grr.

Indith · 09/01/2014 18:47

mums should get free transport.

dads?

We should all get free water because it is essential for life.

We all need free food because we cannot live without food.

free housing.

free cars, some of us need to get places buses don't go.

free clothing. Not our fault we live in a cold country not conducive to nudism.

Why should any of us pay for anything or take responsibility for any of our decisions. We didn't choose to be born.

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 09/01/2014 18:48

Yabu anyway, I used to love chucking ds1 in the pram and walking everywhere :(

You'd be surprised how much you miss something like that when the choice is made for you.

BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability · 09/01/2014 18:49

Indith, communism is what you're after Wink

Indith · 09/01/2014 18:50

of course Grin .

communism works really well I heard. I'm sure some country called China tried it once. It was fab, everyone was equal.

AbbeyBartlet · 09/01/2014 18:51

And what about free bus travel for commuters? We contribute to society too and it is essential that we get to work if we don't or can't drive - perhaps the bus companies should just stop charging!

BrianTheMole · 09/01/2014 18:51

No I don't think so. Whose going to fund all this? Where does it stop?

ikeaismylocal · 09/01/2014 18:52

If you want to look at it from a selfish perspective free bus travel for new parents would reduce the amount of isolation new parent's experience, allow small children to experience a much wider amount of things, allow parent's to access help/support when needed. All of these things I believe reduces poverty, increases bonding oppertunities, reduces negative feelings in early parenthood. It is better for society if all babies/children have access to leaning oppertunities, and it is better for society if parents are supported as much as possible, happier parents make happier children, happy children have a higher chance of growing up to be constuctive respectful members of society.

Applefallingfromthetree2 · 09/01/2014 18:54

Better to say parents with children not just Mums. Reducing isolation is good for mental health and free transport is a great motivator to get people out and about.

It's got to be good to limit the number of cars on the road too.

pamish · 09/01/2014 18:57

Those who write about paying for children's fares: unless things have changed in the last year, school and FE students in London get a free bus pass. I was astonished to read of those outside London paying huge amounts, when this came up in discussing the loss of EMA.

Applefallingfromthetree2 · 09/01/2014 19:01

Ikea good post-are you talking from a Swedish perspective

Original poster
bella411 · 09/01/2014 19:01

Ikea I love you. It is exactly why I suggested it as a thought. To stop the isolation, broaden kids learning opportunities and get new parents out.

From working in a school in an old coal mining village with high deprivation, I know a lot of the children rarely left the village.

Out of interest, though your name probably gives it away what country are you from?

OP posts:
Original poster
bella411 · 09/01/2014 19:02

Live even

OP posts:
ikeaismylocal · 09/01/2014 19:07

Yep my name is a give away ;) I live in Sweden (but I am English).

The was families are supported here is amazing, everyone no matter how much money you earn can get out of the house, there are amazing parent and baby/toddler groups, baby massage, singing groups, rhym time all for free. There are also playgrounds on every corner.

My ds is 12 months old, I have truely loved my first year as a parent but I can see it would have been infinatly harder without the free travel and groups.

QueenStromba · 09/01/2014 19:12

You already get free prescriptions, free dentist and free transport for your baby who probably takes up more space than a fully grown adult and you want more?

Original poster
bella411 · 09/01/2014 19:20

Great that there is a working model of this already. I'm very envious of it Ikea.

We got told at uni the Scandinavian way is a good way to teach young children. Scandinavians have a higher happiness factors than the UK. Yet governments don't listen and I best not get started on Gove. Yes it would be expensive to implement initially but overall potentially a much better outcome for all families. Not just those that can afford it.

Too many I'm alright Jack's who as long as they are ok why should other people matter.

OP posts:
MiaowTheCat · 09/01/2014 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouTheCat · 09/01/2014 19:24

No. Daft idea. I'd rather see free bus travel for those on income support/job seekers tbh. That might include some people with small children too but I don't see why every mother should get it. What about dads? What about foster parents?

Prforone · 09/01/2014 19:29

YABU. Utterly ridiculous idea.

Applefallingfromthetree2 · 09/01/2014 19:32

The alright Jacks wouldn't have to use the free bus transport, they could continue to pollute the environment with their cars.

Good idea to walk too, bit this presupposes that facilities are within walking distance.