to think free/cheap bus travel should be provided for everyone that doesn't have car insurance

[MarieNE]

Cars are one of the biggest pollutants. Yet I would rather get the bus but it doesn't work out any cheaper than the car so I drive. People that get the bus are also fitter as they walk more.

My parents get free bus passes, but this doesn't stop them driving that much and still both have a car.

Buses are empty, cars are clogging up the roads and air pollution is above who guideline levels in many cities in the UK.

What's the car insurance got to do with it?

It's an interesting idea op.

I don't understand how having car insurance or not affects whether you should be able to access cheap bus fares.

Have you missed out a chunk of your argument?

well - depends where you live. In London bus travel is pretty cheap and free for children and OAPs. And the buses are rammed. Bus services can be very infrequent in the country, and prices reflect the fact that not many people use them - bus companies are private enterprises - not a good state of affairs but I'm not sure that making them cheaper will make a difference until the service is better - bit chicken and egg.

I'm also a bit about 'People that get the bus are also fitter as they walk more' - in my case that's certainly bollocks and I use public transport a lot.

But mainly - how on earth do you propose this is paid for?

Depends where you live, where I am buses don't run regularly enough to get you to work so I have to have a car even though I would rather take a bus/train.

Otherwise I think yep there should be incentives to take public transport - its in no-ones interests to see in a traffic jam and be late for work/school/appointment because everyone is sitting in their car.

It's an interesting idea - incentivise people to eschew the car altogether (as demonstrated by not having car insurance or being a named driver) by giving them free bus travel. People who have to have a car aren't penalised by this. Maybe it could replace 'free bus pass for pensioners' which I've always felt is an anachronism - many pensioners can easily afford to pay their own way, and those who can't afford to run a car or can't drive for health reasons, would still get their free bus pass.

The buses I get are not empty.

It's a battle to try and fit my dd on with her buggy. I'm fucked if there is a wheelchair on and have to wait for another. What ever the weather.

As soon as I pass my test, I'll be driving.

Total non starter and quite ridiculous.

Don't be ridiculous.

It depends where you are doesn't it? I agree that the buses in more rural places might often be quite empty, but they only run every hour or so... I live in London and don't have a car, and can wait ages for a not full bus at rush hour. I pay a lot of money per year for that privilege.

Buses are empty...where? In London you often can't get on and the same in Somerset when I visit my parents. Also Oxford and York buses were full recently. Empty? Where? Do agree bus travel should be cheap but they not empty...

Where I live the busses are never empty, even during the week on my days off and outside of rush hour.

I have a journey frequently that takes up to an hour and a half by bus, but 20 minutes in a car.

It isn't just about cost.

My youngest DD is about to sit her Moped test, we already have a Moped, it is cheaper to run, but again it is the time factor to get to collage, which is why she will use it.

It is a 15 minute drive, but crosses two bus routes.

Even though we are in Liverpool (a big city), our bus routes aren't always good.

I buy a struggling relative a weekly bus pass, so she can access the (great) free child activities we have in our city.

For her, the cost of any travel is out of reach.

So what about the twats that don't bother buying insurance? What a ridiculous idea, even without that problem.

I have no car insurance due to having no car, should I automatically receive free bus travel? Er, no. I mostly walk, but when I take the bus I'm happy to pay my way thanks. Personally I think the oap bus pass age ought to be put up to 65 and the saving to the govt spent elsewhere.

I often get the bus during the week as DH has the car for work. It is probably cheaper than running another car, but the fares are very expensive. For example, if we both wanted to go into town and back (2.5 miles each way) on the bus it would cost us £8.40, which is much more expensive than driving.
My parents both use their bus passes quite often.
I think the main deterrent to using buses is likely to be the lack of convenience rather than cost but the high prices certainly don't act as an incentive.

our buses are always full you can get weekly tickets surely it works out cheaper than your car insurance in the long run morally anyway if you were that worried you would get the bus more imo

Yet I would rather get the bus but it doesn't work out any cheaper than the car so I drive.

So totally your choice to drive then - you could get rid of your car and just travel by bus then couldn't you?

What has car insurance got to do with it?

I fail to see what insurance has to do with it. DH & I don't have a car, can't afford it. And our lives would be immeasurably improved by access to transport, as the buses & trains round here are fairly frequent but quite expensive.

I dont know what car insurance has to do with it either people pay road tax it costs a fortune so they are entitled to drive just like you are driving ,

I spend £40-£50 a week on buses. I'd love a free bus pass but probably wouldn't get one under your scheme as I'm the registered keeper for DS2's motability car as I'm his carer so technically I have car insurance although I can't drive. Buses are usually full here (somerset) and I have to leave the house really early if I want to get to appointments etc on time as quite often the bus is full and I can't get on.

Do you not realise the country is looking for places to make cut backs from public spending ?
The idea of giving free or subsidised transport to people who are perfectly able to pay their way is quite frankly ridiculous when local authorities don't have the budgets to cover the bare minimum of services for those in real need.

if people didnt pay their fare there would be no buses anyway bus companies cant give people a free ride because they have not got a car

"My parents get free bus passes, but this doesn't stop them driving that much"
So how exactly will providing free bus travel prevent empty buses, cars clogging up the roads and air pollution above WHO guideline?

You've countered your non-existent argument all by yourself, OP.

YABU. Many people have a car because public transport is so poor in this country. There is also little provision for safe cycling as in other Northern European countries.

YABU for expecting people to further pay for the deficiencies of poor organisation in this country. Its hard enough to get to your work here as it is. It used to take me 1 hour 30 minutes to take public transport to my work 8 miles away and cycling was terribly dangerous as the roads were so narrow and busy, with national speed limits and no cycle lanes. There comes a stage when its not actually financially viable to commute into city centres to work.