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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think bus passes for all under 25s is a fab idea

194 replies

jnfrrss · 12/04/2018 08:12

Around here the bus is so expensive that it's cheaper to run a car but many young people can't afford that while saving for a deposit. This is a really good policy by labour imo. I would also restore the bus pass to JSA people as that is really needed.

OP posts:
LuluJakey1 · 12/04/2018 09:24

No. Many under 25s have cars and decent incomes and no responsibilities. DH has several cousins who earn £30,000 plus at 22-25 and just enjoy themselves (good on them). Not all under 25s are in need of free bust passes.
Nor are all pensioners but many more of them attend hospitals, don't have cars and live just on the state pension. Apparently it would cost more to means test OAP bus passes than it does to issue them.

Doilooklikeatourist · 12/04/2018 09:24

Bloody stupid idea. It’s all got to be paid for by someone , and where I live ( have 2 20 something’s ) there’s 2 buses a day
One to town at 8 am and one back at 5
Fine if that’s the hours you work. But useless otherwise

ParisUSM · 12/04/2018 09:26

This policy wouldn't impact on London as transport in London isn't controlled by Westminster.

SuburbanRhonda · 12/04/2018 09:27

Who is paying for this? I'm not a fan of dishing out freebies universally just because people are a certain age, irrespective of other factors.

Are you against free bus travel for OAPs then?

ParisUSM · 12/04/2018 09:27

@LuluJakey1 The under25s with cars are unlikely to use buses instead, even if they are free.

Redpony1 · 12/04/2018 09:29

I don't think it's a great idea at all.

Young adults want freedom and flexibility, they'd probably still have a car as well as the bus pass!

I haven't been on a bus for 17 years, I literally couldn't live my life as i do if i had to rely on public transport, i'd have to give all sorts of things i love and change jobs.

BrashCandicoot · 12/04/2018 09:29

People don't take buses because unless you happen to live in a very well connected city, they're largely shit, smelly and inconvenient.

I live in a reasonably well connected town, and to go into town is a 5 minute drive - it's 30 minutes on the bus. It takes an hour to get the bus to my parent's house and £9.40 in bus fares for me and DS vs a 15 minute drive. There isn't a bus that goes near the after school club DS will start when my work changes, so that will be 25 minutes on the bus for me to get from work to the nearest stop, 15 minute walk there and then 30 minutes walk home. With the car, I'm there 10 minutes after I finish work and we're home 10 minutes after that.

FleurDelacoeur · 12/04/2018 09:29

Are you against free bus travel for OAPs then?

Yes, it should be means tested.

adaline · 12/04/2018 09:29

If free bus passes are going to be of any use, then the whole country needs a decent public transport network.

I'm in rural Cumbria and if I didn't drive I wouldn't be able to get to work. The bus takes four hours and even then I'd need to walk at the end of it. When I last looked, I figured I'd have to leave home the night before in order to get to work on time, and then leave at 2pm to get home!

It's good for cities but completely unworkable in rural areas.

Redpony1 · 12/04/2018 09:30

*give up

BrashCandicoot · 12/04/2018 09:30

Are you against free bus travel for OAPs then?

I think the age should be raised to at least state pension age.

Alltheprettyseahorses · 12/04/2018 09:31

Local elections coming up are they? It's another cynical sweetie from Labour, designed to make people think that this is what they'll get if they vote Labour in May. Well they won't. But Labour will try to wiggle out of any backlash by pointing out that they meant a general election and the timing is supposed to be irrelevant.

MoggyP · 12/04/2018 09:31

"Labour says it would give under-25s in England free bus travel in areas where local councils bring services back into public ownership as the party wants."

I think this 'public ownership' bit is getting overlooked.

This is a bribe to get a different policy underway, with support of young people.

southeastdweller · 12/04/2018 09:32

What a stupid idea. Bus fares generally are expensive and the taxpayer should only be paying for those people who can't afford to pay for public transport. Bring in means testing, I say.

All kids aged 11-15 getting free bus and tram travel in London is also ridiculous and a huge waste of money.

adaline · 12/04/2018 09:32

Are you against free bus travel for OAPs then?

Yep. It should be means tested. The same goes for the winter fuel allowance.

My colleague is over 65, works full-time through choice, owns her own home and two cars and still gets (and occasionally uses) her free bus pass! She can absolutely afford to pay full fare!

LynetteScavo · 12/04/2018 09:32

I'm not sure about under 25, but I definitely think School/college travel should be free. Yes, I'd happily pay higher tax for it.

hibbledibble · 12/04/2018 09:35

I'm also against universal free travel for oaps. It should be means tested.

Many oaps are very well off.

You don't however have the same issue with oaps and antisocial behaviour, or mobbing the buses at certain times!

chantico · 12/04/2018 09:36

Cancelling the road infrastructure programme doesn't strike me as a hugely good idea.

That's what Corbyn says will be gone, if this programme to take transport back into public ownership goes ahead.

TJEckleburg · 12/04/2018 09:37

No councils will bring back publicly owned bus services as they have no money. Literally none. My council will receive 0 funds from central govt by 2020. They can not afford to pay the subsidies companies require to run the limited rural services that are available .
Yet another empty uncosted promise from a Labour govt that has no idea of how things work outside of London and hopes that most of its voters don’t either

Mabelface · 12/04/2018 09:37

Under 18s, yes, but raise the minimum wage for 18-25 year olds to match over 25s instead of free bus travel. They do the same job so pay them accordingly.

SuburbanRhonda · 12/04/2018 09:37

I would have loved under-18 travel to be free.

DC’s (local) school had no 6th form so they had to travel by train to college for A level. Even with a train pass from the LA it cost £800 a year for each of them.

ParisUSM · 12/04/2018 09:39

means testing OAPs would cost money, though Pension Credit could be a gateway benefit I suppose. I do think it should rise with the pension age as it does rile me that my colleague who has a better salary than me has free bus travel to work while I have to pay.

Not fair to assume that young people and antisocial behaviour go together, and I've seen OAPs kick off on the bus, or be drunk and aggressive on many occasions.

SuburbanRhonda · 12/04/2018 09:40

You don't however have the same issue with oaps and antisocial behaviour, or mobbing the buses at certain times!

What you get instead is shopping trolleys taking over wheelchair spaces. I would support a basic rate fare of £1 per journey for OAPs.

Littlesnail · 12/04/2018 09:40

I've had a quick look at this and it's not a universal 'free for under 25s'. It's only free

  • In England
  • If the bus service is in public ownership

"Local authorities who moved to introduce public ownership of bus services or franchising would be given the funds to provide free travel. The scheme would incentivise councils to create municipally owned bus companies." From The Guardian.

It as much about nationalising bus services as it is about free travel for under 25s.

LiteraryDevil · 12/04/2018 09:40

I'd like to see this for those on JSA/income support. I'm on the latter as a single parent and don't drive as can't afford a car or lessons to learn to drive. I don't think it should be an age thing. Not to 25 anyway. Maybe to those in full time education.

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