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

[jnfrrss]

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.

No I don't agree with free travel for under 25's. But I think bus passes for people on JSA is a very good idea.

I'm laughing my head off at the poster that said people can claim back bus travel to sign on. Good luck ever getting that! It's a disgressionary fund for exceptional circumstances, that even then wouldn't get paid.

It often costs more than the JSA amount just to go to interviews and sign on in bus travel.

It's disgusting that was axed and not bus passes for well of pensioners.

I think it’s a rubbish idea.
Another thing for the overstretched tax payer to fund.

Where are all the freebies for the rest of us?

Maybe I’m just bitter, after just yesterday being ‘awarded’ £27 a week in maternity allowance. A whole £27 a week

Only a good idea if you live somewhere with good public transport.

I think it's a terrible idea.

Young people these days tend to be very fat, free bus travel isn't going to help that.

mad idea

how about free travel for job seekers regardless of age?

Terrible idea. In london teenagers cause havoc with anti social behaviour on buses especially at school finishing times and weekends.

Bringing back military service for under 25s will be the Tory alternative
Well, on the plus side, they then wouldn’t need the buses to get to work

New slogan for Jezza “Labour. Spending tomorrow’s money today”

@OhFucko
Young people these days tend to be very fat, free bus travel isn't going to help that.

That's a bit of a sweeping statement, and I don't think any under 25 would suddenly replace walking with bus travel. As others have said, you need to walk to get to a bus stop - I commute by bus and walk for an hour a day as part of that commute. Travelling by bus makes me a lot fitter than my colleagues who travel by car.

I'm not keen either.

Not sure why a 24 year old with a job needs a freebie any more than anyone else under the age of about 45.

Ultimately free bus travel would reduce death by pollution, with 40000 deaths each year caused by pollution this would be a good start

But unless you really increase the number of buses it disproportionately benefits people living in urban areas with good bus services. This is a problem if the programme is funded centrally.

More people die from pollution poisoning in urban areas than in the countryside so it’s not going to have a disproportionate effect on health

Not sure why a 24 year old with a job needs a freebie any more than anyone else under the age of about 45

Again. Because they get paid less.

I don't think the taxpayer should have to keep funding cheap business though. 1 minimum wage for all would be more appropriate.

You have a point for under 18’s as they are all in some kind of education and that will often not be walking distance. Under 25- nah. Taking the piss a bit. Imagining they were finished their degrees by 21, many of them could be in well paid jobs by 22.

If motorists were asked to stump up an extra £500 per year to cover the real cost of motoring, instead of getting a subsidy- would you or would you rather have a free bus pass?

High levels of pollution outside my local village school where all the traffic going to the local motorway has to squeeze down a 16th century street.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing about free bus travel for all, just pointing out that also need to provide buses.

"High levels of pollution outside my local village school where all the traffic going to the local motorway has to squeeze down a 16th century street."

And this will make any new slip road to relieve that congestion/pollution an even more distant prospect, as it's the money earmarked for road infrastructure that will be diverted to pay for passes for U25s in areas where councils agree to take transport back in to public ownership.

I'd quite like some buses.

Where are all the freebies for the rest of us?

As several of us have already pointed out, @Colonelpopcorn, car drivers already get quite a lot of "freebies" on the taxpayer compared to non-drivers, so this would help even it out a bit, as well as making travel nicer for everyone (car drivers included) and improving air quality.

@jnfrrss Laugh all you want love, I have a family member who claimed his travel costs to the JC just last week...

I really wish they'd just have the oyster system everywhere. My family and friends are in Greater London, east London and also Essex. The most annoying thing is when I can't get red buses all the way and have to use first buses. They are sooooooooo expensive and nowhere near as frequent.

@Bel04 me too, it would stop people buying the more expensive option by mistake which is so easy to do with First. It would be great to mix train and bus travel too without having to get an extortionate ZoneCard.

In my county under-20s can apply for a pass which allows them to travel for £1.30 per journey. The bus service is an absolute farce though and needs huge improvement. My son needs to travel 10 miles to college and until recently two double deckers were on that route at 8am, both were always full with students and people travelling to work. The service has been reduced now to one single decker which is full to capacity once it's left it's first stop. This month Arriva have closed their depot on evenings and Sundays so there are no buses at all then.

For ALL under 25's? Without means testing?

Wouldn't change what we do ivykaty44. Public transport wouldn't work for us