Freedom passes no longer completely free.

[SweetiePi3]

During lockdown, people with freedom passes were not allowed to use tfl transport before 9.30 am. This took away their right to be used 24 hours. Since lockdown this has not been revoked. Do tfl think that people with a freedom pass never need to travel before that, whatever the reason?

Yes!

The change was made as part of the transport bailout. Blame Covid, blame lockdown, blame financial mismanagement, Brexit or silly immigration policies that don't allow more working age people to come here, blame whoever, but universal stuff like this and non-means tested age pensions are going to disappear.

I read it with profit thank you!.

Where I am apparently if you take your hospital appointment letter with you the driver will let you on the bus before half 9.

This is the reasoning given
https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/using-pass/changes-freedom-pass-travel-times

The restrictions are only in place for 22.5 hours a week. So that is just 13% of the week when you can't travel on them. Still a pretty good deal

I thought Over 60s passes have always been like this. Only 8 years to go…

No, but the baby boomers as a whole are the richest generation who’ve ever lived, largely because of soaring property values (1 in 4 of them are millionaires I believe).

I realise that means that 3 out of 4 of them aren’t millionaires. But I don’t see the sense in working-age people supporting the richest generation who’ve ever lived on a blanket, untested basis.

As explained upthread, there is the Over 60s Oyster card and then the Freedom Pass at retirement age. They are different

Oh OP, you’re funny. The rest of the country is in awe of London transport and you’re complaining about it!

Yes we're very lucky. Wait for ever for a bus, and then you get two.

Wait forever?? 😂

Have you ever tried using public transport outside of London, in some areas you can wait for hours and if the bus doesn't arrive you get nothing for another hour.

I know it’s a bit off topic but the concept of giving free travel to the over 60s is quite a strange one. People aged 60 to 64 are, on average, richer than any other age group and are still of working age. Plus our population is aging fast - this benefit is getting expensive quickly.

In my childhood, when I thought of the over 60s, I thought of “old people” but these days they are likely to be fit, healthy people who are senior in their companies, no longer have dependent children and have paid off their mortgages.

More on topic - they can ride buses any time they like. If it is before 9:30am it will cost £1.75 and there will be no additional charge for subsequent buses, provided they are caught within the hour of the first journey. If it is after 9:30am it will be free. Buses are a bargain in London.

Why not use an app to see when the bus is coming and leave at the right time? Lots of people do

Yes, the Bus Times app is super useful. Also City Mapper is good (but a bit less user friendly).

Yes we're very lucky. Wait for ever for a bus, and then you get two.

In London

Goodness you are taking the poor me to another level here. If I miss a bus where I live it's an hour for the next one, if I'm going to the hospital it's 30mins between connecting buses.

How awful it must be to use public transport in London

There are no time restrictions for using an over 60s bus pass where I live(Scotland). I know plenty people who used their bus pass to travel to work

TfL lost about £600m pa of government funding pre pandemic. Then Covid massively hit passenger revenues. Plus long running industrial action. Tough choices are required about what can be afforded.

Moaning about not being able to travel before 9.30 is a bit tone deaf given these challenges - make the most if it whilst it’s still there at all, I would.

I usually wait about 3 minutes for my local bus.

Why should a 60 year old get free travel to work vs s 30 or 40 year old?

TFL keeping this restriction is better than another fare rise for everyone else.

It was ever thus. I remember my grandparents getting their TfL Freedom Passes in 1990 and 1991. They turned up before 9.30 for a train one day and the guy on the barrier- on hearing that they'd only just got their passes- said "oh, you're new... you don't know about not being a twirly?" When they looked confused he laughed and said "the twirlys... the too-earlies!"

I struggle to believe you. I’m in the North West, but have friends/family in London and whenever they come up here, they can’t believe the difference in standards between the NW and London. I’ve felt the difference whenever I’ve visited them there too.

Complaining that not all of your transport is free as you might have to pay for it during peak times (every now and again) when many people spend hundreds on it a month to get to and from work is hysterical.

Please define: "forever"

TFL is non-profit too. It all goes back into the system (when they have any!)

‘Forever’ 😂😂😂 you’re literally a joke OP

This! Public transport should be subsidized for everyone to decrease car use