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 Since lockdown this has not been revoked.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?

They have time limited to stop people jamming up the buses in peak hours.

And trust me having seen pensioners trying to get on before times just to go shopping, they would jam up the buses for commuters.

And you are literally very rude.

It wasn't. The Overground was only after 9.30am IIRC, as were some other services.

Having said that, the people spitting feathers over THE PRIVILEGE can fuck right off. They aren't handed out like sweeties for Disabled People. And it's an important part of reducing the number of private vehicles on the roads and increasing the mobility of said Disabled people - not just for medical appointments or treatment, all of which start before 10am - physio is usually open before 8am, as are a lot of other disciplines, it takes time to get somewhere for a 9am appointment - but for work.

By forever, do you mean you've waited an hour for a bus only for it to not turn up and the service to then be full or cancelled on the next one, therefore meaning no service or a 3 hour wait?

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Having said that, the people spitting feathers over THE PRIVILEGE can fuck right off. They aren't handed out like sweeties for Disabled People

It's the 60 - retirement group people are suggesting are privileged, not disabled people.

I was sure that there were some restrictions even before covid?

I wish that were the case.

Please understand that you are getting something FOR FREE.

The rest of us are paying for you to have this Freedom Pass for free while we pay for our tickets. Some restrictions are reasonable. You are not being prevented from travelling, you just have to pay like the rest of us.

This. Honestly are you hearing quite how entitled you are sounding here?

All directed at the OP for daring to not be pathetically grateful about her Disabled Freedom Pass restrictions.

Before my Dad retired he got the bus to work and had to pay for an additional pass to use the buses before 9.30. He was a teaching assistant, so not exactly earning lots. He was still better off as buying that was still cheaper than the all time bus pass he had before. (This was West Midlands Travel)

I guess it is always harder when something you had gets taken away, but on balance it is still a good deal that the FP gives.

My grandmother had one many years ago and there was a time limit then. Seems as if it has returned.

My understanding is that the government put some strings to Covid financial support, wouldn't surprise me if this was one of them.

All directed at the OP for daring to not be pathetically grateful about her Disabled Freedom Pass restrictions.

OP mentions an over 60 pass? I may have missed the bit where she has a disabled one?

@NeverDropYourMooncup i think it’s blatantly obvious people have been commenting that it’s the 60 plus pass which is entitled given most people 60-65 still work, and not the disabled pass.

The disabled freedom pass has no restrictions, so seeing that the OP can't use hers it is a standard over 60's one.

Disabled persons freedom passes can be used on buses, trams, overground and TFL rail at all times, and after 9.30am on National Rail services within London. They can also be used on buses across England after 9.30am. This thread is about the 60+ card.

I love my Freedom Pass. It's one of the best things about being old in London. I try to organise my life so I can travel within the allowed hours but if
once in a while I have to cough up for a train or bus fare during the morning rush hour I'm still winning overall.

Well it all came into focus towards the end of lockdown when Boris wanted tfl to start charging secondary children to use the bus (despite the fact that that is paid for by the London councils as a deal with tfl in lieu of school bus provision). A lot of people pointed out that at certain tube stations at just before 9 am you can see magic circle and Big Four partners/consultants waiting to use their passes.....

On the odd occasion you might need to use the bus before 9.30 it's £1.65 for a bus fare wherever you go in London and includes changes. That's not unreasonable.

"Not unreasonable" is understating it somewhat, as well. That is an incredible bargain compared with most of the country.

Because London transport is an incredibly complicated amalgam of different transport . It’s great, I am always finding out new ways to get to places.

I am a wheelchair user, but don't consider myself as being "disabled '

So you could have a pass that you could use before 9:30 though?
Seems odd to complain about the 60+ one then.

You don't have to consider yourself disabled, but if you are entitled to the pass that will make your life easier then apply for it. Don't make life more difficult (and expensive) then it needs to be.

You have had quite a hard time on this thread, but as a Londoner you do generally get a better deal then many others in the UK in terms of transport which is what has driven a lot of the more negative responses. However you need to look out for yourself and you possibly have a way of resolving this.

(Please say you claim / have looked into claiming AA / PIP though)

Over 60s public transport has always been from 9.30 around here

Ok- as has been said many times up thread, outside of London not only is public transport shite but over 60s have always been restricted to using buses free until after 09:30 in the majority of the country. What really shocks me is that the really vulnerable families I work with have no access to free travel for under 16s. In my city they even have to pay for a pass to get the half price fare from aged 12. I work with children who cannot afford to get to school. Until the recent (and temporary) cap on bus fares, a single ticket was about £2:50 and a day ticket £5. A weekly pass is £20 for an adult then £10 for each child under 12. So an adult taking 2 children to school each week pays £40.

I am a wheelchair user, but don't consider myself as being "disabled '

Wait, so you have made a thread moaning about the freedom pass being restricted for over 60s and you have an over 60s pass but as a wheelchair user would qualify for a disabled pass?

What the hell?

Bus fares are absolute crazy prices, we are actually better off now that DD is at sixth form as she pays £5 every half term for unlimited bus use (not just to and from the college) Luckily we live on one of the main roads into town so have a fairly good bus service

The budget crunch for TfL is why pre 9 am funding for Oyster 60 and Older Person's Freedom Passes has been lost.

Borough Councils don't reimburse TfL for pre 9:30 use of transport on OP Freedom Passes or for any of the Oyster 60 use. Post 9:30 travel on Freedom Passes is part of Westminster legislation and applies nationally. The additional concessionary travel that Londoners get is (with a few exceptions) part of the transport strategy for the city set, along with the TfL budget, by the Mayor's office and funded by block grants, business rates and and other local taxes, through GLA.

Under the Mayor's strategy TfL are also considering phasing out the Oyster 60+ in order to keep costs down.

If you want to try to change things, OP, Age Concern have been advocating on the issue.