To think free bus passes for the old should be abolished?

[Bumpitybumper]

Statistics show that on average wealth peaks at age 65-74 in the UK, why then do we give these people free bus passes? It makes absolutely no sense at all and is just an unnecessary expense. The idea that 'young' pensioners are a relatively poor group of people is completely incorrect and it only serves to enhance the already massive intergenerational wealth gap between baby boomers and everyone else.

Presumably the wealthy old don't use the bus very often so it doesn't matter that they have a pass.

Means testing would just be a public sector bureaucracy job creation scheme. Do you work in local government?

I think so too, I was just talking about it with someone this morning actually.

You can mock all you want but statistically those aged between 65 -74 are the wealthiest in this country. That doesn't mean they are all millionaires but it is puzzling that you would target this group for a benefit like a free bus pass when they are the group that arguably least need it. This isn't to say there aren't individuals within the group that rely on it but this is very different to awarding a massive group of people a huge advantage that the rest of us must subsidise.

Disagree
I know older people are the richest demographic in the country but free bus passes is one perk I really don't begrudge them. This advantages the rest of society as well. In fact I could easily support free (or very low cost) bus travel for everyone.

Tbh I don't think the wealthier 65-74 year olds use the bus. Most have cars. I have no problem giving older pensioners free bus passes otherwise there may well be people driving cars who shouldn't be.

Which is why I think it’s ridiculous they get a bus pass! The money should go to the young accessing education and those that require it shouldn’t it? Perhaps that way your DF would get more??

Absolutely bonkers!

Definitely ought to be means tested.

I used to get the bus to work in a rural (national park) location. I was working full time at min wage and my bus pass was about 10% of my wage.

I was often the only person actually paying for the bus! A lot of the other users were wealthy retirement age tourists using the bus to get to the start of hiking routes. Dressed in expensive hiking gear, getting on the bus from fancy hotels with mountain views.

It seemed really unfair that very often, the only person paying for the bus (me) was the only person who probably couldn't afford the fare.

Surely only people that need to use a bus use a free bus pass. If it was done on means tested do you really think all of the wealthy pensioners with their flash cars are going to queue up for a free bus pass? And for those that genuinely only have a bus as form of transport and couldn’t afford it without the pass would you really want to deprive them of that m? For what reason… because you have to pay and they don’t or because you’ve read a statistic and now assume every pensioner is rich?

The bus pass age has been raised in line with retirement- certainly where I live anyway. DH occasionally uses his bus pass. I rarely go into town but if I do I drive. The balance of costs and convenience means the car wins out for me. I can afford the bus fare.
Really we should be encouraging people to use buses and pensioners generally travel when there are very few other passengers.
Oftentimes buses would be empty for miles without pensioners using them. This helps the bus company to remain viable.

I think some cities in Europe have introduced this.

Yes, another ageist thread. Its the only ism still allowed on MN.

Give over. You sound bitter. Support old people as they’ve supported you by paying taxes their whole life.

How is this thread ageist? Surely the policy of awarding free bus passes to a group of people based solely on their age is ageist in itself against younger peolle? Can you explain why it isn't?

Hmm...I admit my example is potentially quite an unusual scenario however!

Means testing is an expensive adminstrative pain in the arse. It costs pennies just to give someone a bit of card saying they can use a bus for free, it costs a lot more than that to work out whether they should get one in the first place.

Use of buses is self means-testing anyway. Pensioners who can afford to run their own cars etc mostly don't actually use buses, so you aren't actually saving any money at all by not giving them a bus pass they rarely if ever use.

The social benefit to allowing people to get out and about who otherwise couldn't is far greater than any tiny - if any - cost saving that means testing would bring.

Do they use them though? I could apply for one - but I've never bothered as I drive.

Pensioners get bus passes but don't use them unless they have no other way of getting around. I've got one but I prefer to use my car. Either way, I get criticised - either I'm polluting the atmosphere with my petrol fumes OR I'm taking up valuable resources using the bus!

Well, the pensioners on my buses definitely don't look rich.

How about a few perks from working for, sometimes 50 years, like free prescriptions and free buses.

I will certainly not support a policy that is ageist against young people. Again, I ask the question, where is the justification for 65-74 year olds to be given free bus passes?

Most sensible post on the thread.

I’m 63 and have a bus pass (you can get it at 60 in Wales) but I’ve never used it yet. It is useful as photo ID as I don’t have a photo driving licence (old paper one) and don’t carry my passport everywhere.

I reckon 90% of pensioners on buses are not wealthy.

How mean spirited of you OP.

Leave it be. So what if retired pension age get bus pass? Those who need it will use it, those who don't will continue to use their cars. It's a speck on the ocean of Government expenditure.

However, investment in local public transport is worthy of investment/subsidy together with capped fares everywhere within a zone like in London. Are capped fares everywhere now? That might even things up a bit.

I am lucky enough to live in a London Borough and so got a free Tube pass at 60.

It does feel very lucky - on the other hand I go up to London much more frequently than I did and while there go to (paid entry) exhibitions, have some food out and buy stuff in shops.

I'm more tempted to spend when I am out (thereby helping the economy) than before I had the pass.

It's a wonderful benefit and I'm lucky to have it.

Have you met wealthy people? They don’t take the bus, dahling (outside of London).

I can’t get angry about free bus travel for the elderly. It does however piss me off that my teenager has to pay adult fares when he couldn’t legally leave school and get a full time job.