Government announcement on bus fares

[Poppinpoppinpopcorn]

Bus fares across the country is to get capped at £2 for a single journey from January. This is amazing news and will help so many people especially those of us who have been paying £3 pound. But I do think London should do this as well as it unfair they will pay less than the rest of the country, as they have done for many years. That way they can make some of the money back.

Perhaps she thinks those people who don't have a job should rot at home. The temerity of them - daring to have somewhere to to go that isn't a place of work.

An announcement to say prisoners will not be released early will be good to hear.

What’s that got to do with bus fares?

I'm a big believer in public transport and think it should be subsidised to provide reliable services at an affordable price. However, if this policy isn't also accompanied by a review of under-served areas of the country then its only purpose is slightly reducing the cost of a service for those already using it which feels like a poor use of money.

Well it's one less post in 1000 with anything useful

Yes, it seems the worst of all words. Really minor, inconsequential and *unfunded' giveaways. What's the point?

Nothing. But just adding that one announcement about bus fares is fine. Another is also needed.

This is one of the ones that don’t make much sense to me personally.

So I live say two stops from town £2. Someone else lives ten stops £2

My child needs two busses to get to school £4 but if we lived 10 minutes away it would be one bus but on a much much longer route £2.

Still cheaper to get a day ticket in our child’s case at £6 for the four busses he will need.

Seems an odd thing for them to of decided is a thing to do.

I don't even live rurally, but on the outskirts of a town. Our buses (2 an hour) only run from 8.45am-5.15pm, so useless for an early appointment anywhere.

None at all on a Sunday, either, and hospital appointments at either of the hospitals in the trust area involve 3 buses/2 buses and a train, or one of the 4 buses a day that go from near me. I've tried being green and using public transport for hospital appointments, and both times I was very late, due to one fuck up or another on the bus route.

I might use the bus again then, at £3 each way it’s far cheaper to drive currently, baring in mind with the bus they are only once an hour too so inconvenient. I get the environmental impact of driving but I can’t justify £6 a day, about double the marginal cost of driving.

Are you sure? My aunt used to pay £6 for a single journey on Stagecoast South East line. But an all day ticket costs £9.90 (?) and you can make as many journeys as you like in one day.

the costs of a bus are irrelevant when you live in a village that gets one bus twice a week. cant get to the doctors surgery, the supermarket or the hospital.

East coast of England.
Day rider is £6. £3 a single journey so you need to plan to make the most of it.
15mins into town for me- £6 for a return is a fair amount of money.
If I travel in the other direction a 6 min journey is £2.80.

Who do you think is ‘making the money back’?

Buses aren’t generally cheap run by the government… they’re run by private companies and, in London, TFL. Who make a net surplus of £6m while charging under £2 per journey. Most Londoners use buses for far shorter journies than other cities… £2 for a single would mean my bus from family members house in Leeds was very cheap for the 40min journey into town but it would also mean that my London bus to the supermarket, 3 stops with heavy bags, was a rip off.

Yes we are. Even if ours were £2 now, which they aren’t, that’s £100 a year cheaper just on school and back alone.

My teenager has just walked in the door from being in the town for a few hours. £3.80 in and £3.80 home again.

Because Londoners often use the bus for 1-2 stops to link up parts of the tube network. Whereas elsewhere people go much further.

Its OK for people who can use available public transport, what about the people who dont have such a thing like in rural areas where a car is essential

Walk those 1 or 2 stops. I have to get a 30 mins bus ride then get a train. Using buses and trains to get to where you need to go is not unique to London.

You can’t say you want to empower local decision making and then announce this. Undermines his credibility from the off.

Unresponsive to local needs, adds costs of local councils, creates an incentive to cut services, and reduces funds for investment in local transport.

Where this is the right decision locally, make that decision locally.

When is Andy Burnham going to outline his vision for the U.K?

All In hearing so far are populist 'giveaways' - this £45 per year off electricity bills, or now £2 bus travel. Is this it? it just feels so parochial and uninspired.

I catch the bus to work so I'm delighted.

But now it will cost you £4 🙂

Londoners have high car costs though with ULEZ and C charge. So swings and roundabouts.

Its been £2 in manchester for yonks as part of bee network.

Is your teen still under 16?
For all of August they will be free !
(at least most of the country...)