marsh man Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Morning all ......I am sure this might have been on here before , but do you think a fee should be charged for the privileged of having a bus pass , say £20 or £25 a year which only work out about 50p a week , or charge a fee for small and long journeys eg 50p for small and a £I for longer routes I know this is not a lot of money but it will help to keep the service going . When I spoke to one of the managers at our local bus station about charging a small fee for a journey he said they are not allowed to because it is a free service, which don't make a lot of sense to me when government and councils are finding it a struggle to fund it .I am a bus pass holder and with the money I save I give a donation to the air ambulance now and again because one day I might need them more than the bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Cut a bit off overseas aid that should cover it, a bus pass for the elderly is often a lifeline it should bare no consideration, seems we oft forget what our elders did for us. KW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 I got one last year brilliant bit of kit can go anywhere in Scotland for 50p and locally free, can't see why you should pay more than that, but then I am biased, like the air ambulance donation marshman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Cut a bit off overseas aid that should cover it, a bus pass for the elderly is often a lifeline it should bare no consideration, seems we oft forget what our elders did for us. KW im firmly with KW on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samboy Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Im with KW on this one too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinggun Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) My dad finds it rubbish that he has to wait to after 9am to use it anyway so if a fee would be charged that would have to change first.but no I don't think they should charge, older people has paid their dues and they dont get many benefits as it is. Edited March 1, 2014 by smokinggun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 I don't think cutting vital overseas aid and the possibility of people starving to death is a good idea . Jmo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) kdubya is on the money - not for the first time. Perhaps if we cut the Indian space programme or the Argentinian Air Force subsidies, we might then consider doing this. Then again, funding the Taliban and building hotels in Nigeria should get the chop as well. Edited March 1, 2014 by Gordon R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) I don't think cutting vital overseas aid and the possibility of people starving to death is a good idea . Jmo are you one of these naive people who actually believe that overseas aid goes to those in need of humanitarian aid, if so so you are a very nice person,albeit sadly deluded. overseas aid is more about giving money to maintain govts and regimes etc rather than help any humanitarian crisis, a fact we who via our taxes provide this aid should start to realise more fully, KW Edited March 1, 2014 by kdubya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 It makes me laugh I now lots of people who have free bus passes and they use them to go shopping in other towns and for days out and that is fine by me except for the fact that they also have nice big shiny cars sitting in there drives that are taxed and insured but if they use them they would have to put fuel in them and pay to park them should they go on the bus or use there own cars I do not now but it is thought provoking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 It is thought provoking insofar as it makes me think of many, many instances of wasted taxpayers' money.MPs with their snouts in the trough - where would you stop before you got down the list to free bus passes? It would be a long, long time. :no: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Morning all ......I am sure this might have been on here before , but do you think a fee should be charged for the privileged of having a bus pass , say £20 or £25 a year which only work out about 50p a week , or charge a fee for small and long journeys eg 50p for small and a £I for longer routes I know this is not a lot of money but it will help to keep the service going . When I spoke to one of the managers at our local bus station about charging a small fee for a journey he said they are not allowed to because it is a free service, which don't make a lot of sense to me when government and councils are finding it a struggle to fund it .I am a bus pass holder and with the money I save I give a donation to the air ambulance now and again because one day I might need them more than the bus. So make a donation you your bus company then if you think they need it, or are you content to give your bus savings to the air ambulance because they need it more, this is commonly the dilemma, there is only so much in the purse, where do you want it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 are you one of these naive people who actually believe that overseas aid goes to those in need of humanitarian aid, if so so you are a very nice person,albeit sadly deluded. overseas aid is more about giving money to maintain govts and regimes etc rather than help any humanitarian crisis, a fact we who via our taxes provide this aid should start to realise more fully, KW Good idea let them all starve so you can ride on a bus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 It makes me laugh I now lots of people who have free bus passes and they use them to go shopping in other towns and for days out and that is fine by me except for the fact that they also have nice big shiny cars sitting in there drives that are taxed and insured but if they use them they would have to put fuel in them and pay to park them should they go on the bus or use there own cars I do not now but it is thought provoking. I'm not quite following that, lots of people with cars use buses and trains and taxis and get lifts from friends, even get their bike out or walk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Good idea let them all starve so you can ride on a bus :lol: Why not, we can't solve the worlds problems, although it seems we try. And as already said much overseas Government aid is actually political, it isn't about feeding the starving. Do I get upset going out for a slap up meal knowing people are starving to death in parts of the world? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 I'm not quite following that, lots of people with cars use buses and trains and taxis and get lifts from friends, even get their bike out or walk! I have always thought that free bus passes was meant for old people who do not have there own transport to get to the shops or visit there family members in other towns perhaps I have got it wrong I did not think that it was just so that anyone over 60/5 could go out for day trips on the tax payers expense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 FWD's thoughts are exactly what the government (especially a Labour one) will try to exploit, jealousy and class warfare. Some pensioners are well off it is true generally they are ones who saved through their working life and worked hard to get a good well paying job with a decent pension. Every time they take something from the middle classes but not from poorer people is just one step closer to complete socialism. We're not far off that already in my opinion, the harder you work the less you are rewarded as they tax you much higher and take away any benefit or help. Years down the line they will probably take away state pensions from middle earners, maybe even some health care, they already screw people out of their life savings when they need to go in to a home. I ask myself what the point is of working harder and saving more when it just gets taken away one way or another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 I have always thought that free bus passes was meant for old people who do not have there own transport to get to the shops or visit there family members in other towns perhaps I have got it wrong I did not think that it was just so that anyone over 60/5 could go out for day trips on the tax payers expense. Heaven forbid that someone, who has spent their entire working life building up enough NI contributions to qualify for the basic state pension of £110 per week, uses their bus pass for a leisurely day out. And as for at the tax payers expense, why not think of it as a little perk and thank you for the years of work, tax and service they have put in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Heaven forbid that someone, who has spent their entire working life building up enough NI contributions to qualify for the basic state pension of £110 per week, uses their bus pass for a leisurely day out. And as for at the tax payers expense, why not think of it as a little perk and thank you for the years of work, tax and service they have put in. What about the oap's who haven't spent their entire working life paying taxes? When the current 'benefit generation' (if you believe they exist) retire what argument do we use then. I don't see why being old per say should entitle you to anything for free. It should be contribution based, with perhaps a minimum threshold. The more you put in, the more you are entitled to take out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Good idea let them all starve so you can ride on a bus you obviously dont do facts then? KW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 What and you do ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 :lol: Why not, we can't solve the worlds problems, although it seems we try. And as already said much overseas Government aid is actually political, it isn't about feeding the starving. Just because some bloke on an Internet forum says so doesn't mean it's true , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 What and you do ? without making this personal do you actually believe overseas aid goes to those that need it? rather than as I have stated to prop up (often corrupt regimes who's aims suit us? or for other political reasons such bribery for returned trade!) or do you think the adds for £ 2 a week for this and that are just to top up the already ample aid the starving hordes receive via overseas aid if so naivety in its extreme example? KW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sishyplops Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 No I don't personally believe it all goes where it should , but should we just stop giving because some of it gets filtered? The aid that does get through represents life changing solutions , You just look after yourself fella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 What about the oap's who haven't spent their entire working life paying taxes? When the current 'benefit generation' (if you believe they exist) retire what argument do we use then. I don't see why being old per say should entitle you to anything for free. It should be contribution based, with perhaps a minimum threshold. The more you put in, the more you are entitled to take out. I would suggest that very, very few of those currently of pensionable age did not pay their dues. However, when the current generation of workshy whatsits retire it would, as you suggest, be a simple thing to link bus passes to employee paid NI contributions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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