'Free Buses'

[SouthEastern-465]

Well they must have something wrong with them, you don't just get one for zilch!

No there fine they are 100% healthy and they get freedom passes.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

You don't know they are 100% healthy....

 

[mumrar]

Around near me there are a couple of albanians and they get a "Freedom Pass" for free and there in there 30s,while people like me and you and people what work have to pay the fare for trains and busses its a absolute joke.

Please take this as a lighthearted comment, rather than malicious, but you could probably get a free one using your spelling and grammar from the quote above as an example.

 

[90019]

No there fine they are 100% healthy and they get freedom passes.

I suppose you know them well or have access to their medical records and know for a fact that they're "100% healthy", or do you just assume this because you can't see anything wrong with them?

 

[mumrar]

I think he can see something wrong with them. They're foreign, and that's what's wrong with them! I thought the dark ages passed some time ago.........

 

[tbtc]

What a strange thread this has become...

 

[Tom B]

... and let us cut the prejudiced crap, please.

 

[Dai.]

I wanted opinions on free buses, not opinions about foreign people in our country, lets keep the the free buses petition.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

Free buses for all! Except that one over there, thats mine

 

[Dai.]

Free buses for all! Except that one over there, thats mine

I wanted that one

 

[Broken Viking]

Also, bus drivers always being rude is a lie... up here in my town nearly all the drivers are pleasant and when I was down in London I found more drivers to be pleasant than not. One even said to me he'd call me when I came to my stop as it was clear I was new to the city, and he did just that as I arrived.

I'll second this. Although I hardly ever interact with LT drivers (I always travel on Oyster or ODTs, thus I normally board at the centre or rear doors) just about every other driver I've come across has always been polite, and whenever I've needed a stop that I don't know pointed out to me, they've always been happy to oblige! 8)

Indeed, the only time I can remember a bus driver being surly in my presence was when I boarded a bus that had been badly cut up by some dappy get in a 4x4 immediateley before arriving at the stop, and I'd forgive any driver for being in a bad mood after such a thing befell them.

No there fine they are 100% healthy and they get freedom passes.

You don't know they are 100% healthy....

I'll second this as well, speaking as someone with a proven/means tested case of Asperger's. Just because someone looks fit and physically capable from the outside, doesn't mean to say that they're all right "up top". Even though I myself have good all-round physical abilities (I'd say that I do pretty darn well for a 15/day smoker!) my abnormal neurological state does make it impossible for me to undertake gainful employment of any kind. ad:

As it is, my concession wasn't renewed this year because Hampshire CC have been having issues with funding the scheme. However with my being able to walk 15+ miles at a time without any problems, that isn't an issue for me...But remember that my physical abilities are an exception to the rule, and many wouldn't be able to walk from one town to the next like I do...

 

[JustinStacey.x]

Well, this is something else though. I don't believe someone should be eligible for concessions just because they have a 'condition' with a funny name going on with them. I have Aspergers and I may very well be eligible to apply for concession fares, be able to ride around the country for nothing, yet adding to fob-offery of the 'system' in this country. Personally I believe concession fares should be reserved for the elderly who've earned it and not just folk who want to use and abuse the system to get out of paying for things. I'm sorry if that sounds mean its just what I believe. I work a full time job and have enough money to ride around on a bus with my own hard earned cash - not too difficult is it?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

my abnormal neurological state does make it impossible for me to undertake gainful employment of any kind. ad:

Are you sure thats not just psychological, though? If I went around every day thinking 'I have Aspergers, Im a misfit, Im abnormal' I am sure I would be unable to work because I'd be so dead set on believing Im a headcase.

Instead, I pretty much forget I have AS these days, can get on with people fine, work, and you know, so on and so forth.

 

[generalvegitable]

Instead, I pretty much forget I have AS these days, can get on with people fine, work, and you know, so on and so forth.

I second that, I have it myself, and it doesn't affect me, I know what I want to do, I don't care, the only annoying thing is that I have low self confidence but thats probably unrelated

 

[Broken Viking]

Well, this is something else though. I don't believe someone should be eligible for concessions just because they have a 'condition' with a funny name going on with them...

To try and keep things on original topic and prevent this thread turning into a "What is/what isn't" discussion on Asperger's, I've replied to thy post in a new thread Here.

 

[spoony]

Should buses be free? No of course not, even if they were free at the point of use taxes would have to be raised and it would be the working folk that would have to pay. Also Im fairly sure that people in employment would not be eligible so would end up paying twice Also I know a couple of disabled people and if you knew the benefits they got you actually get angry. I work in a decent paid job and they are no worse off than me when everything is taken into account

 

[Drsatan]

I think bus travel should be free if you're looking for employment. This is because bus travel has got so expensive (£5.60 Romsey-Winchester return), and because many buses run infrequently, that you'd be better off staying at home than looking for work especially if you don't have a car. Obviously this would only apply to people taking JSA because otherwise it would be misused by families who are well of but live on benefits e.g. a single mum of 4 who gets bout £40,000 per annum from the state tax-free:-x

 

[mumrar]

because bus travel has got so expensive (£5.60 Romsey-Winchester return), and because many buses run infrequently, that you'd be better off staying at home than looking for work especially if you don't have a car.

But looking for work shouldn't need incentives. What about pride in having earned the food you're eating? I agree that people need support sometimes, but we've got far too many people of working age, in suitable health and intelligence who've been on the dole for an age. People say we should catch those who cheat the system, but I couldn't do it because I wouldn't feel I deserved it. Near me I see houses that contain more plasma than the NHS blood bank, and none of them turn's a hand to working!

 

[spoony]

But looking for work shouldn't need incentives. What about pride in having earned the food you're eating? I agree that people need support sometimes, but we've got far too many people of working age, in suitable health and intelligence who've been on the dole for an age. People say we should catch those who cheat the system, but I couldn't do it because I wouldn't feel I deserved it. Near me I see houses that contain more plasma than the NHS blood bank, and none of them turn's a hand to working!

Unfortunately mate successive governments have made it too easy for people to just stay at home and sponge

 

[Broken Viking]

Unfortunately mate successive governments have made it too easy for people to just stay at home and sponge

I hate to confess my own sins in public, but I will admit that I'm financially better off on benefits than I would be in full-time employment on minimum wage! hock::roll:
I will clearly point out though that this isn't the reason why I've been on benefits for a while...I've been on the Dole as a result of both myself and my GP having the full impression that I am genuinely unfit and incapable of work. However, I'm going to have a word with my GP and DEA shortly, and have another go at getting back into employment soon! 8)

Anyway...Going back to the subject of "free buses":
Although I no longer qualify for complimentary bus travel, I still find - Despite having to pay full fare now - That buses around my way very often are still "free" in a manner of speaking...

Aye...This is a photo of a typical London bus route after a 40 minute wait. Note the free buses in the picture. :roll::razz:

 

[spoony]

I hate to confess my own sins in public, but I will admit that I'm financially better off on benefits than I would be in full-time employment on minimum wage! hock::roll:
I will clearly point out though that this isn't the reason why I've been on benefits for a while...I've been on the Dole as a result of both myself and my GP having the full impression that I am genuinely unfit and incapable of work. However, I'm going to have a word with my GP and DEA shortly, and have another go at getting back into employment soon! 8)

Anyway...Going back to the subject of "free buses":
Although I no longer qualify for complimentary bus travel, I still find - Despite having to pay full fare now - That buses around my way very often are still "free" in a manner of speaking...

Aye...This is a photo of a typical London bus route after a 40 minute wait. Note the free buses in the picture. :roll::razz:

Fair play, I wish you all the best

 

[317666]

Over here, OAPs get the busses for free as long as they apply for a free bus pass. And everyone else takes up the slack!

 

[poshbakerloo]

How can you know that they're always rude if you never use them? :?

I've been on a bus once or twice I think once in 2005 and again in 2008

 

[90019]

I've been on a bus once or twice I think once in 2005 and again in 2008

That's really an accurate representation of every bus driver in the country; going on a total of 2 buses...

 

[jon0844]

I use the bus every day, but this morning would make any irregular user avoid them like the plague. If I didn't have a (paid-for, not free) pass, I'd seriously consider giving PT a miss and going back to using my car.

First, 'my' bus passed the house five minutes early - so I hadn't left and had no way to catch it. That meant missing my train.

I had to then walk about half a mile or so to another bus stop, to avoid waiting another half an hour for my bus, which was on time - but then stopped for a few minutes for him to chat about nothing to another driver in the town centre. I thought for a minute the driver may have forgotten I was on there, as I was the only passenger, but he actually turned around and looked at me - but continued to chat for another couple of minutes.

This resulted in me missing two trains and getting to work an hour late!!

 

[Metroland]

The buses round here are packed with OAPs on free buses passes, which is all very well but paying passengers have had to be turned away many times. The buses are also not cheap either £4.10 single for 8 miles.

Really a better system would be to given over 60s 1 free pass per week.

 

[jon0844]

I may change my mind when (if) I get to 65, but personally I think a nominal fare would be better than totally free.

 

[Max]

If this ever happens, expect widespread cutbacks on bus routes. Many bus companies already claim that the new concessionary travel scheme is hitting their profits (as the government subsidies do not match the fares that were once paid, and seats have been taken from full fare paying customers). If the scheme is extended to children too, the issue could get even worse. Kids get a decent deal in my area already - during school holidays, they can get unlimited travel for just £1 a day. Personally I think this is cheap enough!

 

[monkey]

That's really an accurate representation of every bus driver in the country; going on a total of 2 buses...

...I've used buses a lot, less now - I'm in leeds, and I can tell you most ARE miserable gits. that said they do have reason to be, seeing as a lot of the customers aren't exactly nice people...but you know still. particularly name and shame lothian bus drivers - possibly the most miserable so and so's I've dealt with, and stagecoach newcastle drivers - just damn nasty. oxford bus company drivers on the other hand are one of the nices/friendliest I've ever dealt with, in fact I was servereley left shocked after my visit, at how helpful and jolly they were... hock:

 

[90019]

particularly name and shame lothian bus drivers

That's odd, because I used lothian 5 days a week for about 7 years and rarely had a miserable driver; even now whenever I use Lothian I find the drivers are almost all helpful and friendly.

 

[monkey]

^^I havn't used them for that long probs - few times every month over the last 18 months. but this is just a theory, and i don't if its just the routes I used, but maybe it was because of the tourists asking simple questions? I stayed pretty near the city centre, the routes I used were around touristy areas - whenever I asked lothian drivers for any info, they just grunted miserabley, seeming irritated I was asking something...