observer Posted July 22, 2008 Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 Took my first bus journey in decades the other day - really enjoyed it! No worries re parking, no road rage and providing you know your routes/links - fairly efficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Yes - the bus system in the UK is sooooo much better than ours! When I was over I loved to take a bus places! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Even when I had a car I used the bus when going into town. No parking worries and on the whole just as quick when you know the schedules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 And for those over a certain age, there is "free" bus travel after 9.30. .....and for Councillors...under a certain age....not many of us...... on official business free travel on WBT buses at anytime with our Councillor Bus Pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMorgan Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Just been on one of the buses in town and have seen that they are once again increasing the fares. One mintue the bus company is celebrating they are having record numbers of people using the buses, then the next they are punishing people for using the bus by increasing the fares. They used to say traveling by bus was for poor people, now you've gotta be rich to travel around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianR Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 the rise i suspect is due to fuel, although I note oil has dropped by $20. Will they come back down then? Doubt it. Woudl like more cross town busses so you dont have to change. they do allready but they then change number at the interchange. Varies each day unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 when I used to use the bus at 18, the ride to town was 30p and a pint of beer was ?1.10 I used the bus last week to go to town ?1.40 its only a mile and half. so by the rate of inflation on these two items increasing at the rate the bus fare has incresed a pint should be ?5+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 The problem is, there has been no real commitment to public transport, just green spin. For example: Legion quotes the difference in price of a bus ticket and a pint of beer; it would make sense to tax beer and other commodities that arn't good for folk, in order to subsidise bus fares and other things that are good for you. Bus/train travel could easily be made FREE for all, by transfering the huge taxes they are making out of motorists into public transport subsidies - this would tend to de-congest our roads too - or is that too much like common sense?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 when I used to use the bus at 18, the ride to town was 30pand a pint of beer was ?1.10 I used the bus last week to go to town ?1.40 its only a mile and half. so by the rate of inflation on these two items increasing at the rate the bus fare has incresed a pint should be ?5+ Therefore it's cheaper to buy a litre of fuel than to travel by bus. NOT much incentive then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Depending on the time of day, it is likely that most people using buses don't actually pay...hence the increase in passenger numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 The problem is, there has been no real commitment to public transport, just green spin. For example: Legion quotes the difference in price of a bus ticket and a pint of beer; it would make sense to tax beer and other commodities that arn't good for folk, in order to subsidise bus fares and other things that are good for you. Bus/train travel could easily be made FREE for all, by transfering the huge taxes they are making out of motorists into public transport subsidies - this would tend to de-congest our roads too - or is that too much like common sense?! Some years ago in The Socialist Republic of Sheffield, bus journeys were as good as free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyMac Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 the rise i suspect is due to fuel, although I note oil has dropped by $20. Will they come back down then? Doubt it. Last fares rise* was around eleven months ago. Price of fuel is still above the rate it was at then, even if it has come down a bit in the past week or two. They have probably been absorbing the cost increase for the past few months, or else hedging the cost of fuel. If you use the bus to commute, I'd heartily recommend looking into getting a season ticket. You can also use them for popping into town at the weekend. * Walk-on single/return fares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyMac Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Depending on the time of day, it is likely that most people using buses don't actually pay...hence the increase in passenger numbers. For which bus companies are recompensed by the council - you are referring to the free National Concessionary Travel scheme for over 60s. Is it about a flat fare of 60p per passenger they receive? Should it be more so that full-fare paying passengers don't have to shoulder as much of the fare burden? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Some years ago in The Socialist Republic of Sheffield, bus journeys were as good as free. It used to be 2p for any journey within the GMT boundaries in Manchester. Personally, I have no desire to use a bus on a regular basis. I find that they do not go to the places I want to go and the route I want to take. I guess if I was going to town and didn't plan on spending anything so that I wouldn't need to carry anything home; they would be handy! I do take taxis but I prefer to drive. Just an opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Think the point is Jimmy, that they could be made "free" to everyone; by merely transfering some of the ?billions they are making out of motorists into public transport subsidies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Took my first bus journey in decades the other day - really enjoyed it! No worries re parking, no road rage and providing you know your routes/links - fairly efficient. Have you qualified for your free bus pass already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Time and tide wait for no man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 And it seems the years go faster as you have less of them ahead of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Mortality can be inconvienient! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vic Posted August 5, 2008 Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Some years ago in The Socialist Republic of Sheffield, bus journeys were as good as free. Your party put a stop to it, Paul... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted August 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2008 Saw a guy with a dog on a bus today; do dogs travel free - or do they only get free travel if they are over 9 years old?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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