Tea?

[classic33]

Forfar four, East Five five !

Fife no match.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Freebies are only free to those receiving them but have a cost attached, like anything you get what you pay for, great service = pay for it, poor service = freebies or loss making product, give your product away free or less than cost & expect bankruptcy, not a great business model.

I expect the national free bus travel + free trams & trains to Greater Manchester citizens to be gone by the time I retire, it is simply not sustainable !

The thing about the pre-Abellio over 50s (off peak) ticket was folk were filling up empty seats during the week on basically non-commuting trains, I took advantage and saved on trips to Fort Bill, Oban and a couple of others..
I bought coffee etc from the trolley and there were more of us oldies in the carriage I was in, better 20 folk paying a reduced fare than trains running empty....
I've a bus pass but hardly use it (can't remember last time),
the advantage to some older folk is not the free bus travel but the social aspect of getting out and meeting people....
also a good way to see your country.
I sat and compiled a Scotland by bus holiday but unless I wild camped, I could have a fortnight/three weeks of all inclusive abroad..

 

[classic33]

Freebies are only free to those receiving them but have a cost attached, like anything you get what you pay for, great service = pay for it, poor service = freebies or loss making product, give your product away free or less than cost & expect bankruptcy, not a great business model.

I expect the national free bus travel + free trams & trains to Greater Manchester citizens to be gone by the time I retire, it is simply not sustainable !

It'd be a brave, or stupid person that stops the pass for the elderly. They make up too much of their market elsewhere.

 

[SteCenturion]

It'd be a brave, or stupid person that stops the pass for the elderly. They make up too much of their market elsewhere.

Would take a brave government for sure, the national free travel pass was brought in by Gordon Brown when 2nd in command to Blair as a vote winner ! Not stupid as OAP's make up the biggest percentage of voters that turn out to poll !

The fact is that I see it every day & while it is good socially to get OAP's out & about it's costs are massive. When I speak to OAP's the majority actually believe that 'free' is free, despite the fact they used to pay albeit at a concessionary rate, a fact which eludes many.

Many 'free' travellers bring very little & sometimes zero spend per head to the areas they travel to, as an example, some will take more than one bus often 3 each way to Blackpool or Southport, on that bus they consume their home made packed lunches & flasks of tea, then on arrival they hop off, have a brew *from their flask* then travel back almost immediately on the next 3 buses home. The cost to taxpayers is massive as bus & train companies are reimbursed a high percentage of a full adult fair for each & every journey made, the above example would involve 6 x bus journeys at near to full standard fare & I have witnessed such things often.

There are many other examples such as 1 stop hoppers (to the paper shop & back etc) & those who make 4 to 6 return journeys *8 to 12 single* to "Get out of the house/something to do" , so while I appreciate there is a social benefit it also carries crippling costs normally to local council coffers.

If you go back to pre national concession free pass oap's had to pay a child single fare for every journey (at the time 80p) no matter how far you travelled & made journeys when necessary, this has totally changed, even at a current half fare *what a child now pays* it would still be good value.
As I said earlier, I don't believe the system will last !

 

[classic33]

The "one stoppers" are just as likely to be schoolkids, using their passes, because they can and can't be bothered walking. Bring back the school bus passes that could only be used during school times.

I laugh at those who'll wait, in the rain, for the bus to go up one-two stops when walking would have got them there quicker.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Would take a brave government for sure, the national free travel pass was brought in by Gordon Brown when 2nd in command to Blair as a vote winner ! Not stupid as OAP's make up the biggest percentage of voters that turn out to poll !

The fact is that I see it every day & while it is good socially to get OAP's out & about it's costs are massive. When I speak to OAP's the majority actually believe that 'free' is free, despite the fact they used to pay albeit at a concessionary rate, a fact which eludes many.

Many 'free' travellers bring very little & sometimes zero spend per head to the areas they travel to, as an example, some will take more than one bus often 3 each way to Blackpool or Southport, on that bus they consume their home made packed lunches & flasks of tea, then on arrival they hop off, have a brew *from their flask* then travel back almost immediately on the next 3 buses home. The cost to taxpayers is massive as bus & train companies are reimbursed a high percentage of a full adult fair for each & every journey made, the above example would involve 6 x bus journeys at near to full standard fare & I have witnessed such things often.

There are many other examples such as 1 stop hoppers (to the paper shop & back etc) & those who make 4 to 6 return journeys *8 to 12 single* to "Get out of the house/something to do" , so while I appreciate there is a social benefit it also carries crippling costs normally to local council coffers.

If you go back to pre national concession free pass oap's had to pay a child single fare for every journey (at the time 80p) no matter how far you travelled & made journeys when necessary, this has totally changed, even at a current half fare *what a child now pays* it would still be good value.
As I said earlier, I don't believe the system will last !

I think most bus pass holders would not be making these journeys, I can get Tesco, Asda to deliver at £1 (odd delivery times guaranteed) so i wouldn't need to go shopping, I'm a 10 minute journey to the town centre and its £4.40 for a return journey..
On my trips, down to say Largs, I spent money getting lunch etc..
Train journeys up the West Coast, the same....
Old habits of your own 'snap' and flask die hard but then it depend on income.....

I look on it as a perk..
We get it at 60 up here....

we'll agree to disagree

 

[172traindriver]

Good Night

 

[172traindriver]

I think most bus pass holders would not be making these journeys, I can get Tesco, Asda to deliver at £1 (odd delivery times guaranteed) so i wouldn't need to go shopping, I'm a 10 minute journey to the town centre and its £4.40 for a return journey..
On my trips, down to say Largs, I spent money getting lunch etc..
Train journeys up the West Coast, the same....
Old habits of your own 'snap' and flask die hard but then it depend on income.....

I look on it as a perk..
We get it at 60 up here....

we'll agree to disagree

Be nice to each other, its a new year

 

[classic33]

Be nice to each other, its a new year

It's the start of the Scottish revolt!!

You'll never take their travel freedom...

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Morning all

Be nice to each other, its a new year

It's the start of the Scottish revolt!!

You'll never take their travel freedom...

I could become 'BraveTart'

 

[172traindriver]

Good Morning

 

[172traindriver]

Morning all



I could become 'BraveTart'

Will you dress for the part?

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Will you dress for the part?

It's the weekend, I'll do what I like
No bike today..
day off

Enjoy your day

 

[Mo1959]

Morning I have bimbled............slowly! Bit of a mist came down and it turned quite chilly. Nice to give the legs a whirl though.

 

[classic33]

Morning all

I could become 'BraveTart'

Jam or custard?

Good Morning

Certain?

Morning I have bimbled............slowly! Bit of a mist came down and it turned quite chilly. Nice to give the legs a whirl though.

Was there anything odd about the mist?

Morning??