What do we want? Free travel. When do we want it? Now!
As a dyed-in the-wool socialist I am disturbed by fundamental services such as healthcare, education and transport being offered to people on a postcode lottery basis. Often this arises due to the government seeking to bring in strong legislation but then succumbing to lobbies from amongst others the private sector and local authorities. The Free Bus Pass Scheme is no exception.
I commend the Labour government for introducing a national concessionary travel scheme in 2008. This defines that free bus travel is available to elderly and disabled people between 9.30 a.m. and 11pm. I do not think it goes far enough, and I suspect that many private bus companies stood in the way of free travel at all times. In my opinion, allowing local authorities to then choose what other concessions they may wish to offer was a weak directive that has resulted in chaos.
Take as an example people who are registered blind and living in the North-west. If living in Manchester they have free use of buses, rail network and trams at all times. In Merseyside they also enjoy free bus and Mersey Rail travel at any time. Cross the boundary into Lancashire and they pay a concessionary fare before 9.30. In West Lancashire they can either have a free bus pass or a rail pass. In other parts of Lancashire just a bus pass. Across the country, some authorities allow free travel to companions but most don't. All this is great for those who get the most, but unjust for those who don’t.
RNIB and Sense(for deafblind people) are campaigning to get fairness across the country with three demands:
- Free travel at all times
- Free travel for companions
- Free travel for all disabled people
They urge people to contact the Secretary of State for Transport to tell him what changes are needed and why they are important. I’d go further and tell him not to leave it to the discretion of local authorities but to make it law.
Sense have set up a link which allows you to send a message to the Secretary of State for Transport. It only takes two minutes to do! Go to http://bit.ly/buspasscampaign . Alternatively, call RNIB campaigns on 020 7391 2323, and they will send you information.
About Kevin
Kevin works as a welfare rights officer at Action for Blind People in Lancashire.
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