Free all-day bus travel for pensioners comes to an end today
Throughout November, older people and those with disabilities have enjoyed being able to use their free bus pass whenever they want.
However, the pilot scheme has now ended and time restrictions have returned, limiting free travel to between 9.30am and midnight on weekdays as of Monday (December 1).
The scheme applied across Greater Manchester and allowed unrestricted journeys throughout November on Bee Network buses.
At the beginning of this pilot scheme, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The last trial in August was a brilliant success, which saw more than 100,000 journeys made by our older and disabled people before 9.30am.
“We are now carrying out this second trial, at a busier time of year, to see whether we can safely remove the restriction permanently and help our older and disabled people to get to work, go shopping and get to medical appointments such as at the GP.
“We want the Bee Network to be the best public transport system possible and this means it needs to support all of our residents and communities, including our ‘Twirlies’, to make the journeys they need to make and use the bus more.”
At a GMCA meeting on Friday, Mr Burnham said a “quick decision” is due on whether to extend the scheme after positive anecdotal uptake in the second round of the trial.
The scheme formed part of the Greater Manchester Strategy (GMS) pledge to keep travel costs low, improve connectivity, and make the Bee Network more accessible.
It was introduced following the success of a similar scheme in August, which allowed pass holders to travel for free at any time of day.
During that month, more than 100,000 early morning journeys were made, with up to 6,000 people using the scheme each day.
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Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said a large proportion of those journeys were taken just before the 9.30am cut-off, with 44 per cent made between 9am and 9.30am and 68 per cent between 8.30am and 9.30am.
The scheme is expected to have benefited around 400,000 residents who hold TfGM-issued concessionary travel passes.
It only applied to bus travel and did not include free journeys on trams or trains.
The pilot scheme was designed to support people in getting to work, attending medical appointments, or taking part in other essential activities without being restricted by the 9.30am start time.
The decision to introduce a second pilot during November, a busier time of year, aimed to test whether the scheme could be made permanent.
Public feedback, passenger numbers, and pass usage data are now being reviewed to determine if all-day free travel can be reintroduced on a permanent basis.
If approved, the change would support Greater Manchester’s ambitions to create a fully integrated, accessible transport system under the Bee Network brand.
Source – INDIA TV
