Labour Party /Free Bus Travel For Under 25s

[Ginger66]

Just read an article that Jez wants to give the under 25s free bus travel.  This has got to be the most mad idea ever as bus companys will have lose income. 

[Tony]

Just read an article that Jez wants to give the under 25s free bus travel.  This has got to be the most mad idea ever as bus companys will have lose income.

Very old news, but would depend on the way they were compensated for carrying them

[PointerDart]

Even as an under-25, I hate the sound of the idea. Can understand the basis but the logic and economics doesn't add up, unfortunately. I think if it's anything like the subsidies from concessionary passes the bus companies will be run into the ground way too quickly; there just won't be profit.

Think about it; buses take kids to schools, uni students to uni, and in between wherever. Would be a massive downfall and loss then.

Personally, I'd rather pay. Yes it's expensive but trains and taxis don't come free for me either. It's a service so it ends up being paid for. But I can completely understand the idea with how extortionate travel is for many others in certain areas.

[DJ]

I could understand it for school and college students in a way, especially those from poorer backgrounds, but you get a decent loan for each year at university, I manage to pay my rent at home and get a Network pass and still have plenty left over for other bills, food, travelling and stuff.

I'm all for subsidizing travel for those who have a family income under a certain threshold if they live outside of 'walking distance' from their place of education though, it seems like a logical thing to do.

[Mike K]

Even as an under-25, I hate the sound of the idea. Can understand the basis but the logic and economics doesn't add up, unfortunately. I think if it's anything like the subsidies from concessionary passes the bus companies will be run into the ground way too quickly; there just won't be profit.

Think about it; buses take kids to schools, uni students to uni, and in between wherever. Would be a massive downfall and loss then.

Personally, I'd rather pay. Yes it's expensive but trains and taxis don't come free for me either. It's a service so it ends up being paid for. But I can completely understand the idea with how extortionate travel is for many others in certain areas.

It would if you asked Diane Abbott.

[WMT3000]

It would if you asked Diane Abbott.

Hahahaha. Brilliant!

[Kevin]

This would be good way to encourage bus use among the younger generation currently feeling the financial pinch.
But.
Entirely depends on how it's funded and how bus companies are reimbursed. As we already know concessionary travel isn't paying enough as it is, so this would only make things worse

[PointerDart]

It would if you asked Diane Abbott.

Good point  lol :P

[Rob T]

They would be better of introducing a 16-25 discount card like with the railways. Or charge a little more more the Railcard itself and have a combined "Young Persons Travelcard" to allow useage on both bus and train.

[Kevin]

They would be better of introducing a 16-25 discount card like with the railways. Or charge a little more more the Railcard itself and have a combined "Young Persons Travelcard" to allow useage on both bus and train.

But that would involve proper integration between bus and train
Can't be having that can we? Far too sensible....

[Westy]

Good point  lol :P

Thats the only problem I have with a Labour government.

Diane Abbott & its not the obvious either!

Im sure Im not the only one that doesnt have confidence in her either!

[Bob]

I disagree with it unless its means tested and only allowed for work or study journeys. 2 examples, a colleague under 25 earns same salary as me why should i have to pay to get to work and them not? Or my beighbour whos 22 and a druggie/alcoholic and has never worked..why should i subsidise his trips to the off licence/leisure trips

[WMT3000]

The problem here is the Labour party's understanding of the term "free". In modern Britain, "free" means somebody else pays instead of you. I'm against the idea, as it smacks of communism to be frank. Similar to a particular policy that Lenin implemented in the Soviet Union many years ago, but with subway tokens.

[Isle of Stroma]

The problem here is the Labour party's understanding of the term "free". In modern Britain, "free" means somebody else pays instead of you.

Two huge problems blighting the country these days are congestion, & the Thatcherist attitude that the only commodity worthy of consideration is money.

I've just spent the last two weeks commuting in & out of Birmingham, something I've not done (by Bus at least) for over a decade. I'm a lifelong user & proponent of public transport. And do you know what? It's been absolute hell. The worst of which was a wait of almost an hour for a service that was alleged to run every 8 minutes, with the fun prospect of a trip through Saltley / Alum Rock to follow. No, actually, the worst of which is the knowledge I've got at least another 4 weeks of this torture to come.

Now, none of this pain has arisen from the Buses themselves (well, apart from 4177, a gutless knacker with a three bell load). No, the problem has been negotiating the sea of cars. The population's only going to rise & the congestion's only going to get worse - short of knocking down offices /houses etc to make room for more roads. So we HAVE to coerce potential new motorists to public transport, 18-25's are the key demographic here.

Yes, it will be expensive, but a bargain compared with any alternative.

[WMT3000]

Two huge problems blighting the country these days are congestion, & the Thatcherist attitude that the only commodity worthy of consideration is money.

I've just spent the last two weeks commuting in & out of Birmingham, something I've not done (by Bus at least) for over a decade. I'm a lifelong user & proponent of public transport. And do you know what? It's been absolute hell. The worst of which was a wait of almost an hour for a service that was alleged to run every 8 minutes, with the fun prospect of a trip through Saltley / Alum Rock to follow. No, actually, the worst of which is the knowledge I've got at least another 4 weeks of this torture to come.

Now, none of this pain has arisen from the Buses themselves (well, apart from 4177, a gutless knacker with a three bell load). No, the problem has been negotiating the sea of cars. The population's only going to rise & the congestion's only going to get worse - short of knocking down offices /houses etc to make room for more roads. So we HAVE to coerce potential new motorists to public transport, 18-25's are the key demographic here.

Yes, it will be expensive, but a bargain compared with any alternative.

I'm certainly not saying that money is the only thing worth considering, and i'm definitely not a Thatcherite - her ridiculous decision to let people buy council houses is the main reason that the country is in crisis. If i'm honest i detest most politicians. Western society is, however, governed completely by money. We need to be realistic.  Free travel is not going to stop people from wanting finance cars or from using Uber and is only going to mean hard-working people pay even more tax (affecting quality of life regardless of money) while those who choose to do the bare minimum get even more for free.

I go back to my original point - it's a communist policy. The rich pay more tax, leaving them with less money. The poor benefit from freebies leaving them more disposable income. I can see why Corbyn wears his silly Trotsky cap. But what a hypocrite having literally never done even a day's work in his life.

Fortunately, i'm self employed, i've never been a union member, never had to strike and not get paid, never expected anything for free and will be using my commodity (money) to move abroad if Corbyn ever becomes PM, where i shall continue to work from the same laptop that i use now. No big deal.

I love the dig at Saltley/ Alum Rock. Both labour areas - full of drug dealers and money-laundering businesses. Just how the entire country would be under Jezza.