The vote narrowly backed making free bus travel available from 60 across the UK, but the debate was not simply about extending a benefit. Its most-respected Yes case invoked people who never made it to pension age; the most-respected No cases challenged both the age threshold and the priority given to older people.
Yes supporters made the case in terms of mobility, social connection and fairness between nations. One of the best-respected Yes arguments began, “My parents didn't even reach pension age”; another said alignment could help prevent people being “stuck indoors, glued to the TV.”
The most-respected No arguments were less about denying the value of travel than about who should receive a subsidy. One called it an arbitrary benefit for people “at a point in their career with highest income and least debt”; another argued, “The £2 fare cap is fine,” and asked why younger people should not come first. The Yes case for connection did not settle the No side’s question of whether broad eligibility is better than targeted support.
That leaves a specific tension in the result: voters endorsed a common UK age rule, while No supporters pointed to unequal needs within England, from struggling regional services to infrequent rural routes. As one No argument put it, investment should be refocused on “absolutely collapsed regional services and bus infrastructure.”
The winning case was about being able to get out; the resistance was about whether a free pass is the right way to make that possible.
42 Opinions
Yes, bring England in to alignment with the rest on UK. The cost might be offset by more elderly being able to get out and about and spending, instead of being stuck indoors, glued to the TV. Transport is an essential thing, that will not be that profitable, if at all. The elderly need a good quality of life, it helps avoid loneliness and depression. Getting out and about is important.
Would be nice to do wouldn't it, and in principle I'd before it but it isn't affordable at the present time
This has been happening in Northern Ireland for quite some time. It’s a low cost measure, since most 60s - 65s drive around, but for those who would otherwise be housebound it is a way of keeping depression and mental issues at bay and long term saves the NHS money.
Just not sure we can afford it right now. And if we have money maybe spend it on rural bus routes not free passes!
YES On Merseyside once you're 60 you can purchase a 'over 60s mersey travel pass' for £10. This gives you free travel on Mersey travel trains, busses & ferries (along with free bus travel nationwide) until you reach old pension age at which point you then entitled to a completely free pass for all the above. If the mayor of Liverpool & Merseytravel can do this so could others too..
No, but ask me again when we successfully tax the right industries that need to contribute to the essential TRANSPORTATION sector. We could actually have nice things...it's just obvious that will take a bit of effort & understand & willingness. Spend each others money, wisely! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ P.S. my vote still doesn't 'lean right'...pfft. 🤣
Should be the same rules applied across the UK.
Should be no free bus fares ,£2 maximum fare cheap enough!.
Free bus transport & discounted train rides automatically for UK citizens on reaching pensionable age. 60 is the new 50 so it’s not as if bus fares are preventing 60 year olds from participating in society. Some really do think that we have a money tree and a bottomless pit of reserves. Probably those who always have a list of whom to tax next, save themselves.
These sort of policies are too broad based. It smacks of political posturing rather than seeking to understand issues around loneliness and decline in service provision. It risks being wasteful when targeted support could be more effective in addressing the problem and highlighting the issues.