In England they started free bus passes, over 10 years ago, (think it was around 2003) when you reached the age of 60. That changed some time ago and is gradually being brought into line with official retirement age with a minimum age of 65 by 2020. For men it's being brought in line with a woman's retirement age . The gradual change started in 2010 with a minimum age of 60 and increasing each year from then. The bus pass is only for 'local' buses so can't be used on long distance buses. When the passes first came in some pass holders decided to make a holiday of going from Lands End to John O'Groats just using the passes. I can't remember how many buses they had to use but it was over 100.
Scottish bus passes are for the whole of Scotland, and indeed we have a tour operator who takes bus passes, he gets paid back by the council, and recently went to court for breach of conditions Now he stops twice at official bus stops so he is running a service NOT a tour All service busses are free on the pass, but if you wish to visit England, then you have a free pass to Berwick, where you have to get off, then get on again and buy a ticket to the destination
We've been to Berwick,lovely place One of our friends who is quiet tight with money used to go on holiday with her husband by bus staying in the cheap deal hotels when they are quiet and the proper seasons haven't kicked in.Only problem was it used to take them practically all day to get to their destination because of all the stops it did and then they had it all to do again on the way back Me personally would rather spend the money on the car fuel to get us here quicker as I don't think my back problems would survive sitting on a bus for eight or nine hours Now she is a widow she still catches the bus from her village which takes her to MK so she can window shop so I dread to think how much this all costs the council Mr Kandy has a bus pass which he has never used and I can't get mine until I'm 66 if I am still alive by then
My dad used to like going to Berwick Upon Tweed (distinction, we have a Berwick in Scotland too, lol), albeit by car. He liked the fish shop on the outskirts of town.
An Ex Minister and Party Leader,according to my reading, resigned back in 2001 under a cloud of Revelations, has collected since 2001, £34,000 a year pension. That is based on a half of his actual yearly salary then in 2001. To date he has picked up £500,000. . How many more MP's are collecting large pensions ?. No wonder the ordinary Folk are living in Austerity, to pay for this lots Salary and pensions..
