Bus passes - Page 12

cmonstanley · 10-11-2011, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

True, doesn't make it right.

Should we stop all social benefits, child allowance, tax credits, maternity benefits etc, because there'll always be some scum, who find a way to defraud the system?

Thousands cheat the I.R. daily, by doing cash in hand foreigners.

Should we stop paying tax?

thats round the corner with universal credits

jaysay · 10-11-2011, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

thats round the corner with universal credits

You do talk some tosh is it indicative of being a jock

cmonstanley · 10-11-2011, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

You do talk some tosh is it indicative of being a jock

you havent got a clue whats round the corner

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/universal...t-chapter4.pdf its a disaster in the making

cmonstanley · 10-11-2011, 19:22

Universal credit - Disability Alliance Factsheet F55

jaysay · 10-11-2011, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

you havent got a clue whats round the corner

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/universal...t-chapter4.pdf its a disaster in the making

The only people it will be a disaster for are the hangers on who should never have been on disability allowance in the first place, something that went unchallenged for 13 years

Busman747 · 10-11-2011, 20:22

As an "Insider" please allow me to tell you a few home truths!

My bus route which I have done for 2 years now, leaves Accy bus station, goes around Laneside, up to the college and returns to the station. The entire trip takes 20 minutes and I do 2 trips each hour (except lunchtimes

)

I have approx 200 regular passengers of which:
Only 5% pay full fare
10% or less have a disabled pass
84% are elderly
1% is Willow with a staff pass making sure I don't chat up the 85 year olds

With almost no exception, the flat fare for an adult is £1-25, the company get paid just UNDER half of this for each pensioner or disabled person with a pass and also gets a small subsidy from the council for running the service. It is less than frequent that I issue 200 tickets per day and I would estimate that the company would make (very approximately) around £20-00 per day after deducting my wages and the cost of running a bus inc. maintenance and fuel.

Why do they do it? only because running 20 buses makes enough profit to pay the boss.Yard Manager and things like the incredible insurance costs for a fleet of PCV's.

The area I serve overlooks the town centre and many customers prefer to walk (downhill) into town rather than use their "free" bus passes but will use the bus to get them and their shopping home.

The AVERAGE age of my customers is around 80 years old. If travellers discovered how much metal is secreted under their skin (hips, knees etc) they would be in grave danger of being dismantled in their beds.

They can spend 20 minutes just getting to the bus stop to go into town, struggle in pain to climb the three steps to get on the bus and many cannot walk much further than the market OR post office (different directions)

Some customers will use the service twice or even three times in one day. This is because they are UNABLE to carry more than one light bag at a time and it will require two separate journeys to complete their shopping. VERY OFTEN, they will apologise to me for using the service twice in one day but it's because they have forgotten something that is important! (I can sympathise with them, as you get older....err, sorry, forgot what I was going to say)

I am often told by my customers/friends that without the bus service, they would not be able to get out at all (Can you imagine being 80 years old, on your own and in too much pain to walk the mile into town? Your home would be a prison!) The bus is like a coffee morning. (without the coffee) They can chat to each other and pass on gossip, it is the highlight of their day - to be able to communicate! to find out who is ill - or who amongst them has died

As for those that should NOT have a free pass, yes, there are a few. On my run, I know of one alcoholic that should spend a little of his beer money on fares rather than lager, there is one lady that supposedly suffers from M.E. but in two years, I have never seen her in ANY physical stress and regularly goes to a gym to lose weight so that she will look good when she goes to the Caribbean in December to be with (Marry?) her fiance, There are four "younger" fares that may or may not have mental problems, they go regularly to the "mount" but whether they should or should not have a disabled pass is not my decision to make

I also know of three couples that are well into retirement age - and as well as having free bus passes, enjoy at least three foreign holidays each year.......and good luck to them! They have obviously paid extra into a pension for their old age and despite heavy taxation on additional incomes, they have invested enough to enjoy themselves.........and why not!!

FOR THOSE THAT FEEL THAT BUS PASSES SHOULD BE ABOLISHED, I challenge you to spend an hour on my bus and TALK to my passengers about their age and why they use the bus service. LOOK at what old age does to the body and soul - and if you still feel that the majority of these people do not deserve something back from the government, I will recompense you your fare which would be a miserly £2-50 for an hours travel.

I leave Bridge St. at 10 to the hour and 40 mins past the hour every day except Sundays.

davemac · 10-11-2011, 20:25

That's the gist of it, it cost too much because of the people who are not entitled to claim, but did. The fact that they claimed they couldn't walk but played golf, did a window round, and stuff like that.
But who is to blame, government for lack of enforcement, or society for thinking we will look the other way.

garinda · 10-11-2011, 20:50

I hope you're getting your generous bonuses Busman mate, for checking tickets and passes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Greek bus drivers earn double the average wage, plus bonuses worth thousands per year if they arrive at work on time, and/or check tickets.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...-c4-59781.html

Busman747 · 10-11-2011, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I hope you're getting your generous bonuses Busman mate, for checking tickets and passes.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...-c4-59781.html

Absolutely Garinda, I receive almost even more than the legal minimum wages (except Saturdays which is run as a commercial enterprise rather than council sponsored so I have to take a wage cut then (seriously) good job I love my customers

garinda · 10-11-2011, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busman747

Absolutely Garinda, I receive almost even more than the legal minimum wages (except Saturdays which is run as a commercial enterprise rather than council sponsored so I have to take a wage cut then (seriously) good job I love my customers

Glad to hear it.

Bit unfair if hard working British folk were spending their lives paying taxes to fund overly generous schemes, for people in distant lands.

cmonstanley · 10-11-2011, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

The only people it will be a disaster for are the hangers on who should never have been on disability allowance in the first place, something that went unchallenged for 13 years

i hope so

but ian duncan smith is in charge

Busman747 · 10-11-2011, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Glad to hear it.

Bit unfair if hard working British folk were spending their lives paying taxes to fund overly generous schemes, for people in distant lands.

err, I fink I do

garinda · 10-11-2011, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busman747

err, I fink I do

Don't worry.

Graham Jones has your back covered.

Big on jobs, and workers' rights.

(As long as they're jobs and workers' rights for our mainland European brothers.)

susie123 · 10-11-2011, 21:10

Well said busman, completely agree. It's exactly the same here in Morecambe, though I don't think most of the drivers are as caring as you. The bus can be a lifeline for elderly folk. And for those like me who have a bus pass AND foreign holidays - well we have worked for them and paid our taxes so why not.

Busman747 · 10-11-2011, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Don't worry.

Graham Jones has your back covered.

Big on jobs, and workers' rights.

(As long as they're jobs and workers' rights for our mainland European brothers.)

parle me francais? wee, je swee albanium, me no understand, spraken de albanium? non? I want polital asilum and dhss!!!!!! Fank u graham,