Restrict The Concessionary Travel Scheme

Myself and my partner are both key workers in education, looking after vulnerable children and the children of other key workers.
We travel to and from work on FirstBus.
The number of OAPs, individuals who are clearly under the influence of alcohol or other substances and the disabled who are using the bus service, even at 7am when we're heading for work, is eye-opening.
It's *much* worse when we're coming home after 4pm.
These individuals clearly have little or no sense of their responsibility to the wider community, but particularly to key workers.
Accepting that there are legitimate reasons for people to be out and about, I would suggest restricting the Concessionary Travel Scheme to between, for example, 9.30am and 3.30pm to give those of us who need to be on the buses a fighting chance.

Why the contribution is important

My idea will reduce the number of non-essential bus journeys and, by doing so, make the bus service safer for key workers.

by JohnW on May 08, 2020 at 06:01PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 1.9
Based on: 13 votes

Comments

  • Posted by lovemachine May 08, 2020 at 18:30

    I dont think this is a good idea at all, in fact it is discriminatory. Many OAPs and the disabled are working and will be expected to attend their worksite during the pandemic. If anyone is under the influence at that time in the morning or indeed at any time of the day, then it is the responsibility of the bus operator to identify the risk they pose and deal with it through the usual escalation processes. If that is too risky for the driver of the bus then they must escalate to their managers and they must secure the buses themselves or speak to Police Scotland if there is a genuine problem.

  • Posted by aileenr May 08, 2020 at 19:30

    I don’t think this is a good idea as many people with concession cards rely on public transport too to get out for essentials including medical appointments

  • Posted by JohnW May 08, 2020 at 21:07

    Utopianist nonsense.
    If OAPs or the disabled are using public transport to get to work then allowing the use of the concession scheme when most people are going to work overcomes that objection. If they need to travel at other times then measures can be put in place to compensate them.
    Waiting for the police to attend to deal with anti-social behaviour on a bus is hardly going to facilitate people getting to heir work on time, is it? Better to remove the problem at source.
    Essential appointments can be scheduled within the concessionary travel window - we're all having to make adjustments and sacrifices.
    I suspect neither of these respondents has been on a public service bus recently, if at all.

  • Posted by sunshinethrough May 09, 2020 at 08:26

    Great idea.

  • Posted by CarrieFortune May 09, 2020 at 11:10

    I wish they would restrict this my Dad uses the bus to go to cemetery to visit Mum. He will still go but he would walk or use car if his bus pass was restricted. I worry about him.

  • Posted by DervalDam May 09, 2020 at 18:32

    This idea makes sense to me. Restricting travel concessions to those going to work or to get to their nearest shop for food seems like common sense.

  • Posted by harshtruth May 09, 2020 at 21:01

    No thanks.
    I know it may seem like people flaunt it but some people like myself rely on the concessionary travel scheme. I have great difficulties walking, I'm BANNED from driving.
    I have 2 options if I want to do something like get food, my medication or even as happened to me in the last month; a walking stick.
    I can walk painfully to the bus stop, hope it's not a Volvo B8L and be on my way or I can PAY A DRIVER TO DRIVE ME ANYWHERE ON THE VERY LIMITED ALLOWANCE I HAVE ALREADY. I receive no compensation for the 2nd btw. none at all.

    So yeah, let's not punish a vast lot who are doing nothing wrong because of a few eh? Once you start on that where do you really draw the line.

    I know that right now it seems like a hot issue for you, but maybe keep your judgements to yourself, keep your head down and focus on your job.

    Good lad John.

  • Posted by activeandvibrant May 10, 2020 at 18:08

    No. Too many people rely on public transport. Don’t know where you live but we don’t seem to have the problems you describe here. My niece a hospital health care assistant uses the busses to get to work as she doesn’t drive and has not experienced these issues. Busses here also seem to be mainly empty.
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