Do You Get Free Bus Passes In Your Part Of The World?

B

boozercruiser

Senior Member
Location
Rhos On Sea. North Wales. UK.
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In the UK if you are older than around 63 you can get a free bus pass which you can use to travel on buses all over England.
Scotland and Wales have the same scheme.

As we don't drive now my Wife and I use our passes a LOT!

I feel that as we worked all our life, then it is very nice to have that Free Bus Pass.

But I don't really it as 'Free'
After all, we pay £1,400 a year Council Tax.
Plus we pay tax on our pensions.
Plus we pay 20% VAT tax on almost everything we buy from any direction.

I am very interested to know if you can have a free bus pass in YOUR part of the world.
Or in fact ANY perks you get because you are a Golden Oldie! :D
 

We get free public transport in Adelaide ( the capital city of South Aust) , if you have a seniors card ,which are issued to people over 60 years old and not working any more than 20 hours a week . between 9 am 3 pm weekdays ..and all weekend however I don't live in the city ( 2 hours away) so don't get to take advantage of the system
 

Kadee46 said:
We get free public transport in Adelaide ( the capital city of South Aust) , if you have a seniors card ,which are issued to people over 60 years old and not working any more than 20 hours a week . between 9 am 3 pm weekdays ..and all weekend however I don't live in the city ( 2 hours away) so don't get to take advantage of the system
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So that can't really compare with the U.K. then.
 
jujube said:
I think seniors get half price on the buses here in town, but I don't know if they take your word for it or if you have to get some kind of "senior's bus pass" to show them. I've been in some places where seniors got a discount except during "rush hour".
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So it is beginning to look like we do O.K. here in the U.K. then?
I must say that It is really lovely to just place the Bus Pass on a small checker plate, say Thank You to the bus driver and just get on the bus to wherever you want.:)
 
I got the free bus pass in Scotland at age 60. It is only good for travel around Scotland. I understand the passes in England are very restricted in area and the age where you get them have been raised quite a lot.

Buses are almost anywhere here, even in rural areas but on a limited schedule. We have a bus every hour going past our house into town and we take it even though we have a car. We travel all over Scotland for free.
 
Ameriscot said:
I got the free bus pass in Scotland at age 60. It is only good for travel around Scotland. I understand the passes in England are very restricted in area and the age where you get them have been raised quite a lot.

Buses are almost anywhere here, even in rural areas but on a limited schedule. We have a bus every hour going past our house into town and we take it even though we have a car. We travel all over Scotland for free.
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Since April 2008 everyone who is resident in England, and who is eligible, has been entitled to a free bus pass giving free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England. I was fortunate enough to get mine when retirement age was 60. :)
 
Pam said:
Since April 2008 everyone who is resident in England, and who is eligible, has been entitled to a free bus pass giving free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England. I was fortunate enough to get mine when retirement age was 60. :)
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You were lucky Pam. :) I thought the bus passes in England were for your local area or county. Didn't know the hours were limited like a senior pass on a train. Ours are any time and are also for longer distance buses. We book the Gold bus ahead of time for a fee of 50 p when we go to Inverness - a 3 hour ride from Glasgow bus station. On the Gold bus you get free food and drinks.
 
Here in Wilkes-Barre, PA if you have a Medicare card (usually age 65) you get half-fare for the ride and transfers. That makes it $0.75 to ride, $0.20 for a transfer.

No freebies here. :(
 
Ameriscot said:
You were lucky Pam. :) I thought the bus passes in England were for your local area or county. Didn't know the hours were limited like a senior pass on a train. Ours are any time and are also for longer distance buses. We book the Gold bus ahead of time for a fee of 50 p when we go to Inverness - a 3 hour ride from Glasgow bus station. On the Gold bus you get free food and drinks.
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You can go anywhere in YOUR particular country such as England, Scotland and Wales Ameriscot.
We live in North Wales, but can use the same pass in Cardiff which is the other end of the country.
Or anywhere else in Wales if it comes to that.
I know, because we have used our bus pass in lots of places all over Wales.
And any time of the day and all.

We cannot use our Welsh pass in England or Scotland though.:(
 
boozercruiser said:
You can go anywhere in YOUR particular country such as England, Scotland and Wales Ameriscot.
We live in North Wales, but can use the same pass in Cardiff which is the other end of the country.
Or anywhere else in Wales if it comes to that.
I know, because we have used our bus pass in lots of places all over Wales.
And any time of the day and all.

We cannot use our Welsh pass in England or Scotland though.:(
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Yes, I know it's in your country. My pass is Scotland only but I thought England was by the county.
 
Anywhere in England; including London Transport buses.
start time is after 9.30 in Essex....no limit after that.
 
Ameriscot said:
I've done 48 years in America and my preference now is right where I am in Scotland. I'd like to see my family more, but I'm not moving.
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Good on you Ameriscot.
My Wife and I have been on quite a few holidays to Scotland with Shearings over the years, and love the place.
We have not long had a holiday in Portpatrick, and it was lovely.
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Mind you.
We couldn't use our Welsh Bus Passes there!:playful::D

PS.
If I may ask an off topic question.
In the vote for Scottish Independence yes or no, how do you go?
 
Kenny; Did you know your bus pass covered you for the train trip from Llandudno to Blenau Ffestiniogg, calling at Llanwrst and Betws-y-Coed?
... It's a beautiful journey lasting over an hour, rarely busy out of the tourist season, and you go through the UK's longest railway tunnel.

Then there's the Cambrian Line that starts off at Pwllheli down to Machynlleth - but check it out first - I think it only runs over the winter months for concessionary users.

Heck, I'm good at this advertising lark... I should be on the telly...

:D
 
Hanfonius said:
Kenny; Did you know your bus pass covered you for the train trip from Llandudno to Blenau Ffestiniogg, calling at Llanwrst and Betws-y-Coed?
... It's a beautiful journey lasting over an hour, rarely busy out of the tourist season, and you go through the UK's longest railway tunnel.

Then there's the Cambrian Line that starts off at Pwllheli down to Machynlleth - but check it out first - I think it only runs over the winter months for concessionary users.

Heck, I'm good at this advertising lark... I should be on the telly...

:D
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Hi Hanf.
Dashing out in a minute to the Docs for an INR check.

But yes, I did know that, but we haven't done the journey yet, but watch this space

We come under Conwy, are you sure that we can use the pass on the Pwllheli to Machynlleth though?
 

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