An online petition seeks free bus travel in England for those over 60, mirroring Scotland’s system, garnering over 10,000 signatures rapidly!
Karen Hickman started the petition, seeking equal rights for everyone over 60. English rules tie free travel to the state pension age, which is 66, a benchmark Hickman says has changed a lot.
The online petition asks for change, aiming for free bus travel in England for people over 60, excluding London. It says the current rules are unfair and seeks age equality.
The petition needs the government’s attention and asks for equal bus travel for older people. With over 10,000 signatures, it requires a written government response.
Parliament might debate it if it gets 100,000 signatures. The petition advocates for free bus travel, applicable to England, but not London, arguing that people over 60 deserve fair access.
The petition highlights how driving declines with age and notes that free travel exists in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as reported by the Daily Record.
The English scheme helps older and disabled people ride, offering free travel starting at state pension age, unlike Scotland, which uses age 60. Rules also depend on local guidelines.
There are 12.9 million UK pensioners, and some desire reciprocal free travel between nations. This would entail bus passes being valid across the UK.
Elsie Blundell, a Labour MP, raised the issue, with Simon Lightwood, a transport minister, responding that bus travel is a “devolved policy”. Each nation manages it separately, and there are “no plans” to change this now.
The Concessionary Bus Travel Act allows for future changes concerning mutual recognition. It might let UK nations recognize each other’s bus passes, potentially allowing for recognition later.
