Pensioners welcome free travel by bus

Almost four in ten Rochdale pensioners are using buses more since they were given free travel by the Government, research shows.

One third are using buses for journeys which they would previously have made by car while one in eight used a bus for a journey they would not have made before. These were among the findings of the first major survey since the introduction of the National Concessionary Fare Scheme last year.

The results were revealed to the Passenger Focus annual conference at the British Library in London, which also included the launch of the rail watchdog’s new bus, coach and tram passenger representation role — which is run from offices in Manchester.

It is a year since all people aged 60 and over or with an eligible disability have been entitled to free off-peak bus travel anywhere in England.

This replaced the previous entitlement, introduced in 2006, to free off-peak journeys within the pass-holder’s local area.