Call for free public transport

Alan Salter

September 24, 2007

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TRANSPORT chiefs are calling on the government to introduce free bus, tram and train travel for all students and schoolchildren in Greater Manchester.

Senior figures at Labour's annual conference this week in Bournemouth are being lobbied by a delegation from Greater Manchester, who argue it is the next logical step following free bus rides for pensioners, introduced this year.

Salford councillor Roger Jones, chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, has been canvassing support for the idea from every Labour council and opposition leader in Greater Manchester and Labour MPs.

He has already lobbied Communities Secretary and Salford MP Hazel Blears, and deputy leader Harriet Harman and believes it could be adopted as Labour Party policy.

At a fringe meeting in Bournemouth today, Mr Jones and his colleagues will team up with Northern Rail and local MPs to argue for more rail investment to tackle overcrowding.

Do you agree with Cllr Jones? Have your say.

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| Submit Comments | Comments (25) | Previous | Next

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GARFIELD (24/09/2007 at 12:36)

what about free transport for all thoose of us who pay council tax, work over 40 hours a week and overpay for everything else? thats why i use my car. I know what im putting my money into (i know i pay tax on that as well)

Bruce Robinson (24/09/2007 at 12:51)

Why not free public transport for all? That is the best way to tackle environmental problems and get people out of their cars.

The Catcher, In The Rye (24/09/2007 at 13:01)

Garfield: You are spot on. I am sick of paying through the nose for everything so that others can have it for nothing. Who are the fools?

The Right to Reply (24/09/2007 at 13:41)

Public Transport needs to be free to all under 15's and OAP's Other Students etc can afford lots of cheap booze etc, so let them hangers on PAY! They study for years to be a Solicitor etc, end up working at a Drive through! Get a Job and pay, let the younger one's and those great OAP's go for free..

tram vet (24/09/2007 at 13:51)

where does roger think the funding for these "free" journeys is going to come from?
if 40% of the passengers will be allowed to travel for free, will services be cut by 40%? will drivers, conductors and office staff wages be cut by 40%?
or will the c-charge be raised by 40% to cover the shortfall?
i suspect the latter, and that roger "tax em to the hilt" jones is already devising ways of spending his c-charge windfall!!

shayla (24/09/2007 at 14:00)

I don't know why I bother to go to work.

Public transport should be free who go to work between certain hours.

Anyone who doesn't has a lot more time to walk,or wait until later, when those rushing to work are behind their desks.

BORN FREE - TAXED TO DEATH !

Joey, Ashton under Lyne, (24/09/2007 at 14:23)

Perhaps it could be funded by a reduction in child allowances/tax credit.

Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (24/09/2007 at 14:24)

So Dodgy Rodger wants to give students a free ride? Like the busses trams and trains aren't already full of screaming scumbags (Apologies to the decent kids) And for this proposed nightmare scenario the motorists of Manchester are expected to pay for them. Incidentally it has just been revealed that the government has had to borrow £9billion and Manchester expects a further £3billion from them, who pays the piper for this pretty sum?????

JohnB, Manchester (24/09/2007 at 14:39)

Im all for getting taxed for things we can all enjoy, but I really object to getting taxed so that oldies and students can get stuff for free. What do the rest of us get? NOTHING!

Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (24/09/2007 at 14:41)

A mere vote winner, dont count on it after the next local elections.

paul (24/09/2007 at 14:43)

How often do you bet this clown uses public transport himself?

So we have the nightmare scenario of gangs of kids jumping on and off buses,just because they can,causing mayhem everywhere.

Then what about the health implications? Experts moan kids don't get enough exercise as it is.These idiots live on a different planet to everybody else!

Manchester by Day (24/09/2007 at 16:34)

Should be free for everyone but restrict children's use at certain times - same for students.

Andy, Wythenshawe (24/09/2007 at 16:57)

Instead of kids hanging round in bus stops vandalising, they will be riding around keeping warm and vandalising.. buses will become mobile youth centres.More thought needed !!

GARFIELD (24/09/2007 at 17:04)

perhaps it should be free for everyone but students and children then we could enjoy a peaceful journey to and from work ha ha ha

Mwmbwls, Southport (24/09/2007 at 20:26)

Councillor Jones is seeking to follow the precedent set by Ken Livingstone in London who is endeavouring to break the school run habit - so far so good. However the influx of large numbers of children leaving school has lead to a large number of complaints about anti social behavior as the kids let off steam. It has now been necessary to introduce more community support officers on the buses to cotrol such behavior. Before we leap into this we need to learn from the London experience.

Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (25/09/2007 at 06:28)

The way I see it, if it can be paid for with EXISTING taxes.

Its a good idea.

But I still think its a vote winner they wont do.

A. Coates, manchester (25/09/2007 at 07:06)

just spare a thought for us poor bus drivers if this mad idea comes true. we have no legal power as it is to remove children for anti social behaviour, only police can, so imagine the scenario if they had free travel? it would be hell for both the fare paying public, and the poor drivers, with the kids goading us because they know we can't throw them off. bad idea roger.

better off red (25/09/2007 at 13:40)

Mwmbwls, Southport - you don't know what you are on about.
Kids in london are scum to start with, try getting any bus from vauxhall station and you'll see what I mean.
The introduction of officers on the busses are down to the fact that the bendy busses allow anyone to travel for free and most people do. The officers are now checking en-masse those without tickets, by not having to check the kids, it's less work.
Besides, I used to have to pay 4p to get the 170 when I was in primary school, what's it cost now for kids? It should be free, less cash to carry around to be mugged for.

sarahx, manchester (25/09/2007 at 18:34)

its should be free for children under 16 if they are in a school uniform & going to or from school & free for OAP's but not students

gladys rowbotham, Manchester (25/09/2007 at 19:25)

All I can say is that I fully Support Cllr Jones in his endeavours to make the world a more beautiful place. Would he also be prepared to join in my call for the following:
free Mars bars for Postal Workers? free Cinema for the under 40's? free Egg McMuffins for chimney sweeps, free tables for chickens, free crisps for bicycles .... what the heck - make it all free to everyone and everything!

BluePolarBear, ex of Stockport (26/09/2007 at 02:03)

If we are going to cut down pollution,measures like this are necessary.Cheap/free public transport should get more people out of their cars,and out of gridlock.

Colin W, Abroad (26/09/2007 at 06:10)

OAPs and not students are you serious..... there are plenty of rich OAPs who dont need free travel.,.

Filipina Moore, Manchester (26/09/2007 at 09:11)

We are pleased that Roger Jones and GMPTA members are calling on the government to introduce free bus, tram and train travel for all students and schoolchildren in Greater Manchester. Everyone needs access to transport. Public transport that is reliable and inexpensive can be vital for enabling children and young people to realise their potential from an early age.

Social factors have a strong influence on parents’ and carers’ school and leisure travel decisions, and where trade-offs need to be made between transport, health, environmental, and social factors the social issues tend to dominate, particularly safety, cost.

In Greater Manchester concessionary fares rose from 50p to 70p in April 2007 (including those for children between the age of 5-15).

Here at GMTRU, we are trying to understand the impact of this price rise and identify key issues for parents/carers and children in accessing transport.

We are currently conducting a short survey of parents / carers. We will also be hosting a focus group at the end of October for interested parents / carers once the survey is completed to discuss issues in more detail.

If readers are interested in completing the survey, it can be accessed online via http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=KTrCmi3tjT7ulmJL2RPIig_3d_3d

For hard copies and more information please contact Melanie Jeffs at GMTRU on 0161 277 1014 or by email at melanie.jeffs@gmcvo.org.uk

GMTRU is a charity working with voluntary sector groups to influence local transport policy and practice.

The Catcher, In The Rye (26/09/2007 at 09:37)

Bus fares should be dramatically increased to stop idle parents and their idle children from avoiding exercise. I used to walk to school come hail or high water.

I also think that free travel for pensioners is a bad idea too. More exercise would do them good.

mamvcivm, Manchester (20/10/2007 at 17:05)

Why is there no reference to this story on the GMPTA web site - have they not managed to dream up a justification for this crazy idea yet?

I assume that the 62% of voters in the MEN poll who agree with the idea are either children themselves or their 4x4 MPV owning parents...

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