LABOUR MPs from Greater Manchester are to put down a motion in parliament calling for free bus travel for under-18s.
Ministers are deciding whether to back a Commons motion after pleas from Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority chairman Roger Jones to spread a London experiment for free passes to the rest of the country.
Coun Jones said: "I have written to government ministers Harriet Harman, Ruth Kelly and Hazel Blears and they are considering it. I was speaking to Ken Livingstone who says free fares for under-18s works really well in London."
The transport authority hosted a parliamentary tea for MPs and others, where there was also a boost for train travellers when Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly insisted that the sudden announcement of big rail plans for Manchester was not an election stunt and they WILL go ahead.
She told the M.E.N: "It is a priority if mine and it is absolutely essential that we work out our plans properly. I am convinced that it would help the whole of the north."
Junior transport minister Rosie Winterton made a shock announcement two weeks ago that the government had ordered a feasibility study into improving Piccadilly and its approaches and in what was thought at the time to be a prelude to a General Election.
Improvements, which could cost £2bn, will enable more and faster trains to operate across the north. There could be a new rail link between Piccadilly and Victoria and measures to ease congestion on platforms 13 and 14.
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Free buses call
October 20, 2007
PROPOSAL: Free bus travel for under-18s
Showing comments 1 to 21 and replies | View All
gladys rowbotham, Manchester (20/10/2007 at 08:32)
On what basis is Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority chairman Roger Jones making his plea for free travel for under 18's?
It appears that Coun Jones has been speaking to Ken Livingstone (no less!) who says free fares for under-18s works really well in London. Oh what a surprise - Ken's opinion on something he had initiated himself! What criteria does Mr Livingstone use? Where is his evidence? Or is it his uninformed opinion?
Of course I wasn't at the " parliamentary tea for MPs and others" that Coun Jones hosted. No doubt Coun Jones submitted a full and thorough justification there and then. No doubt he referred to the fact that nothing is really free - it's just that someone else pays! He probably explained the impact on those who would have to pay for this scheme and listed all the other drawbacks of providing something for nothing. No doubt he referred to his own extensive experience of travelling on buses during the bedlam during the school and college rush hours!
I certainly hoped they had enough tea!
Constructive comment: Half fare for ALL bona fide students! End of story!
gladys rowbotham, Manchester (20/10/2007 at 08:41)
Copy and paste the following into your browser:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1017418_call_for_free_public_transport
GARFIELD (20/10/2007 at 09:04)
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (20/10/2007 at 11:38)
wkdboy1, Woodley (20/10/2007 at 13:09)
Ex Bus Driver 118 118, Manchester (20/10/2007 at 14:18)
Andy, Wythenshawe (20/10/2007 at 14:47)
GARFIELD (20/10/2007 at 16:05)
Timberman (20/10/2007 at 16:11)
Watch this space, name dropping Jolly Roger Jones wants to do something for free, HA,HA,HA. Free buses for under 18's will be a backdoor way of trying to bring in the congestion charge. Leave London politics in London we don't want them.
ace, manchester (20/10/2007 at 16:17)
PW, Manchester (20/10/2007 at 16:52)
gabar, manchester (20/10/2007 at 17:08)
PW, Manchester (21/10/2007 at 06:56)
Chris, Irlam (21/10/2007 at 10:48)
Essentially, he does not care one jot for the average taxpaying worker - only for the feckless/workshy and those at the bottom of the social ladder. He wants people of average income to pay more so those at the bottom get a free ride (literally in this case), all the while ignoring taxing those at the top of the ladder (such as his bus-company owning chums).
Taxation has gone far enough in this country - time for a reversal.
ace, manchester (21/10/2007 at 17:28)
Ive blamed the council on lots of occassions about giving planning permission to all these takeaways on every street in manchester its like the busses they just dont listen to the views of the voters they come up with these stupid ideas without thinking them out.kids who hop on busses everwhere get fat.just look at rodger no wonder he is in charge of the busses.How many young rodgers do we need...lolololol
marc (21/10/2007 at 19:57)
its called Bluetooth Ace. it might help you to think of it as a kind of witchcraft.
Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (22/10/2007 at 10:58)
Children should not have free travel because it would push up the cost of travel for others too. In the sixties the adult fare from Cheetham Hill to the city centre was 6d (2.5p), now it's £1.70, well above the rate of inflation increases. The excuse by the bus cartels is that the increases are because of free fares for over 60's. Will kids we the excuse to put the fares up to £3 for the same journey, or more than £1 per mile per person.
ace, manchester (22/10/2007 at 14:31)
No mate i know blue tooth technology from text mate ive been in the ifo tech industry as well. ive seen children text their mates inside a shop to tell them to see if the shop keeper would sell them fags ive been stood next to a few of them ?
ace, manchester (22/10/2007 at 16:19)
gladys rowbotham, Manchester (22/10/2007 at 18:14)
Personally I can see no other possible justification for this.
How many comments have been posted in favour of this "proposal"?
This is their pathetic response to the problem.
Anthony, Accrington,Lancs (23/10/2007 at 07:56)