(13 Mar 2020, 8:32 am)tvd wrote A few years ago Peter Shipp (of EYMS) did an interview saying that bus services were at risk because the ENCTS passes werent paying enough to the operators.  You could have a bus with a lot of pensioners on it which was unsustainable because it was not making enough money.

As far as I know, he's the only bus company boss who has really spoken out publicly in criticism of the scheme.  But we all have seen in recent years how services have been trimmed back each time the timetable changes come into force.

It really should be that the ENCTS  passholders are charged a small amount per use of the pass, say £1 or even 50p per journey.  Not to replace what the councils pay, but to help keep more buses on the road.  You could even have those payments ring fenced for use to pay for evening services, or those which require subsidies and wouldnt otherwise run.

That way the pensioner gets very cheap travel but values their pass, and is helping pay a little towards more buses on the road which can of course benefit all of us.

I'm a firm believer in making the ENCTS means tested, just like any other benefit (which is exactly what it is, and it should be treated as such)

People, like my grandfather, who can very much afford to travel by bus should have to pay just like the rest of us. Likewise, the ENCTS should be opened up to those who truly can't afford to travel by bus

I get there are other reasons for having the ENCTS other than the cost of buses (ie. stopping loneliness, getting people out the house etc.) but I think the system as it is now is just inherently unfair

As you've probably heard me say before, I'm not a fan of free things as nothing is truly free, but if you're going to give people free travel, at least give it to those that can't afford to pay for it themselves