(17 Mar 2021, 11:59 am)Andreos1 wrote I've never been keen on doing that. Apart from any administrative costs behind the scenes, you're actually putting barriers in place. When the opposite should be done imo. You want people on buses. 
My parents are both retired and both still have their driving licences. They use the bus to Newcastle because (for them) it is cheaper than parking. Not because it is easy, convenient or because it has WiFi.
Assuming others are the same, then introducing a token fare impacts on how cheap the bus actually is and suddenly makes using it less attractive. Regardless of any associated behind the scenes impact or admin costs.

To me, there are three options, you either have free bus travel open to everyone, nobody, or just those that need it.

They already manage to have it means tested for those with disabilities, so why not just make the whole scheme means tested?

I have the exact same opinion with the TV License (although the existence of a TV license is another discussion entirely). If you can afford something, you should pay for it.