E&I drops idea to restrict free bus journeys for over-65s

However, it will proceed with its other proposed increases in fares from this weekend.

The move for the over-65s would have seen free bus passes only being valid after 9.30am on weekdays, and was an attempt by E&I to help protect capacity on the buses at peak school and commuter times due to increasing passenger numbers.

However, following consultation with the community on the changes, E&I received 39 formal submissions on the proposal, with most being opposed to the idea.

The committee said that the measure, unlike the fare increases, had not been driven by the need to increase revenue to help cover rising costs.

It said that, while capacity during peak times was likely to become more of an issue in future if the current passenger patterns continued, it had been persuaded by the responses to the consultation that it was not yet a problem on most morning services.

It has however agreed that the bus fare concessions should be linked to pension age, which is set to gradually rise over the coming years, with this change coming in on 1 January 2024.

The committee added that the other fare increases, which include the price of a standard daytime journey rising from £1.25 to £1.50, would together generate about £250,000 per year which otherwise would need to be funded by taxpayers.

E&I president Lindsay de Sausmarez said she was reassured by the strength of feeling people had for the bus service, and by the growing numbers of passengers.

‘We’ve taken on board the views of those who responded to our consultation, and I’d like to thank them for their detailed feedback.

‘We may still need to find ways of managing pressure on services at peak times in future as the bus passenger numbers continue to rise, but we’re not at that stage just yet. Therefore, I’m pleased that we can continue to provide this free service for pensioners.’