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kingfisher171
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 243
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I am sure many people are hoping that someone somewhere would produce a website that concentrated on the usage/ usefulness/accessibility of Free Bus Passes. I know of a few, but today I have been "gobsmacked" by finding a site that on the face of it, will or could turn out to be the leader. It is:- http://www.buspassheaven.co.uk/
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George
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3807
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It's becoming common practice for many to use these passes to the full extent. Wednesday, a couple we know travelled on the same bus as us, south to Newcastle 17 miles, for a day's shopping.
Saw them today, apparently, after a couple of hours browsing the shops they became bored. Decided they would have a trip further south to Durham City, 15 miles. On arrival headed for a coffee break, 30 minutes later were returning the same route for home.
Another local couple set off for Land's End at 9am, two large suitcases in tow. That was two weeks ago, nobody has seen them since.
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radiogandy
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 1021
Loc: East Midlands
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We have 2 friends, sisters in 70s and 80s, and they bomb about all over the place - bless them ! A tip is, if you are going to have to wait for a connection, make sure there is a bus-shelter because it might be raining. 
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 ........"I'm keeping an eye on you all".......Ha Ha!....Radiogandy -
Radiogandy's Blog
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George
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3807
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Today I used the 9am bus service for a short journey, there was about a dozen people waiting. It arrived at 8.59, driver would not open the doors, we old 'uns are not allowed to travel before 9am in this area!
I wondered why the bus was virtually empty at that time of day. Good job I was not waiting at the stop further down the avenue, he would have driven straight on by.
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17746
Loc: Colchester
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George
You have become what is known as a 'twerlie' in the bus driving trade, as in 'Am I too early for this bus, driver?'
Bear in mind that the electronic ticket machine has a timer built in and will not allow the issue of reduced price tickets until 9.00am. Even if he wanted too, the driver could not issue tickets early so it's a whole lot easier for him to keep you off the bus until 9.00a.m. particularly as we don't have conductors any more.
I can understand why some drivers get really p'd off with us oldies sometimes. I used to get the 8.45am into town (paid full price) and it's amazing the number of old people who seem to have forgotten how to tell the time. On one occasion some old biddy tried to get on the bus at 8.50am when she new full well what the time was 'cause I saw her looking at her watch. When the driver said no she got quite abusive.
Being a user of the service for the last 4 years I was very annoyed to find that when the Government decided to make the passes available throughout the UK our Conservative controlled council decided they couldn't afford to allow us to use the bus before 9.30 a.m. despite the fact that it had been 9.00am before the change. Luckily, the few remaining Labour councillors now hold the balance of power and they made it clear they would only support the LibDems or the Cons when one or the other brought back the 9.00 start - it comes back next week.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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George
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 3807
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A twerlie! Must remember that one. Is it used throughout the country or just a local thing?
The few times I have used the bus instead of driving the drivers seemed to resent handing out freebies. Maybe it's something to do with the bus company not having to bother with their retirement perk of free bus travel in the future.
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17746
Loc: Colchester
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Quote:
Is it used throughout the country or just a local thing?
My son, a coach driver, tells me that it's fairly common all over the UK but only in those counties that had a time limit. Just been told that Suffolk up to last year had no time limit at all and you could travel any time of the day or night. Don't know what's happened since the change.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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kingfisher171
regular
Reg'd: Tue
Posts: 243
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It might interest you to know that one lady campained to get a changes in the rules from 9.30am start to 24/7 and was successfull, this was in Lincolnshire and elsewhere, a council has changed from 9.30 to 9.00am start. So gradually this could change. The website I told you about in my OP, has all the details.
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kenmar
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 69
Loc: Woodbridge Suffolk UK
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Suffolk is unchanged, Passes can be used at any time
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