“Firstly, pensioners using their bus passes are probably keeping a lot of services (particularly the more rural ones) running. If it weren't for the payments coming from the use of these passes the services would probably be withdrawn.

Secondly, these passes are so popular with the over 60s that any party trying to withdraw them or charge for them would lose so many votes that they'd be unelectable. The grey vote is a powerful block vote, and politicians are aware of that.”

“Jas, that is not the case at all. How dare you put across such awful stereotypes across the younger generation. They are nothing but courteous and respectful to the old people who swear at them, mutter at them, push their way in front of them in queues and worse.

Typical of a socially blinded old person to make these comments.”

“"They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them"

Members of the Armed Forces and civilians who are getting older in their old age, find it cynical that the younger generation make fun and complain about pensioners not only those living in Lincoln but live elsewhere. They think that being retired reaps all the benefits in. I can assure that this is not the case!

The old and the infirmed have to rely on help and where and when they can get it. But this is gradually being withdrawn for reasons of another.

Politicians, councillors, and city and town dignitaries would like the old to keel over and die. The old generation are becoming a burden to society, financially and politically and those in authority have run out of ideas of how to cope with pensioners.

The older parents are no longer respected within the family unit - their children can't wait for them to die too in the want their inheritance due to being greedy and of other matters.

But who really cares in the 21st century when money rules the hearts of people.

The next step will be euthanasia stsrting of voluntary then imposed.

Care to grow old with dignity? Due to financial constraits, old folk won't be allowed to!”

“Personally I would like to see some sort of means testing - just because people are old, doesn't mean they're poor. In fact some older people, with their fully paid off mortgages and index-linked pensions, are wealthier than us young people!

If, instead of providing free travel for pensioners, this money was used to subsidise all bus fares, we could probably reduce the cost of bus travel for all by a signifcant percentage and encourage more people of all ages to use them.

Also, if we want to encourage more people to use public transport, filling buses with old people doesn't do a lot for their image as an attractive and modern form of transport!”

“Bus Driver, I take your point. Getting on at the Barbican to go to the bus station does appear lazy. I too would have thought that when I was young and healthy. However, now I am older and have slight disabilities, I can see it from the OAPs' point of view. Even a trip of a few yards, especially if carrying heavy shopping, can be difficult if you are elderly and/or disabled and have great trouble walking. I have great sympathy for some of the unfortunate people I see in town regularly. Some of them find it painful to walk one step, let alone a hundred yards. Also, many old people like to shop in the Co-op at the 'bus station, and then just hop on a 'bus with their shopping. Therefore,the 'bus station is an important focal point for them. So before you point the finger, try and look at the situation from the other person's point of view.”

“I have 10 yrs to wait until bus pass age and am not expecting it will be free by then knowing my luck!
Personally I would like to see the free pass restricted to use within the county with maybe provision for a couple of uses outside to cover a holiday.
Those that abuse the system by travelling all over the country on jolly sight-seeing trips are making travel much more expensive for the rest of us. Being unemployed & uneligable for any benefits I find the fares prohibitive. Why not have a system where pensioners / disabled pay around half price & the money this saves used to reduce fares for the rest of us?
This sounds far too simplistic I know , but surely something could be done to improve the situation for everyone. The Government keep telling us we should be more 'green' & make more use of public transport but where's the incentive to do so?..........”

“As a member of the older generation I am under the impression that when my bus pass is expires I will be means tested in order ot get it renewed. This will mean filling in a form which could be pages to complete.
So what will happen to pensioners who have no family, widows, and widowers, who fail to send back the form?
I can tell you - many old folk won't bother filling in the form because form filling is a burden with questions being ambiguious and complicated.
A bus pass and using it gets them out and about.
Without it , if they have no other means of transport, will stay at home with very few people visiting them.
The only person coming in through the door will be an undertaker as they may have died without people knowing.
What is given to pensioners is taken away later due to costs and underfunding.
But then, MPs will want their expenses paid together with an increase in their salaries to survive. Councillors will want their expenses paid too.
Pensioners need to organise a short protest march to Parliament and occupy its premises over them being expendible due to the financial crisis. They should occupy council offices as well.
But then, they will end up in a prison cell as officials will not like this sort of behaviour. The prisons being overcrowded, will release those who have committed murder, those who are paedophiles, and other servious offenders, back onto the streets to relieve prison congestion which is a major problem in the UK
I hope Age Concern will take the initiative and make sure bus passes remain safe for both pensioners and the disabled.
They are a life line to the older generation.”

“So the amount of pensioners getting on the bus to travel one stop down the line hasn't been taken into consideration then?

The times they get on at Argos or The Barbican (yes really!) and Broadgate to get to the bus station defies belief!

If it's scrapped, they only have themselves to blame.”

“I hopefully will be picking my free bus pass up in about 5 months time and knowing my luck they will have probably decided to scrap the whole scheme by then. But seriously, I am looking forward to hopping on a bus and going to visit family and friends throughout the Lincoln area and maybe decide to visit some of the lovely tourist attractions in Lincolnshire as well as a trip to Mabo or Skeggy if the weather is nice.”