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Pensioners will still be able to use the buses for free on weekday mornings after public feedback to new fares was listened to.
Environment and Infrastructure had announced plans to increase bus fares and start charging any pensioners using the bus on weekday mornings before 09:30, but they've now decided to do away with the second half of that.
There was ample criticism of the proposed charge for pensioners using the morning buses, which Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, E&I President, said they listened to.
“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.
"I’m reassured by the strength of feeling people have for our bus services, and by the growing numbers of passengers. More and more people are finding it’s a good, affordable and practical option.
"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.”
The proposals to charge pensioners using the weekday early morning services was part of plans to tackle capacity problems caused at peak times alongside the need to cover increased costs. Deputy De Sausmarez said the proposed bus fare increases will still go ahead to cover that.
Pictured: The new bus fares will be charged from 1 October.
It's estimated that the new bus fare tariffs will raise around £250,000 per year in additional revenue which will help to fund the bus service.
Older passengers will continue to receive free bus travel with the concession age increasing in line with States pension age from 1 January 2024. From 2025 only people aged 66 and over will be entitled to free buses inline with their States pension age.
Pensioners likely to lose early morning free travel
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