Free Travel Pass Holders on peak time public transport

ohnonotgmail

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

No one is begrudging you anything. I wish you good health sir.

Not begrudging him but just wish he didn't travel at peak hours so as not to inconvenience you. Because hospitals really take that into account when making appointments for patients.

DanMurphy

Accepted. And thank you.

witchgirl26

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

They had their FTP out. They paid zilch.

And you misread the point - packed train with workers wanting to get home, max 5 people on seats for 8 and refusing to move their crap so at least 3 people could get a seat.

No way is that okay.

Ok but you didn't say that at all so can you understand where I was coming from? And I agreed in my post that taking up seats with stuff is not ok.

As for having to stand for an hour on a train - sure I did it on a Dublin bus for years (changed job and can't get public transport now). 45 mins to an hour of standing depending on traffic. To be honest, I never really noticed who was in the seats nor did I get angry at anyone. If I got a seat, happy days! If I didn't, ah well.

My commute then was at least an 1hour 20 mins, usually closer to 1 hour 40 and I lived in Dublin, worked in Dublin. So yeah I do get it that long commutes suck. And not being able to sit down at the end of a long day is annoying but blaming the back-log on free-travel holders rather than the services not providing enough buses, trains or carriages. Scape-goat much?

Emme

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

A friend of mine lost 2 children because the driver that crashed in to him had a blackout, the driver in question didn't inform his doctor. It came out in the subsequent court case. So yeah I guess i'm a dog with a bone.

I am very sorry to hear that and again I inform my doctor of everything.

Drink driving, drug driving, speeding and all around careless driving can be lethal. Some prescription medications can affect the ability to drive or operate machinery.

I have NEVER had any dizziness, fatigue or other adverse effects when driving. If I did I would pull in and arrange for somebody else to drive and see my doctor as soon as possible.

PlaneSpeeking

gimli2112 wrote: »

It'll take a little longer

Yeah, try a lot longer. There's 24 hours in a day and currently I spend 9 working, 4.5 commuting and (if lucky) 6 asleep.

Not many left there for me eh ?

PlaneSpeeking

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Not begrudging him but just wish he didn't travel at peak hours so as not to inconvenience you. Because hospitals really take that into account when making appointments for patients.

Try reading my post again eh ?

Edit - here, I'll help:

No one would ever argue that the disabled and those needing to get to hospital appointments should be able to use the services as and when, of course they should

Apology accepted.

ohnonotgmail

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

Try reading my post again eh ?

Edit - here, I'll help:



Apology accepted.

But you have no way of knowing who those people are just by looking at them. People dont wear signs saying "i'm going to a hospital appointment."

FTA69

Emme wrote: »

Nobody is bashing the disabled but I consider the use of the FTP at peak time for unnecesssary travel to be excessive. This partly the fault of transport bodies but not all countries permit the use of FTPs at all times.

In an ideal world there would be room for FTP holders and regular commuters to travel comfortably whenever they wanted. Comfortably means getting a seat. I think people going to medical appointments should travel free there and back at any time. Also the disabled and incapacitated. And those on limited incomes.

Those who are fit and healthy, can afford it and are going on a "day out" might consider paying half price to travel at peak time. Surely this would not be unreasonable?

You absolutely are bashing these people because you're suggesting that they should be shunted off train carriages to make way for you, the far more important and valuable Working Taxpayer, who despite you being young and fit and healthy believe that you're more entitled to a seat than some auld one on a free pass. What we need perhaps are better designed walkthrough trains and more carriages on busy services, but people seem to immediately want to scapegoat someone next to them.

God forbid that one day you're sick or old and on the train one day and there's someone behind you standing on the carriage getting wound up at your presence.

The amount of crass individualism about these days is very sad.

PlaneSpeeking

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

But you have no way of knowing who those people are just by looking at them. People dont wear signs saying "i'm going to a hospital appointment."

I'm going to out out on a limb and guess that the gangs of parents and kids with the Dublin Zoo bags over the summer, the FTPs out "in case the man comes" and the annoying brat who screamed "ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" over and over again could have been actually on their way back from dialysis but I stand by the fact they were on a jolly.

ohnonotgmail

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

I'm going to out out on a limb and guess that the gangs of parents and kids with the Dublin Zoo bags over the summer, the FTPs out "in case the man comes" and the annoying brat who screamed "ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" over and over again could have been actually on their way back from dialysis but I stand by the fact they were on a jolly.

So you have let one incident colour your whole viewpoint?

This thread is clearly a pisstake, and a poor one at that.

Hector Savage

Emme wrote: »

It's usually an hour and 10 minutes. Factor in getting to and from the train and work and you're talking 3 hours or thereabouts.

3 hours total ? as in there and back ....

surely not 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening ..

Emme

DanMurphy wrote: »

I'm 68 and I worked full time since I was 14 until recently.
I got the free travel nearly three years ago but didn't use it till recently to travel to Dublin from the midlands.
I look perfectly fit, and I dress well. I have no 'visible' disabilities. And I probably look 'well off,' but I exist on a pension.
If it weren't for this Cancer I have, one would never know 'from the outside' I was sick.
I travel for treatment to St. Luke's as an out-patient, on public transport, and using the 'free' travel, for which I paid for many times over during my working life.
I'm not surprised at the ill-concealed begrudgery of the OP and others.
I'll bet my pension is begrudged me too.

I'd swap both for my good health back again.

Nobody is angry at the sick, disabled or incapacitated as stated before.

My father worked very hard from the time he was 14 up until he was 65 and my mother also worked very hard from 17 until she got married and then she worked with my father. They used the FTP when they could get away which was not often. At that time it was off peak only. They were never well enough to use the FTP when it was made full-time. Perhaps I am biased when I see people who seem well because of how my parents active retirement was cut short through ill health shortly into retirement. They are still alive but their quality of life is not great.

I wish you good health.

Franz Von Peppercorn

There’s a lot of ganging up on the op here. In fact the free pass is a bit odd isn’t it, it’s not means tested and in fact old people are means tested for a lot of stuff.

For anybody sick though there should be no restriction.

Otherwise free pass off peak could well work. And be available up to a limit, say the median income.

PlaneSpeeking

Deleted User wrote: »

This thread is clearly a pisstake, and a poor one at that.

Sadly it's not, I've read Emme's posts before - she's a fellow longer suffering commuting worker - and I am sad to see the negative reaction here.

PlaneSpeeking

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

There’s a lot of ganging up on the op here. In fact the free pass is a bit odd isn’t it, it’s not means tested and in fact old people are means tested for a lot of stuff.

For anybody sick though there should be no restriction.

Otherwise free pass off peak could well work. And be available up to a limit, say the median income.

Sssh you'll make the rest of them drop their pitchforks!

Just to make it clear - again:

Sick, elderly, hospital visits etc - all travel
Any other FTP holder - off peak only (after 9am out and not before 6pm back).

Who could have an issue with that ??

PlaneSpeeking

Hector Savage wrote: »

3 hours total ? as in there and back ....

surely not 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening ..

Mine is 2 hours 10 each way, and I see commuters already on the train from as far as Thurles so yeah, could be that easy.

Hector Savage

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

Mine is 2 hours 10 each way, and I see commuters already on the train from as far as Thurles so yeah, could be that easy.

Jesus thats rough ..

antodeco

FTP holders should be put into specific carriages and the rest of the "wealthy" are out into the other carriages. I think to speed things up as well, they should get the long FTP number tattooed on the inside of their arms.

Free head shaves for all!

Cushie Butterfield

Look at it this way OP - you may have to stand for an hour on a packed train, but aren’t you the lucky one who can arrive to ‘work’ & post away to your hearts content for hours on end & the icing on the cake is you get paid for your trouble!

It’s no wonder you’re exhausted 🤕

Franz Von Peppercorn

antodeco wrote: »

FTP holders should be put into specific carriages and the rest of the "wealthy" are out into the other carriages. I think to speed things up as well, they should get the long FTP number tattooed on the inside of their arms.

Free head shaves for all!

The ftp holders and the wealthy might well be the same people of course, statistically they probably are. What do you do then?

Odhinn

mad muffin wrote: »

Personally I blame the liberals. All of today’s societies ills stem from them. All of it.

...from the front opening bra to the packed bus and train. The silent majority need to stand up (not in the train) to them.

PlaneSpeeking

Cushie Butterfield wrote: »

Look at it this way OP - you may have to stand for an hour on a packed train, but aren’t you the lucky one who can arrive to ‘work’ & post away to your hearts content for hours on end & the icing on the cake is you get paid for your trouble!

It’s no wonder you’re exhausted 🤕

That is a ridiculous post and was often thrown at workers on other threads.

You know us workers - we're not like battery hens, we occasionally have breaks; trips to the bathroom; lunchtimes; downtime between tasks etc.

Garibaldi?

Many oaps use the pass to travel around the country. They shop, go to restaurants, have a few drinks because they're not driving and stay in hotels. A lot of this is made possible by the free transport. It's an incentive to get out there and spend a few quid. I'd say many local businesses around the country would agree with me.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Alright then. I’m sure it’s fine that a few dozen healthy 65 year olds with a few properties and the 40k public sector pension can jump into these free services ahead of the people paying for it. On the way to the shops.

The plebs on the way to work to pay for all this should know their place - which is standing.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Garibaldi? wrote: »

Many oaps use the pass to travel around the country. They shop, go to restaurants, have a few drinks because they're not driving and stay in hotels. A lot of this is made possible by the free transport. It's an incentive to get out there and spend a few quid. I'd say many local businesses around the country would agree with me.

The discussion is really about on peak travel.

Cushie Butterfield

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

That is a ridiculous post and was often thrown at workers on other threads.

You know us workers - we're not like battery hens, we occasionally have breaks; trips to the bathroom; lunchtimes; downtime between tasks etc.

My post has nothing to do with us workers - just pointing out to the OP that her complaint is somewhat watered down. If you had bothered to read the thread you’d see by the times of her posts that my point stands.

PlaneSpeeking

Hector Savage wrote: »

Jesus thats rough ..

Got to be done, I have responsibilities.

antodeco

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

The ftp holders and the wealthy might well be the same people of course, statistically they probably are. What do you do then?

Do you have those stats to hand as I'm assuming it's equal across all as anyone is entitled to a FTP once they reach 65.

Franz Von Peppercorn

antodeco wrote: »

Do you have those stats to hand as I'm assuming it's equal across all as anyone is entitled to a FTP once they reach 65.

Do I have any stats that the old are richer than the young?

http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/in-ireland-the-old-get-richer-and-the-young-grow-poorer/

witchgirl26

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

Sssh you'll make the rest of them drop their pitchforks!

Just to make it clear - again:

Sick, elderly, hospital visits etc - all travel
Any other FTP holder - off peak only (after 9am out and not before 6pm back).

Who could have an issue with that ??

But does that mean that when some with the FTP wants to travel at peak times, they have to prove that they are going to a hospital app or are sick? How does that work at train stations where it's automatic scanning? Or on a bus? Does the driver have to ask?

I mean I get what you're saying but realistically policing that would cost a lot more than improving the service which should be priority.

mariaalice

Deleted User wrote: »

The Uk system limits free travel to your local area only. I agree with the OP that it should be limited to off peak only.

It is from the age of 60 in the UK, no harm in it being off-peak only but truly the op resenting a few healthy mature women or other stragglers who would not be using public transport every day they might only be using it a few times a year it's ludicrous.

I also find it fascinating this focusing ire and resentment on to almost harmless individual and groups, what next resentment against the cattle in the fields eating grass when there could be a house for a family in the field.

When and if I get my bus pass I won't be using it at peak times as like the vast majority I will be having a lie on after a lifetime of working.

AndrewJRenko

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

There’s a lot of ganging up on the op here. In fact the free pass is a bit odd isn’t it, it’s not means tested and in fact old people are means tested for a lot of stuff.

For anybody sick though there should be no restriction.

Otherwise free pass off peak could well work. And be available up to a limit, say the median income.

Sssh you'll make the rest of them drop their pitchforks!

Just to make it clear - again:

Sick, elderly, hospital visits etc - all travel
Any other FTP holder - off peak only (after 9am out and not before 6pm back).

Who could have an issue with that ??

You know that many people with disabilities who work also have the free travel pass, right?

mariaalice

I have said this before but boards particularly AH is a very unhealthy outlet for some people. I do understand resentment is part of the human condition but maybe a journal and rereading over their thought would be better combined with a bit of reality testing.

iamwhoiam

mariaalice wrote: »

It is from the age of 60 in the UK, no harm in it being off-peak only but truly the op resenting a few healthy mature women or other stragglers who would not be using public transport every day they might only be using it a few times a year it's ludicrous.

I also find it fascinating this focusing ire and resentment on to almost harmless individual and groups, what next resentment against the cattle in the fields eating grass when there could be a house for a family in the field.

When and if I get my bus pass I won't be using it at peak times as like the vast majority I will be having a lie on after a lifetime of working.

Absolutely . We use ours off peak because why on earth would we want to get on a crowded train full of people like the OP ? Honestly the few stragglers as you say are hardly the ones people should be getting angry about , we have politician and fat cats that we could re route our irritations to

jester77

Not familiar with trains in Ireland, but could you not book a first class ticket or reserver a seat for the time you are travelling?

Emme

Emme wrote: »

Another point I have is that workers are too exhausted to vote or protest.

You're some man for the excuses OP! I know plenty of people who managed to work and vote recently!

Infini

Old people and properly disabled people like wheelchair user's travelling for free is fine.

Drug addled vermin and criminal scum shouldn't get the pass end of it would make it easier to prevent them entering or having them removed.

Garibaldi?

Once something is granted to a particular sector, complicated restrictions and consequent petty nit-picking render it both unsavoury and unmanageable. The free travel pass brings many advantanges. Given the high rates of tax, USC, property tax etc with which we are shackled it is comforting to think that we would be provided for should we fall on hard times. And commuting is a hugely significant consideration in most people's lives.

skooterblue2

antodeco wrote: »

FTP holders should be put into specific carriages and the rest of the "wealthy" are out into the other carriages. I think to speed things up as well, they should get the long FTP number tattooed on the inside of their arms.

Free head shaves for all!

......and stripey pyjamas while you are at it too please..... I like the scratchy second hand ones..... my last ones had a gypsy aroma

Franz Von Peppercorn

Garibaldi? wrote: »

Once something is granted to a particular sector, complicated restrictions and consequent petty nit-picking render it both unsavoury and unmanageable. The free travel pass brings many advantanges. Given the high rates of tax, USC, property tax etc with which we are shackled it is comforting to think that we would be provided for should we fall on hard times. And commuting is a hugely significant consideration in most people's lives.

You absolutely won’t have it when you are old. Next recession they’ll put a means test on it for anyone retiring after 2030

Frankly good luck with getting the state pension.

pjohnson

I think OP should look into getting a taxi. Public transport doesn't suit people who dont seem to like the public.

skooterblue2

pjohnson wrote: »

I think OP should look into getting a taxi. Public transport doesn't suit people who dont seem to like the public.

Nonsense Tarquin, Bring the Bentley around the front, cant be seen in public Transport, What would Gussy and Winston and the boys at the Reform club think? Have some common sense man. Only a public education can bring about that type of thinking!

mariaalice

Multimedia is a solution along with noise-canceling headphones, phone or notebook or kindle in hand, and earphones on they won't have to listen or engage or focus on their fellow passengers in any way. Take a positive view of the commute it's a full hour or more of uninterrupted time to read or listen to a podcast, or some music.

Innocent123

OP, i can see where you're annoyed, but .. I'm also a commuter, fatigued quite often and like a seat on the train, so I drive to a station I know I can get seat at. Also managed to make it out to vote !!!

And if I'm able in my retirement , after working hard all my life I'll be sure to enjoy it, just like those people your complaining about - why shouldn't they make the most of their retirement, you'd begrudge them a day out?

PlaneSpeeking

mariaalice wrote: »

Multimedia is a solution along with noise-canceling headphones, phone or notebook or kindle in hand, and earphones on they won't have to listen or engage or focus on their fellow passengers in any way. Take a positive view of the commute it's a full hour or more of uninterrupted time to read or listen to a podcast, or some music.

I'm not sure why you're running with the antisocial nonsense but I have no issue with fellow travellers; we're largely in the same boat.

I have an issue with being in the 12th hour of a working day and having to lean onto a jacks door for "comfort" while someone who wouldn't have put in 12 hours in the last year combined swans on to the train with their free pass and feral kids.

Oh and lose the Belsen type rhetotic guys, it doesn't make you sound edgy - just offensive.

mariaalice

skooterblue2 wrote: »

Nonsense Tarquin, Bring the Bentley around the front, cant be seen in public Transport, What would Gussy and Winston and the boys at the Reform club think? Have some common sense man. Only a public education can bring about that type of thinking!

Can find the piece now: When third-class carriages were abolished in the Uk some Buffone either a Lord Bumbly Fumbly type or an MP commented how will the typist get to work as they could not possibly be in the same carriages as their employers.

mariaalice

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

I'm not sure why you're running with the antisocial nonsense but I have no issue with fellow travellers; we're largely in the same boat.

I have an issue with being in the 12th hour of a working day and having to lean onto a jacks door for "comfort" while someone who wouldn't have put in 12 hours in the last year combined swans on to the train with their free pass and feral kids.

Oh and lose the Belsen type rhetotic guys, it doesn't make you sound edgy - just offensive.

Grand but generally I don't have any thoughts about my fellow commenters it's all a blur, lone parents do not get free travel so I am not sure how anyone would know the status of any of their fellow passengers.

Franz Von Peppercorn

mariaalice wrote: »

Can find the piece now: When third-class carriages were abolished in the Uk some Buffone either a Lord Bumbly Fumbly type or an MP commented how will the typist get to work as they could not possibly be in the same cartridge as their employers.

What’s that anecdote gotta do with a worker who travels more than two hours a day?

The op is the pleb here. The rich older generation are the upper classes.

mariaalice

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

What’s that anecdote gotta do with a worker who travels more than two hours a day?

The op is the pleb here. The rich older generation are the upper classes.

Lighting the mood a bit maybe its AH