Sheffield freedom ride pensioners

[alchemist]

http://www.barnsley-chronicle.co.uk/news/article/8573/freedom-riders-plan-next-campaign

 

 

 

On a 3 week long offensive campaign.

 

Heard on the grapevine that they want travel free to Sheffield every day to have a ping pong tournament whilst the tables are available and free to use beside the station. They'll then pit their best player against Northern/EMTs best player for a youtube televised game to decide whether or not free travel is reinstated.

 

Make more sense than what they are doing currently!!

[liza D]

I didn't actually see any "proper" police uniforms . Were they all the chocolate fireguard type?

 

Why wasn't he allowed to protest? This seems to be happening more and more in this country. Where are all of our rights going?

[Eater Sundae]

I didn't actually see any "proper" police uniforms . Were they all the chocolate fireguard type?

 

Why wasn't he allowed to protest? This seems to be happening more and more in this country. Where are all of our rights going?

 

Surely it would depend on what form the protest takes -

 

Putting over your point in a public place. Generally OK unless it includes or leads to furher disturbance.

 

Doing the same on private property. Not OK.

 

Trying to travel without paying the appropriate fare. Not OK.

[Douglas J]

Surely it would depend on what form the protest takes -

 

Putting over your point in a public place. Generally OK unless it includes or leads to furher disturbance.

 

Doing the same on private property. Not OK.

 

Trying to travel without paying the appropriate fare. Not OK.

 

What if the only purpose of the travel is to protest?

 

---------- Post added 10-08-2014 at 10:19 ----------

 

TBH I am wondering WHY SYPTE would want to provide a subsidised means of travel to Leeds, or any other place outside SY for that matter?

 

There is a lot of benefit in state subsidy of public transport, both for passengers and non-passengers. For elderly and disabled people, it encourages transport use, which in turn encourages activity and this has a huge impact on the health - and in turn on the public purse. it benefits the local economy (typically by £1.50 for every £1 spent, according to research). it helps maintain older people's independence and, by keeping more cars off the road, it helps with air quality and benefits other motorists.

[Annie Bynnol]

What if the only purpose of the travel is to protest?

 

---------- Post added 10-08-2014 at 10:19 ----------

 

 

There is a lot of benefit in state subsidy of public transport, both for passengers and non-passengers. For elderly and disabled people, it encourages transport use, which in turn encourages activity and this has a huge impact on the health - and in turn on the public purse. it benefits the local economy (typically by £1.50 for every £1 spent, according to research). it helps maintain older people's independence and, by keeping more cars off the road, it helps with air quality and benefits other motorists.

This minority wish to gain a subsidy at the expense of others in their own community.

All users will have to bear the loss of service and increase in costs so that this group get a free service that others in their own age group cannot get.

 

Consider rural users who will have to do without services to get them to work, hospital etc.

Consider the young family who will see a 100% increase in fares.

Consider the shift worker who cannot get to work as the late/early services are cut.

Consider the unfairness of some cross border trains being free and others not so that Kiveton users cannot go to Worksop for free or Thorne residents to Goole or Scunthorpe.

Consider that your own age group cannot even get a bus pass until they are 66.

[Douglas J]

This minority wish to gain a subsidy at the expense of others in their own community.

All users will have to bear the loss of service and increase in costs so that this group get a free service that others in their own age group cannot get.

 

Consider rural users who will have to do without services to get them to work, hospital etc.

Consider the young family who will see a 100% increase in fares.

Consider the shift worker who cannot get to work as the late/early services are cut.

Consider the unfairness of some cross border trains being free and others not so that Kiveton users cannot go to Worksop for free or Thorne residents to Goole or Scunthorpe.

Consider that your own age group cannot even get a bus pass until they are 66.

 

OK, feel free to disagree with me but none of the complaints you listed have followed on from the reinstatement of concessionary travel.

[CozMall]

 

There is a lot of benefit in state subsidy of public transport, both for passengers and non-passengers. For elderly and disabled people, it encourages transport use, which in turn encourages activity and this has a huge impact on the health - and in turn on the public purse. it benefits the local economy (typically by £1.50 for every £1 spent, according to research). it helps maintain older people's independence and, by keeping more cars off the road, it helps with air quality and benefits other motorists.

 

I won't disagree with you about this as these are valid points, however, when those with a concessionary pass are able to travel by bus for free what are the added benefits to the economy or the individual to being able to travel via train for free?

 

As the Barnsley to Sheffield route seems to the one the "Freedom Riders" are "protesting" on, they could easily get a bus service (the 265) they wouldn't have to pay for, it may take longer and run slightly less frequently but it still gets from A to B.

 

This isn't an issue of increasing independence, this is purely a matter of an exaggerated sense of entitlement in a small group of people who should be grateful for what they do get, which is more than many and certainly more than my generation will get in retirement.

[alchemist]

What if the only purpose of the travel is to protest?

 

---------- Post added 10-08-2014 at 10:19 ----------

 

 

There is a lot of benefit in state subsidy of public transport, both for passengers and non-passengers. For elderly and disabled people, it encourages transport use, which in turn encourages activity and this has a huge impact on the health - and in turn on the public purse. it benefits the local economy (typically by £1.50 for every £1 spent, according to research). it helps maintain older people's independence and, by keeping more cars off the road, it helps with air quality and benefits other motorists.

 

Whilst this may be true the original point I was making was, why to leeds?

[bazjea]

Whilst this may be true the original point I was making was, why to leeds?

 

Why not to Leeds, if that is where they want to go. You might just as well

say why to Barnsley, why to Woodseats, why to Meadowhall, why to the Market, etc ,etc,etc.

[Annie Bynnol]

OK, feel free to disagree with me but none of the complaints you listed have followed on from the reinstatement of concessionary travel.

 

If this minority group want free trains then the subsidy must be paid from the same pot that subsidises travel for the young, disabled, rural services, early and late services etc.

 

This group has repeatedly tried to latch on to worthy issues such as the American civil liberties freedom rides and access for the disabled and even using the term elderly when most in their 60s would not consider them thus.

 

This group do not even support others amongst their own age group.

No support for the under 66s who do not even get a bus pass.

No support for ENCTs users in rural areas.

No support for other South Yorkshire users to enable them to shop in towns in adjoining counties.

 

The lack of individual support this vested interest group has just shows how selfish their case appears.