Free Travel all day for over 60's

[Steve]

Boris, the Mayor of London, has announced a new Oyster card for over 60's. It gives free travel all day.

It is to make up for the silly changes that were made to the Freedom Pass, which is now not available until you are older still.

More info/details on all of this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...announced.html

Steve

[Steve]

Applications for free travel for Londoners age 60 plus are about to start I see.

Full details are here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...tre/25854.aspx

Steve

[Bob]

Interesting.

I was thinking that they would probably be withdrawing the whole scheme by the time mine comes up for renewal in 2015, but that looks less likely with this announcement, of course.

But this scheme does introduce a £10 fee whereas to Freedom Pass is issued free of charge. Will it be renewed free of charge or will they charge the new fee, I wonder.

Bob

[Steve]

Bob,

It makes me smile to think you may be concerned about spending a tenner...

Personally I think these 'Boris' passes are great and I think it makes total sense to make it cost a tenner to get one. I should hopefully get one in a couple of years time now.. where the Freedom Pass won't come into effect for me until some years later.

Boris gets more and more fans in London all the time.. it is a shame he won't be standing for Mayor again really.. if he made it his life's work I think most Londoners would be happy.

Steve

PS: A sad day today, one of the presenters of the BBC antiques roadshow programme died today, name of David and aged 69... and he was on TV around 5-6pm today without any mention of his death.

[Andy]

PS: A sad day today, one of the presenters of the BBC antiques roadshow programme died today, name of David and aged 69... and he was on TV around 5-6pm today without any mention of his death.

He died a while back, July I think, and today the BBC had 3 programs featuring him and one had a 5 minute section on his best bits over the years. So I'm told, as I try not to watch too much of this stuff!

Andy

[Steve]

Andy,

That's very odd...

The sad death was detailed on the front of ukexpert as new news from the BBC today, and the story is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-19014927. .. And it is actually dated July as you say.

I just looked at the BBC site and it showed in the block of new stories.

Searching on it lots of folks covered it in July saying he was 63, the BBC story says he was 69.

All very odd.. Anyway.. I heard today, and liked him so am sad.. And thought it odd the show today did not mention his death. I guess it is old news and they often don't mention that you are watching dead folks anyway.

Steve

PS: I checked and the 69 is the correct report. A Google search on David Barby 63 will show oodles of folks reporting the wrong age, including the odd apology/correction. I wonder if the Beeb updated their story today to change the age or some other detail.. Something must explain it coming up as news today.

[Walter]

Applications for free travel for Londoners age 60 plus are about to start I see.

Full details are here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...tre/25854.aspx

Steve

Sounds a good deal for Londoners that are 60 +

[Nigel]

Sounds a good deal for Londoners that are 60 +

I was born in London, does that count?

[Steve]

Nigel,

I know you are playing.. but anyway.. the deal is that you have to live in a London borough. I'm not sure if all the Boris items like this one annoy or please those outside London. Boris is a brilliant Mayor for those of us inside it. I can't wait to see what happens re airports and sky rides and all the other things he is working on.

I don't know if you have a Mayor doing things for you out there in the wilds... perhaps a Sheriff or something who collects your taxes on a horse...

Steve