P-04-506 Free bus pass / concessionary travel for benefit claimants , students and under 18s

I live in an area where wealthy landowners and owner occupiers have access to free bus travel/pass due to their age , while a few miles away benefit claimants have to pay in order to ‘sign-on’! This is another example of the poor and vulnerable being regressively charged for a public service which is essential to their daily lives, it is unfair and unjust. To remedy this unfair system I hereby petition the Welsh Assembly to set up a scheme for the poor and vulnerable in our society to have free access to bus services in wales and concessionary fares on the rail network. This can easily be funded by transferring benefits currently being wastefully awarded to the wealthy members of society.

Additional information:
If adopted this measure will greatly assist the poor in Wales to have the basic human right to travel, access local services and, in addition: improve environment by reducing co2 emissions. Encourage use and increase capacity of public transport. Improve emotional well-being. Encourage aid employment opportunities for unemployed. Aid access to basic health care needs. Demonstrate the need for an integrated public (re-nationalised) transport system.

Petition raised by:  Mark Griffiths

Date petition first considered by Committee: 8 October 2013

Number of signatures: 60