Mackett, RL; (2013) The benefits of a policy of free bus travel for older people. In: (Proceedings) 13th World Conference on Transportation Research. WCTR: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

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Abstract

Older people in Britain are entitled to free off-peak travel by bus over the whole country. Bus operators are compensated for the loss of revenue and the extra costs imposed. This is very expensive and it is questionable whether this is a good use of public funds. However, there are also benefits both to the individuals concerned and to society as a whole. The paper explores the benefits based upon a review of the studies that have been carried out in Britain. Passes are very popular with both those who have them and also with the general population who may be looking forward to the day they are old enough to obtain one or have a family member whom they can see benefitting from it. The following impacts have been identified: improved access to services, improvements to health by walking more, better inclusion of older people into society, easing the transition from driving a car to not doing so, and general improvements to the quality of life of older people. Various wider benefits that accrue to society include voluntary work by older people, savings to tax payers of not providing some special transport services, and a happier, healthier population of older people. It is very difficult to put a monetary value on all these benefits but they need to be considered in

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