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Bus Passes
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If you have retired, you are entitled to a free bus pass. This allows you to travel on any bus anywhere in England. You are not allowed free travel on long distance coaches, but are allowed free travel on Greenline services numbers 724 and 757, which serve the London airports. Several newspapers have published accounts of adventurous pensioners travelling from the tip of Cornwall to the Scottish borders using only public service buses. This cost them nothing although it took them several days. In all cases, the travellers stress how they enjoyed the journeys, how the drivers were a fount of information - and the many interesting people they met while travelling. Your free bus pass enables you to travel any time in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Luton, and elsewhere in England after 09:30. Unfortunately the pass does not entitle you to free bus travel in Wales, Scotland or the various off shore islands - although you can use your pass on the Isle of Wight.
To obtain your pass, you collect an application form from the District Council offices in St Peters Street. Having completed the form you return to the offices with proof of identity, proof you live in St Albans District and a photo of yourself. A passport or driving licence is a good proof of identity, a rate demand an excellent proof of residence, and you can get adequate photos of yourself from the photo machine in St Peters St Post Office. Four photos cost £4.20, or six for £5. A strange anomaly is that pensioners are not allowed to use their free passes after 11:00 pm.
In passing, isnít it time the upper age limit for half fares was raised from the current 14, which dates from when the school leaving age became 14, to a fairer 16 which is todayís age for the end of compulsory education.
Robin Cooper
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