Finally applied for my bus pass!

[Gemini]

I have had my state pension for a just over a year now, and most welcome it has been!
I became eligible for my free bus pass at the same time. As we had entered lockdown 1 I couldn't envisage ever wanting to go anywhere by public transport ever again so didn't bother to apply. OH got hers in the January of last year.

Today I have applied for it. Parking in York is exorbitant and not always easy. The bus fare to town and back is over £4 each so this free travel will be a boon especially when going in for the dentist.

We hope to have some days out too! Neither having to drive, or spend money on petrol.

[Oma]

Always worth having Gem , It saves a lot of money , well done for finally sorting it xx

[Daisy]

Gem - well done for getting that done. Start planning your free days out - free from driving and petrol costs and parking. All good.

I still haven't got a bus pass, but for most of the places I might travel to on public transport the train is more convenient. We're not on a bus route, and the nearest stop is about a mile away, the same as the train station. We buy a parking clock once a year which covers nearly all the car parks we use, apart from the hospitals and 'amenity' car parks.

Do most of our grannies have bus passes?

[Gemini]

Yes Daisy, its worth it for us as we are on the bus route for two buses going into York and then for connecting buses out of town, and one of them goes directly to the railway station.

[Daisy]

Gem - it's definitely worth getting a pass for you and S.

[Plantaholic]

I have a bus pass but very rarely use it. There is a bus stop very close but the bus only goes into the nearest town and I do not enjoy going there.

[Nanto2girls]

It's only a few days since i was thinking i ought to check when ours run out.
We never use it for bus journeys, but we use it to go to Sheffield on the train.
Still have to pay half the fare for the train,but bus travel is free.
We used to go to Leeds and Huddersfield quite often, but now they can't be used out of South Yorkshire.

[Mimi]

Well done Gem, I applied for mine a whole month before my 66th birthday thinking it would take ages to arrive but I only waited a week for it.
In the accompanying letter it said I could start using it straight away, no need to wait for my qualifying birthday but as we were in the middle of lockdown at the time I didn't get to use it until several months after.
Its been a welcome addition to the pension. I have used it several times these past few weeks . I have the pass in a very bright pink bus pass holder just so as OH doesn't pick mine up by mistake when he goes out

[Gemini]

Good idea about the holder Mimi 😊
I think it will save us money on trips into town. We would go in more often if it was free.
We will plan some trips further afield too!

[Sunshine]

I applied for my bus pass when I got my state pension. I used it a couple of times, just to try it out. Then COVID-19! hit. I haven’t used it since. I expect I will though. We have an excellent bus service, where I can get to most of my regular haunts very easily. I still feel safer using the car at the moment though.

[Daisy]

Sunshine - I think a lot of us are still wary of using public transport. I very rarely need to, but I would think twice about it, and if you find it easier and safer to use your car, then why not.

Mimi - haha - I'm sure your OH would notice the bright pink one wasn't his. But it's a good idea - I remember a friend of DS2's setting off for France and got half way to Dover before he realised he'd picked up his wife's passport by mistake!

I seem to have had a busy day, without achieving much. I gave both bathrooms a really good clean this morning, then OH got back from running a few errands, we had lunch and sat and chatted and both dozed off. Our conversation must have been scintillating! Haha. We were having a glass of wine in the garden this evening when neighbours called round, so we invited them in and spent a couple more hours enjoying the evening, their company and more wine. How lovely to do normal things like that.

Off to bed now!

[Gemini]

My bus pass arrived yesterday!
After our holiday we will plan some bus trips

[Daisy]

Gem - that sounds fun.

[Gemini]

Daisy, watch out for a whole new thread - The Gemini's Bus Adventures

[Daisy]

What a great idea, Gem. I'll look forward to that.