28 March 2003
Men 60 and over set to benefit from free bus travel
From Tuesday 1 April men aged 60 and over will be eligible for a Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme card which will entitle them to travel throughout Strathclyde for free on all buses after 9am weekdays and all weekend.
The eligible age has been lowered from 65 to 60 to bring it in line with that of women. As well as free bus travel, concession cards provide free local ferry travel for ferry card holders, and concession fares on the SPT rail network and Subway.
Free off-peak bus travel was introduced on 30th September last year, when the Scottish Executive introduced and funded national minimum standards for concession travel in Scotland. The twelve councils in the former Strathclyde area worked together to provide Strathclyde card holders with the largest area in Scotland covering all twelve local authority areas, allowing people to travel anywhere in Strathclyde completely free.
To apply, men aged 60 to 64 simply have to call into their local post office or SPT travel centre where they can pick up an information and application form. Applications can then be made at the post office or travel centre by showing proof of age, proof of residence and one passport type photograph. Men who are permanently resident within the area of the Strathclyde scheme, or pay council tax in respect of a second home in the area of the scheme are eligible to apply.
Chair of SPT, Cllr Eric Ross welcomed the move:
"This is great news, and I am delighted that men from 60 will now be able to enjoy the same benefits of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme that women of the same age have long enjoyed. This is an important move and I would encourage all men eligible to apply for their card and take full advantage of the benefits available to them."
"Once again this is proof of the transport minister's commitment to provide free concession travel within local areas. I look forward to working in partnership with him and Cllr Charlie Gordon, Chair of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme Joint Committee, to ensure the scheme continues to be a great success."
ends