A MAN has shared his fury with a “discourteous” bus driver who he says left pensioners waiting in the freezing cold for twenty minutes.
Nick Dyson was shocked and disappointed when a bus refused entry to pensioners who had tried to board the bus two minutes before their passes became valid.
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He said: “I was waiting for a bus this morning in the bitter cold weather at a stop in St. Peter’s. I got chatting to other people, mainly pensioners. An 84-year-old man said after looking at the electronic bus schedule, 'The bus is arriving in two minutes I bet they won’t let us on board!'
"This was at 9.28, I thought he was joking. Another said 'It depends on the driver, some will let us on.'
“I smiled as the bus turned up thinking the driver will let them on but was stunned to find the driver refused entry to the pensioners. It just sped off with me banging on the window. The elderly then had to wait in the cold for the next bus which took 20 minutes to arrive.”
Mr Dyson added “Either the County Council need to be more flexible with the start of passes or First need to give their drivers flexibility on such cold mornings.”
Rob Hughes, Head of operations at First Worcester said: “The ‘England National Concessionary Travel Scheme’ is set and managed by the Department for Transport and each local authority across the country. Free travel for ‘concessionary pass’ holders is available for use after 9.30am on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sundays.
“The ticket machines that are fitted to buses will not accept a ‘concessionary pass’ transaction for travel before this time. However, if anyone in possession of a ‘concessionary pass’ wishes to travel before 9.30am on weekdays, they are most welcome, but will need to pay the appropriate fare for travel.”
The Concessionary Bus Pass scheme offers eligible elderly and disabled people free travel on off peak local bus services anywhere in England.
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