Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
definition of eligibility. Neither is high income a disqualification for the receipt
of concessions amongst elderly and disabled people. That said, there is a strong
correlation between old age or disability and low income. It is also true that higher
income groups (of whatever age) use buses little. So even though concessionary bus
fares do not benefit low-income groups as a whole, most of those who do benefit are
likely to be on lower incomes.
The introduction of the statutory concession for travel anywhere in England has
greatly reduced the 'postcode lottery' which operated previously - both in terms of
lessening the differences between individual schemes and removing the disadvantage
which some residents experienced through living near the boundary of their authority's
area. However significant anomalies remain in that the national concession is of no
value to people who live in places without bus services or who, on account of walking
difficulty or other disability, are unable to use them. One of the rather perverse
outcomes of concessions - particularly since they have been extended to free travel -
is that they facilitate 'joy-riding' by people living in areas with good facilities and bus
networks whilst not doing anything to alleviate the condition of people with the worst
accessibility.
Individuals who are entitled to the statutory concession may elect to forgo their
rights to it if they prefer to take advantage of an alternative form of concession offered
by their local authority instead (such as travel tokens which can be used for taxis or
other modes). However because such alternatives add to the cost and administrative
complexity of local schemes their availability is patchy.
Some evidence of the unevenness in the value of concessionary travel by area
can be seen in the expenditure by the main categories of authority within England
(Figure 15.4). Total expenditure in the shire counties is less than in the metropolitan
(PTE) areas or London, even though their population is some 50% greater than both
put together. However several other important factors contribute to this - the lower
proportion of non-car-owning households in the counties and the more generous
schemes provided in the conurbations, in turn a reflection of their difference in
political colour.
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
London
Mets
Rest of England
Figure 15.4 Concessionary fare reimbursement by area 1984/85-2005/06
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