Who should pay for free travel?

摘要

Jim Davies (You Write last month) is living in a dream world. He believes he is entitled to free bus travel and that it costs the council nothing and the bus company nothing for him to occupy an apparently empty seat. He is quick to blame central government for lack of funds provided to local councils. Has he forgotten that the pass he holds has had to be made and posted at a cost to the council? To operate a bus from A to B will cost £X regardless of how many seats are empty or full. Tendered routes also have to be paid for from the same budget. The council cannot do it all with no additional cash from government.