Readers have responded to Jonathan Freedland's article on Andy Burnham's bus fare cap, sharing memories of cheap bus fares from their youth and expressing support for the policy.
Memories of cheap fares past
Joe Cocker of Leominster recalled a 1950s Liverpool Corporation scheme that allowed schoolchildren to buy a 'penny return' to anywhere on the tram network during holidays. He noted that the last tram ran in 1957. Cocker also recounted a conductor's witty remark to a tall boy suspected of being over the age limit.
Robin Hughes from Sheffield remembered the South Yorkshire equivalent in the early 1980s: reduced fares to 10p for adults and 2p for children. He said that nearly half a century later, the cheap fares are still mentioned whenever people bemoan the state of privatised buses.
Feelgood factor and calls for wider service
Jennifer Kennerley of Norwich recalled a return bus ticket from Thorne to Doncaster in the late 1940s and 50s costing 1 shilling and 10 old pence. Her father always said they had the cheapest fares in England, which encouraged travel. She argued that cheap public transport spreads the feelgood factor, while expensive transport brings stress and distrust.
Roz Conway from Shrewsbury urged Andy Burnham to provide Shropshire with a comprehensive bus service so residents can benefit from the £2 cap on bus fares.
Reflections on policy impact
David Redshaw of Saltdean compared Burnham's fare cap to other big political statements, questioning whether some policies like Margaret Thatcher's right to buy or Gordon Brown's Bank of England independence truly delivered their intended effects. He suggested politicians should think longer about headline policies.
