Editorial: Relax seniors' bus 'curfew'

Restrictions on times when pensioners can travel for free are difficult, Rotorua's Lynnette Nagle says. Photo/Stephen Parker

Should pensioners be able to travel free on buses whenever they like?

Sure, it's not the biggest issue in the city right now, especially for those still a way away from 65, but it's an interesting question.

On the one hand you could argue it's a bit cheeky to complain about what's already a free service, especially when the price of a bus fare is not exactly bank-breaking.

But, as Mrs Nagle argues in our story today, why should budget-conscious pensioners be given what is in a sense, a curfew?

Many pensioners do struggle financially, some going without heating in winter to save on power, so a couple of dollars here and there on bus fares probably does make a difference.

And Grey Power president Rosemary MacKenzie makes a good point when she says pensioners will have hospital appointments that sometimes can't be scheduled to fit the free bus times.

Buses can get crowded during the after school/work rush hour so encouraging people to use the service in off-peak times if they can makes perfect sense.

Yet our biggest city, Auckland, allows its pensioners a free ride any time after 9am. No curfew for those from that city.

If their pensioners are happy to brave the busy times, that's their prerogative.

Admittedly I've only caught the CityRide bus on the odd occasion, usually on the weekends with just a handful of other passengers, but surely Rotorua buses don't get so jammed that letting a few pensioners on before 9am or past 3pm is that big an issue?

Or is it?