As usual, people doing a "what if" exercise and coming up with a worse case scenario, get a life, it is a great idea. It will remove a huge number of elderly drivers from the roads, free up all those parking spaces. It will also give new levels of freedom to those who have lost their driving partner. The benefits both social and actual will be reflected in savings in other ways. Here in Bourenmouth bus travel in the summer is a nightmare because of a huge number of students at the language schools as well as the local uni but I havent noticed any moves to curb their numbers. If a route has a bus on it now and runs 70% empty how can it be less profitable if it runs 100% full because of pensioners. I note that already some operators are jockying for position ready to sqeeze the system. Yes some routes will be oversubscribed, its happened for years and the bus companies havent complained. It will just need some adjustments all round, free bus passes for the elderly cannot be wrong

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

Am I missing something, but do the usual rules of supply and demand not apply to bus companies???

Surely if you run a bus company and your buses are full of passengers, (regardless of whom pays the fair) you should fulfill your customer charter, your business license mandate and provide enough buses to fulfil demand?

Or is this just an opportunity for bus companies to moan "they are the wrong type of passengers"!!!

Phil Beresford-Davis, Great Dunmow, Essex

Surely a timetable calls for buses to run whether full, empty or somewhere in between. There is no difference in costs as far as I can see if the bus runs full or empty, same driver, virtually same fuel consumption. The point about seaside jaunts is obviously valid but, the rest of the country ?

Tony Mantle, Evesham,

"The Department for Transport has agreed to compensate bus companies for losses in revenue but has refused to fund the extra services which the companies say will be necessary to cope with the surge in demand."

So, effectively for the bus companies, these are paying customers. If the buses are full of paying customers then surely the bus companies can afford to put on additional services.

I'm one of those who hates using public transport, and prefers to drive everywhere. A primary reason is the cost of bus services. When I go abroad, I find the cost acceptable, the services frequent, then I'm happy not to take the car.

Another plus would be to get those who's ability behind the wheel is flagging off the road, it would reduce their dependence on an expensive but undeniably useful tool. Sounds like a winner all round!

Jon DAwkins, Bristol,

I think this is brilliant for the over 60’s. The free bus services in many towns and cities around the country already provide the opportunity for social networking in this age group. My mother sees her regular bus journey to the supermarket as an opportunity to meet and make new friends. All on first name terms, Christmas and birthday cards are exchanged. Then a coffee or lunch together while the passengers wait for the return bus home. I cannot see my mother travelling 160 miles on local transport to visit me for free but I suspect some over 60’s may. This could be good for the environment if it gets the oldies to give up their cars!

jo, stevenage, UK

Elizabeth is quite right. I can't see the situation being "worse" - if people travel further afield, they're making more room for others on their own local services!

But we should regard it as better, not worse. 60 people on a bus means at least 30 cars off the road. The government should welcome this and be pleased to allocate cash to - at last - improve bus services generally. If it doesn't want to take that cash from general taxation it should take it from those using road space wastefully in their cars - in other words, stop procrastinating over congestion charging.

Barry, Wallington, UK

If all of us elderly are on the buses, then the roads should be a lot clearer of cars (and I guess that is the idea). Subsidising only journeys that people want to make (instead of a blanket subsidy to a bus company) makes better sense as bus companies will plan routes that benefit the travelling public.

I think the Councils are worrying too much about out of area pensioners, as travelling by bus across country is a slow process as connections are sometimes hours apart so distances travelled there and back are not likely to be that great.

Most of us like to be home before dark.

Elizabeth Harvey, Dunstable, Bedfordshire

For the City of York Council the new rules for subsided transport is one, if not the, largest unknown budget item. All parties support the proposal but not the impact on our Council taxpayers.

The Government needs to bin its 'formula' and let the Council just send them the bus companies bill. Its their scheme which I'm sure our PM will be happy to re-announce for the 10th time so let him now announce he picking up the tab as well.

Cllr. Paul S. Healey
CYC - Conservative

Paul S. Healey, York, N. Yorkshire

More to do with bus companies wanting full fare paying bums on seats rather that subsides wrinklies and the disabled. Shame on them...when did they ever state that they wanted to restrict old and disabled when they applied for their operating licences. So whats next, refusing cistomers because the routes are too successful. You couldn't make it up, could you?

Jack, Glasgow, Scotland

2% on the council tax. Do they not think they owe their senior citizens at least that?

P O'Rourke, Rochester, UK