Pensioners caught out by bus permit grey area
By Tim O?Connell
Just days out from the April 1 phase out of the old pensioner discount passes, the Greater Wellington Regional Council is largely pleased with the smooth transition to the SuperGold card era. The Go Wellington ?yellow? pensioner bus permits and 10 pass concession tickets will no longer be valid after Wednesday April 1. Greater Wellington?s Transport and Access Committee decided late last year to phase out the old pensioner discount scheme, which had been in use since the days of Wellington City Council-owned bus companies. Instead, persons over 65 can now enjoy free public transport with the recently introduced Super Gold card. No new pensioner bus permits have been issued since November. Peter Glensor, Chair of Greater Wellington?s Transport and Access Committee, said the introduction of free travel for SuperGold card holders had encouraged bus operators to quickly rationalise other concessions for senior citizens, and also highlighted the pensioner permit?s limited application. He said that he was aware of several people who had expressed concern that their old cards were soon to be obsolete. However, he was quick to point out that there were other ways for pensioners to benefit from discounted travel on public transport. ?It does mean that those people who live in the Wellington City area aged between 60 and 65 will have to pay slightly more for off-peak bus travel but they can still get a 25 percent discount through the Snapper card.? Grey Power President for Wellington Central Duncan McDonald said he had received a number of emails and phone calls from members who had been affected by the phase out. He said their concerns were duly noted, and that his organisation would continue lobbying to get discounts for those who fall just outside the over 65 year age bracket. ?I?d be disappointed by the removal of any type of discount, especially in this economic climate,? he said.
