Lots in the press this week about the demise of the vouchers that allowed the older people to get a limited amount of free taxi rides each year and the introduction of free bus travel for them instead.
Firstly, it puzzles me why people over 60 are referred to as elderly (see other political blogs in Maidstone). I have been reading about health care in Cuba and they have a 120 club, an outdoor gym for people who are 60 and feel they have reached the mid point in their life. 60 really is not old!
Secondly, we would not be having the discussion about the pros and cons of bus vs taxi vouchers if we had decent, regular, clean, cheap and popular bus services that extended to people in rural areas. Sadly the privatisation of public transport and the lack of investment has left us with an extremely poor service in many parts of the country, and Maidstone is no different.
Green Party campaigner in Kent. Also a nurse, academic, former manager, writer, Druid, husband and father...
1 comment:
60, old, never. I am 60 on the 10th March, at the prime of my life and retiring after 40 years in the construction industry. I am now looking forward to a long active life in local politics.
Ian Chittenden
County Councillor
Maidstone North East division
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