1 Mar 2008: SEQ: Call for free Sunday Translink travel for Seniors on Go Card!

[ozbob]

Media Release 1 March 2008

SEQ:  Call for free Sunday Translink travel for Seniors on Go Card!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has previously called for free Sunday public transport travel for Senior Citizens (1).  Senior citizens now have access to a special Seniors Go Card (a red Go Card), and as a further incentive for uptake of the card and to encourage senior citizens to get out and about, it would be a simple matter to program the smart card system to allow Seniors free travel on Sundays.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?Free travel for Senior citizens was introduced by the Victorian Government on the 27 August 2006 in Melbourne. This worthwhile initiative has been a huge success and on a recent visit to Melbourne it was encouraging to hear senior citizens comment on how helpful it has been to them.?

?Public transport in south-east Queensland has some slack on Sundays, and it will be no additional load for our public transport generally to make this service available.  It will assist the Senior citizens to get out and about, visit family and friends, and have more healthy life styles.  The Go Card will allow for easy implementation of such an initiative.?

?RAIL Back On Track calls on Queensland Government and Translink to consider providing free public transport to retired Seniors in Queensland on Sundays who use the Seniors Go Card.?

Reference: 

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=52.

Contact:

Robert  Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

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From the New Zealand Herald  click here!

Pensioners to travel free off-peak

Pensioners to travel free off-peak
11:44AM Monday April 21, 2008

Pensioners will travel on public transport for free during off-peak hours under plans announced by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters today.

Addressing the Grey Power Annual General Meeting in Christchurch this morning, Mr Peters said rising food, power and transport costs meant many senior citizens were having trouble making ends meet.

Mr Peters, who is Associate Minister for Senior Citizens outside Cabinet, said his year's Budget would address the cost of transport by allowing SuperGold card holders to travel for free during off peak times.

He said NZ First had also secured a "significant funding boost" to ensure greater access to hearing aids in the budget.

The party was working with Government to secure power rebates for card holders.

The SuperGold card, launched six months ago, gives superannuitants access to discounts from 3960 business outlets.

- NZHERALD STAFF