Wellington City pensioner bus permits to be phased out

Following the introduction of the SuperGold free travel concession for seniors, Go Wellington ‘yellow’ pensioner bus permits, including pensioner 10-trip tickets, are being phased out and will no longer be valid from Wednesday 1 April 2009.

The pensioner permit scheme is a legacy from when Wellington City Council owned the bus company up until 1992. The permits provide half-price off-peak bus travel for Wellington City residents aged 60 and over.

The scheme is administered by Wellington City Council but the discounted travel provision is funded by Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Greater Wellington’s Transport and Access Committee decided late last year to phase out the scheme, given the introduction, in October, of free public transport for Super Gold card holders. 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.

“So the phasing out of this permit was a logical step in the process. We know that the differing eligibility criteria, forms of acceptable identification, discount levels and hours of operation are confusing for passengers as well as drivers. And it makes little sense to have a concession scheme for only those aged between 60 and 65 and only for residents in one part of the region.

“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.” However, the SuperGold concession provides completely free travel, including during weekends.