Free Travel Pass Holders on peak time public transport

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

My main gripe would be exactly what is classed as a disability in this country.

Having seen some incredibly questionable "pharmaceutical enthusiasts" travelling with one, it does p**s you off somewhat.

Unless I am very naive I don't think every junky has free travel ? Mainly those with a genuine need carry them I would think

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Unless I am very naive I don't think every junky has free travel ? Mainly those with a genuine need carry them I would think

I can only call what I see, fair few people my age high as kites on trains and LUAS and totally strung out, showing sometimes the old white card (rife with fraud) or the new green plastic one.

I think it's the way of the world sadly - I've known people battle depression and other hidden disabilities, I myself have Generalised Anxiety Disorder and whilst it is great to see a lack of stigma for these - I have seen in my work what happens when you ask for a diagnosis, or a GPs letter. I've been threatened with a lawsuit (honestly!) for asking a student to prove her claim of ADHD.

Perhaps GPs are similarly fearful of disbelieving until diagnosis and just box ticking ?

Viviana Careful Wildfire wrote: »

I don’t think the op was complaining about people carrying them, more so people using them on rush hour trains, peak times.

More than likely, most FTP holders avoid rush hour public transport unless absolutely necessary. I know I do. And in my college days where my lectures would sometimes start at 9am but usually 11am or later, I’d notice that you’d only really see the grey army come out in force at around 10am onwards. I’d say loathing packed public transport is near universal.

The OP’s issue is that she has to stand for her long commutes. I just don’t think that charging FTP holders for unnecessary peak time journeys would make as much of a difference as she thinks. It’s not the root of the problem, IMO.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

More than likely, most FTP holders avoid rush hour public transport unless absolutely necessary. I know I do. And in my college days where my lectures would sometimes start at 9am but usually 11am or later, I’d notice that you’d only really see the grey army come out in force at around 10am onwards. I’d say loathing packed public transport is near universal.

The OP’s issue is that she has to stand for her long commutes. I just don’t think that charging FTP holders for unnecessary peak time journeys would make as much of a difference as she thinks. It’s not the root of the problem, IMO.

Early morning trains (til about 8:30) are usually fine. 4pm to 6pm are awful.

Viviana Careful Wildfire wrote: »

Early morning trains (til about 8:30) are usually fine. 4pm to 6pm are awful.

Yes but is this due to armies of FTP holders or simply poor planning by the powers that be ?

Zorya

Ta- Daaaa!!!

Works as chair and stick!

witchgirl26

Just out of interest I looked up the rules for getting the FTP on the department's website. They're below. Looks like they're not just handed out to all and sundry. And while some of the others might be flashing the green card around it could just be a Public Services Card which anyone can get but unless it has the yellow octagon in the top left-hand corner, they don't have free travel.

"You may be entitled to free travel if you are legally resident and permanently living in the State and:

You are aged 66 or over
You are getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer's Allowance or an Invalidity Pension from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
You have been getting Incapacity Supplement or Workmen's Compensation with Disablement Pension for at least 12 months
You are blind or visually impaired and meet the medical conditions for Blind Pension
You are a specified carer for a person getting Constant Attendance Allowance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance from the Department
You are getting a social security invalidity payment, or similar payment, from another EU member state or from a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement for at least 12 months
You are a widow or widower or a surviving civil partner aged 60 or over whose late spouse/civil partner held a free travel pass and who is getting one of the following payments: Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Contributory) Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension, One-Parent Family Payment, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Partner's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme or a similar social security pension/benefit from an EU member state or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, or an ordinary Garda widow's pension.

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Yes but is this due to armies of FTP holders or simply poor planning by the powers that be ?

I will be honest and say both but more often that not 30/70 where 70 is IR.

My train desperately needs to be a 6 carriage, it's often a 5 and every day for a couple of weeks it's a 4. Insanity.

Viviana Careful Wildfire wrote: »

Early morning trains (til about 8:30) are usually fine. 4pm to 6pm are awful.

Well, unfortunately many FTP holders will be out and about at that time. Many out of necessity. But let’s say we charge the ones who are out at that time but could have gone a bit earlier in the day. Is this really going to do much to alleviate the crowding on public transport at those times by a significant amount? I just can’t see it. And I personally hate the thought of being questioned about where I’m going and what I’m doing to decide whether I should be charged. As if my restricted, pain-filled life isn’t hard enough as it is. Would I need to carry proof of what I was doing? It just seems so intrusive.

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

I will be honest and say both but more often that not 30/70 where 70 is IR.

My train desperately needs to be a 6 carriage, it's often a 5 and every day for a couple of weeks it's a 4. Insanity.

Sorry , not sure what 39/70 IR means ?
But yes I agree with you its insanity not to provide a comfortable transport system with room for all who need to travel . Poor planning and lack of research I presume .

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Well, unfortunately many FTP holders will be out and about at that time. Many out of necessity. But let’s say we charge the ones who are out at that time but could have gone a bit earlier in the day. Is this really going to do much to alleviate the crowding on public transport at those times by a significant amount? I just can’t see it. And I personally hate the thought of being questioned about where I’m going and what I’m doing to decide whether I should be charged. As if my restricted, pain-filled life isn’t hard enough as it is. Would I need to carry proof of what I was doing? It just seems so intrusive.

Then they’ll have paid for their seat like everyone else

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Sorry , not sure what 39/70 IR means ?
But yes I agree with you its insanity not to provide a comfortable transport system with room for all who need to travel . Poor planning and lack of research I presume .

My bad - the lack of seats to my mind are about 30% people travelling who could travel at a different time, than the commuting hours and 70% Irish Rail being unable to organise a nun shoot in a nunnery.

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

My bad - the lack of seats to my mind are about 30% people travelling who could travel at a different time, than the commuting hours and 70% Irish Rail being unable to organise a nun shoot in a nunnery.

Ah ! Ok , thanks !

Ps Genuinely don't know why anyone who doesn't need to would travel at peak time in a smelly overcrowded carraige though !

Zorya

Viviana Careful Wildfire wrote: »

Then they’ll have paid for their seat like everyone else

The very fundamental reason why we have a state - which has too much bloody power anyways, over our heads instead of where it should be under our feet - is that we have all entered into an unwritten societal contract. You (the government) take some of my freedom and my money and in return you (the government) provide services to me, including a safety net for the old, sick, disabled to enable them to live their lives comfortably.

What I see here is people resenting parts of the social contract - very selfishly in my opinion, because you do not know if you might be struck down with a stroke, cancer, an amputation etc tomorrow, and you might become entirely dependent on the societal contract.

If people are for ripping up random parts of the society then feck it let me keep all my money, all my freedom, arm myself and run my home like a castle. May the odds be ever in your favour!

Viviana Careful Wildfire wrote: »

Then they’ll have paid for their seat like everyone else

It doesn’t solve the OP’s problem really though. There’ll be no extra free seats, she’ll still have to stand. Unless this keeps FTP holders away in their droves at rush hour. She might be disappointed there. Is the standing less unpleasant knowing that some FTP holders have paid? I suppose that’s a question for Emme.

dont bother

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

It doesn’t solve the OP’s problem really though. There’ll be no extra free seats, she’ll still have to stand. Unless this keeps FTP holders away in their droves at rush hour. She might be disappointed there. Is the standing less unpleasant knowing that some FTP holders have paid? I suppose that’s a question for Emme.

the only solution is the re-distribution of the freeloading council housed scum unwilling to work a day in their lazy pathetic lives. they need to be moved OUT OF DUBLIN so that people who DO work can live nearer to their jobs.

it doesnt matter what sh!t reason they come up with to stay in Dublin, they should be moved OUT. if they have no job to get up and travel to, then they have no reason to be taking up valuable property in a location which is more suited to professionals with jobs.

if this was sorted out, then Emme wouldnt have any gripes about the commute or the FTP because she wouldnt be forced into commuting so far.

the reason she has to commute so far to work is because of scumbags who are taking up all the housing stock in dublin and not willing to work.

why should scum like that have the freedom to wake up in the morning, look out their window at the droves of workers going past and then roll over and go back to bed?

this country makes me sick. it's a horrible place to live - and i wholeheartedly agree with Emme about the "Brainwashing" element too - a lot of people in this country havent a clue just how much they are being fvcked over.

Oy vey. :rolleyes:

xckjoo

I hate when dole scum outbid me on a house. Between the drink, drugs and black market fags, it's amazing they're buying up so much.

freshpopcorn

There is a simply solution to this OP. Move to Waterford and you can get a seat on the train and Leo will like you more for getting up earlier in the morning!

dont bother

xckjoo wrote: »

I hate when dole scum outbid me on a house. Between the drink, drugs and black market fags, it's amazing they're buying up so much.

either you're thick enough to actually believe that these filth are buying the houses, or its a terrible effort at sarcasm.

why do the drug dealing, tracksuit wearing lazy non-working scum of this country get the best of everything? why?

are the little weasels in government afraid of them or something?

this country is rotten to the core. it's a hell hole that wont change soon.

scum rule the roost and the rest of us are left to pay their way in everything.

i can take it from your post that you're one of them? probably high as a kite and that's why your post came across as stupid? maybe. IMO.

Zorya

dont bother wrote: »

either you're thick enough to actually believe that these filth are buying the houses, or its a terrible effort at sarcasm.

why do the drug dealing, tracksuit wearing lazy non-working scum of this country get the best of everything? why?

are the little weasels in government afraid of them or something?

this country is rotten to the core. it's a hell hole that wont change soon.

scum rule the roost and the rest of us are left to pay their way in everything.

i can take it from your post that you're one of them? probably high as a kite and that's why your post came across as stupid? maybe. IMO.

Crikey, scum seems to be your favourite word. Followed by filth and weasels. Even if you don't like those people, it's got to be toxic to your blood pressure to keep that up.

Shanotheslayer

dont bother wrote: »

either you're thick enough to actually believe that these filth are buying the houses, or its a terrible effort at sarcasm.

why do the drug dealing, tracksuit wearing lazy non-working scum of this country get the best of everything? why?

are the little weasels in government afraid of them or something?

this country is rotten to the core. it's a hell hole that wont change soon.

scum rule the roost and the rest of us are left to pay their way in everything.

i can take it from your post that you're one of them? probably high as a kite and that's why your post came across as stupid? maybe. IMO.

You're the only one coming across high here.

Graces7

dont bother wrote: »

either you're thick enough to actually believe that these filth are buying the houses, or its a terrible effort at sarcasm.

why do the drug dealing, tracksuit wearing lazy non-working scum of this country get the best of everything? why?

are the little weasels in government afraid of them or something?

this country is rotten to the core. it's a hell hole that wont change soon.

scum rule the roost and the rest of us are left to pay their way in everything.

i can take it from your post that you're one of them? probably high as a kite and that's why your post came across as stupid? maybe. IMO.

So leave the country? No one is forcing you to live here...

Kermit.de.frog

There should be no free travel pass for anyone not actually disabled.

Solves problem.

I use the bus a bit and you do see perfectly able bodied people using it.

There comes a point where it all adds up.

I would advise any young person with ambition to get the fcuk out of this country to be perfectly honest.

It's a toxic place because you will be fcuked as soon as you earn a certain average amount and your money will be taken and given to wasters.

Don't live in a society that punishes you to give to them. Get out and have a rewarding life for your work.

People think the emigration of the last 10 years was all work related. How deluded.

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

There should be no free travel pass for anyone not actually disabled.

Solves problem.

I use the bus a bit and you do see perfectly able bodied people using it.

There comes a point where it all adds up.

I would advise any young person with ambition to get the fcuk out of this country to be perfectly honest.

It's a toxic place because you will be fcuked as soon as you earn a certain average amount and your money will be taken and given to wasters.

Don't live in a society that punishes you to give to them. Get out and have a rewarding life for your work.

People think the emigration of the last 10 years was all work related. How deluded.

Does this mean that you only think people in wheelchairs should have them? The pass is for disabilities AND serious illnesses and acknowledges the severe drop in income that can accommpany the diagnosis of a serious illness, as many have no choice but to give up work. I have a damaged spine and sometimes I’m struck by breathing difficulties if I stand for too long. If you saw me using my pass, you’d think I was able-bodied but I’m not. I’m very restricted physically.

Graces7 wrote: »

So leave the country? No one is forcing you to live here...

So, your solution is that instead of addressing the actual inequality between the lifestyles of the "won't work" as opposed to the "will always work" is that a hard working taxpayer leaves Ireland ?

Do you realise what the country would look like if half a million of us left to be replaced by half a million benefit tourists and lifer doleites/Margaret Cash-esque drains on society ?

We would be glad to see a train once a month let alone annoyed we can't get a seat on one.

High road

My folks love that pass. Rub my nose in it anytime I cant find change for the bus. Woe is the politician that ever trys to curtail it. The OAPs will be looking for blood come election time!

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Jesus, bit harsh

Hotblack Desiato

Zorya wrote: »

The very fundamental reason why we have a state - which has too much bloody power anyways, over our heads instead of where it should be under our feet - is that we have all entered into an unwritten societal contract.

Strangely enough, we all seemed to rub along well enough less than 20 years ago, before that idiot Seamus Brennan decided to pull a stroke before an election and make the off-peak travel passes usable at any time, in order to grab some OAP votes for FF.

But now even the mention of possibly reversing that is portrayed as the downfall of society, or something equally ridiculous.