Quote Originally Posted by Mike T View Post
Prior to the short term reduced fare of £2, I am pretty sure it used to be £8 whether you went one stop or the length of Cumbria. There were family and group reductions, and you could break your journey into sections, but it was still not at all cheap. I had just got my old age bus pass when Covid came along, so I have never used it.

I think in Germany it is 9 Euro per month for unlimited train travel, apart from the real quickies.

Cheap and efficient travel should be regarded as a social service, and not just for those who use it. And the planet would thank us.
I think £12 for most journeys for a return ticket.
Going from Shap to Kendal on one of the few remaining buses would cost the two of us £24 at full fare. Going in the car uses about £5-6 worth of diesel, even at today's prices. And we could take three other people, park for free within an easy walk of the town, carry as much shopping as we liked and stay as long as we liked.
When we moved to Shap one of the attractions was a regular bus service, which was affordable if still more expensive than using the car. I would use it to go to Tebay or Borrowdale and run from there. Sadly it has been cut back and cut back and in spite of some valiant efforts by voluntary supporters is now a shadow of its former self. I'm not one to complain about lack of rural facilities. Moving here I knew the broadband wouldn't work and didn't expect to see an ambulance any time soon. (Twice needed an emergency ambulance for neighbours, before the current difficulties, well over an hour each time).I knew this when I moved here, it doesn't worry me. But I am disappointed that the bus service has deteriorated to such an extent.