Older people are concerned how changes to over-60s journeys on London’s public transport could prevent them from being able to shop during the supermarket’s priority opening hours.
From Monday 15 June passengers with an Older Person’s Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster photo card or English National Concessionary Scheme pass will not be able to use these passes during morning rush hour.
Many supermarkets have dedicated shopping hours to protect elderly and vulnerable customers. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday shopping is dedicated to these shoppers between 08:00 and 09:00 at Sainsbury’s, and between 09:00 and 10:00 at Tesco.
But Transport for London’s new over-60s travel rules mean free journeys will not be valid from 4.30am to 9am, Monday to Friday.
Catherine Scott, 62, is an over-60s freedom pass holder. She lives near Canary Wharf and previously worked in banking, but has been unable to work for many years due to a long-term illness.
The 62-year-old said: “I am very worried about going grocery shopping if the Mayor of London goes ahead and imposes this timescale on elderly and vulnerable people.
“They (supermarkets) open at 8am but I often have to be there in line at 7am. So you can see I have to leave home at 6.50am to catch two buses to get to the supermarket.
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“TfL don’t seem to understand that the supermarkets are allocated for the elderly and vulnerable to shop at 8am before store opening hours.
“Now TfL will ban travel for the over 60s, (which will be) detrimental to this age group who can’t walk for essentials.
The changes are being introduced as part of TfL’s latest funding deal with the UK government during the Covid-19 crisis.
TfL has suffered dramatically as a result of reduced transport use, meaning the government has had to make some temporary changes.
These include the suspension of some free travel for the elderly and children.
The passes are invalidated during peak hours to discourage older people from traveling at these times, therefore enabling others who use public transport during peak times, such as key workers, to social distance.
All passengers using these cards are asked to avoid peak traffic where possible, even before the system changes are made on Monday 15 June.
Passengers are also advised not to travel immediately after 9am.
Catherine said: “Only today there has been news mentioning long queues for shoppers and asking those with cars to queue there.
“What about the elderly and vulnerable who don’t have a car? This is getting so ridiculous, there is no common sense being applied here for the elderly.
“TfL must do something about this over 60s journey.”
Catherine has encountered many other problems during the corona crisis.
She said: “At one point I had to sit in a McDonald’s all night waiting for the supermarkets to open and all I managed was toilet roll. I wasn’t strong enough to fight through the crowds. This was just at the beginning before the lockdown (and) even before the management of the queue system is established.
“I have sometimes stood in the early morning queue for the elderly and vulnerable section together with the key workers.
“The amount of fear that the key workers could transmit the virus to the vulnerable. We’re not even at a safe distance.
“Sometimes I had to squat and my back hurt, and (I) just have no choice but to stay in the queue or I would miss my chance to get into the supermarkets.
“It’s bad enough with the long queues outside the supermarkets in cold weather.
“Then I will encounter another struggle. Prices have skyrocketed to a ridiculous cost for some essentials. Even for those trying to stay afloat, this is a never-ending stressor for older people living on minimum incomes.
“I speak on behalf of most old-age pensioners, and the stress is so enormous for the elderly who live independently and without family support, and especially in this (…) time.”
TfL said it will contact all 60+ Oyster cardholders directly to notify them of new measures. The transport agency is also working with London Councils to inform Freedom Pass holders of the change.
Passengers with a Disability Freedom Pass are unaffected and will still be able to travel as usual at all times with their pass if they must use public transport for their journey.
A statement from TfL said: “If passengers have no choice but to use public transport during the morning peak period – for example the over 60s who are key workers – TfL recommends that they travel by pay as you go with a contactless card or mobile device or an Oyster card.
“If you use pay as you go with Oyster, customers can use the free TfL Oyster app to check their balance and top up on the go to avoid having to visit an Oyster Ticket Stop or ticket machine.
“Staff will be on hand to help older Londoners make essential journeys who don’t have access to a contactless payment card or a smartphone.”
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