Senior citizens urged to use travel passes but fear antisocial behaviour

Cork advocate for the elderly Paddy O’Brien has urged more senior citizens to utilise their free travel passes, but warned that antisocial behaviour discourages some from doing so.

“I know of people who used to love going into town in the morning but now they’re afraid to travel whether it’s morning, afternoon or nighttime, they feel they can’t trust anyone.

“It’s very sad, we should have police there or more control of which passengers are getting on – it’s a small minority are causing all this hassle.”

Mr O’Brien encouraged people to ensure they know the time of the return bus or train before setting out on a journey, saying that timetables being largely published online can pose problems. “Some elderly people cannot even use a mobile phone, and everything is all online. Senior citizens are not being treated in a proper fashion, it’s totally wrong just saying it’s online.”

Mr O’Brien added that many people also did not seem to be aware that they could use the pass for long journeys. “I have spoken to people who use it only to go from home into the city centre, and never to travel outside that.

“Some don’t even know they could use it for the train or longer journeys which is a great pity. There are many elderly people who were never in Blarney or Cobh.

“One of the greatest problems experienced by the elderly is loneliness – to go several days inside your home without seeing someone is not good for anyone.”

He described the scheme as an “exceptionally good service”, encouraging people to use it to visit East Cork or West Cork or even other counties, and reminding people that they could bring a companion for free.