Utrecht introduces free travel for low-income pensioners

Following other Dutch regions, the province of Utrecht offers older people on low incomes free of charge for more than a year on buses and trams. The action will last until December next year and will cost 1,3 million euros. But pensioners with a limited budget will be able to visit friends, family or acquaintances as much as they want and at any time.

Silent poverty

“Older people with low income in the province of Utrecht are having a hard time, says local official Arne Schaddelee. “Many of them live in silent poverty. Lack of money creates an insurmountable barrier to travel anywhere, even just to leave the house. As a result, they are left alone. Public transport can help this group of people in the province to overcome the barrier and make life a little more enjoyable.”. The idea of ​​the action is that free travel provides older people with more freedom and more opportunities to establish social contacts.

Road safety

Similar actions have already taken place and are taking place in other regions of the Netherlands, and older people invariably respond positively to them. Among other advantages, they mention the ability to get rid of travel by private transport. Many older people find it difficult to drive normally due to reduced reaction times. Once on the highway, at best they interfere with other road users, and at worst they create emergency situations.

Criteria for participation in the promotion

You can register for bus and tram trips around the region for free right now through the website gratisreizenouderen.nl. The terms of participation:

• age over 66 years;
• AOW pension as the sole source of income (read more about pensions here);
• income no more than 17.700 euros per year (must be confirmed by a certificate from the tax office).

What are the difficulties?

Despite the fact that the action started recently, according to the representative of the province of Utrecht, dozens of elderly people have already managed to register for free travel on public transport. But for many, the registration procedure may be too complicated, older people will have to seek help from their young relatives and friends.

What are the plans?

The authorities in the province of Utrecht hope that eventually between 2000 and 6000 older people will apply for free public transport. It is still difficult to determine whether the move will increase public transport congestion, a provincial official said: "We expect to be able to get a first glimpse of it in a month". And only much later it will be possible to talk about the extension of the action or the introduction of this benefit on a permanent basis.