Seniors get free weekend travel on public transport
Seniors card holders in Victoria will be offered free weekend travel on public transport using myki passes from the start of next year, the Brumby government has announced.
The Age reports that about 400,000 people aged over 60 who already get free Sunday travel on Metcards will soon be sent complimentary myki cards, allowing them to travel free on Saturdays as well.
Originally supposed to be launched in March 2007, myki was not introduced on Melbourne’s trains until January this year and only became valid for trams and buses across the city and metropolitan area last month.
It is not yet valid for travel on V/Line regional services.
Myki cards were to have been posted to seniors in January, but were held back after the government realised it had not properly prepared 87,621 of the smartcards for use.
Eligibility for seniors cards in Victoria is limited to permanent residents aged over 60 who are retired, or who work fewer than 35 hours a week. The seniors card can be used to apply for a myki pass, which will be eligible for free weekend travel.
The mailout of the seniors myki cards will start next month and finish in November. The election is on 27 November.
Those who do not automatically receive their myki seniors card in the mail can apply for one at any staffed train station, or from the myki website.
The government also announced that seniors will have the number of free trips given to them each year for use on regional public transport doubled, from two passes to four.
