The Isle of Wight Council is extending its support for elderly people during the COVID-19 crisis.
From Monday (23rd March), bus passes for Island bus users who are over 65 will be valid before 09:30, to help older travellers access supermarkets which have made available early shopping time slots for elderly people.
Councillor Ian Ward, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure & Transport said:
“The Isle of Wight Council is extremely pleased to have reached agreement with our transport and health partners to extend our support for those residents with bus passes.
“This will allow them to access the offer from retailers to use their shops early in the morning.”
Before 09.30. Exactly from what time? 00.01?
Don’t be silly
I hope the drivers are getting help to protect themselves.
Good. Would not be any benefit letting them shop in their own hour at the supermarket but not being able to get there.
This is such a ridiculous idea. So as a key worker I am now going to have elderly on my bus, when I am going to work. So if I get poorly who do I send my bills to???
The young are the most likely to spread it as they are the ones socialising more. Seen three walk past my house after getting of the bus, one spitting on the pavement.
Anyone can spread it.
“…to have elderly” on your bus? You realise these are fellow and sister Islanders you’re talking about, and not vermin?
….and “my” bus? It’s at the service of ALL of us.
You’re so right Treesa. What a bigot she is.
That’s a bit ageist. How old are you – 12!!
You’ll have to pay your bills like the rest of us!! OMG
I suppose it’s at such an early hour so that the shelves are more likely to be stocked and maybe the store been deep cleaned over night so making it less likely to have germs in there, but, not all people seen as “elderly” get up so early, despite the oft repeated misconception that “all old people get up early”. They don’t, my friend in his eighties was horrified at the thought of having to get up at such an early hour. he is just leaving everything to me to help him, but no one to help me if I needed it, most of my friends over the years have died or moved off the Island.
I agree. The supermarkets seem to have chosen the least-used early hour, so as not to inconvenience the able-bodied by ‘holding them up’ at a later hour that would better suit older people.