Help for the aged
Page 65
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The problems of catering for old or infirm passengers on buses are of course, alleviated by the provision of transport by voluntary organisations and the social services. The subject is covered by another TRRL supplementary report (467), which describes work done by J. M. Bailey of Oxford University. His investigations were conducted in Birmingham, Redditch and Bromsg rove.
Most of the journeys made by the people in the study were by vehicles supplied by voluntary organisations and the social services, so there was little overlap with public transport. But if those passengers had had to rely on buses or trains they would not have made the journeys and their lives would have been that much bleaker.
The author of the report foresees administrative difficulties in implementing the Minibus Act, 1977. Multiple permits from the Traffic Commissioners covering vehicles used by several voluntary organisations will, he thinks, be prohibitively expensive. On the other hand, as there "is a strong tradition of providing free servicesfor the elderly and infirm, and permits are required only if fares are charged, the question may be largely academic.