|
|
 |
| |
Penalties for good Samaritans?
• ON a rainy Sunday evening last October, I gave two elderly passengers a lift to the bus stop at South End Green. A camera clicked, and a few days later I received a penalty charge for £100.
It took some four months of haggling, letter writing and an appearance at a tribunal before my appeal was finally allowed.
It is well known that one cause of elderly people being trapped in their homes is their lack of mobility in getting to bus stops or other forms of public transport.
Also, they fear the incidence of crime arising from their being on the streets, especially after dark.
But if their friends are deterred from offering lifts to such facilities from fears that they will incur penalty charges for stopping at bus stops, will this not add to old peoples’ mobility problems? What does Age Concern have to say on this issue?
Furthermore, we are being exhorted to make our individual contributions to helping the environment by cutting our carbon emissions. More use of public transport is urged. But if lifts to bus stops are to be penalised, is this not in contradiction to environmental needs?
It is obvious that more thought must be given to these issues. Perhaps the appropriate powers could begin doing so? Incidentally, the recorded time I was at the stop in question was 45 seconds.
PIERRE RICHARDS
Highgate Road, NW5
|
 |
|
|
|
