A GROUNDBREAKING research project into free bus travel, needs help from Huddersfield pensioners – and is being conducted by an OAP!

Mature student David Bentley is in no doubt that it’s better by bus.

But his research at Huddersfield University is asking whether in tighter times, the massive cost of laying on free off-peak travel to pensioners be justified.

David, 70, is calling on pensioner groups from across Kirklees and Calderdale to help with his research project.

In 2001, people of state pension age were first given the right to travel for 20p on scheduled bus services anywhere in the country between 9.30am and 3.30pm and at weekends. Gradually, this became free and there has been a big take-up but little research has been done on the social and environmental impact of the scheme.

Professor Bamford, a leading expert and author on the economics of transport, who is supervising David, feels his research has an important political context: “This is an area of public expenditure that would be very easy to chop,’’ he said.

“It could show that free bus travel for pensioners has social value and it is an area in which very little research has been done so far.”

David, who lives in Northrowram, Calderdale, started his working life as a bus conductor before gaining academic qualifications and working as a manager and transport planner for the former Halifax Corporation and for the Department of Transport. He is a dedicated bus user and enthusiast and his car rarely comes out of its garage.

He travels everywhere by bus and uses his free travel pass whenever possible.

He has enrolled as a research student at the university’s Department of Transport and Logistics.

David has devised a questionnaire that he hopes will be completed by hundreds of senior citizens and has drawn up a list of around 150 clubs and organisations for pensioners to send it to.

It asks about travel routines and whether respondents use buses, trains or private cars.

David’s early findings suggest that town centre car park charges are one factor persuading older drivers to leave their vehicles at home and take the bus.

Reports show reimbursing bus companies for free pensioner travel is costing Passenger Transport Executives millions of pounds and in West Yorkshire it is their second most costly item.

This means that the scheme is vulnerable to being axed or curtailed.

When David has gathered all his data from pensioner groups he will be able to judge whether the social benefits of free bus travel outweigh the cost.