A ‘Protest Postcard’ event will be held at 6 pm this Tuesday, August 8, at the Derry GPO on Guildhall Street.
Postcards to fill-out will be available at the event and can be picked up at the Central Library and Foyle Street Bus Station.
Petition: https://www.change.org/p/protect-free-travel-for-over-60s-expand-public-transport
Said People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin: “Opposition to the Department for Infrastructure’s regressive proposal to change the eligibility age for the free public travel Smartpass from 60 to 65 or 66 is widespread.
“Derry City and Strabane District Council unanimously backed our motion opposing the change and opposing restrictions on when and where the Smartpass can be used.
“Into the West, trade unions, student and community groups and organisations representing older people have backed the campaign.
“More than 1000 people have signed the online petition and many more have signed physical petitions.
“A protest at the Derry DfI consultation event, along with very strong messages from those attending made clear to officials the depth of opposition to these changes.
“We are encouraging as many people as possible to join the ‘Protest Postcard’ event 6pm Tuesday 8th August at the Derry GPO.
“The consultation ends on August 24 and we want to make sure the DfI receives as many postcards with individual messages as possible.
“We are in a cost of living crisis and climate crisis. The focus for government should be on expanding free public travel to tackle both, not restricting it.
“It’s not the case we can’t afford to protect Smartpass access and expand free travel. Mountains of money gets spent on weapons that line the pocket of the arms industry. That should be redirected to helping people.
“We encourage as many people as possible to join us to send the DfI ‘protest postcards’ and to join the campaign to defend free travel,” added the Foyleside councillor.
Tags: