Many of Barnets OAP's enjoy free travel using a freedom pass. There are quite a few who live between Mill Hill Broadway and Aerodrome Road on the A41. Now if you are one of these senior citizens and you fancy a nice shopping trip to get a few prezzies for your grandchildren, where do you go?
My guess is that you'd go to Brent Cross shopping Centre on the 186 bus. This bus goes right to the doors of the complex and is highly popular with pensioners on shopping trips. Well at least it used to be. You see Boris Johnsons TFL and Barnets Tory Council have conspired to divert it through Graham Park. It never occurs to people who hurtle around the Borough in shiny limo's on expenses, that many OAP's actually rely on buses.
Wheras before the 186 would drop them to the doors of Brent Cross, now they have a 10 minute walk through a poorly lit underpass and exposed to rain, wind and the elements to the 113 bus stop (which stops on a layby off the A41 on the flyover). Can you imagine trying to do that walk whilst laden with presents?
I spoke to one of these OAP's tonight. He told me that many pensioners had voted for Boris because he promised a better bus service. He told me that they all feel they've been conned. I said I'd write a blog. I asked if he wanted me to say anything in particular. He said "Tell Boris to give us our 186 bus back". Sadly this isn't the only route and these aren't the only pensioners affected by swinging cuts to Boris Johnson's TFL bus service. Why is it with Tory budget cuts it's always the frail and weak who suffer. Don't they ever think what a massive impact even seemingly small changes can have on individuals.
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