A group from Derry travelled via train to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Public Transport Policy Division office on Adelaide Street in Belfast on Tuesday to join other campaigners to directly deliver petitions signed by thousands online and in person defending free travel for the over-60s.
A copy of the Derry City and Strabane District Council motion opposing Department for Infrastructure proposals to change the age of SmartPass eligibility from 60 to 65 or 66 and also restrict and limit SmartPass use was also hand delivered.
People Before Profit representative Maeve O’Neill said: “Through protests, petitions, Council motions, public meetings, resident outreach, consultation responses and participation at DfI consultation events, the campaign involving community and student groups, Into the West, Smartpass Equality Campaign, trade unions and many others, has sent a powerful message to Stormont from Derry and right across the North.
“Derry and the North West is underserved when it comes to public transport infrastructure and access. We will fight hard to protect what we have, including SmartPass accessibility, and for free public transport to be extended to others.”
When delivering the responses today, DFI hinted that the response to this consultation has already seen over 6,500 responses, not including the responses delivered today.
A report on the consultation is expected in November.
