Sir — Recently, comments have appeared in the press to the effect that pensioners travelling free on buses "are a problem." Some people have claimed that pensioners are being subsidised by council taxpayers.

Others allege that pensioners fill the buses so that younger people cannot get on. A few weeks ago, a city councillor said there would be a £400,000 deficit in its budget because pensioners were making so many journeys.

Naturally they make more bus trips than when they had to pay. I myself have twice been to Cambridge on the X5 service. I also go on local buses when it is too wet for me to cycle.

There is nearly always space on the bus. Surely the Government should have foreseen the increase in travel? Yet it only gave local authorities 30 per cent more than the previous year, which was before free travel was made nationwide in April 2008. Nor was the grant ring-fenced.

This was stated at a meeting in London on September 30 attended by representatives from UNISON and from Oxfordshire Pensioners' Action Group. I belong to both these organisations and both have discussed the matter since then, as did the city pensioners' forum on October 7.

Those who moan about pensioners on buses should reflect that, unless they die young, they will be pensioners themselves one day. Nearly all pensioners pay council tax and only get a 25 per cent discount when their partner dies. How would the moaners like to live on £140 a week?

Michael Hugh-Jones, Transport co-ordinator, UNISON, Oxfordshire County Retired Members