Will passengers aged 65 and over be able to travel for free?

According to the statement made by the Ministry, Minister Göktaş made remarks regarding the debates over whether elderly individuals aged 65 and over and disabled citizens with a disability report of 40 percent or more, who benefit from the right to free travel, would only be transported for free on certain days of the month.

Göktaş stated that the monthly income support payments made to owners of urban private public buses and maritime transport vehicles that carry disabled and elderly citizens for free have been ongoing since 2015, regulated within the framework of the relevant law, and expressed that the decision to carry free passengers only between the 1st and 4th of the month is contrary to the law.

Reminding that the support payments were increased by 100 percent with two increases made by the Ministry in 2023, Göktaş said, "Taking into account the grievances of our tradespeople along with the recent discussions, we are continuing our close work with our Ministry of Treasury and Finance regarding an increase to be made next year to improve income support."

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE MINISTRY AND THE ALL-PRIVATE PUBLIC BUSES UNION CONTINUE

Stating that negotiations between the Ministry and the All-Private Public Buses Union regarding the income support paid within the scope of free travel are ongoing, Minister Göktaş noted the following:

"In our negotiations, we have made significant progress by displaying an open and sensitive approach to cooperation in order to support the participation of every individual, especially our disabled and elderly citizens, in social life equally, fully, and without discrimination. At the point we have reached, we have come to the final stage in the regulatory amendment work regarding the inclusion of private public buses that do not benefit from income support payments due to not having a standing passenger permit in their license, despite actually carrying free passengers.

The fact that private public buses that do not benefit from income support will also be able to benefit from the support will be a fair practice that will relieve our tradespeople. We will continue to support the practice of free transportation of our elderly aged 65 and over and our disabled citizens in urban public transport."

News Source: Hibya Haber Ajansı