Yes, buses in South Yorkshire were subsidised. If you went into West Yorkshire bus fares sky rocketed (well, you know, relatively). Huddersfield bus came through Kexbrough so you could catch it just over the hill to Scissett baths. Bus fare was suddenly 30p.
I remember when the X32?? Express to Sheffield was 26p and run by Tracky. I also remember once the last late evening one took 27 mins!!! from Sheffield bus station to Barnsley bus station (it normally took 30-35mins) Driver was clearly in a hurry to finish his shift! Doubt you could do that in a Ferrari nowadays with traffic, cameras and traffic lights. Came through Brightside at about 50-55, gunned it up the M1 and came down Dodworth road at about the same speed. I remember he hit every traffic iight (not that there were that many) at green. It was surreal. Of course, all that was before the Thatcher Govt scrapped the cheap subsidised fares and prices and traffic levels soared.
I'm sure there was some element of your council tax (rates) that was used to subsidies this. Used to be 2p for children and 5p adults. I thought it was anywhere in South Yorkshire for that price. On a Yorkshire Traction buses. I once caught the Huddersfield bus one Sunday for a joy ride. Paid my 2p but then got kicked off in Skelmanthorpe as we'd gone across the boundary into West Yorkshire. Couldn't catch a bus home as I only had 2p on me to get back. Ended up walking and thumbing a lift. Was about 9-10 year old at the time.
Who as ever rend-ez-vou'd with a girl at the thripny bit int bus station.... (or a boy for that matter)
I can remember one night when the bus fares were two pence, the reds were at home. I had 2p and my mate had 1p so we walked it from Worsbrough and climbed over the wall at Oakwell, we then found 10p tapped half a pence and bought 10 Number six fags. On the way back we told the conductress (whatever happened to them) we only had 3p and she let us off with the fare...great days
This is interesting... https://www.thestar.co.uk/retro/retro-barnsley-s-stop-go-tram-decisions-1-7258531
I remember when you go catch the bus to Barnsley, then go on to Sheffield, back to Donny and the bus home and have change from 10p. In fact, my £3 paper round money paid for the entire trip out - including lunch and a couple of hours in various arcades
Uncanny!! I’ve just tuned in to this thread and ken Bruce has just put the national express song on radio 2
Last bus stop in Hemsworth was called "windy nook" after the bungalow opposite. It was just over the county boundary, so if we were skint we'd walk up there to get the bus because South Yorkshire fares were much cheaper. Also, can anyone remember when the buses used to pick up on Grove street? Didn't last long but was brilliant.
A number 8 TownLink. I (god knows why) caught it up to the Metrodome when I was a kid. Must have been the shortest route in Barnsley.
No, these busses were matchday ones. They were waiting for us after the final whistle, all lined up down grove street. I'm going back to around 1980.
Thin k shortest route must have been 6 to Rockingham Street some of younger drivers used to be able to do last one in less than a minute
Plus 35p into Sheffield baths and ten bob for large chips, peas and scraps on that row of shops behind ritzy. Less than a quid and that was 13 hours out of the house including School time, dinner, tea and a swim.
I assumed they must have been subsidised. If I remember correctly, when I was a little kid in the early 80's, there was a bus in Sheffield called the Clipper (?) which was completely free. They later stated charging 5p a ride, much to my grandma's dismay.
2p for me and 5p for my mum as others have said. Used to get offered the choice of walking home with sweets, or catch the bus. The newsagents' (Haughes?) main shop was closed at night apart from a little window bus station side where you could get spice (the real meaning of the word), or drinks.
That's how I remember it when I used to come over to see my nanna as a youngster in mid-80s. Would wander round market for a bit then catch a bus up towards Locke Park. Must've been too young/idle to walk back!