Sources close to one small local bus company tell me that they are owed thousands of pounds by the council to pay for free travel by the over 60s, which has been so enthusiastically taken up
Many people now use theirs to travel to hospital appointments. Gives them back a bit of dignity & independence, not having to rely on someone else to drive them (surprising numbers of clinic appointments come with an instruction not to drive oneself). Another benefit is, presumably, less pressure on scarce hospital parking spaces
