Older islanders may have to wait longer before they get a free bus pass as the Infrastructure Minister considers the future of the concessionary fares system.
Constable Andy Jehan says the bus pass system is going to be 'looked at' - particularly issuing free passes before retirement age- to keep the service sustainable.
It could mean a change to the current system of free travel from the age of 65.
During a recent scrutiny hearing, the minister revealed that almost half (44%) of LibertyBus users are not paying for their journeys.
It comes as those who do have to pay have seen fares rise by up to 10% this month.
READ: LibertyBus fares increase 8% for adults and 10% for children
Constable Jehan also suggested other adjustments are being considered such as concessionary fares not being available at peak times.
He says sometimes fare-paying customers are unable to get on the bus because it is full.
Scrutiny politician Deputy Alex Curtis said that 44% of bus-users not paying can be both a good and bad thing, depending on 'which side... you're on.'
The Infrastructure Minister said it's about balance:
"You can get a bus pass before you're a pensioner, because we give them out at 65, so that's an area that needs to be looked at
"We also need to consider if we limit the time that some concessionary fares can use the bus.
"We've got people commuting to and from work on concessionary fares, and sometimes fare-paying customers can't get on the bus because the bus is full.
On the recent increase in fares, he said:
"We've got to try and encourage people to use the bus.
"I put the bus company through hoops before I agreed to their price rise, but we have to have a viable and sustainable bus service."
He said it was important that the bus service made sure islanders knew it was a cheaper alternative to parking in town.
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