Disabled people in England will be able to use their bus passes for free at any time of day from April 1 next year, as the government removes all time restrictions on the passes. The change, announced by Andy Burnham, will mean that the current weekday limit of 9.30am to 11pm is scrapped, allowing disabled pass holders to travel during the morning commute and at weekends. The move is expected to cost £60 million, funded from existing budgets of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Transport (DfT).
Ending the Time Restrictions
Currently, most disabled bus pass holders in England can only travel for free between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays. From April 1, all time limits will be removed, meaning the passes can be used for the morning commute and weekend travel too. The announcement was made by Andy Burnham, who previously scrapped the time restrictions for disabled people in Greater Manchester in March.
Burnham said: 'Buses are a lifeline for so many people – making it easier to get to work, education and healthcare. It's simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day. So we're fixing that.'
Impact on Employment and Education
The government says the move will help open up access to workplaces, education and training, amid concern about the growing number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: 'For too long, disabled people have held a free bus pass in their pocket that didn't always get them to work. Now we're changing that. By removing these time restrictions, we're helping disabled people access jobs, training, and other opportunities at any time of the day.'
A number of other local authorities, including Bath and North East Somerset, already offer around-the-clock free bus travel for disabled bus pass holders. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the measure would bring an end to a 'postcode lottery' resulting from some local authorities offering it independently. She added: 'We are making this change because we've listened to disabled people, and we know the importance of buses to local communities. These passes are a lifeline for so many, helping them stay connected and get to work and appointments, and it's only right they receive the same treatment, no matter their postcode.'
Eligibility for Disabled Bus Pass
People can be eligible for a disabled bus pass if they are blind or partially sighted; profoundly or severely deaf; without speech; unable or virtually unable to walk due to a disability; without arms, or unable to use both of their arms; have a learning disability; or would not be able to get a driving licence on medical grounds. The change will come into effect on April 1, and the government says it will be funded from existing budgets, with no additional cost to local councils.
