Latest news with #buspass
The Sun
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Everyone who is eligible for free bus pass in England as Labour confirms major rule change – and those who will miss out
DEMANDS for fairer travel passes for England's over-60s have been growing stronger. And as Labour confirms a major rule change - who will miss out? 1 Those eligible for a free bus pass in England Currently, people in England that live outside London, only qualify for free off-peak bus travel once they reach state pension age which is currently 66. But in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, residents enjoy this benefit from the age of 60. In response to a parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Dr Al Pinkerton, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood confirmed that English councils can choose to offer additional local concessions, Such as earlier eligibility for free bus passes — but must fund them themselves reports The Star. Lightwood said: 'The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) costs around £700 million annually. 'Any changes to the statutory obligations… would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme's financial sustainability.' Petition surpasses 101,000 signatures The revelation that councils already have this power has given fresh energy to campaigners. A petition calling for the ENCTS to be expanded nationally to include all over-60s in England — not just those in London — has now surpassed 101,000 signatures. The petition argues the current rules are outdated and unfair. It says: 'As people get older, some over 60s drive less and less. The Selfish Travel Trend Annoying Public Transport Users Everywhere 'We believe we need equality on public transport. "It would mean England had the same provision as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.' What does this mean for you? If you're 60 or over and live in a London borough, you can get free travel on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London with an Oyster photocard. But if you're aged between 60 and 66 in England and don't live in London the answer as to when you'll be eligible for free bus travel, could depend on where you live. While there's no national plan yet to lower the threshold, your local council can introduce an over-60s scheme. It all comes down to public pressure and local campaigning. With confirmed government backing for local flexibility, some councils could act — if residents persist on having their voices heard.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Department of Transport issues update on free bus passes for over 60s in England
Local councils in England "do have the power" to lower the age threshold for the older persons' bus pass, the UK Government has confirmed. But lowering the age would "need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme's financial sustainability." Surrey Heath representative MP Dr Al Pinkerton had queried whether an evaluation had been conducted on the "potential merits of extending free bus pass eligibility to people aged over 60," in a written response, the Daily Record reports. Given that concessionary travel falls under devolved jurisdiction, the qualifying age for complimentary bus journeys varies across Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. While Scots aged 60-plus enjoy this benefit, those residing in England typically receive it upon reaching State Pension age. READ MORE: DWP issues update for disability benefit claimants owed £1,000s in compensation READ MORE: State Pension age may be increased to 70 following DWP proposals However, in the written response, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, explained that 'local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility'. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here It comes after a petition online calling for bus passengers in England to be given the same financial benefits as those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland received more than 100,000 signatures. Mr Lightwood said: 'The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. 'The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme's financial sustainability. 'However, local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility. Additional local concessions are provided and funded by local authorities from local resources.' He also said that the UK Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025/26 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243m for bus operators and £712m allocated to local authorities across the country. He added: 'Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services for passengers can be used in whichever way they wish. This could include extending the discretionary concessions available.' More than 101,200 people signed the online petition supporting calls for changes to be made to the ENCTS and bring it into line with the same service provided by the Scottish Government. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Petition creator Karen Hickman argues the current scheme is 'unjust' and calls for 'equality for everyone over 60'. The campaigner explained people in England, living outside London, are not entitled to free bus travel until they reach State Pension age - 66 for both men and women - which she believes has 'changed dramatically.' The 'extend free bus travel for people over 60 in England' petition states: 'We call on the Government to extend free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England outside London. We believe the current situation is unjust and we want equality for everyone over 60. 'Currently, people in England who do not live in London are not entitled to free bus travel until they reach the state pension age, which we believe has changed dramatically. As people get older some over 60s drive less and less, therefore we believe we need equality on public transport. 'It would mean England had the same provision as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.'
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Swindon sight loss charity chair on five-county bus pass trek
A woman who is registered blind is to embark on a charity challenge with her husband, crossing five counties in five days using just her disability bus pass and Harrison and husband Uan said the challenge, which starts on 26 August, was inspired by the BBC programme Race Across the World, where people travel within a strict budget. They are raising money for Swindon Bats a charity which helps visually impaired people in the town access sport and social events. The couple will travel to Penzance and then aim to walk and travel by bus to return to Swindon. They have not planned accommodation, so will find it along the way but are also taking a tent. They will take the train to Penzance before navigating back through Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire in five Harrison has done other challenges before but said they wanted "up our games a bit".She was registered blind in 2021 and previously told the BBC Swindon Bats had helped her deal with her sight loss. She now is the charity's chairperson and in 2023 raised £2,000 with a coastal path walking challenge."It's literally blind as bats. It's our humour. We just love a bit of banter" she explained. The fan of Race Across the World added her challenge was also about showing how valuable bus passes were to those with visual impairments. "We're trying to show using your disabled bus pass to get as far as you possibly can," she said. "We hope we can show people what we're made of Harrison added: "When life throws you something as difficult and as challenging as sight loss you can go two ways about it. You can turn away from the world or you can try and embrace the change as best you can."
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Nearly half a million children sign up for cheap bus travel
The number of children using Jersey's bus company has risen by almost half a million since a cheaper bus pass was AvanchiCard scheme gives children under 18 access to unlimited use of the service for £25 a States voted to approve the plans in December 2021 as part of the Jersey Government Plan. Kevin Hart, director of LibertyBus, said 1.1m children used the school buses in 2024, up from 650,000 in 2021. Despite having reservations at the start, Mr Hart said the scheme had been "hugely successful"."I wasn't in favour because I knew young people would catch a bus for one or two stops, and then get off," he told BBC Radio Jersey."But now 20% of our passengers are children, which is a really good thing because they are the future bus users."Mr Hart added that the fact the school buses are so full means fewer cars are on the roads for the school run."[Children] accept that the bus is convenient and it's actually given parents so much more freedom. They don't have to pick them up or drop them off at school," he said.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Disabled commuter calls for bus pass rule change
A campaigner has called for time restrictions on disability bus passes to be scrapped. Hans Gording said current rules which allow those eligible to travel for free between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays needed changing. "We get the carrot of the free bus pass but then we get beaten up by the stick because we are not allowed to travel when normal commuters travel," he said. A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said local authorities had the power to extend the passes, with 77% of councils offering free travel before 09:30. Mr Gording, who works for Harrogate-based charity Disability Action Yorkshire, has Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) and can no longer drive from his home in Knaresborough to his workplace in Harrogate so uses public transport to get to work. "It's almost the assumption that disabled people don't work, as most businesses start work from 9am but you can't travel before 9am," he said. In York and North Yorkshire, disabled passengers can travel for free from 09:00, but in neighbouring West Yorkshire they cannot travel for free until after 09:30. Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said he had spoken with the government about the issue. "At the moment we have a postcode lottery across England, in different places you have different restrictions on the times that people who have a disabled bus pass can use it. "We know many people want to use them to go to hospital appointments, to go to work, to employment, to education and training and, at a time when people are worried about potential cuts to disability benefits, the restrictions on those bus passes just adds to that additional cost." A DfT spokesperson said: "We fully recognise bus passes are vital to many and provide access to job opportunities, essential services, and keep people connected. "Local authorities have the power to extend the times when disabled passholders can use their concessionary bus passes locally, and 77% offer free travel before 9.30am. "We're already in the process of making ambitious reforms to improve bus services for passengers, supporting local areas to improve reliability and helping to cap fares." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
