2008 Bus Pass Scheme Summary
What's new from 1st April 2008
in England from 1 April 2008 everyone aged 60 or over and eligible disabled people will be entitled to free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England. Local authorities will still be able to offer further benefits to their residents, but these will only apply for travel in your local area and not everywhere.
In Wales, if you're over 60, you're entitled to a free bus pass from your local authority. You can use it at any time of the day and are entitled to travel on local bus services in any council area.
In Scotland everyone over 60 is entitled to free, local bus and scheduled long-distance coach services at any time of the day, including the morning rush hour. This scheme is run by Transport Scotland and you will need to apply for an Entitlement Card to travel for free.
Discount Fares on National bus and coach travel
The National Express coach network in England and Wales, and Citylink in Scotland, can take you to most places in the UK. In England and Wales, if you're over 60, you automatically qualify for routesixty fares. This means you can travel half price on most National Express services. To find out more, telephone 08705 808 080.
In Scotland, if you're over 60, Scottish Citylink offers Senior Specials, a range of discounted fares for the over 60s that regularly changes. If you have a concessionary travel card, you may be able to travel free on some of their services. To find out more, telephone 08705 505 050.
Disability - Eligeable Categories
There are seven categories of disability under which a person can be entitled to concessionary bus travel. An eligible person is someone who:
is blind or partially sighted,
is profoundly or severely deaf,
is without speech,
has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk,
does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms,
has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning, or
would, if they applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have their application refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
