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Starting from April, disabled individuals in England will have the opportunity to travel by bus without any time restrictions, according to a recent government announcement. Currently, the use of disabled bus passes is limited on weekdays to between 09:30 and 23:00. This restriction has posed challenges for many, preventing access to work or evening engagements during earlier or later hours. However, these passes can already be used throughout the entire day during weekends and bank holidays.
The proposed change is expected to benefit about one million people and aligns with the government’s broader agenda to ease the cost of living and promote employment. Emphasizing the importance of accessible transportation, the government highlighted that bus travel remains the most popular form of transit in England, serving as a crucial resource for numerous individuals. Disability charity Scope praised the initiative, noting that it would “remove barriers to everyday life” for many.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged the unfairness of the current system, saying, “It was simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day.” He referenced his prior efforts as the mayor of Greater Manchester, where he had already eliminated time restrictions on disabled bus pass use within the Bee Network system earlier this year. “I’m proud to do it now for the whole country,” he added. Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough and a key advocate for this policy, described it as a “huge win for the disabled community” and a result of “two years of campaigning.”
On the other hand, a Conservative Party spokesperson questioned the prime minister about the funding of this initiative, suggesting it was merely “shuffling around of existing departmental budgets.” Meanwhile, advocacy voices such as James Barber from Transport for All welcomed the news, calling it a “real win for disabled people” and praising the move for helping to end the “confusing and unjust postcode lottery caused by different rules in different areas.” Kurtis Crossthorn, a blind resident of Sheffield, expressed relief and optimism, saying, “Disabled people need to get to work and need to live their life as well,” emphasizing the importance of buses as a “lifeline.”
The new policy will officially go into effect on 1 April, funded by a £60 million allocation from the Department for Transport and the Department for Work and Pensions. This measure is one part of a broader government effort to alleviate financial pressures on citizens. Previous initiatives have included free bus travel for under-16s during August and a £2 bus fare cap for single tickets, alongside reductions in business rates for pubs and the removal of VAT on electricity bills. In other parts of the UK, Scotland and Wales already provide free bus travel for disabled individuals, while Northern Ireland offers free travel for blind people and disabled war veterans, with others holding disabled passes receiving half-price fares
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