Disabled people in England to get 24-hour free bus travel
The change, which has been welcomed by campaign groups, will come into effect in England from April.
Disabled individuals across England will gain access to complimentary 24-hour bus travel starting in April, as announced by the government.
Currently, disabled bus passes are valid only between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays, posing challenges for commuting to work or attending evening events. On weekends and bank holidays, these passes can be used at any time.
This policy shift is projected to benefit approximately one million people and aligns with the government's broader initiatives to alleviate the cost of living and encourage employment. The disability charity Scope lauded the move, stating it would "remove barriers to everyday life."
The government emphasized that bus travel is England's most frequently used mode of transport and serves as a "lifeline for so many." Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed that it was "simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day." He affirmed the government's commitment to rectifying this, drawing a parallel to his previous actions as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Earlier this year, Burnham eliminated time restrictions for disabled pass holders in Manchester, allowing them to utilize the city's bus system, known as the Bee Network, at any hour. "I'm proud to do it now for the whole country," he added.
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough and a vocal proponent of the policy, hailed it as a "huge win for the disabled community" and the "culmination of two years of campaigning."
However, a Conservative Party spokesman urged the prime minister to "come clean" on the funding mechanism for "this growing list of policies," suggesting it was "simply the shuffling around of existing departmental budgets."
James Barber, from the disabled-led charity Transport for All, described the announcement as a "real win for disabled people" and "very welcome news." He also noted its potential to end "the confusing and unjust postcode lottery caused by different rules in different areas."
Kurtis Crossthorn from Sheffield, who is registered blind, anticipated the change would be "very welcome" and would bring a sense of "relief" and being "heard" to many disabled people. He added, "Disabled people need to get to work and need to live their life as well," highlighting buses as a "lifeline," especially for those in the community unable to drive.
The new regulations will take effect on April 1st. The government stated that the £60 million scheme will be financed through the budgets of the Department for Transport and the Department for Work and Pensions.
As part of its focus on reducing the cost of living, the government has previously introduced free bus travel for under-16s during August and a £2 bus fare cap for single tickets, which bus companies have been encouraged to adopt. Other measures include cutting business rates for pubs and eliminating VAT from electricity bills.
In other parts of the UK, disabled people in Scotland and Wales already enjoy free bus travel. In Northern Ireland, blind individuals and disabled war veterans travel for free, while other disabled bus pass holders pay half-fare.