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.
From April, disabled individuals in England will be able to utilize bus travel for free at any time of day, according to the government's recent announcement. Currently, disabled bus passes are only valid between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays, which can make it challenging for people to commute to work or attend evening events. The new policy extends eligibility to all times on weekends and bank holidays.
It is estimated that approximately one million people could benefit from this change, which aligns with the government's efforts to cut living costs and promote employment. This initiative is part of the government's commitment to reducing the cost of living and encouraging people into work. The disability charity Scope believes that this move will eliminate barriers to daily life.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized that it was unjust that many disabled people could not use their passes during specific times of the day. Burnham, who previously removed time-restricted travel for disabled pass holders in Manchester, stated that he was proud to extend this access to the entire country. Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon called it a "huge win for the disabled community" and a culmination of two years of campaigning.
However, a Conservative Party spokesman questioned how the prime minister would fund this additional policy, suggesting it was merely reallocating existing departmental budgets. James Barber from the disabled-led charity Transport for All welcomed the news, stating that it would also help end the confusing and unjust postcode lottery resulting from varying rules across different areas.
Kurtis Crossthorn, a registered blind resident of Sheffield, expressed relief at the change, noting that buses serve as a lifeline for many disabled individuals who cannot drive. The new regulations will take effect on April 1st, funded by the budgets of the Department for Transport and the Department for Work and Pensions. Other UK initiatives include free bus travel for under-16s in August, a £2 fare cap for single tickets, and a VAT reduction on electricity bills.
Currently, disabled people in Scotland and Wales have free bus travel, while in Northern Ireland, blind individuals and disabled war veterans travel for free, with others paying half-price with a disabled bus pass.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
