United Kingdom: Disabled people across England will be able to use their bus passes for free at any time of day from April 1, under new government plans aimed at removing transport barriers and reducing living costs.
Currently, disabled bus passes can generally be used for free travel between 9:30am and 11pm on weekdays. Pass holders can use the passes at any time on weekends and bank holidays.
The government estimates that around one million people could benefit from the change. The reform is also intended to make it easier for disabled people to travel to work, attend evening events and access essential services without facing additional transport costs.
The disability charity Scope welcomed the announcement, saying the removal of time restrictions would help eliminate barriers to everyday life.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham remarked that disabled people should not be prevented from travelling because their passes are subject to specific hours. The change follows an earlier decision in Greater Manchester, where restrictions were removed for disabled bus pass holders using the Bee Network.
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon, who has campaigned for the policy, described the announcement as a major victory for the disabled community and the result of two years of campaigning.
The policy has also received support from disabled-led charity Transport for All. James Barber of the organisation said the change could help end the postcode lottery created by different travel rules in different parts of England.
The government said the £60 million scheme will initially be funded through the budgets of the Department for Transport and the Department for Work and Pensions. Work and Pensions Minister Lilian Greenwood said the measure would be an indefinite commitment, with future funding to be considered through government spending reviews.
The Conservative Party questioned how the government would finance the policy, arguing that existing departmental budgets were being rearranged to fund the measure. Disabled people in Scotland and Wales already have access to free bus travel. Northern Ireland provides free travel for blind people and disabled war veterans, while other disabled bus pass holders receive half-fare travel.
The English government has also introduced other measures aimed at reducing transport costs, including free bus travel for under-16s during August and encouraging bus operators to participate in a £2 single-fare cap.
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