Free Public Transport

Bus passes in England
If you live in England contact your local council to find out who issues disabled bus passes in your area as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme. You’re eligible for a disabled person’s pass if you live in England and are ‘eligible disabled’.  The Government website www.gov.uk/applyfor-disabled-bus-pass lets you enter your postcode to direct you to more information on your area.  If you live in Greater Manchester and your pass has been issued by Transport for Greater Manchester you can also travel for free on trains and Metrolink trams in Greater Manchester. There are similar arrangements in other areas.

Bus passes in Wales
If you live in Wales and are aged 60 or over or disabled you may be entitled to free travel within Wales.

Welsh concessionary bus passes are for those who live in Wales and meet one of these criteria:
• are aged 60 or over • disabled – see the categories below 
• injured service personnel or injured service veterans and receive an award under tariffs 1-8 of the War Veterans Compensation Scheme or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

The pass can be used at any time of day. A disabled person may request one companion pass for when they require assistance to travel.

Applying for a pass
The scheme is run by local authorities. Contact your local authority for information about free bus travel and how to apply for a pass.

You will need to provide evidence to your local authority to confirm that you are eligible. Your local authority will issue you with a bus pass (Smartcard) if you are eligible.

Categories of disabled persons
You may qualify for the pass at any age if you come under any of the following categories, to the required level: 
• have sight loss
• are deaf
• cannot speak
• have an impairment with a substantial and long term adverse affect on ability to walk
• are without arms or have long term loss of the use of both arms
• have a cognitive impairment
• would be refused a driving licence due to a condition other than persistent substance misuse
• have a cardiac, locomotor, renal or neurological condition
• receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment 
• receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance.

To find out whether or not you may be eligible you should contact your local authority. You can find out how they determine eligibility by reading the guidance on eligibility on the ‘Guidance to local authorities’ page.

Rail travel in Wales
Where bus services are limited, concessionary travel passes can be used on certain train lines. This is open to all free concessionary travel pass holders in Wales when travelling on these lines. Further details can be found on Arriva Train Wales www. arrivatrainswales.co.uk/ConcessionaryTravel

Trains Taxis in the UK by Jon McVey

Rail
Travel assistance is Network Rail’s service to make rail services more accessible for people with disabilities.  If you have difficulty walking long distances, use a wheelchair or scooter the service can help with getting on and off trains. It is recommended to book at least 24 hours before your journey to give time to make arrangements if for example, the station is not step free.

My experiences have been very good, each time an attendant with a ramp was ready in good time to board the train and my natural apprehension has always been alleviated when someone was waiting at the destination station, although just in case, I always carry the Travel Assistance contact number. 

There are reports where people have had  difficulties because the assistance has not been there or they have the wrong ramp for the type of carriage, but for the most part it
seems to work.

For a list of contacts visit nationalrail.co.uk and search for “Information for disabled passengers”

Taxis

I recently visited London to participate in a research project and was quite apprehensive because it was the first time I had gone in my wheelchair and had been told to get a black cab.  At Euston there was a designated rank and as soon as we arrived a cab pulled up and set up a ramp. It was tight but boarding was not a problem. All cabs also have an intermediate step and high visibility grab handles to help people with limited mobility enter the vehicle. I was impressed that on each occasion when hailing a taxi in the middle of London the first available cab always stopped without hesitation, although admittedly one cabbie was enthusiastic to try his ramp having just completed “the knowledge”.  Apparently all licensed black cabs drivers receive training and their cabs are wheelchair accessible.

Railcard

To see if you qualify for a railcard Visit: www.disabledpersonsrailcard.co.uk/what-is-adisabled-persons-railcard  Or write to: Disabled Persons Railcard, PO Box 6613, Arbroath DD11 9AN