Starting from April, disabled individuals in England will enjoy unrestricted free bus travel anytime during the day, as announced by the government. This significant policy change, effective on 1 April, aims to alleviate living costs and boost employment opportunities for disabled persons. Currently, the travel concessions are limited to between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays, but are more flexible during weekends and bank holidays.
Impact and Reception
The initiative is expected to benefit approximately one million people and has been welcomed by disability advocacy groups like the charity Scope, which highlights that the changes will “remove barriers to everyday life.” James Barber from Transport for All described it as a “real win for disabled people,” noting it will end the “confusing and unjust postcode lottery” across different regions.
The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, underscored the necessity of the change, deeming it unfair that disabled people face restrictions on bus travel. Reflecting on similar policies he introduced as mayor of Greater Manchester earlier in the year, where such time restrictions were lifted in the Bee Network, Burnham expressed pride in extending this across England. Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon, a strong supporter of the policy, hailed the change as a “huge win” after two years of campaigning.
Funding and Criticism
The government plans to allocate £60 million to support this initiative, pulling from the Department for Transport and the Department for Work and Pensions. Nonetheless, a Conservative Party spokesperson challenged the viability of funding the expanding list of programmes with existing resources, describing it as budget shuffling.
Broader Context
This development comes amid a series of government measures aimed at reducing living expenses, including free bus travel for under-16s in August and a £2 cap on bus fares for single tickets. Other fiscal reliefs include reducing business rates for pubs and abolishing VAT on electricity bills. Across the UK, Scotland and Wales already offer free bus travel to disabled individuals, while in Northern Ireland, special provisions exist for blind people and disabled war veterans, along with half-fare discounts for other disabled pass holders.
Kurtis Crossthorn, a registered blind Yorkshire resident, embraced the announcement, saying it would provide relief and recognition, pointing out that buses are crucial for disabled individuals unable to drive, enabling them to maintain their livelihoods and engage with society.
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.