Free bus pass scheme

Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

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Assisted travel and bus passes
Free bus pass scheme

Free bus pass scheme

The new national bus pass scheme, which was introduced on 1 April 2008, allows anyone over 60 or eligible disabled to enjoy free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England. This replaces the concessionary bus pass scheme which operated for the last two years and had more limited travel options.

Under the new scheme the free travel period funded by the Government starts from 9.30am. The old scheme allowed travel from 9am but this was at the Vale's discretion and was paid for out of the Council Tax. Under the new scheme the only discretionary element is free travel for companions of certain disabled pass holders, as no other concessions could be funded by the budget. However the greater flexibility of the new scheme should more than make up for the loss of half an hour's travel time.

Under the new scheme a nationally recognised pass is needed. If you have not yet received your new pass, you can continue to use your old pass within the district until your new one arrives. If anyone has a genuine need to travel outside of the district via bus before they receive their new pass they should contact the Vale on 0845 3006129 and arrangements will be made for them to be able to carry out their journey free of charge using a "temporary national pass".

If you have any further queries please call 0845 3006129.

If your 60^th birthday is on the way please get in touch with the Council using the contact details on the right for information about how to apply for a pass.

Who is entitled to a free bus pass?

Everyone over the age of 60
Blind or partially sighted persons
Profoundly or severely deaf persons
A person without speech
A person who has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to walk
A person who does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms
A person who has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
A person who would, if he applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have his/her application refused pursuant to Section 92 of that Act (physical fitness)
If the applicant is registered as blind with Oxfordshire County Council and/or are a wheelchair user, then a companions bus pass is available to enable a friend or carer to receive the full fare reduction while travelling with the applicant.

Eligible people must reside in the Vale of White Horse District area.

When can I use my pass?

The bus pass may be used any time on a Saturday or Sunday or on any day which is a bank holiday in England. The pass may be used between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday.

How do I apply for a pass?

Download the application form from the related documents section on the right of the page and return the form with a recent passport sized photograph (with your name printed on the back) and valid proof of eligibility to Assisted Travel, Third Floor, Tower Court, Enterprise Business Park, Coventry, CV6 5NX.

For more information about the national scheme, including a series of frequently asked questions and answers, please see this page of the Department of Transport website.