Updated bus pass with added benefit

Mrs_Ryan

My Mum has one (she has multiple serious disabilities) but my Dad (who has emphysema) doesnt. (This is Tyne and Wear) but my Mum can only use public transport when someone is with her anyway as she uses a scooter which arent allowed in public transport in the North East so if she wants to use public transport she needs to use her wheelchair - she has had the entitlement for quite a while, she had the entitlement on her previous local pass I seem to recall as I used to take her out all the time on it.

System

Being the O/P, it has been interesting to see how this post has panned out. Clearly some councils do and some don't make people aware of the "c" companion feature.

I'd suggest anyone that has the "C" on their card, assume a companion can travel free and simply show the card and say TWO please. Speak with the voice of authority (not rude, but simply "I know my rights" kinda voice).

What I have discovered over the last week or so is this:-

When the free bus pass became available, it was nationwide "off-peak" only, ie from 9.30am (or thereabouts), but now those councils that had decided that wasn't neccessary and allowed all day free travel, have had a re-think or costing exercise and many are in the process of withdrawing this early free travel so in effect, it would appear that all of us, or at least most of us, are now have to get used to the fact that we are about to experience what was intended right from the start, that is free off peak travel from 9.30am (or thereabouts).

It's not that we are losing the anything, as we will still be getting it, it's just the "extra" they are taking back. (in my opinion).

gazroe

hello everyone i am a bus driver and just thought i would explain a few things.
the all england passes are valid 4 travel between the hours of 9.30am-11.00pm on ANY local bus service in england. they are not valid in scotland or wales but the scottish n welsh passes are not valid in england.

the passes are issued by your local county council who may have extras which include travel early or companion passes, but this is where it can get confusing so will use my local county notts as an example.

customer A has a companion pass and can travel anywhere within notts with a companion with no charge.
they can also travel out of notts ie into south yorkshire again with no charge BUT when they want to travel from south yorkshire back to notts the companion pass is NOT valid and the companion has to pay.
the reason 4 this is because of who is paying 4 the travel, which is the county in which the ticket is issued. because the companion is an add on by notts county council , south yorkshire will not pay 4 the companion because they dont have to. the same applys to most countys across england

the reality is, if you get on a bus with the companion pass regardless of where you are travelling from and to the bus driver will just give u 2 tickets as it takes too long to explain why its not valid.
hope this helps
G

System

Yes Gasroe it does, thanks.

So, a clarification regarding in and out of Borough Council limits and an understandable one.

Stay tuned gasroe, we made need you again.

As I clicked, I thought of another headache for some which is :-

wheelchairs/mobility walkers/shopping buggies/baby buggies/prams

Gone are the days when a mother would hold a child and collapse the pushchair as it is used to ferry food etc.
Gone are the days when people could read a sign that says for the elderly/disabled'

What's your take on this?.

gazroe

no probs will help in any way i can

Indie_Kid

islandman wrote: »

Gone are the days when people could read a sign that says for the elderly/disabled'

But many of us are young and have invisible disabilities. I admit I will stand if I've got my laptop bag with me; but needed to sit down on Friday (didn't have to ask, thankfully) because I felt unsteady on my feet.

I've had someone ask me if I could read the sign - I'm beginning to wish I'd said no. As someone who is young and disabled, I do have as much right to sit there as someone who might be older and disabled.

Yes, I can stand (struggled on Friday, as I had some stuff done to my eyes) but if I stand in the designated area (well, the wheelchair/buggy bit) I can only do this if the talking thing is on.

System

I take your point.

My wife is 57 and looks great. She dresses well and does me proud, yet she is disabled is as much as she can't walk six paces without falling over, due to a total loss of balance 6 yrs ago (shingles infection on her labryinth), hence the walking aid.

alared

This thread may be of interest as well.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1864439&page=8

Edinburghlass_2

McKneff wrote: »

What annoys me is that although Scottish people can use their bus passes in England we, the English cant use them in Scotland, not really fair (or fare :rotfl:) sorry:o

Not correct I'm afraid, the pass can be used all over Scotland and into England to say Carlisle and out by return but once there it can't be used on the buses in England.

summerof0763 wrote: »

hi,i am in scotland,i am on higher rate mobility,my card has "c" on bottom corner,but i have never been told if i can have someone else get on free with me,my daughters always pay,should they be getting on free??

Your C pass can be used by you and a companion for free across Scotland so next time just say to the driver its a C pass and this is your companion.

starchild1972

Actually Gazroe,
unsubsidised local routes run by private bus companies do not have to accept the passes because the companies don't get the money back.
DH found this out when he was looking at obtaining an operators license for part of a project.