Concessionary bus travel.

allow_2

Just had letter from County Council transports section at County Hall Norwich stating that as of 1st April i will no longer be able to use my buss pass for a companion for free ( i have the C+ bus pass) and they will now have to pay in full. Also it can now only be used between 9.30am-11pm (was 8.30am before).

This will have quite an effect for me as i often travel with a friend who accompanies me when i need to go places and now i will have to pay for her (as i think its only fair as she is doing me a favour by coming places with me, rather than her paying herself).

It states at the bottom that the council regrets having to make these changes but they are due to the reduced budget available to run the scheme.

This is very dissapointing and i wonder whether theres the possibility of it being reinstated in the future?

Richie-from-the-Boro

allow wrote: »

Just had letter from County Council transports section at County Hall Norwich stating that as of 1st April i will no longer be able to use my buss pass for a companion for free ( i have the C+ bus pass) and they will now have to pay in full. Also it can now only be used between 9.30am-11pm (was 8.30am before).

This will have quite an effect for me as i often travel with a friend who accompanies me when i need to go places and now i will have to pay for her (as i think its only fair as she is doing me a favour by coming places with me, rather than her paying herself).

It states at the bottom that the council regrets having to make these changes but they are due to the reduced budget available to run the scheme.

This is very dissapointing and i wonder whether theres the possibility of it being reinstated in the future?

That's a crystal ball question - every possibility of being re-instated in the future, equally, every possibility of being made even more financially draconian in the future. My guess, [ current government term ] if it only stays as it is you will be doing very well.

vixen1500

allow wrote: »

Just had letter from County Council transports section at County Hall Norwich stating that as of 1st April i will no longer be able to use my buss pass for a companion for free ( i have the C+ bus pass) and they will now have to pay in full. Also it can now only be used between 9.30am-11pm (was 8.30am before).

This will have quite an effect for me as i often travel with a friend who accompanies me when i need to go places and now i will have to pay for her (as i think its only fair as she is doing me a favour by coming places with me, rather than her paying herself).

It states at the bottom that the council regrets having to make these changes but they are due to the reduced budget available to run the scheme.

This is very dissapointing and i wonder whether theres the possibility of it being reinstated in the future?

We are also in Norfolk, but not had any official notification - just one of the bus drivers mentioned it.

I suppose we just have to be grateful that we were allowed it in the past if it was not a recognised national thing. Thou previously as a carer we did used to have a pass of our own.

But never mind I am sure that my rise in C.A. will more than cover my bus fares lol - joking of course.

I know that we were allowed to use the buses 1hr earlier than a lot of places - so only now being able using it after 9.30 cant be moaned about.

kingfisherblue

My son has a bus pass for disabled people. He is twelve and receives HRC and HRM. In Merseyside, there is no companion element. Also, you do not apply to the local council. Instead, you have to fill in an application form for Merseytravel and submit it. You then have to have a medical, regardless of your conditions. This involves a trip into Liverpool - so for us, a train ride, followed by a ten minute walk. My son uses a wheelchair, but for those who don't and who have mobility problems, I would imagine it is a fair distance.

Once in the offices, you do not necessarily find out the same day whether you qualify, but we did. My son was issued with a lifelong pass, to be updated every three years. His photo was taken whilst we were there and the card was issued.

Merseytravel cards can be used on buses, trains and ferries in Merseyside, and also slightly further afield such as Chester.