help with free bus pass rules

[Deleted User] · 16 June 2019 at 5:34PM

I want to use the York to Helmsley bus service using my bus pass.
There are only a couple of services per day and the one I prefer leaves at 9.28 am from York rail station. The next one is in the afternoon and too late for me to use
I believe that all bus passes can only be used at non peak periods from 9.30 am onwards so
will the bus driver charge me full fare for the quite long and slow journey to Helmsley ? Or would he just take a charge for to the next stop down the line where I would then be eligible for the 9.30 am free bus pass from then on all the way to Helmsley
I have had a bus pass for a few years but have n`t used it much so I m not familiar with the rules

Robin9 · 16 June 2019 at 5:41PM

He should charge you the full fare.

I have a similar timing for a bus so I walk to the next stop and use my pass from there

[Deleted User] · 16 June 2019 at 5:53PM

Thanks Robin, I thought he might. I`ll walk 10 minutes onto the next stop. Its quite a pricey journey I would have thought as it takes over 2 hours .

Stompa · 16 June 2019 at 5:58PM

I'd have thought you should be able to buy a ticket to the next stop, then get off and back on again.

stragglebod · 16 June 2019 at 8:02PM

Which local authority issued your pass? If it's a North Yorks one then according to this site you can use it from 9:00 onwards
https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/senior-persons-bus-pass

If it's an out of area pass then you can use it after 9:30 so you would just need to buy a ticket from where you get on to the first stop due after then. No need to get off and back on again. But chances are the driver will let you go for free anyway if there's not another bus for a while.

Round our way bus pass users are known as twirlies, because they get on at 9:29 and ask 'am I too early?'

martindow · 17 June 2019 at 11:05AM

As has been said some local authorities are more generous letting you use tickets earlier than the national time and in London it can be used 24 hours a day.

My local authority used to allow tickets from 09.00 and the ticket machines gave two or three minutes grace - if the machine accepted the card, drivers would let you on.

If the driver won't let you on offer to buy a ticket to the first stop and then present the card. I've found that sometimes drivers just wave you on and say to touch the card later, especially if there is a line of similarly aged people waiting to get on.

Mr_Singleton · 17 June 2019 at 1:00PM

martindow wrote: »

sometimes drivers just wave you on and say to touch the card later, especially if there is a line of similarly aged people waiting to get on.

That would be shamefully dishonest. Might I also suggest that that is the reason there are only 'a couple of services a day'.

jbuchanangb · 17 June 2019 at 9:28PM

If it is a York City issued pass you can use it from 9.00am
https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20103/travel_passes_and_concession/1486/older_persons_bus_pass

In fact, I think this indicates that in the York area an English bus pass issued anywhere is valid from 9.00am.
This is also true in North Yorkshire, but not in West Yorkshire where 9.30am is the start time.

harz99 · 17 June 2019 at 10:37PM

jbuchanangb wrote: »

If it is a York City issued pass you can use it from 9.00am
https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20103/travel_passes_and_concession/1486/older_persons_bus_pass

In fact, I think this indicates that in the York area an English bus pass issued anywhere is valid from 9.00am.
This is also true in North Yorkshire, but not in West Yorkshire where 9.30am is the start time.

You're reading more into the information given than is there. The Monday to Friday from 0900 refers to passes issued by that council only, and only for use in their own area, similarly with the before 0600 relaxation.

Use of any concessionary bus pass in other areas is always after 0930, simply because it is the local councils that are giving and paying for additional perks for their residents

harz99 · 17 June 2019 at 10:50PM

Robin9 wrote: »

He should charge you the full fare.

I have a similar timing for a bus so I walk to the next stop and use my pass from there

No, the driver should inform you the pass isn't valid until 0930, and offer you a fare to the stop at which the bus arrives at 0930 or just after, or waiting for a later service. Split ticketing in that way is perfectly valid and legal as long as you are on a local bus service.

harz99 · 17 June 2019 at 11:03PM

Houbara wrote: »

Thanks Robin, I thought he might. I`ll walk 10 minutes onto the next stop. Its quite a pricey journey I would have thought as it takes over 2 hours .

Where do you get over 2 hours from? 0928 departing arriving Helmsley 1052 according to the operator Reliance Buses, if you aren't already, you should be aware that due to this route being built around a schools service, on non school days Mondays to Fridays, the Saturday timings operate.

help with free bus pass rules

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