Disabled People in England to Get 24-Hour Free Bus Travel

The British government has announced that disabled people in England will gain the right to free bus travel around the clock, removing current restrictions that limit the scheme to daytime and evening hours. The change is set to come into effect in England from April and has been warmly welcomed by disability rights campaign groups.

Current Limitations and the New Policy

Under the existing scheme, eligible disabled people receive free bus travel, but this is restricted to certain hours of the day. The expansion to 24-hour coverage means that disabled passengers will be able to travel at night without charge, addressing a longstanding gap that campaigners argue has limited the independence and mobility of disabled people.

The change was announced alongside broader government efforts to improve public transport accessibility. Campaign groups praised the decision as a significant step forward, noting that many disabled people rely on public transport as their primary or only means of getting around, and that restrictions on overnight travel had particularly affected those who work night shifts or need medical appointments at unusual hours.

Broader Context

The expansion of the disabled persons' free travel scheme is part of a wider set of transport policies aimed at making public transport more inclusive. The government has also indicated that further reviews of transport accessibility are planned, with a focus on rail and taxi services as well as buses. The April implementation date gives local transport authorities time to adjust their systems to accommodate the expanded entitlement.