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Closed Change England’s disabled bus pass so it can be used at any time on weekdays

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We urge the Government to change the English national concessionary travel scheme (ENCTS) so the disabled bus pass can be used at any time, including before 9:30am on weekdays.

We believe it could allow all disabled people to access key services, education, and job opportunities, and contribute positively to society.

We would like this change so disabled people can use the pass before 9:30am, as we think it could ensure young people with disabilities can reach schools and colleges on time, promoting equal educational opportunities. It could allow adults with disabilities to maintain employment and enhance punctuality. We believe this change could foster independence, social inclusion, and increased productivity, leading to economic benefits and potential public cost savings.

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  • Petition closed

  • Related activity

    Government responds to petition the use of disabled bus passes during peak hours

    The Government has responded to a public (paper) petition calling for disabled people to use their bus passes at all times of day, including during peak hours, to promote fairness, independence, and equal access to public transport. The petition was presented to the House of Commons by Tom Gordon MP on behalf of residents of North Yorkshire.

    The petition asks the House of Commons to urge the Government to allow disabled people to use their bus passes at all times of day, including during peak hours, to promote fairness, independence, and equal access to public transport.

    In response to the petition's request, the Government states that they are committed to improving bus services and maintaining the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), which offers free off-peak bus travel to eligible groups between 9.30am and 11.00 pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays.

    The duration of the concessionary period was set out in the Transport Act 2000. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, including extending the hours of use, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. Therefore, the Government do not have any current plans to remove the time restriction. However, local authorities can extend hours using their own resources, and recent funding boosts aim to support long-term bus service improvements.

    What are public (paper) petitions?

    A public (paper) petition is a petition to the House of Commons presented by an MP.

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  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 10 January 2026.