Free bus travel for disabled people in England to be extended to 24 hours a day

Disabled people in England will be able to travel by bus for free at any time of the day from April, the government has announced.

Currently, disabled bus passes can only be used between 09:30 and 23:00 Monday to Friday, making it difficult for people to get to work or attend evening events. They can be used at any time of the day during the weekend and holidays.

It is thought around a million people could benefit from the change, which is part of the government’s focus on reducing the cost of living and encouraging people to work.

Disability charity Scope said the move would “remove barriers to everyday life”.

According to the government, bus travel is the most popular means of transport in England and a “lifesaver for many people”.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “It is simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day.”

He said the government would change that, as he had previously done in his role as mayor of Greater Manchester.

Earlier this year, Burnham removed time-restricted travel for those with disability passes in Manchester so they could use the city’s bus system, known as the Bee Network, at any time of the day.

“I’m proud to do it now for the whole country,” he added.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough and a leading supporter of the policy, called it a “huge victory for the disability community” and a “culmination of two years of campaigning”.

But a Conservative Party spokesman asked the prime minister to “clarify” how he was going to fund “this growing list of policies.”

“This is simply an alteration of existing departmental budgets,” they added.