As I’m currently unable to drive for health reasons, I’ve applied for a Disabled Person’s Travel Pass to give me free bus travel. Indeed, the letter I received from the DVLA notifying me that I was unfit to drive was sufficient proof that I’m eligible for a bus pass.
I wish I’d known this when I first got my letter through in June. As it was, it took me until mid-August to apply, and then it took around a month for my application to be approved. The card then arrived in the post around a week later. In that time, I’d made a number of bus journeys that would’ve been free, had I received my card sooner.
Applying for your bus pass
Generally, you apply for your bus pass via your local authority’s web site, or in person at their offices. However, some counties, like where we live in West Yorkshire, have county-level passenger transport organisations. Ours is currently called Metro, hence the big red ‘M’ on my card, but they’re in the process of re-branding to the Weaver Network. This in the same way that Transport for Greater Manchester is now more commonly known as the Bee Network, thanks to Andy Burnham’s time as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Information about bus passes for blind and disabled people is here on Metro’s web site, if you live in West Yorkshire.
If you think you’re eligible for a disabled bus pass, then generally your local authority is a good starting point. Their web site should signpost you elsewhere if it’s handled by another organisation.
What your bus pass entitles you to
As I write this in October 2026, having a Disabled Person’s Travel Pass entitles me to free bus travel between the hours of 9:30am and 11pm, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays, across the whole of England. However, one of the first things that Andy Burnham announced when he became Prime Minister was that time restrictions would be abolished from the 1st April 2027. That means that, in just under six months time, my disabled bus pass will be valid 24 hours per day, across England. Because we’re disabled, not werewolves, and sometimes disabled people have places we need to be before 9:30am. Some of my hospital appointments require more than one bus to get to, and each journey is £2.50, or £6 for an all-day ticket when my bus pass isn’t yet valid.
Individual counties and local authorities can also offer additional benefits to bus pass holders from their area. For example, on buses in West Yorkshire, my pass can be used until midnight, rather than 11pm. I can also use it on train journeys within West Yorkshire, although not for free travel – instead, I get half price off-peak travel. This doesn’t help me with commuting, although my Disabled Person’s Railcard is valid at peak times so I can still use that on the way to work. I’ve used my 50% bus pass discount once on a weekend recently, and most online ticket booking web sites seem to have an option to use it as a railcard when buying tickets.
If you live in Greater Manchester and have a Disabled Person’s Travel Pass, then I believe it’s already valid 24 hours per day within Greater Manchester. In effect, come April 1st, Andy Burnham is rolling out one of his Manchester mayoral policies nationally. You also get free off-peak travel on all trams and trains within Greater Manchester.
Within my local authority area, it can also be used at many of the places that a Passport to Leisure card can be used, which offers discounts at council-run gyms, and discounted entry to some local attractions.
Eligibility
Whereas the Disabled Person’s Railcard has wide eligibility – I was able to get one simply because I’m a hearing aid user – you have to me more profoundly disabled to qualify for a Disabled Person’s Travel Pass. As mentioned, having the DVLA declare you medically unfit to drive is one such criteria. For West Yorkshire, here’s the list along with the evidence required.
My pass has only been issued for a year; hopefully, I’ll have no more seizures and will be back to driving, at which point I’ll no longer be eligible for my bus pass. Which would be okay – when I could drive, I rarely used the bus. The few occasions that I did use it were when our car was in the garage, or I needed to get home when all the trains were cancelled. But at the moment, I’m using buses at least weekly, and so having a free bus pass is a great help.
By the way, if you’re wondering why I have blanked out my face on my card it’s because:
- It’s an awful photo
- The same photo is on my passport
