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18
Aug
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP welcomes bus pass extension for disabled people
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has welcomed the government’s announcement that it will allow disabled people across England to use their free bus passes at any time of day from April.
The move is an expansion of a policy Prime Minister Andy Burnham introduced as mayor of Greater Manchester. Disabled passes are currently only valid between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays in most areas.
Mr Burnham said buses were a “lifeline” for many people, adding:
It’s simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day. So we’re fixing that. Disabled people will now have unlimited free bus travel 24/7.
I did it before in Greater Manchester and I’m proud to do it now for the whole country.
Funding for the move will cost £60 million.
Liberal Democrat Mr Gordon has been campaigning on the issue and was due to table a Ten-Minute Rule Bill, which is a type of Private Members’ Bill, when Parliament returns in September.
He said:
Disabilities don’t start at 9 o’clock, neither should disabled bus passes and soon enough they won’t. This is a huge win for the disabled community.
This is the culmination of two years of campaigning, and it belongs to the disabled people in Harrogate, Knaresborough and across the country who told me what these restrictions posed financial and physical barriers.
Jackie Snape, chief executive of Harrogate-based Disability Action Yorkshire said it was “absolutely delighted” with the news and praised Mr Gordon’s campaign.
She added:
“This will make such a difference to disabled people needing to use public transport for work, education, appointments - and getting on with life in general.”
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