National bus passes: wheels on the bus won’t go round for all

27/12/2007

2008 marks the advent of a free national bus pass for retired people being introduced in April. But Help the Aged are warning that not everyone will be able to benefit from the new passes.

Says Anna Pearson, the charity’s policy manager: “For many older people, the new national bus pass will open up opportunities they might not otherwise have had. This will be good news for the 1.4 million older people in the UK who feel socially isolated.
 
“But not all older people will be able to make use of the bus pass, either because of mobility problems or poor local bus services. 45 per cent of those 70 and over have a long term limiting illness and many older people particularly in rural areas lack a regular bus service.
 
“It is essential that local authorities provide flexible alternatives to the bus pass such as taxi tokens or dial-a-ride schemes. Central and local government must work together to ensure no older person is left cut off because the bus pass is unable to serve their needs.”