English National Concessionary Travel Scheme
Free National Bus Travel
Since April 2008, concessionary bus travel has been improved to
include national bus travel. Eligible people can get free
off-peak travel on all registered local services.
The National Concessionary Bus Pass is available to men and
women who qualify by age and disabled people of any age
who qualify under the categories listed in the Transport Act
2000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How will the change in age eligibility
announced by the Government affect the date on which I qualify for
a travel concession?
A. The age of eligibility for concessionary travel will
change in line with those changes being made to equalise
eligibility for state pension benefits from April 2010.
As the pensionable age for women increase from 60 to 65 over the
next 10 year period, 2010 to 2020 so too will the age of
eligibility for concessionary travel for both men and women.
Anyone born after 5 April 1955 will not be eligible for
concessionary travel until they reach the age of 65.
Q. How can I work out when I can apply for
concessionary travel?
A. Either select the link below to the Direct Gov pension
age calculator or contact Customer Services, Ryedale District
Council, Ryedale House, Malton, YO17 7HH or telephone us on 01653
600666 ext 226 or 237.
When working out the date of eligibility for concessionary
travel you should select the female gender in all cases regardless
of gender.
Please note that if you are male this date only relates to
eligibility for concessionary travel and not pension
entitlement.
State Pension Age Calculator.
Q. Will the change in age eligibility affect
current pass holders?
A. These changes will not affect anyone already in
possession of a concessionary pass, only those due to turn 60 on or
after 6 April 2010.
Q. How do I apply for a National Bus
Pass?
A. You can apply for a bus pass when you have reached
pensionable age or if you are eligible disabled. For full
details and an application form, either download online, contact
Customer Services on 01653 600666 Ext: 226 or 237 or write to
Ryedale District Council, Ryedale House, Malton, YO17 7HH.
Q. Where can the National pass be
used?
A. The National pass is valid for free bus travel on
all registered local bus services anywhere in England. The pass is
not valid for travel on long distance express coach services, or
for train travel. The pass cannot be used for local bus travel in
Wales or Scotland.
Q. When can I use the National bus
pass?
A. The National pass provides free travel across
England from 9.30am until 11.00pm on weekdays, and all day on
weekends and on bank holidays. Passes issued by North Yorkshire
District Councils and City of York Council will also be valid at
all times except between 6.00am and 9.00am Monday to Friday for
journeys starting within North Yorkshire and City of York only.
Local extensions to the national minimum standard, such as longer
times when the pass is valid, will not be available when travelling
in other areas. This is also likely to apply to other local scheme
enhancements. For example, disabled people who are entitled to
travel with a free fare companion may not be able to do so on
journeys starting outside North Yorkshire or York. In other areas,
only the passholder will be able to travel free.
Applying for a Bus Pass
1. By Online Form
Please download, print and complete the relevant application
form (available from the link on the right)
Return the completed application form by post to:
Customer Services
Ryedale District Council
Ryedale House
Malton
YO17 7HH
together with:
- a recent passport size photograph (please print your name,
address and date of birth on the back)
- proof that you live at the stated address (example: a photocopy
of a recent Council Tax bill, driving licence, tenancy/mortgage
agreement, medical card or current letter from any government
organisation. Bank statements and utility bills are not
accepted.)
- proof of your age (example: a good photocopy of your birth
certificate or pension entitlement or medical card)
- if you are disabled you must also enclose a photocopy of your
Disability Living Allowance letter or other
documentary medical evidence. If you applying on
the grounds of disability you may be asked to provide additional
evidence that you qualify for a travel concession.
- if you are applying for a companion to be included, you must
enclose proof that you are Registered Blind or Partially Sighted or
in receipt of Higher Rate Care or Higher Rate Mobility Component of
Disability Living Allowance or Higher Rate Attendance
Allowance.
All supporting documentation will be returned to you from our
office and your bus pass will be dispatched directly from the
printers after processing.
Please do not send original documents by
post.
2. In Person
You can attend:
Customer Services
Ryedale District Council
Ryedale House
Malton
YO17 7HH
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 16:30
Directions to Ryedale House.
You should bring the following documents with you
- proof that you live at the stated address (example: a photocopy
of a recent Council Tax bill, driving licence, tenancy/mortgage
agreement, medical card or current letter from any government
organisation. Bank statements and utility bills are not
accepted.)
- proof of your age (example: a good photocopy of your birth
certificate or pension entitlement or medical card)
- if you are disabled you must also enclose a photocopy of your
Disability Living Allowance letter or other
documentary medical evidence. If you applying on the
grounds of disability you may be asked to provide additional
evidence that you qualify for a travel concession.
- if you are applying for a companion to be included, you must
enclose proof that you are Registered Blind or Partially Sighted or
in receipt of Higher Rate Care or Higher Rate Mobility Component of
Disability Living Allowance or Higher Rate Attendance
Allowance.
You do not need to bring a photo as you will be photographed as
part of the pass production process.
Once your application is complete your bus pass will be
dispatched to you directly from the printers
Terms and Conditions of use
and Concessionary Bus Pass with Companion Entitlement
- Bus passes that are entered from Ryedale District Council will
be dispatched by post directly from the printers.
- Your pass is valid at any time except between 6.00am and 9.00am
Monday to Friday for journeys starting in North Yorkshire and City
of York. The pass is valid for journeys starting at any time
in Craven District.
- Your pass is valid between 9.30am and 11.00pm Monday to Friday
for journeys starting elsewhere in England. It is valid at
all times on weekends and bank holidays.
- Your pass is valid on all registered local bus services in
England. Ryedale residents may be eligible to use the Ryecat
Ring and Ride community Bus Service. Before you can book a
journey with Ring and Ride you must contact the Ryedat offices on
01653 698888, who will advise you if you are eligible to use the
service. If you are eligible, registration is simple and
quick, a small annual fee will be charged.
- The pass is not valid if it is out of date, illegible, damaged
or altered.
- Use of the pass is subject to the conditions of carriage of the
Operator on whose vehicle the journey does not guarantee any person
the right to a seat on any such vehicle. Bus passes are NOT
valid on rail services, tour buses and express coach services or in
taxis.
- The North Yorkshire Concessionary Fares Partnership reserves
the right to amend the terms of the travel concession scheme and to
withdraw, amend or replace any pass.
- You are obliged to notify Ryedale District Council if you pass
is lost or stolen to enable us to hot list the lost.stolen pass and
prevent the pass being used fraudulently.
- If your pass has been stolen and you can supply a crime
reference number there will be no charge. If your pass has
been lost or damaged there may be a charge depending on the
circumstances.
- You are obliged to notify Ryedale District Council of any
change in circumstances that may affect your eligigility to a bus
pass. You must also contact us and notify any change of
address. If you move out of the Ryedale District you must
return your bus pass, as you are no longer entitled to a concession
from Ryedale District Council.
- Companion Entitlement – Your companion
need not travel with you on every journey, and need not be the same
person. In no circumstances can the
Companion travel without the pass
holder. Fraudulent use of the companion element will
result in the entitlement being withdrawn. The companion
entitlement on you pass is a local enhancement and is not generally
valid for journeys outside North Yorkshire or the City of York,
although there are some limited extensions into the Yorkshire and
Humberside region. Please ask for further details.