Bus fares - when is a senior pass accepted in YOUR county?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Wiltshire Live

Bus companies operating in Swindon could be asked to look at extending the hours of free bus travel for older passengers, as well as capping the fares for youngsters.

A motion will be put before councillors at the meeting next week, which, if passed, will mandate the leader to write to bus companies, and specifically Swindon’s Bus Company and Stagecoach, and ask them to work with the council on looking at both issues.

In Swindon, I believe it's the minimum government hours of 09:30 to 23:00 on Mondays to Fridays, and any time on Saturday or Sunday.

In Wiltshire, I believe it's from 09:00 to last timetabled service on Mondays to Fridays, and any time on Saturday and Sunday.

In Bath, I don't know what the starting time is but in theory it's to 23:00 Monday to Friday, and any time Saturday and Sunday.

The 09:00 cutoff in Wiltshire makes huge sense.  Being valid on the final service also makes sense - and both of these are successes for common sense.  Between 09:00 and 09:30,  there used to be a "quiet half hour" after work and school journeys were completed, and before the seniors "could" travel ... yes, I know people with a senior card can pay, but many of them take the view "I cannot travel".   The slightly later start also lead to people who wanted to be out getting on the bus at perhaps 09:15 and buying a short distance journey, then getting off and back on at the first timing point after 09:30, in one instance large numbers of them at a countryside "flagpole" stop on a narrow lane with a sloping verge.

The late bus 273 from Bath at 23:15 (Monday to Friday), 23:20 (Saturday) rarely carries many seniors.  In theory, I believe you have to pay if you join before Shockerwick and can travel on your bus pass if you hold a senior card from Shockerwick onwards.  In practise, I only use this service very, very rarely as a fallback and can't recall being asked to pay.

What is the situation in Somerset? Dorset? Devon? Cornwall? ...

[Bob_Blakey]

Devon: https://www.traveldevon.info/bus/national-bus-pass/using-your-bus-pass/

Cards valid from 09:30 > End Of Service Weekdays

A mildly amusing, but somewhat childish, episode locally was the realisation by Devon County Council that until late last year the weekday card validity was set as after 09:30. However cards were still being accepted by Stagecoach drivers on the 09:30 departure of our local I service. Mr Jobsworth obviously spotted this and Stagecoach were issued with a 'cease & desist' instruction, which was given to all relevant drivers, which stated that any 09:30 card scans would not be reimbursed by DCC^» (Devon County Council - website). For a while intending pax^▸ (passengers) were directed to the next stop where the service departed at 09:31! Sanity has now been restored.

[Chris from Nailsea]

North Somerset (and adjoining counties):

Journeys starting in North Somerset, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire:
 - disabled passes can be used at any time every day of the week, thanks to funding from the Bus Service Improvement Programme
 - older person's passes can be used off-peak from Monday to Friday (before 4am and after 9am) and any time on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays

Local buses starting anywhere else in England:
 - Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 11pm (some areas may allow passes to be used at other times)
 - anytime Saturday, Sunday or public holidays

[GBM]

Cornwall.
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/transport-parking-and-streets/public-transport/national-concession-bus-pass/
When and where can I use my bus pass?
Your bus pass allows you to travel free of charge at anytime on the majority of services within Cornwall, Truro Park and Ride is excluded from the scheme.

You can use your bus pass to travel on bus services outside of Cornwall between 0930 and 2300 Monday to Friday.  You can also use it anytime at weekends and Bank Holidays (not Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or the Isle of Man.) Outside of these times you must pay the standard fare for your journey.

[Clan Line]

In Wiltshire, I believe it's from 09:00 to last timetabled service on Mondays to Fridays, and any time on Saturday and Sunday.

https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/4986/Concessionary-fare-pre-9am-exemptions-effective-from-April-2025

[ChrisB]

Oxfordshire: - different again

Within Oxfordshire you can use your pass during the following times:

    Monday to Friday 9am - 12am (midnight)
    Saturday - anytime
    Sunday - anytime
    Bank Holidays - anytime

[eightonedee]

In West Berks, it's 9-30 am to 11 pm!

[LiskeardRich]

Devon: https://www.traveldevon.info/bus/national-bus-pass/using-your-bus-pass/

Cards valid from 09:30 > End Of Service Weekdays

A mildly amusing, but somewhat childish, episode locally was the realisation by Devon County Council that until late last year the weekday card validity was set as after 09:30. However cards were still being accepted by Stagecoach drivers on the 09:30 departure of our local I service. Mr Jobsworth obviously spotted this and Stagecoach were issued with a 'cease & desist' instruction, which was given to all relevant drivers, which stated that any 09:30 card scans would not be reimbursed by DCC^» (Devon County Council - website). For a while intending pax^▸ (passengers) were directed to the next stop where the service departed at 09:31! Sanity has now been restored.

Our machines were set to accept them from 0927, so we could load for a 0930 departure ready to depart on time.

Plymouth city council issue passes with a + symbol on top right to holders who are over 80 or visually impaired. These passes are valid at all times.

[bobm]

Worse time to catch a bus in Swindon is 09:15.  You seem to get an endless stream of people who then appear surprised their pass is not valid.   I am sure some of them do it regularly in the hope they will be waved on board.

[PrestburyRoad]

In Gloucestershire the rules are the usual 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and any time at weekends and bank holidays.  In addition it can be used before 09:30 on certain routes - I think these are very infrequent rural routes where there otherwise be a big gap or even no other service that day.

[John D]

From Wiltshire Live

Bus companies operating in Swindon could be asked to look at extending the hours of free bus travel for older passengers, as well as capping the fares for youngsters.

A motion will be put before councillors at the meeting next week, which, if passed, will mandate the leader to write to bus companies, and specifically Swindon’s Bus Company and Stagecoach, and ask them to work with the council on looking at both issues.

In Wiltshire, I believe it's from 09:00 to last timetabled service on Mondays to Fridays, and any time on Saturday and Sunday.

The Wiltshire Council website says 09:00 to 11:59pm Monday-Friday in Wiltshire for holders of Wiltshire issued passes, but 09:30 to 11pm in Wiltshire if pass was issued in different county

So acceptance time is different when at a Wiltshire bus stop depending on where it was issued.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The Wiltshire Council website says 09:00 to 11:59pm Monday-Friday in Wiltshire for holders of Wiltshire issued passes, but 09:30 to 11pm in Wiltshire if pass was issued in different county
So acceptance time is different when at a Wiltshire bus stop depending on where it was issued.

My understanding is that I can use my North Somerset bus pass in Wiltshire on weekdays after 9:30am - and I have done so, with no issue on my part.

CfN^▸ (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum).

[paul7575]

I’ve only used my bus pass twice, Gateshead to Newcastle upon Tyne and return. It’s coming up to 6 years old, I live in the middle of Hampshire but can’t remember the last time I used a local bus.  I think Hampshire is on the bog standard timings.

Paul

[froome]

From Wiltshire Live

Bus companies operating in Swindon could be asked to look at extending the hours of free bus travel for older passengers, as well as capping the fares for youngsters.

A motion will be put before councillors at the meeting next week, which, if passed, will mandate the leader to write to bus companies, and specifically Swindon’s Bus Company and Stagecoach, and ask them to work with the council on looking at both issues.

In Swindon, I believe it's the minimum government hours of 09:30 to 23:00 on Mondays to Fridays, and any time on Saturday or Sunday.

In Wiltshire, I believe it's from 09:00 to last timetabled service on Mondays to Fridays, and any time on Saturday and Sunday.

In Bath, I don't know what the starting time is but in theory it's to 23:00 Monday to Friday, and any time Saturday and Sunday.

The 09:00 cutoff in Wiltshire makes huge sense.  Being valid on the final service also makes sense - and both of these are successes for common sense.  Between 09:00 and 09:30,  there used to be a "quiet half hour" after work and school journeys were completed, and before the seniors "could" travel ... yes, I know people with a senior card can pay, but many of them take the view "I cannot travel".   The slightly later start also lead to people who wanted to be out getting on the bus at perhaps 09:15 and buying a short distance journey, then getting off and back on at the first timing point after 09:30, in one instance large numbers of them at a countryside "flagpole" stop on a narrow lane with a sloping verge.

The late bus 273 from Bath at 23:15 (Monday to Friday), 23:20 (Saturday) rarely carries many seniors.  In theory, I believe you have to pay if you join before Shockerwick and can travel on your bus pass if you hold a senior card from Shockerwick onwards.  In practise, I only use this service very, very rarely as a fallback and can't recall being asked to pay.

What is the situation in Somerset? Dorset? Devon? Cornwall? ...

Bath & N.E. Somerset is from 9am to 4am the following day, so not as written above, and I have often used mine here on late buses after 11pm. If anyone has told you otherwise, tell them to look at the council's website.

The fact that different councils can make different arrangements is something I find particularly frustrating, as it isn't always easy to find out what the situation is in any authority's area, even if you do happen to have access to websites.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Bath & N.E. Somerset is from 9am to 4am the following day, so not as written above, and I have often used mine here on late buses after 11pm. If anyone has told you otherwise, tell them to look at the council's website.

Agreed: in North Somerset, off-peak (so, free bus travel) is between 9:00am and 4:00am the following day.