Disabled people across England will be able to travel by bus for free any time from April 1, the Prime Minister has announced.
Currently, disabled bus passes are only valid for travel between 9.30am and 11pm during weekdays, unless local authorities choose to fund an extension.
The government is investing £60 million to remove these restrictions so that all disabled bus pass holders can travel for free, at any time, regardless of their postcode.
It is hoped that the extra support will help to open up access to workplaces, education, training, and other opportunities as well as giving people breathing space on the cost of living.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Buses are a lifeline for so many people - making it easier to get to work, education and healthcare. 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.”
Earlier this year, Burnham removed time-restricted travel for those with disabled passes in Manchester so they could use the city's bus system at any time of day.
“I’m proud to do it now for the whole country,” he added.
James Taylor, Executive Director Strategy Impact & Social Change at disability charity Scope welcomed the changes. He said: “Disabled people face extra costs every day and many need to travel in the morning for work, education and healthcare. Making free bus travel available around the clock is a welcome step that will put money back in people’s pockets and remove barriers to everyday life.”
The £60 million funding comes from existing Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport budgets, the government said.
Jon Sparkes, CEO of Mencap, the learning disability charity, said the investment will come as a “welcome relief” for disabled people struggling with the costs of living as well as the “extra costs of being disabled.
He added: “Most importantly though it removes the inference that disabled people can’t or shouldn’t work.
“Disabled people should have the same opportunities as anyone else to work or contribute to society in some other way and this will help level that playing field.”
Lydia Horbury, CEO of Bus Users UK said the measures replace an “arbitrary postcode lottery” with “genuine freedom, independence and dignity”.
She explained: “This is about much more than a bus pass. It is about removing a barrier to opportunity and making our transport network work for everyone.”