Last week in Parliament, I led an adjournment debate on an issue that has gone unaddressed for too long: the outdated and unjust peak-time restrictions on disabled bus passes.
Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, eligible disabled people are entitled to free local bus travel – a policy rightly designed to support those who, for physical, mental, or legal reasons, cannot drive. For many, it’s not a perk – it’s a vital link to healthcare, employment, education, family, and community.
But there’s a catch: from 11pm to 9:30am on weekdays, the right to travel for free becomes a postcode lottery. Whether someone can use their disabled bus pass during those hours depends entirely on where they live – and whether their local authority can afford to cover the cost from already stretched budgets. There’s no national standard. The Government has left it up to councils, resulting in a patchwork of inconsistent – and ultimately unfair – provision.
My own constituency of Harrogate and Knaresborough, which sits within North Yorkshire, is one of the areas where disabled people are barred from using their passes during peak hours.
The impact of this rule was brought to my attention this year during a panel discussion hosted by Disability Action Yorkshire, where one constituent called out the contradiction at the heart of the policy: if a bus pass is meant to promote accessibility, how can we justify restricting it during the very hours many people need it most? Disability doesn’t disappear at peak times – and neither should support.
I share the frustration of that constituent, and of countless others across the country who are calling on the Government to scrap this outdated and unjust policy. That’s why, alongside leading last week’s parliamentary debate, I’ve been pushing hard for change: raising the issue repeatedly in Parliament, meeting with the Minister for Local Transport, launching a public petition backed by hundreds, and hosting a national roundtable with leading disability organisations. Every voice at that table echoed the same message: this rule needs to go.
As both the roundtable and my adjournment debate made clear, this isn’t just a transport issue. It’s a matter of opportunity, independence, and basic fairness. Restricting free travel during peak hours creates real barriers – adding unnecessary complexity and financial pressure for disabled people trying to get to work, attend early medical appointments, access education or training, or simply stay connected to their community.
We already know that disabled people face disproportionate challenges across society – from higher living costs to increased rates of fuel poverty and food insecurity. According to Scope’s recent Disability Price Tag report, disabled households need on average £1,095 more per month to enjoy the same standard of living as non-disabled households.
While disabled passengers can technically still travel during peak times by paying the fare, the financial pressures they face make this an unrealistic option for many. For those already stretched to the limit, the cost becomes a barrier – turning early travel into a burden they simply can’t afford, and limiting opportunity before the day has even begun.
If the Government is serious about helping disabled people into work, as it so often claims, then scrapping this policy is a straightforward, low-cost place to begin. Research by Whizz-Kidz estimates that removing the 9:30am restriction would cost just £8.8 million – around 1% of the annual concessionary travel budget in England. A small price for a policy that would remove barriers and promote inclusion nationwide.
This is not about party politics. It’s about fairness, dignity, and equality of access. The barriers facing disabled people are already far too high – we should not allow a bureaucratic time restriction to be one of them.
This restriction was introduced by the Government – and only the Government has the power to remove it. Ministers must stop passing the buck to local authorities, who quite simply don’t have the budgets to pick up the slack. While a handful of councils like East Sussex have stepped up to extend free travel to cover all hours, most have not – and some, like Hampshire, are even cutting back further due to financial pressures.
That’s exactly why we need national leadership. Without ringfenced funding and a clear national standard, disabled people will continue to face a postcode lottery when it comes to accessing basic transport.
In my speech, I urged the Minister to look beyond policy and focus on people. Scrapping this arbitrary rule would reduce isolation, promote independence, and open doors to work, healthcare, and education.
To me, and to many colleagues across the House, the case couldn’t be clearer: this is a low-cost change with the potential to make a big difference.
I’ll keep fighting until the government listens to my calls and takes the necessary steps to end this unfair restriction – building a transport system that truly works for everyone.
It’s Time to Scrap Unfair Peak-Time Bus Restrictions for Disabled People
