More than 4,100 people have signed an online petition calling for the concessionary bus pass for people of State Pension age to be extended to cover travel across all parts of the UK. Petition creator, Charles David Smith, argues that giving older people the option to travel for free across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland would “enhance their lives”.
Last month, it emerged that it could be possible to allow people with a concessionary bus pass to travel throughout the UK - in the future. However, Minister for Roads and Local Transport Guy Opperman MP said that there are no present plans to “introduce such an arrangement”. He added: “The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 does include a power to allow for mutual recognition of concessionary bus passes across the UK through regulations in the future, however there are no plans at present to introduce such an arrangement.”
The NEC is valid for up to three years, but in a change to the renewal process, SPT no longer sends out renewal forms to disabled card holders. This means everyone with a card - sometimes referred to as a ‘Saltire card’ - should check the expiry date to make sure they will be able to enjoy uninterrupted entitlement to travel concessions.