England-wide Concessionary Bus Travel – The Passenger Perspective

25 April 2012

From 1 April 2008, all people aged 60 and over or with an eligible disability have been entitled to free off-peak bus travel anywhere in England.

This research aimed to measure and understand the impacts of the new concession on bus passengers. There were specific objectives to explore the nature and frequency of bus use by pass holders since the introduction of the new concession, its impact on perceived levels of overcrowding, and the views of pass holders and non-pass holders on the fairness and equity of the concession.

A survey of 2000 pass holders and non-pass holders was undertaken in Birmingham, Bath, Scarborough and Newark-on-Trent. In addition, eight focus groups (four with non-pass holders, three with pass holders who qualified for the concession due to their age, and one with pass holders who qualified due to a disability) were undertaken in Manchester, Bournemouth, Norwich and Hartlepool.