free travel ????

earthspirit

i receive higher rate dla and have a motability car. this is my lifeline as with out it i could not do any work and would not be able to leave the house. there is no possible way round this& even regaining the ability in my legs would not make a difference as i am awarded the benefit due to the multiple complex issues i have with my neck.

im soon making the journey from aberdeen to london and originally ws going by air but doctors said no due to the high platelet levels i have and the risk from dvt. that situation might change but the whole ordeal of getting to airport getting back home etc on trains cabs etc is too much of an ordeal.

the journey is going to be by train probably.


anyhow i have been just told by a neighbour that i am entitled to free buses in scotland and england. free trains if i live in england and that british rail and all the other train companies as well as all airlines, offer free travel for a carer.

whats all that about? i thought that if you had a motability car then you should be glad of that and not be entitled to claim anything else??

it would save over £150 for a single train journey and i cant say im so well off that this wouldnt make a difference to my life.

i dont use a wheelchair but technically i need one as i cant walk properly. if i was travelling i would need wheelchair at airport and possibly at rail station but i can drag myself around like a 90 year old zombie lol (i cant use sticks crutches or anything else as i can take no pressure on my neck)

salamander

You are entitled to a disabled persons railcard which gives you and a carer about 30% discount on your ticket price. Some councils offer free buses for OAP's but you still have to pay on the national routes as far as I know, though you might get discount. If you google disabled railcard, you will find the website where you can apply for one.

You can also book assistance to meet you at the station and help you on and off the train. Ditto by airlines too.

p.s. I am talking about England here. Don't know about Scotland and don't know about airlines either

tjt6768

we have disabled persons rail cards. I think we get 20% off.
As for buses, you can apply for a bus pass for free travel. I'm not too sure what the criteria is now but I received the application along with the blue badge renewal..
Don't think we are entitled to anything off flights but I could be wrong..

barbara12

This is very interesting, it just goes to show that people are not told everything they can claim for.
Thanks for sharing it .

jillyb1

Yes you can get free bus travel with chronic disability ; never used mine as even the new buses are awkward for a wheelchair user . Jillyb

earthspirit

well indeed - for £20 you get discount of 1/3 for any other person travelling with you as well as your own ticket.

i could have been doing this for years but then again i did enjoy the driving i have done over the years. certainly beats having your neck shaken around for 8hrs of more on a train.

im so glad i am still lucky enough, for the time being anyhow, to drive at all.

thanks for that info and hopefully useful to lots of others too

salamander

jillyb1 wrote:

Yes you can get free bus travel with chronic disability ; never used mine as even the new buses are awkward for a wheelchair user . Jillyb

It may be a bit different in London, where I live, it depends on the council as far as I know but I could be wrong. But yes, my Dad has a free bus pass which he can use on London buses when he stays.

tjt6768

I think, but I've been known to get things wrong lol..
That you can use a disabled bus pass on any public buses that have a scheduled route or something like that. I know that some coastal buses aren't included and that the local councils can dictate usage.
E.G.. In Leeds we can't use them until after nine am I think. My wife has a companion bus pass so she can get the same free travel for somebody rebelling with her. Whereas in Skegness you can't get free companion travel.. I think you can use the pass before nine there though..
Daft thing is, it's a NATIONAL pass, and as such should be standard everywhere.. Stupid slowing local councils to decide...
I wouldn't even mind paying a small amount towards it as long as I knew what was what..

I'm sure that we got a discount on the weekly tube passes in london when we went recently too..
I think... :?

tjt6768

I thought all the new buses were meant to be wheelchair friendly? Have they got that wrong too? :roll:
I just know that they now lower so getting on and off is easier but never questioned the wheelchair bit..

jillyb1 wrote:

Yes you can get free bus travel with chronic disability ; never used mine as even the new buses are awkward for a wheelchair user . Jillyb

jillyb1

Our buses have a ramp contraption for wheelchairs but only 1 wheelchair space per bus ; if extra chav pushchairs are in the queue they tend to take priority and you end up waiting for the next bus ! Elderly snob ? Who me ? Never ! Jillyb

tjt6768

bloody chavs.. Grrr....
Make em walk, then they'll have less time to make more mini chavs

tjt6768

besides, they can take the bratt out and sit them on their knee, fold the contraption up and put it out of the way..
What can you do? Sit on your hubby's knee and fold the wheelchair away? Lol
In case you can't tell, I hate chavs..

Colin1

I'm on merseyside and all passes are now restricted to the merseyside area i think it gets you as far as Chester. In the past you could travel to the end of your erea and use your pass on the next area but thats all changed now and i can only use mine in the merseyside area. However i have been told i can apply for a national pass but not looked into it.
Colin

tjt6768

is it a new pass Colin..?
Reason I ask is because I assumed they were all national passes like mine?
In theory you should be able to travel the whole of the country a bit at a time..
I've only ever used mine in Leeds and Skeggy though.. From what I remember :?

Colin1

Used to love Skegness when the kids where young. Yes its a fairly new pass i think its all to do with financial restraints but cant see how this could help local authorities.
Colin

kellerman

I have a senior railcard. I get a third off train travel but if you get higher rate disability you can take some-one with you and they get the same discount. I haven't applied for any benifits and don't intend to as its all a minefield to me.
I'm not sure about flying. I don't think the airlines would reduce fares for seniors but it might be worth asking.
I have a bus pass which covers the whole country although I've only used it a couple of times.
I had no idea there were different ones......May

theresa4

tjt6768 wrote:

besides, they can take the bratt out and sit them on their knee, fold the contraption up and put it out of the way..
What can you do? Sit on your hubby's knee and fold the wheelchair away? Lol
In case you can't tell, I hate chavs..

My daughter always puts the pram away if there are wheelchair users getting on the bus. Granted its easier to push it on with her shopping but she is more than aware of people whos needs top hers. But then thats how I brought her up, my kids were always taught to get up if someone elderly or disabled required a seat or someone with little kids, and it really annoys me to see little kids taking up a seat next to their parent when they could sit on their knee instead. I used to have shopping plus 2 kids on my knee if necessary.
What also annoys me is the bus driver can clearly see my mobility is impaired but doesnt lower the step for level access because Im not in a wheelchair ???
I dont use the bus often but I do have my free pass which some drivers say after 9 some say free all day in Leeds?????? again as Tony says it would just be nice to know which one! when and where! I havent bussed out of Leeds.

As for trains its not free but you can buy a disabled railcard for discount on yours and carers ticket if you get high rate-middle rate mobility OR higher-middle rate care.


Theresa

tkachev

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/primaryeducation/9359632/Teachers-tell-pupils-not-to-offer-seats-to-disabled-passengers-for-safety-reasons.html

was reading this yesterday.

My children have always opened and held open doors for people-and will give up their seat for anybody that looks like they may need it. And they will do so with a smile.
Elizabeth xxxx