Bus travel in Wales

Last Updated:

8 Jan 2010

Review Due Date:

1 Aug 2010

People over the age of 60 and disabled residents in Wales are eligible for free travel on local Welsh bus services at all times of day. This has been the case since 2003.

Who is eligible for free fares?

There is a range of different reasons why a person would be classed as being ‘disabled’ when applying for the free fares. People with epilepsy would meet the criteria for disability if they are in receipt of certain welfare benefits. They would also qualify for free travel if they would not be eligible for a driving licence (1) if they were to apply for one.

Where can I get a free pass?

To get your pass for free travel, contact your local council. Your local authority is responsible for deciding who is entitled to free bus travel, based on guidance provided by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Find out where you can get a free pass in your local area

Where can the pass be used?

Your pass will entitle you to travel free on local bus services throughout Wales. You may need to check whether your free travel extends to places just over the border in England, and this will be at the discretion of the local authority. You will not have the right to travel free on long distance coaches or trains.

Our thanks to staff at the Welsh Assembly Government for supplying us with information about the free fares scheme.

Reference:

(1) The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) regulations 1999 permit the granting of a driving licence to a person with epilepsy if:

that person has not had an epileptic attack for a year or more, or
that person has a history of attacks whilst asleep, and only whilst asleep, over the past three years or more, and
the driving of a vehicle by that person is not likely to cause danger to the public.

This means that a person would not be eligible for a concessionary pass just because they have epilepsy. They would be eligible for the pass if they would not be eligible for a driving licence, should they wish to apply for one.