Concessionary Bus Pass (issued by Somerset County Council) - What Times Is It Valid To Be Used In Other Areas?

[Kath123]

I am a visually impaired adult.

I have a Concessionary Bus Pass which I find very useful.

I’m not sure how to word this question but I’ll give it a go and hopefully you’ll get the just. I’m from South Somerset and my pass is valid for use after 9:30am weekdays. However I’ve been informed that Concessionary Passes issued in Bristol (and various other areas) are valid after 9am not 9:30am. Therefore if I am travelling in Bristol could I board after 9am or would it still be 9:30am as my pass was issued in Somerset? It seems to cause some confusion but I’m assuming to be on the safe side I should only try and use after 9:30am?

Thanks.

 

[hexagon789]

I am a visually impaired adult.

I have a Concessionary Bus Pass which I find very useful.

I’m not sure how to word this question but I’ll give it a go and hopefully you’ll get the just. I’m from South Somerset and my pass is valid for use after 9:30am weekdays. However I’ve been informed that Concessionary Passes issued in Bristol (and various other areas) are valid after 9am not 9:30am. Therefore if I am travelling in Bristol could I board after 9am or would it still be 9:30am as my pass was issued in Somerset? It seems to cause some confusion but I’m assuming to be on the safe side I should only try and use after 9:30am?

Thanks.

It's dependent on the rules of the authority (local council) where you start your journey, not who issued the pass.

 

[Kath123]

Thank you that was what I was trying to ask but struggled to word it.

 

[greenline712]

It's dependent on the rules of the authority (local council) where you start your journey, not who issued the pass.

The general rule is that ENCTS (English National Concessionary Travel Scheme) passes are valid between 0930 and 2300 on weekdays, and at anytime at weekends. That is England-wide.


Sorry, @Kath123, I've just noticed that you are visually impaired. That opens a new can of worms ... I assume you are under 66?
If so, then you probably have a pass which may have different rules (the ability to take a companion at a reduced fare, for example).

All the more reason to check with your issuing authority ... did you get any literature when you received your pass? That should've explained your entitlement.
Apologies for any confusion.

 

[GusB]

The OP's question is specifically about passes issued in Bristol and using it in neighbouring authorities. Please ensure all responses are relevant to that situation. Anything else is off-topic. Thanks

 

[stadler]

I am a visually impaired adult.

I have a Concessionary Bus Pass which I find very useful.

I’m not sure how to word this question but I’ll give it a go and hopefully you’ll get the just. I’m from South Somerset and my pass is valid for use after 9:30am weekdays. However I’ve been informed that Concessionary Passes issued in Bristol (and various other areas) are valid after 9am not 9:30am. Therefore if I am travelling in Bristol could I board after 9am or would it still be 9:30am as my pass was issued in Somerset? It seems to cause some confusion but I’m assuming to be on the safe side I should only try and use after 9:30am?

Thanks.

As you mention that you are from South Somerset i presume you have a Somerset County Council issued ENCTS pass. With this you can only travel free between 09:30 and 23:00 on Monday to Friday and any time on the weekends.

The travel in Bristol from 00:00 to 04:00 and 09:00 to 00:00 is only for those with Bristol City Council / Bath & North East Somerset Council / North Somerset Council / South Gloucestershire Council issued ENCTS passes. With a pass issued by Somerset County Council or any other council in the UK you will be restricted to the 09:30 to 23:00 time limits when travelling in Bristol and surrounding areas.

The general rule is that ENCTS (English National Concessionary Travel Scheme) passes are valid between 0930 and 2300 on weekdays, and at anytime at weekends. That is England-wide.


Sorry, @Kath123, I've just noticed that you are visually impaired. That opens a new can of worms ... I assume you are under 66?
If so, then you probably have a pass which may have different rules (the ability to take a companion at a reduced fare, for example).

All the more reason to check with your issuing authority ... did you get any literature when you received your pass? That should've explained your entitlement.
Apologies for any confusion.

Some local authorities allow blind and partially sighted ENCTS holders to travel free of charge at any time but this normally only applies to travel within the local authority where the pass was issued or sometimes neighbouring local authorities too. With many local authorities blind and partially sighted people can only get standard ENCTS passes with no extra benefits.

Bristol allows blind and partially sighted ENCTS holders to travel at any time (there are no time restrictions) but that only applies to those with passes issued by Bristol City Council / Bath & North East Somerset Council / North Somerset Council / South Gloucestershire Council only. It does not apply to those with passes issued by Somerset County Council or any other local authorities.

 

[Kath123]

Thanks for the replies and all the useful information everyone. Very much appreciated.


Sorry for any confusion I’ve caused.

The pass was issued by Somerset County Council (now known as Somerset Council).

I am entitled to it solely due to my visual impairment - I do not qualify on age grounds yet.

As far as I’m aware the pass doesn’t allow a companion to travel with me and I’m ok with this. Though things can get hairy at times I can travel independently on buses though often rely heavily on the kindness of strangers when out and about and sometimes on the bus driver to identify my stop. I use the buses to get about as needed for my personal life and to get to ad hoc self employed work. My self employed work can mean travel anywhere in the South West especially from South Somerset to Bristol and within the Bristol/Bath area - this is the main reason for the question I asked. I also attend medical appointments in Bristol.

Unfortunately the area of South Somerset I live in there are no night buses or buses at all on a Sunday. Obviously Bristol/Bath do have but I’m unlikely I’d be catching them unless I stay overnight (it’s good to know the rules though).

Regarding literature which came with the pass I don’t remember and I know I should have retained it but right now I can’t find it and unless it was very large print I would have struggled to read it. It seems I have to apply every 5 years for the pass to be renewed but last time it was renewed automatically during COVID.