Info

General Information

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• Concessionary Fares
  • Bus pass Scheme
  • Other concessions
• Dial-a-Ride Schemes
• Shopmobility Schemes
• Patient Transport Services
• Financial Help
• Public Transport - The Conventional Alternative
  • Information by telephone
  • Publications
  • Journey Planner Terminals
  • Information on the Internet
  • Bus Stops and Shelters
  • The Integrated Transport Strategy and TravelWise Campaign
  • Comments and Complaints
  • Local Bus and Rail Services
    • Bus and Coach Operators
    • Rail Operators
  • Taxis

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Concessionary Fares

Information guidelines

Bus pass scheme

It is an act of law that a concessionary fare scheme is available to provide bus passes, free of charge, offering half price fares to all eligible persons who apply.  The four district councils in Buckinghamshire and the Unitary Council of Milton Keynes are responsible for providing the schemes in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

To be eligible for a statutory pass, applicants must live in the relevant district or area and

either	have reached the age of 60 (women) or 65 (men) (documentary proof must be produced)
or	are disabled according to stated criterion, for which documentary proof must be produced

CRITERIA

• blind or partially sighted
• profoundly or severely deaf
• without speech
• have a disability or have suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his/her ability to walk
• does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms
• have a learning disability, that is a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind and which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
• has been or would be refused a driving licence because of physical incapacity

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Other concessions

Further or alternative concessions are offered by councils in addition to the basic schemes:

Aylesbury Vale

Aylesbury Vale District Council also offers: Rail Cards, valid for one year from date of purchase at the cost of £2.00 for travel within the Aylesbury Vale District only National Transport Tokens to the value of £30.00 may be purchased for a charge of £12 (2002-2003 rates) which may be used with participating taxis and Dial-a-Ride services only; the charge may be reduced for persons in receipt of certain benefits Companion Passes (free of charge) are also available for those people who may need to travel as the companion of a blind person, or person so severely disabled that s/he is unable to travel on public transport without assistance Full details for this scheme are available from the offices listed on the right.

Aylesbury Office Aylesbury Banking Hall Customer Service Centre 66 High Street Aylesbury HP20 1SD Tel: 01296 585661 Buckingham Office 15 Cornwalls Centre High Street Buckingham MK18 1SB Tel: 01280 812295 Winslow Office Winslow Area Office 28 High Street Winslow MK18 3HQ Tel: 01296 712131

Chiltern District

Chiltern District Council also offer Travel Tokens which may be used on buses, taxis and Dial-a-Ride services. In the year 2002-2003 up to £210 worth of tokens could be purchased. Drivers may only claim up to £100.  Some of the token allowance may be used to obtain a National Railcard at half price. Full details for this scheme are available from the offices listed on the right.

Chiltern District Council Concessionary Fares Section Finance Department King George V Road Amersham, Bucks HP6 5AW Tel: 01494 732252 or 01494 732073

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes Council offers alternatives but applicants must live within the boundary of Milton Keynes. Elderly and disabled may opt for the bus service flat fare scheme Children and students up to 18 years of age can purchase a club card, which can be used on local bus services and for rail travel between the six local rail stations Any adult may purchase the Adult City rider for use on local bus and rail travel Full details for this scheme are available from the offices listed on the right.

The Bus Card Section, Milton Keynes Council PO Box 113 Civic Offices 1 Saxon Gate East Central Milton Keynes MK9 3HN Tel: 01908 252558

South Bucks

South Bucks District Council additionally allows all men over 60 to obtain the half fare bus pass. Four alternative permit types are also available to residents of South Bucks for which an administration charge is made: Blind persons permit (free travel for the working blind) Companion Permit (allowing a 50% concession) For residents aged 70 years and over free travel in South Bucks District area and half fare travel for rest of Buckinghamshire (with the exception of Milton Keynes) Denham area residents permit to allow half fare travel to Mount Vernon and Harefield Hospitals Please note that permits are not valid for travel before 0900 Monday to Friday with the exception of the Working Blind Permit. Full details for this scheme are available from the offices listed on the right.

Ray Barber Head of Care & Community Council Offices Windsor Road Slough SL1 2HN Tel: 01753 533333 E-mail ray.barber@southbucks.gov.uk

Wycombe District

Wycombe District Council offers additional or alternative travel concessions on bus and rail passes but applicants must live in the Wycombe district. Charges quoted are based on the 2002-2003 tariff. Elderly and disabled persons can purchase a voucher for £5.70 from the Council and use it to obtain the Senior Citizen Railcard or a Disabled Persons Railcard from any railway station at no extra charge Disabled people or those who live in the rural areas of the District, can purchase tokens at £8.30 for use in taxis (to the value of £40) or for Dial-a-Ride services (to the value of £80) Companion Passes (£8 each) are also available for those people who may need to travel as the companion of a blind person, or person so severely disabled that s/he is unable to travel on public transport without assistance Blind persons passes (£12 each) offer free bus travel in the district Full details for this scheme are available from the offices listed on the right.

Wycombe District Council Queen Victoria Road High Wycombe Bucks HP11 1BB Tel: 01494 461000

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Dial-a-Ride Schemes

There is a Dial-a-Ride Service in each district council area and Milton Keynes.  The Buzzer operates from Leighton Buzzard into nearby villages in Aylesbury Vale.

Dial-a-Rides provide a door to door minibus service to anyone who finds it difficult to use ordinary public transport.  All their vehicles are fitted with wheelchair lifts and can carry people with a wide range of disabilities.  The vehicles are in contact with their base by telephone or radio.

The services generally operate from 0700 - 1800 Monday to Friday.

A small annual membership fee is charged and journeys are booked on the telephone, at least a day in advance.

Fares are similar to bus fares and are paid to the driver on the day of travel.

The aim is to give members a reliable personal service, with well-trained drivers giving support at both the beginning and end of the journey.

Dial-a-Rides give freedom and independence to those people who are socially disadvantaged because they can not use public transport.

View a list of all Dial-a-Ride schemes.

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Shopmobility Schemes

Shopmobility schemes provide pavement vehicles such as wheelchairs and motorised scooters and other equipment to help people with impaired mobility (temporary or permanent) gain access to shops and other town centre facilities. For further details on shopmobility schemes in Buckinghamshire please contact the following:

View a list of all Shopmobility schemes.

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Patient Transport Services

The NHS non-emergency patient transport service is only able to assist patients who have been referred by their GP or consultant, using medical criteria. If you think that you will have difficulties, then you should make sure that the question of travel is discussed when your appointment is made.

If you are not eligible for NHS non-emergency patient transport services then you should try if you can to use conventional car, bus or taxi services for getting to your hospital or clinic appointment. If you are unable to (i.e. because you need a wheelchair), check the entries in this guide for possible assistance.

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Financial Help

If you are on a low income or on income support and need to attend a hospital for an appointment, then you may be entitled to claim the cost of your journey. Ask at the hospital reception for a claim form. You will need to provide a receipt, ticket or other proof of the cost of your travel and one of the following documents:

• Low income exemption certificate
• Pension book
• Letter received with your GIRO cheque
• Income support book

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Public Transport - The Conventional Alternative

Under current legislation bus services can be operated on a commercial basis by any licensed bus operator.  Where such services are not commercially viable however, the Council may, if it considers it socially necessary, secure such public transport services as it considers appropriate.  The Passenger Transport Sections undertake the tasks of monitoring services and letting contracts for the supported services. Typically these are early morning and evening journeys on urban routes, rural shopping services, Sunday services and services in areas of new urban development.

How to find out more

Information by telephone

Whether your journey is a local one, or you are travelling further afield using a mixture of buses, coaches and trains, the number to call is 0870 608 2 608.A textphone service is available on 0870 241 2216.

Traveline is the National Public Transport Information Service. Local authorities and transport operators across the country have come together to provide regional call centres capable of answering your questions about long-distance journeys by public transport using a mixture of bus, coach and rail services, as well as local journeys.

The Traveline service is available daily (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day) from 0700 to 2000. Calls are charged at standard national rates.

In due course it will be possible to obtain details of fares for all services from Traveline but at present you should contact the operating company.

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Publications

Area Travel Guides, which give details of all bus and coach services in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, together with information about rail services in the County. Broadly following the district boundaries the Travel Guides are available for Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern & South Bucks, Milton Keynes and Wycombe. Services which cross Travel Guide boundaries are included in both booklets.  Your local edition is available from libraries, Tourist Information Centres, many newsagents as well as from the Passenger Transport Section at your council offices.

Routes of bus services and a guide to service frequencies are shown in a series of Public Transport Maps covering Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern & South Bucks, Milton Keynes and Wycombe Districts.  To obtain a copy contact the appropriate Passenger Transport Section. Maps are also available from branch libraries and Tourist Information Centres.

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Journey Planner Terminals

Using a simple keypad, our Electronic TravelGUIDE journey planner system allows you to plan your next journey in, to or from that location using public transport. Public Enquiry Terminals are currently located at:

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Information on the Internet

An interactive Journey Planner, up-to-date timetables and maps and for all public transport services in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes are now available on the Internet.  Both the Buckinghamshire and the Milton Keynes Travel Information Service are available at: www.pindar.co.uk/bucks.

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Bus Stops and Shelters

Roadside timetable displays in cases at bus stops and shelters provide computer printed information about journeys from that stop.

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The Integrated Transport Strategy and TravelWise Campaign

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes have joined the TravelWise public awareness campaign with neighbouring Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Slough.  The campaign challenges the use of a car as the first choice for every trip, encouraging walking, cycling and public transport instead. Success in this campaign would provide substantial financial, environmental, health and social benefits.

If you would like more information about the TravelWise Campaign please visit www.travelwise.org.uk.

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Comments and Complaints

If you have any comments or complaints about a local bus service please contact the operator in the first instance. If your complaint remains unresolved, or you are concerned about the safety of an operator's vehicle, or you have suggestions or criticisms which may help to improve the operation of services in your area, then please write with full details to the appropriate Passenger Transport Section.

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Local Bus and Rail Services

To enable wheelchair users and persons who find negotiating steps on buses difficult bus operators are required by law to provide accessible vehicles.  This provision is to be phased in over a number of years so details of what each operator provides are changing continuously. Please contact the operator to see if a suitable vehicle will be in use for your journey.

Bus and Coach Operators

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Rail Operators

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Taxis

The following taxi operators all have at least one wheelchair accessible vehicle in their fleet.  These can be booked in advance, however you would need to specify your requirement for a wheelchair accessible vehicle at the time of booking.

All District Councils have Licensing Officers who will be able to provide information and advice on travelling safely and securely in taxi and private hire vehicles. In helping to ensure that the services provided are of a high standard, District Council Licensing Officers welcome both complaints and suggestions from users.

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