An Easy Read version of this article is available here.
People’s Voice has launched a petition urging the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to extend the usage hours of the Diamond Bus Pass, allowing Disabled people to travel before 9:00 am on weekdays. This change would reduce the financial burden on Disabled people who need early morning transport for work, education, or essential appointments but currently have to pay full fare for these journeys.
At present, the Diamond Bus Pass is only valid from 9:00 am onwards during the week, which disproportionately affects Disabled people who, like others, need early transport to access employment, education, healthcare, or other vital services. This limitation reinforces outdated assumptions that Disabled people do not work or access education.
The reality is that around 52% of working age Disabled people in the UK are employed, according to the Office for National Statistics. Many require early morning travel to meet their work or study commitments, yet the current policy denies them free travel before 9:00 am, placing an unfair financial burden on them.
Extending the bus pass usage before 9:00 am would bring WECA in line with more inclusive regions like London, where similar passes are valid 24 hours a day. Other local councils, such as Warwickshire, have already implemented similar changes, allowing Disabled people to benefit from early morning travel. This trial has successfully improved access to employment, education, and essential services.
The petition is an urgent call for WECA to review and update this policy, making bus travel more inclusive. If you support this change, you can sign the petition here. People’s Voice is also collecting experiences from Diamond Bus Pass holders to further strengthen their case. You can share your experiences through their questionnaire.
By coming together, we can help ensure that Disabled people have equal access to public transport and the opportunities it enables.
You can share this petition using the link https://www.change.org/p/extend-disabled-bus-pass-usage-before-9-am-for-bristol-and-surrounding-areas or by using the QR Code shown to the left.
