East Dorset District Council National Bus Pass Scheme

In addition to the national scheme, residents of East Dorset who are entitled to a free bus pass are also offered two additional concessions over and above the minimum scheme. These additional concessions are all day travel, not limited to off-peak hours, and companion passes. From 1 April 2011, these passes can be used across Dorset, excluding Poole and Bournemouth.

Residents of East Dorset are able to use their free bus passes at any time of the day and on any day of the week where they board a bus using a bus stop within the East Dorset area. Residents of East Dorset can use their buss pass throughout England, however they can only be used between 9.30am and 11pm if they board a bus outside the East Dorset area.

Residents of East Dorset who are entitled to a free bus pass on the grounds of an eligible disability, and who cannot travel on buses unaccompanied, are offered a companion pass.

On which buses can I use my pass?

You can use your bus pass on any local bus service. This does not usually include coach journeys (for example National Express). If you are in any doubt about whether you are entitled to free travel on a particular route, you will need to contact the service operator directly. East Dorset District Council does not have details of eligible services in other parts of the country.

If I visit an area that offers additional services, will I be entitled to them?

Probably not. As a general rule, local authorities will only provide additional services for their own residents. Some authorities, however, may provide them - please check with the relevant authority in the area in which you intend to travel. London Authorities pay for additional local travel concessions for holders of the London Freedom Pass. East Dorset bus pass holders are currently eligible to travel on London buses but not on tubes or trains.

How to apply for a bus pass

If you have not yet applied for an England-wide bus pass, or have only just become eligible, you will need to apply to East Dorset District Council. As part of the application you'll need to provide proof of either your age or disability, and that you live permanently in the East Dorset area. You will also need to supply a passport size and quality full face photograph of yourself.

To apply for a pass please complete the Dorset concessionary travel application form (pdf, 340kb) (opens in a new window) and return it to East Dorset District Council offices.

Do I have to pay for my pass?

Bus passes are issued free to eligible people. However, as the new passes are expensive to produce and are produced to a national standard by an external company, the council makes a £7 charge where passes are lost and a replacement is requested. If the pass has been stolen and a crime number is provided to the council, then a replacement will be issued free of charge.

How do companion passes work?

If a person holds a companion pass then they are entitled to have another person accompany them on their bus journey free of charge. In order to receive a companion pass we ask for documentary evidence that the holder of the companion pass cannot travel unaccompanied.

Companion passes are not issued to the companion themselves but are identified with a "C+" in the top right hand corner of the disabled person's bus pass. This means that the disabled pass holder can take different companions with them as necessary - it does not have to be the same person each time.

Where can I use my companion pass?

Companion passes are not part of the national scheme and are only a local discretion. This means that companions will only be able to travel for free in areas where East Dorset has reached agreement with other local authorities. At present companions are able to travel for free on any bus journeys starting in rural Dorset, Christchurch or in Salisbury District but not on journeys starting in Bournemouth or Poole. In these areas you will have to pay the full fare for your companion.

When will my pass expire?

Individual East Dorset passes expire on different dates. This is to spread the workload involved with renewing passes. There will be no charge for renewal.