Freedom Pass
Encyclopedia
Freedom Pass is a concessionary travel scheme, which began in 1984, to provide free travel to residents of Greater London
, England who are aged 60 and over (eligibility age increasing by phases to 65 by 2020) or who have a disability. The scheme is funded by local authorities and coordinated by London Councils. Originally the pass was a paper ticket, but since 2004 it has been encoded onto a contactless smartcard compatible with Oyster card
readers.
, although there had been concessionary bus fare schemes in London before that. When the council was abolished in 1986, responsibility for the scheme passed to the London borough
councils. The cost of providing the travel concession is negotiated between London Councils and the local transport operator Transport for London
. It is funded through a mixture of national grant and council tax. In 2007 there was a dispute between the Mayor of London
and London Councils on the negotiation process, in particular the ability for the Greater London Authority
to impose a charge should no agreement be reached.
Disabled residents under 60 are assessed to determine whether their degree of disability requires a pass. In early 2010 the responsibility for judging the degree of disability passed to local councils, and there were complaints of people who had been assessed as needing a pass for many years not having their passes renewed although their condition had not improved.
The Freedom Pass webpage links to pages with information on the "national scheme statutory disabled pass" which list the seven main categories of disability set out by the Transport Act 2000 to assess eligibility for a Freedom Pass.Transport Act 2000, and the "London-only discretionary disabled pass" which may be issued by local councils at their discretion in exceptional circumstances to disabled people who do not meet the criteria.
According to section 146 of the Act "disabled person” means a person who
, London Overground
, Bus
, Tram
, and Docklands Light Railway
services in Greater London (until January 2009 the pass was only valid from 9:30 on weekdays, excluding morning rush-hour travel).
It is accepted at most times on many rail services in and outside Greater London that are within London fare zones 1-9.
Outside Greater London the card can be used in England (but not Scotland or Wales) wherever and whenever the English National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme applies, and allows free travel on any local bus route; while some operators may extend validity, travel on working days before 9:30 and after 23:00 is not otherwise included.
New-style passes are valid for five years and can be used as soon as received
services only passes issued because of disability rather than age can be used between 04:30 and 09:30 on working days.
The Freedom Pass is not valid even for local travel on many longer distance rail services and those serving Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Up-to-date information, which changes from time to time, is available on the TfL website.
For travel which crosses the boundary of the area of validity of the Freedom Pass at a time and on a service where the Pass is valid, it is normally necessary to buy a ticket only for the section not covered by the Pass, either from a named point within the zone of validity, or by asking for a ticket from the Freedom Pass boundary.
The pass is not valid on intercity coach services.
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, England who are aged 60 and over (eligibility age increasing by phases to 65 by 2020) or who have a disability. The scheme is funded by local authorities and coordinated by London Councils. Originally the pass was a paper ticket, but since 2004 it has been encoded onto a contactless smartcard compatible with Oyster card
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
readers.
History
The scheme was created in 1984 by the Greater London CouncilGreater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
, although there had been concessionary bus fare schemes in London before that. When the council was abolished in 1986, responsibility for the scheme passed to the London borough
London borough
The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. Inner London comprises twelve of these boroughs plus the City of London. Outer London comprises the twenty remaining boroughs of Greater London.-Functions:...
councils. The cost of providing the travel concession is negotiated between London Councils and the local transport operator Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
. It is funded through a mixture of national grant and council tax. In 2007 there was a dispute between the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
and London Councils on the negotiation process, in particular the ability for the Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
to impose a charge should no agreement be reached.
Eligibility
London residents who turned 60 before 6 April 2010 are eligible for a pass. From then the qualifying age increases in a graduated way, until it becomes 65 in 2020, although the 2011 government spending review proposes speeding the process to be fully implemented by 2018.Disabled residents under 60 are assessed to determine whether their degree of disability requires a pass. In early 2010 the responsibility for judging the degree of disability passed to local councils, and there were complaints of people who had been assessed as needing a pass for many years not having their passes renewed although their condition had not improved.
The Freedom Pass webpage links to pages with information on the "national scheme statutory disabled pass" which list the seven main categories of disability set out by the Transport Act 2000 to assess eligibility for a Freedom Pass.Transport Act 2000, and the "London-only discretionary disabled pass" which may be issued by local councils at their discretion in exceptional circumstances to disabled people who do not meet the criteria.
According to section 146 of the Act "disabled person” means a person who
- is blind or partially sighted,
- is profoundly or severely deaf,
- is without speech,
- has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to walk,
- does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms,
- has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning, or
- would, if he applied for [a driving licence], have his application refused [on grounds of physical fitness] otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol
Scope and validity
The Freedom Pass is valid at all times on London UndergroundLondon Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
, Bus
London Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
, Tram
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
, and Docklands Light Railway
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway is an automated light metro or light rail system opened on 31 August 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London...
services in Greater London (until January 2009 the pass was only valid from 9:30 on weekdays, excluding morning rush-hour travel).
It is accepted at most times on many rail services in and outside Greater London that are within London fare zones 1-9.
Outside Greater London the card can be used in England (but not Scotland or Wales) wherever and whenever the English National Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme applies, and allows free travel on any local bus route; while some operators may extend validity, travel on working days before 9:30 and after 23:00 is not otherwise included.
New-style passes are valid for five years and can be used as soon as received
Exceptions
On most National RailNational Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
services only passes issued because of disability rather than age can be used between 04:30 and 09:30 on working days.
The Freedom Pass is not valid even for local travel on many longer distance rail services and those serving Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Up-to-date information, which changes from time to time, is available on the TfL website.
For travel which crosses the boundary of the area of validity of the Freedom Pass at a time and on a service where the Pass is valid, it is normally necessary to buy a ticket only for the section not covered by the Pass, either from a named point within the zone of validity, or by asking for a ticket from the Freedom Pass boundary.
The pass is not valid on intercity coach services.