Bus pass restrictions return in Wiltshire

• Bus passes will not be accepted on ticket machines before 09:30hrs (unless you are travelling on an infrequent exempted route

• The rule comes back into force from 1 Sept 2020

WHY THE CHANGE TO BUS PASSES?

It brings to an end the relaxation of the rules which had been suspended since Friday 20th March to help people out during the coronavirus lockdown.

This means Wiltshire falls into line with the rest of the local authorities in the country in reintroducing allotted times for the scheme.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Transport said:

"From the 1st of September the council is re-introducing the 09:30hrs scheme start time on weekdays, in order to ensure there is enough capacity on the network at peak times for the return of school and college students."

"Bus operators have been notified of this change, and bus passes will not be accepted on ticket machines before 09:30hrs, unless travelling on an infrequent exempted route."

"In March we took the decision to relax our Concessionary Fare Scheme times so that concessionary bus pass holders were able to make essential journeys to shops and health appointments, before 9.30hrs during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic."

"As schools go back and many people return to work this is a good time to reintroduce the time restriction so transport and social distancing can be managed effectively."