Hertfordshire buses

County Advice overview

Within Hertfordshire, there is a choice of bus operators, each providing guidance regarding travelling with a disability on their websites. If you have restricted mobility, it is always best to check with the operator if you are taking a journey for the first time. Information regarding bus passes, route planning and concessionary travel can be found on the Hertfordshire County Council website.

People with disabilities in Hertfordshire can apply for a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass, enabling free travel at any time and off-peak travel between 9.30am and 11pm weekdays and all day during the weekend and bank holidays across England. You can also ask for a companion pass so that someone can travel with you. Apply here.

Key tips

When planning a journey by bus, things to consider might be ‘Where is my nearest bus stop?’ and ‘What bus number do I need? You may also want to think about buying your ticket, what it will cost, can you pay by cash or card and can you buy it in advance online. Be aware that online tickets for buses are often non-refundable if you cannot make your journey.

Buses can only stop at marked bus stops, so you need to be sure where you are getting off in advance. If you are not sure, the bus driver should be happy to help you. Ask the driver to let you know when your stop is coming up. You may need to consider if the nearest bus stop is accessible if you are travelling with a scooter or wheelchair.

Intalink can help plan your journey and can help with advice about travel choices in your area that may result in saving you time and money.

Operators

HertsLynx

https://www.intalink.org.uk/about-hertslynx

Hertfordshire’s on-demand bus service, launched in 2021. This service is designed to serve residents in the designated operating zone covering villages in North and East Herts, as well as providing transport links to fixed destinations in key Hub towns: Stevenage, Letchworth, Hitchin, Baldock, Royston and Bishop’s Stortford.

Arriva

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk

Arriva is one of the UK’s leading providers of bus transport and operates services in Hertfordshire. The website holds a quick guide to planning your journey as well as national timetables. Arriva also has an APP for Smartphone users. 

Central Connect

https://centralconnect.info

Operating local bus routes throughout Hertfordshire & Essex, both commercially and on behalf of both Hertfordshire and Essex County Councils. With routes spread from Bishop’s Stortford in the North and Loughton in the South.

Vectare

https://vectare.co.uk/local-bus-services/

Vectare provides local bus services throughout the UK. Bus services operate across the East Midlands, East of England and Essex and Hertfordshire.

Help with cost 

Older Person’s Bus Pass

An Older Person’s Bus Pass, provides free travel in Hertfordshire at any time during the week, and free off-peak travel between 9.30am and 11.00pm weekdays and all day during the weekend and bank holidays across England. Apply here.

Disabled Person’s Bus Pass

If you live in Hertfordshire (i.e. pay your council tax to a district/borough council within Hertfordshire) and you are disabled, you can apply for a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass. The disability must be long term or be expected to last for at least 12 months.

You can also ask for a Companion Bus Pass, if you qualify for a Disabled Bus Pass and require significant help in boarding, moving around and getting on or off a bus. This enhancement is not available if you can travel alone, but only need a carer in other aspects of your life.

This will allow you to have a companion travel with you free of charge on journeys that start in Hertfordshire or Central Bedfordshire Council area, as long as they are travelling with you for the entire journey. If you get on a bus outside of the Hertfordshire or Central Bedfordshire Council area, then your companion will have to pay for their own travel. You are still allowed to travel free when you are alone, without a companion. Read further information.

Special assistance

Arriva offer Journey Assistance Cards to make it easier for customers with disabilities to travel, particularly those with hidden disabilities such as learning difficulties, mental health, mobility, speech, visual or hearing impairments. Journey Assistance cards discreetly indicate to drivers that you may need additional support, help or a little more time. Just show the card to the driver as well as your travel ticket when boarding the bus. 

More information here.

Hertfordshire County Council also offers a bright orange travel wallet that is designed for older or disabled passengers, for people with communication difficulties or who might lack confidence in asking staff for help. It has plastic pockets to keep everything together and space to write a short message. For example, “I’m deaf, please look at me when you speak so I can lip read.” Apply here for a free travel wallet.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Wheelchairs and Scooters

All low floor buses have a dedicated area for wheelchair and scooter users; other passengers are required to give up the space for wheelchair and scooter users.

When your low floor bus arrives at the bus stop, you can ask the driver to lower the step and/or ramp to allow you to board.

Wheelchair and mobility scooter users have priority over everyone else for the use of the designated wheelchair space, since this is the only place in which they can travel safely. 

If the bus is full or there is already a wheelchair or scooter user on board, it may not be possible to carry another wheelchair or mobility scooter user.

Assistance Dogs

All recognised guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed to travel for free on all Hertfordshire buses

Routes and timetables

Local bus providers have journey planners and will be able to help you with information about your journey.

Traveline is a partnership of transport companies, local authorities and passenger groups which have come together to bring you routes and times for all travel in Great Britain by bus, rail, coach and ferry and to provide it in as many different ways as possible.