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Lancashire buses
County advice overview
Bus operators in Lancashire have made many buses accessible in compliance with the standards required by government regulations.
This includes the use of ramps, display screens, audio-visual ‘next stop’ announcements and low-floor buses.
You can research routes and timetables on the Lancashire County Council website.
Key tips
If you have reduced mobility, or a disability, where possible plan your journey in advance so that you know:
- If the destination stop is accessible, and any arrangements you may need to make for onward travel
- Which mobility aids you will be travelling with. (Contact the bus provider if you are unsure whether you can travel with your scooter/wheelchair.)
It may also be worth considering:
- Where the nearest bus stop is and which bus number you will need
- What method of payment is accepted
- If the ticket can be bought online
- Which destination stop you need. (The bus driver should be happy to help.)
For further information, contact your local Hubs Mobility Advice Service.
Operators
Arriva North West
Blackpool Transport
Stagecoach
Transporabus / Coastliner
Kirkby Lonsdale Bus Services
www.kirkbylonsdalecoachhire.co.uk
The Blackburn Bus Company
Transdev Group
The Burnley Bus Company
Pilkington Bus
Rotala Preston Bus
Rosso
Witchway
Help with cost
You can apply for a NoWcard concessionary travel pass if you are a resident in Lancashire, which consists of either the Older Person’s or Disabled Person’s Bus Pass.
Older Person’s Pass
Concessionary bus passes are available for older people who have reached state pension age and reside in Lancashire. The Older Person’s Bus Pass entitles you to free travel on bus services throughout England from 9.30am to 11.00pm, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.
Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass if you are a resident in Lancashire. There is no upper age restriction.
You can find further information regarding criteria and how to apply for a NoWcard concessionary bus pass, on the Lancashire County Council website.
Special assistance
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has introduced the Journey Assistance Card Scheme. A range of cards are available for passengers with disabilities or impairments which may not be immediately obvious to those around them.
The cards cover disabilities such as deafness, visual impairment, or simply can advise the driver to allow the passenger to take their seat before pulling away from the stop.
Cards are available from travel shops. You can also apply for or download a card on individual bus operator websites.
- Stagecoach – Journey Assistance Cards
- Arriva – Journey Assistance Cards
- Blackpool Transport – Safer Journey Cards
Travelling with mobility equipment
Wheelchairs
Operators such as Arriva, Stagecoach, Blackpool Transport, Pilkington Bus, The Blackburn Bus Company,The Burnley Bus Company and Witchway operate low-floor buses within their fleet.
Low-floor buses have a dedicated area for wheelchair users; other passengers are required to give up the space for wheelchair users.
When your low floor bus arrives at the bus stop, you can ask the driver to lower the step or ramp to allow you to board.
Wheelchair 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.
Scooters
Not all bus operators can carry mobility scooters onboard. If you are a mobility scooter user, you should check with the bus operator in advance of travel.
Many bus operators have signed up to the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) Code, and therefore require you to obtain a mobility scooter permit.
This includes bus operators such as Blackpool Transport, Arriva and Stagecoach. You will need to apply for a standard ‘permit for travel’ prior to your scooter being carried. Mobility scooter users must be assessed and receive on-bus training from the operator before travelling on the bus for the first time.
To apply for a scooter permit:
- Contact Arriva: 0344 800 4411
- Contact Stagecoach: 0345 241 8000
- Contact Blackpool Transport: 01253 473001
The CPT Guide to Mobility Scooters provides further information and a list of bus operators who are now using the CPT Code.
Assistance dogs
All recognised assistance dogs are allowed to travel for free on buses.
Journey planning
Local bus providers have journey planners and will be able to help you with information regarding your journey.
Lancashire County Council
You can search county bus routes and timetables.
Traveline
Traveline is a public transport information and journey planning service. It 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.
You can use Traveline to plan your journey and find timetables, before you travel or during your journey. Contact: 0871 200 22 33.
NextBuses
The national NextBuses website will help you search for bus timetables and your nearest bus stop. You can put in your postcode to find your nearest stop and the next bus due.
SMS text: For live and scheduled arrival information for specific bus stops, text the short code (for example, brkdwtg) shown on the information panel at that stop to 84268 (a charge applies for each return text, on top of the cost of the customer’s initial text message request).
BusTimes
Provides bus, coach and ferry transport information (under the heading ‘Map’, select Track buses and find bus stops). From here, you can track buses across the UK, access timetables and next departure information, view maps, bus stop details and more.
Disclaimer
Any advice or information given by the Hubs Mobility Advice Service is impartial and correct at the time it is provided. However, as operators may change their services or equipment prior to your journey or booking, you are strongly advised to check any details directly with them shortly before you expect to travel.
Contact your local Hub
Get in touch with the Lancashire and Merseyside Hub for personal mobility advice and accessible travel information. Your Hub can help with local, national and international accessible travel advice.