Yorkshire buses

County advice overview

Yorkshire is covered by three main bus companies – Arriva, First Bus and Stagecoach.  

Concessionary bus pass schemes are available including disabled and older person’s bus passes, and companion cards. 

Many bus services in Yorkshire are operated with low floor buses. These have powered or manual ramps to make it easier for disabled people to board and dedicated wheelchair spaces. The bus will also have handrails and hand poles that are easy to see and grip, to help you keep your balance while you look for a seat.

All drivers and conductors have received assistance training and will help passengers where necessary. 

Key tips

If you are no longer driving, one of your options is to use the bus. If you live near a bus route, this can be an easy way to do shopping and make other essential or leisure trips.

Always allow yourself plenty of time to plan your journey. It may be worth considering:

• if your nearest bus stop and your destination stop are accessible, especially if you are travelling with a mobility aid.
• if you are travelling with a scooter, have you applied for and received a Scooter Permit?
• will your bus take you directly to your destination or will you require further local transport? Consider any bus changes and whether you will need assistance.
• the cost of your bus journey. How often will you make this journey or other bus journeys? It may be worth researching concessionary travel schemes.

Operators

Arriva 

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk

Operates across West, North and South Yorkshire.
Contact: 0344 800 4411 or customer.services@arrivanw.co.uk

First Bus 

https://www.firstbus.co.uk

Operates across West, North and South Yorkshire.
Contact: 0345 646 0707

Stagecoach 

https://www.stagecoachbus.com

Operates across South Yorkshire.
Contact: 0345 241 8000 or customer.services@stagecoachbus.com

Help with cost

Older Person’s Bus Pass

As part of National Concessionary Schemes, bus passes are available for older people who have reached state pension age and are resident in Yorkshire. The Older Person’s Bus Pass entitles you to free travel on bus services throughout England from 9.30am to 11.00am, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

You should contact your local council to apply for an Older Person’s Bus Pass. Enter your postcode on the GOV.UK website to find the contact details.

Disabled Person’s Bus Pass

If you have a disability and reside in Yorkshire, you may be entitled to a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass. There is no upper age restriction for this Concessionary Travel Pass.

You should contact your local council to apply for a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass. Enter your postcode on the GOV.UK website to find the contact details.

Special Assistance

First Bus, Stagecoach and Arriva offer Journey Assistance Cards for passengers who may have limited vision or hearing, difficulty in communicating (including if English is not your first language), special educational needs or for passengers who need extra time or help to find a seat.

Download a Journey Assistance Card on the First Bus website.

Download a Journey Assistance Card on the Stagecoach website.

Download a Journey Assistance Card on the Arriva website.

Sunflower Lanyards are recognised on board Arriva Buses. They discreetly inform the bus driver that you may have hidden disabilities or need additional support, such as extra time to reach your seat. 

Download a Sunflower Lanyard on the Arriva website.

Travelling with mobility equipment

First Bus, Arriva and Stagecoach low-floor buses are designed to transport passengers in a mobility scooter or wheelchair. The driver can lower the step or ramp so passengers can safely board with mobility equipment from a bus stop. 

Wheelchair and scooter users are given priority to the designated wheelchair space. 

If the bus is full at peak times, or there is a wheelchair or scooter user already on board, the bus may not be able to stop and allow another passenger with mobility equipment to board. Times for the next available bus are provided on the Live Digital Screen located at the bus stop.

Mobility Scooter Permits

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) and the Department for Transport have introduced a Scooter Permit scheme for mobility scooters on scheduled bus services.

You will need to have a Class 2 scooter that meets the following criteria: 

• Is no larger than 1000mm long, 600mm wide, with a turning radius no greater than 1200mm. 
• Weighs no more than 300kg (47 Stone) with the user seated on it.
• Can fit in the wheelchair space on board all accessible low-floor buses 
• Can board in a safe and controlled manner. 

Applying for a scooter permit – Arriva, First Bus and Stagecoach

Arriva, First Bus and Stagecoach offer free scooter assessments and issue permits to those who meet the specification. 

Once approved, your Scooter Permit will show the scooter details, with your name and photograph. You should show the permit to the driver when boarding the vehicle.

The permit will be accepted on buses able to carry scooters, and by all other bus companies who have signed up to the code, subject to space being available and to the company’s normal terms and conditions of travel.

Contact Yorkshire bus operators to arrange an assessment for a Scooter Permit:

• Arriva:  0344 800 4411 (West Yorkshire & York) 
• First:  0113 381 5000: Option 5 (West Yorkshire & Sheffield)
• Stagecoach: 0845 266 6606 (Sheffield)

Assistance dogs

Buses across Yorkshire permit all recognised guide dogs and assistance dogs to travel for free with the passenger that requires support.

Routes and timetables 

Bus operators in Yorkshire display real-time bus information on digital live screens at bus stops. This informs passengers of any delay or disruption to journeys. 

Local bus operators also provide online journey planners:

• Arriva
• First Bus
• Stagecoach