This release includes statistics on awareness and take-up of the new national concessionary bus fare arrangements introduced in England from April 2008. Figures show that:
- In spring 2008 83% of older people were aware of the new concessionary fare scheme. This compares with 40% being aware in autumn 2007.
- The majority (73%) of older people who were aware of the new scheme had either received or requested a new pass by June 2008.
- The majority of those who had held a pass under the old scheme had received or requested a new pass. However, 11% had not done so although they were aware of the change, while 8% of those who held an old pass said they were unaware of the change. This suggests there is some scope for take-up of the new pass to increase further.
- Overall, the level of pass holding under the new scheme was slightly lower than for the scheme prior to April 2008. By June 2008 62% of older people had received or registered for a new pass, compared with 68% who said they had a pass under the old scheme.
- 78% of those in receipt of a new pass said they found it easy to understand their local and national entitlements. However, knowledge of the minimum entitlement, free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in the country, was lower at around a third. Those without this knowledge may understand what their own pass entitles them to.
- Although broad levels of bus use by respondents to the survey did not change between autumn 2007 and spring 2008, pass holders appeared to be using their passes slightly more often since the introduction of the new scheme. The proportion of pass holders using their pass at least once in the previous month increased from 60% in autumn 2007 to 69% in May/June 2008.
- The slight increase in pass use is at least in part a result of the ability to travel free on off-peak local buses outside the local area, though the novelty of having a new card or seasonal factors may also have an impact.
Notes
From 1st of April 2008 the Government extended the concessionary scheme to provide free off-peak travel for those aged 60 or over or with certain disabilities on all local buses anywhere in England. Prior to this and since April 2006 the minimum guaranteed concession was free off-peak bus travel in the local authority area of residence.
The Office for National Statistics Omnibus Survey included questions in April, May and June 2008 to estimate awareness and take-up of the new concessionary fare arrangements among people aged 60 or older. The survey included questions in October and November 2007 to assess levels of awareness of the new scheme among older people prior to its launch.
The Omnibus Survey covers a representative sample of around 1,200 adults per month. The total number of people in the sample under the age of 60 who would be eligible for a concessionary pass due to a disability is too small to allow examination of this group.
Other sources of data are also being used to monitor pass take-up. The latest data held by the smart ticketing organisation ITSO suggests that the number of passes in circulation outside London rose substantially between June and July. In July 2008 6.9 million passes were in circulation, compared with 6.5 million in November 2007. The National Travel Survey will also provide additional data on pass take-up in the longer term.
Publication details
Published on 28 August 2008 by Transport Statistics as official statistics.
Email: attitudes.stats@dft.gsi.gov.uk for queries concerning this release.