Qualifying residents of Bournemouth are able to travel for free, off peak, on local buses anywhere in England (subject to national scheme restrictions).

If you are a permanent resident of Bournemouth and meet the criteria below, you can apply for a pass now.

Download an application form.

From 6th April 2010, the age of eligibility for concessionary travel for women will be pension age and for men it will be the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day.
 
The state pension age for women is rising by five years over a period of ten years.  The age of eligibility will rise incrementally, that is, in stages, between 2010 and 2020.  The earliest age for men and women to get bus passes will therefore rise gradually, from 60 on 6 April 2010 to 65 on 5 April 2020.  The Government decided that this would be the fairest method, rather than introduce a one-off rise which would leave those currently close to retirement age facing a full five-year delay.
 
The age of eligibility for the state pension is scheduled to rise by two months every one month.  This means the earliest date on which you can get your bus pass will depend on which month you were born in and will not fall on your birthday.  The table below sets out when those approaching the age of 60 will become eligible for their concessionary bus pass.

• you have reached state pension age; OR
• you are below pensionable age and you fall into one of the following categories:
  • you are partially sighted or blind
  • you have a learning disability
  • you are without speech or hearing
  • you are without arms or have lost the use of both arms
  • you have been, or could be refused a driving licence for medical reasons
  • you have a disability or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long term affect on your ability to walk (which is at a comparable level to that required to claim the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance)
  • you are receiving the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

See form for further details and information required to support your application.

Changes to the local scheme to bring it into line with the national scheme and to meet revised requirements placed on the Council were made as follows effective from April 2008:

• the free off peak travel will end at 11:00pm weekdays
• where residents qualify for a companion pass, the companion will only be able to travel without paying within the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area and on a journey traveling out of area where there is no change of bus. The fare for the return journey by the companion will be payable to the bus company at the time of travel, at the relevant fare rate, if the bus is boarded outside of the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area.
• if you qualify for a blind and partially sighted concession, you may use your pass at any time during the day within the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch area but you will not be able to travel free if you get on a bus outside the conurbation before 9:30am.
• the new national pass will last up to 5 years
• the cost of replacing a lost pass will rise to £8.00 to meet the additional cost of smart card replacement.

Download a pdf list of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) by customers. Should you not be able to locate your question, please call 01202 451584 and one of our staff will be able to assist you.

Pass Holder + Companion Connect Card

Some people will require a companion or carer to accompany them to enable their use of buses. In such circumstances, the Connect Card will be issued to allow an accompanying companion to travel without charge. Please ensure that this is requested on the application form if a "Pass Holder + Companion" card is required.

How to get a travelcard

You will need to fill out a Concessionary Travel Application Form. 

To receive a form, email concessions, or call 01202 451584, or download one of the following forms:

• Application form

If you are visually impaired, you may find the following form easier to complete:

• Visually Impaired Application Form

If you have learning difficulties, you may find the following information form easier to read and the following form easier to complete:

• Information form
  Application form

You can also find out more information about benefits and concessions  

To plan a journey visit the Getting About website.

Connect Travelcard - Conditions of use

The travelcard allows the named holder (and companion if the card is so endorsed) bus travel at the concessionary rate indicated - it is not transferable to other passengers.

The travelcard is valid on all local bus services operating in England.

Travel is subject to the bus operators' conditions of carriage.

The travelcard must be shown to the driver when boarding the vehicle and be available for inspection at all times.  Drivers (or inspectors) will not allow passengers to travel at the concessionary rate if they are unable to produce a valid travelcard and they have the right to question entitlement in suspicious circumstances.

You accept that when you use your travelcard neither the local authorities that co-operate to provide the scheme nor their agents and/or contractors shall be liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly in connection with obtaining or using a bus operator's services.

If the travelcard is lost or stolen this should be reported to the issuing authority immediately.

The travelcard remains the property of the issuing authority.

Guidance on Eligibility of Disabled People for Concessionary Bus Travel

You can view the Department of Transport's guidance document for Local Authorities for assessing the eligibility of disabled people in England for concessionary bus travel below: