Derek Montoya
Depending on where you live, you may be eligible for free bus travel if you are over 60. In England, you must have reached state pension age to qualify for a free bus pass. In Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, however, you can get a free bus pass from the age of 60. If you live in London, you can travel free on buses, tubes, and other transport from the age of 60, but only within London.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bus Number | M60-SBS |
| Fare | $2.90 |
| Payment Methods | OMNY, MetroCard, or exact change |
| Boarding Process | Tap card or device, or show proof of payment |
| Transfers | Free to subway or another bus within 2 hours |
| Luggage | Luggage racks available |
| Boarding Location | Terminals A, B, and C |
| Destinations | Manhattan, 125th Street, 116th Street, Astoria, Queens |
| Connection Options | along 125th Street, ,, at 116th Street, or in Astoria, Queens |
| Free Alternative | LaGuardia Link Q70 |
What You'll Learn
Eligibility for a free bus pass in England
In England, you can get a free bus pass when you reach State Pension age. This is called an Older Person's Bus Pass or Freedom Pass. The age at which you can get a free bus pass varies depending on where you live. If you live in London, you can travel free on buses trams, tubes and other local transport services when you turn 60. However, this is only valid within London.
You can apply for a bus pass by contacting your local council or applying online. If you have a disability, you may be eligible for a Disabled Person's Freedom Pass. This entitles you to free travel at any time on Transport for London services.
If you have an English National Concessionary Scheme bus pass, issued by an English council outside of London, you can use it to travel on Transport for London buses. Simply show your pass to the driver.
The Older Person's Freedom Pass can be used to travel free or get discounts on a range of transport services across London, including buses, trams, tubes, the DLR, London Overground and the Elizabeth line. You can also use it to get discounts on some river services and Santander Cycles subscriptions.
On weekdays, you can use your Older Person's Freedom Pass anytime except between 04:30 and 09:00. You can travel free anytime at weekends and on bank holidays.
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Eligibility for a free bus pass in Wales
In Wales, you can get a bus pass when you turn 60. If you live in Wales and are aged 60 or over, you can travel for free on most bus services in Wales and the borders and get discounted or free travel on many rail services. This is called a Concessionary Travel Card.
To be eligible for a free older person's bus pass in Wales, you must be 60 or over. This is unlike England, where you must have reached the State Pension age, currently 66 for both men and women, to be eligible for a free bus pass.
You can apply for a bus pass up to a month in advance of the date you become eligible. You can apply either online or by post, depending on which is more convenient for you. To apply for a bus pass or check your eligibility, visit your nation's government website. This will provide you with all the information you need about how to apply, how long it will take to receive your bus pass, and what identification documents you will need for your application.
If your primary address is in Wales and you meet the government's disability eligibility criteria, you can also get a Concessionary Travel Card. You can apply for a Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card if you are an eligible disabled person and your primary residence is in Wales. If your condition limits your ability to travel alone, you may be able to get a companion card that will allow someone else to travel with you for free.
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Eligibility for a free bus pass in Scotland
In Scotland, you can get a free older person's bus pass when you turn 60. This is unlike England, where you have to reach state pension age, which is currently 66, to be eligible for a free bus pass.
The bus pass entitles you to free and discounted travel, making it easier for older people to get around, especially those who are reliant on their pension or no longer able to drive.
You can apply for a bus pass online or by post. To apply, visit your country's government website to check your eligibility and access the application form. You can usually apply a month before you become eligible. The website will also provide information on the documents you need to process your application.
If you live in London, there are two bus pass options for those over 60: the 60+ London Oyster photocard and the Older Person's Freedom Pass. The former costs £20 and offers free travel within London, while the latter is free and also allows free travel on local buses across England.
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Eligibility for a free bus pass in Northern Ireland
If you are aged 60 or over, you may be entitled to concessionary travel on bus and rail journeys within Northern Ireland. To be eligible, you must apply for and receive a concessionary travel card, called a SmartPass. You must be a resident of Northern Ireland for a minimum of three months to be eligible.
With a 60+ SmartPass, you can travel anywhere in Northern Ireland on any Translink bus or rail service and a number of coach services completely free of charge. The 60+ SmartPass does not entitle the holder to all-Ireland travel.
Senior citizens resident in Northern Ireland can get all-Ireland free travel at the age of 65 with a Senior SmartPass.
Other concessions
Concessionary fares (half-fare travel) are also available for:
- People who get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- People who have had a driving licence refused or revoked on medical grounds
- People with a recognised learning disability
- People who are partially sighted (sight impaired)
- War disablement pensioners
- People who are registered blind
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Eligibility for a free bus pass in London
In London, you can travel for free on buses, tubes, trams, and other forms of transport when you turn 60. However, this free travel is restricted to journeys within London. To take advantage of this, you can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard, which offers several benefits, including:
- Free travel on buses, tubes, trams, DLR, London Overground, and most National Rail services in London.
- Free travel on TfL services from 09:00 on weekdays and any time on weekends and bank holidays.
- Discounts on River Services and Santander Cycle Hire.
The 60+ London Oyster photocard costs £20 and is valid for travel within London only.
Once you reach the State Pension age, which is currently 66 for both men and women, you can apply for a free Older Person's Freedom Pass. This pass offers similar benefits to the Oyster photocard but with some additional perks, such as:
- Free travel on National Rail services in London after 09:30 on weekdays and any time on weekends and bank holidays.
- Free travel on local buses all over England between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays and any time on weekends and bank holidays.
The Freedom Pass is also available to those with disabilities, regardless of age, as long as their primary residence is in London. This pass allows travel at any time on the same services as the Older Person's Freedom Pass.
To apply for a disabled person's bus pass in London, you need to contact your local council to find out the specific eligibility criteria and application process.
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Frequently asked questions
The bus pass is free for those who are over the age of 60 or 65, depending on where you live.
This depends on where you live and the type of pass you have. In England, the pass is valid for unlimited travel between 9:30 am and 11 pm on weekdays, with full access on weekends. In London, the pass is only valid within the city. In Scotland, the pass is valid throughout the country, including to and from Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
You can apply for the bus pass online or by post. Visit your nation's government website to check your eligibility, how to apply, and what documents you need.
You can apply for the bus pass up to a month in advance of the date you become eligible.
This depends on your local constituency. Some local authorities will automatically renew your bus pass, while others will require you to apply for a new one when it expires.
