Bus travel for disabled passengers
Easy access buses
Many bus routes in West Yorkshire offer low floor, easy access buses. With more and more bus stops featuring raised kerbing too, it's never been easier to travel.
You can also use our bus timetables pages and Journey Planner for details of journey times.
Please note: Even though the services listed in the leaflet are scheduled for easy access buses, they cannot be guaranteed by the bus company.
Using easy access buses
A few things to remember when you use an easy access bus:
- When the bus arrives, the driver will lower the bus and / or lower the ramp to pavement level
- Once on the bus, reverse into the dedicated area for wheelchairs so you are facing the back of the bus
- Remember to apply the handbrake
- If you have any difficulties, please ask the driver for assistance
- Look for the symbol on the side of the bus
Wheelchair and mobility scooter users
Accessible, low floor buses can accommodate one ‘reference size’ manual or powered wheelchair. A 'reference size' wheelchair has a maximum length of 1200mm and a maximum width of 700mm.Wheelchair users will be able to board the bus if:
- The bus is equipped with a wheelchair space
- The wheelchair space is unoccupied
- The total carrying capacity of the bus would not be exceeded
- Motorised wheelchairs and those carrying oxygen tanks are permitted on buses providing they are not too large for the wheelchair space
- The wheelchair ramp will be used if it is safe to do so. Unfortunately however it may not be possible to use the ramp if the bus is prevented from reaching the kerb by other vehicles
Mobility scooter permit scheme
The Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Department for Transport have introduced a Scooter Permit scheme for the carriage of mobility scooters on scheduled bus services.
The scheme applies to Class 2 Mobility Scooters that are no larger than 1000mm long, 600mm wide, with a turning radius no greater than 1200mm. A Class 2 scooter is one constructed or adapted to be incapable of a speed of more than 4mph. Manufacturers’ manuals or brochures will usually state the size of the scooter.
Anyone wishing to travel by bus in a scooter will need to have their individual scooter approved as suitable. This approval needs to cover both the design (size and weight) of the scooter and the ability of the user to control and manoeuvre it safely.
Once approved, customers will be issued with a “scooter permit” for travel, containing the scooter details and their name and photograph, which they should show to the driver on boarding the vehicle. This standard permit will be accepted, on buses able to carry scooters, 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.
Getting a scooter permit
Passengers will need to contact a participating bus operator to arrange for a free assessment of their scooter. The assessment will include measuring its size and weight (including user), and may include an assessment of the scooter user’s ability to control the scooter onto, off and within the bus.
These requirements are designed to ensure that a scooter can fit in the designated space on board all accessible low floor buses and can board in a safe and controlled manner. Assessments may be arranged at the user's nearest depot, their home or another suitable location – this will differ from operator to operator.
Qualifying scooters under the CPT Code will be issued with a permit to travel. This is a standard permit which, once issued by one bus operator, will be accepted by other operators that have chosen to take part in the Code without any further assessment being needed. A passport-size photograph of the user will be required before a permit can be issued.
West Yorkshire bus operators who issue permits
In West Yorkshire, Arriva, First West Yorkshire and Stagecoach have signed up to the scheme and will be offering assessments and issuing passes to those who meet the specification outlined above. Anyone wishing to apply for a permit needs to contact the appropriate operator. Please call the numbers below for more details.
• Arriva - 0344 800 4411
• First – 0113 381 5000 (option 5)
• Stagecoach – 0845 266 6606
The following operators are accepting permits:
First, Arriva, Stagecoach, Yorkshire Tiger, TLC Travel, Stotts
Find out more about the Confederation of Passenger Transport's Mobility Scooter Permit Scheme:
CPT mobility scooter code for acceptance of scooters on to low floor buses (CPT UK website)
Bus stations
Accessible design features in many of our main bus stations include:
- accessible toilets
- variable height ticket counters
- highly visible staff presence to assist all passengers.
Find out more about facilities at Metro Bus Stations.
Huddersfield Bus Station Assistance for Disabled Passengers
A telephone pre-booking service is offered by Huddersfield Bus Station to assist people with disabilities and restricted mobility.
To pre-book your visit call us on 01484 515736 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). The assistance service is available throughout the Bus Station’s opening hours seven days a week. Calls will either be answered by a member of staff, or you can leave a message on the answering machine and a member of staff will call you back.
It's important that you book assistance at least 24 hours in advance.
Assistance includes guidance for people with a sight impairment or who is unfamiliar with the bus station’s layout and wanting help finding their way around. Assistance is also available to guide people to nearby on-street bus stops rail stations and taxi ranks and also and to help people reading leaflets or travel information.
Staff will still be on hand to assist disabled passengers who have not pre-booked assistance.
Guide Dogs and Recognised Assistance Dogs
Recognised assistance dogs (including assistance dogs in training) are allowed to travel for free on buses.
An assistance dog is one which has been specifically trained to assist a disabled person and which has been qualified by one of the charitable organisations registered as members of Assistance Dogs (UK). The six registered charities that form assistance dogs are:
- Guide Dogs
- Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
- Dogs for the Disabled
- Canine Partners
- Support Dogs
- Dogs A.I.D.
Assistance dog owners are advised to make sure their dog is wearing its harness or jacket so that the driver knows it is an assistance dog.