The bus pass came into effect on 1st April and people aged 60 and over will now be able to travel free on local bus services anywhere in England. Help the Aged has fully backed the new bus pass but has warned that some older people simply won’t be able to use buses due to mobility problems or poor local services.

MP for South Thanet, Stephen Ladyman, has backed the Charity’s Flexible Fares campaign which is calling for local authorities to provide alternatives to the bus pass such as taxi tokens or dial-a-ride schemes.

Stephen Ladyman, MP for South Thanet, says: "The introduction of the free bus pass is fantastic news for older people throughout South Thanet. This will give people the freedom to travel around the area freely without worrying about administrative borders."

"Getting out and about is vital to staying healthy and active in later life and I would urge all those over 60 in South Thanet to ensure they take up this new entitlement."

Kate Jopling, head of public affairs at Help the Aged, says: "It’s great to have Stephen Ladyman support our campaign. We’re hoping travel concessions for older people will come along a bit like buses - with the bus pass being the first in a string of concessionary travel options being opened up for older people. The next stop is flexible fares."

Recent Help the Aged research found that:

Two fifths* of older people in the UK are not within walking distance of a bank, friends and family or health and social services(1);

When asked to improve one thing in their local area, nearly one in five older people (16 per cent) chose more frequent and accessible public transport(1);

Four out of 10 older people (44 per cent) said they would use their car less if public transport or concessions were improved(2).