Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / DERBYSHIRE
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

16:37 GMT, Thursday, 15 May 2008 17:37 UK

Disabled students' bus pass woe

Jade Kerr

Lecturers and disabled students in Derby have criticised a new bus pass - because it cannot be used until after lessons have started.

Students with learning difficulties at Derby College have been encouraged to use public transport to help extend their life skills.

Since April a new bus pass launched by the government entitled eligible users to free off-peak travel on local buses.

Many of the college's disabled students have now resorted to using taxis.

The vice principal at Derby College, Steve Logan, confirmed about 130 students are affected.

Financial constraints

"It's a major problem for us," he said. "About two thirds of the learners that are on our independent travel training programme are considering withdrawing from that now and actually going back to a more expensive taxi service that is local authority funded."

Student Jade Kerr, 17, has dyslexia and mild autism and travels three hours a day to travel to college. She qualifies for a bus pass but cannot use it because her lessons start earlier than the pass allows.

She said because of her disabilities she will have to use a taxi to get her to and from college because she struggles with using money.

"I can't handle money if I have to pay for my own bus journey because it's too hard. I can't count my money out, so I won't be able to pay for it."

The government has said that local authorities can extend the hours if they wanted. But a spokesperson from Derby City Council said that the authority cannot afford to do that.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Disabled man loses free bus pass (03 Apr 08 |  Derbyshire )
Free bus passes cover all England (01 Apr 08 |  England )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Department for Transport
Derbyshire County Council
Derby College
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©