New Zealand – Do you have a disability that means you are unable to drive? Would free bus travel help you become more independent and enable easier access to employment, study, healthcare and social opportunities? From this Thursday (1 August), applications for Waikato Regional Council’s public transport accessibility concession will open.
The concession will mean free bus travel on all Hamilton buses, as well as on the 20 Cambridge, 21 Northern Connector, 22 Morrinsville Paeroa, 23 Raglan and 24 Te Awamutu services. It does not currently include other public transport services within the Waikato region.
The free travel will be available to people who have an impairment that prevents them from being able to drive. This could be a physical, intellectual, psychological, sensory or neurological impairment.
People with a permanent disability are eligible, as are people with a temporary disability that is likely to last for six months or more. People with a short term disability (less than 6 months) will not be eligible for this concession.
There is an application process, which includes an eligibility assessment carried out by either a disability agency or a GP. The council will then issue an accessibility concession photo ID card, which must be shown to the bus driver to receive the free travel.
For more information, visit www.busit.co.nz
