Tokens for Travel

The Tokens for Travel campaign is calling for all local authorities in England to offer travel tokens as an alternative option to the national bus pass when it is introduced in April 2008.

Travel tokens can be used on taxis, dial-a-ride schemes and many other transport modes and are an excellent alternative option for people who can’t use buses.

Only with the choice between the bus pass and tokens will all older people have access to a travel concession they can use.

Tokens for Travel is designed for local older people’s groups to call for tokens in their area whilst their local authorities are setting their transport budget for 2008.

If you are a member of a forum or group, please download the Tokens for Travel briefing pack from the right hand side of this page and take action to lobby your local authority in November or as soon as possible thereafter. This action will run until the end of February 2008.

The All Change Agenda - what we want

Tokens for Travel is part of the Help the Aged All Change agenda which is an ongoing commitment to press for safe, accessible, reliable and affordable transport for all older people in the UK. We want:

Improved services

Too many older people are isolated because they cannot access buses, trains or other transport links.

Where older people can access public transport, services often do not cater for older people’s needs, presenting a further barrier to use. Unsafe bus stops, small timetables that are difficult to read, or inconsiderate drivers pulling away before passengers have taken a seat all present real obstacles to older people using services.

We need an improvement in the quality and quantity of services if more older people are to make more journeys on public transport. 

Increased choice and flexibility

The new national bus pass for April 2008 is an excellent step forward. However, it will not help those people that are unable to access or use bus services. A choice of transport concessions is needed so all older people can access a form of subsidised transport that they can use.

Planners need to avoid lumping all older people together as one group when in fact their abilities and mobility can vary.

Improved consultation and better research

Too often planners take an unrealistic view of older people’s transport needs, measuring distances 'as the crow flies' and not taking into account poor terrain or security. They should find out where older people are, what transport links they need and find ways to provide for them.

Planners, decision makers and local authorities need to improve the way they consult older people about transport plans at an early stage, and ensure their needs are taken into account.

What you can do

• If you are a member of a forum or group, download the Tokens for Travel briefing pack from the right hand side of this page and take action to lobby your local authority.
• Download 'All Change', a leaflet about campaigning for better transport, from the right hand side of this page. It contains ideas and examples on how to campaign for improved transport where you live.
• Download 'Local Bus Services and Travel Concessions' from the right hand side of this page and read about the experiences and views of other older people. Alternatively you can just read the summary of this report.
• Read about a Welsh pensioners' group's battle for a new bus route
• Tell us your experiences of difficult journeys so we can campaign on your behalf. Contact us at:
  Campaigns team
  Help the Aged
  207-221 Pentonville Road
  London, N1 9UZ
  020 7278 1114
  Email us