news, events, calendar, churches, schools
Free 24-hour travel for local disabled people
Local people with disabilities will now be able to travel for free on London public transport 24 hours a day, from April 2003. And now men over the age of 60 will also be eligible for a Freedom Pass, having previously had to wait until the age of 65.
The extra travel access will mean the council will now spend more than £3.3 million annually on travel passes for blind, disabled and older residents.
Deputy for environment, Cllr Michael Cartwright said: "This change is great news for disabled people in the borough.
"Until now, they have been restricted from travelling during the morning peak period, which obviously effects their ability to get to work.
"This change brings the rights of disabled people into line with blind people, who are already able to travel for free on London transport 24 hours a day.
"Men over 60 will also enjoy the same access to travel as women, who are already eligible for free travel from the same age."
The changes, agreed by the ALG transport and environment committee at the end of last week, will also cover people living in all London boroughs.
The decision to extend the use of the Freedom Pass for people with disabilities means they now have the same access to travel as blind people.
Cllr Cartwright added: "However, the committee has decided not to make changes to the times of use of the Freedom Pass for older people, whose travel will still be restricted to times outside the morning peak period."
Freedom Passes provide free travel on London's buses, tubes, trams and the DLR, but does not include national rail.