Des Conway’s disability bus pass was usually renewed every five years.
But when he got his last one, he noticed that it would expire less than six months later.
“I couldn’t understand why they’d only give it to me for less than a year,” he says.
He soon realised that the expiry date listed on the card was his 66th birthday, April 6 – the exact date he’d officially become an old age pensioner – and began to put two and two together.
His pass was going to be replaced by a pensioner’s one instead – meaning he’d no longer be eligible to travel for free before 9.30am in the morning on weekdays.
“This is discriminatory,” Des wrote in a letter to Nottingham City Council, asking them to reinstate disability passes.
But the council said it wasn’t “in the position to make a change” to the policy, which had been in place for 10 years.
“This reflects the fact that one of the main objectives of providing the pre-9.30am Mobility Pass Concession is to help people with the cost of their journey to work and educational establishments,” said councillor Angela Kandola, who was in charge of transport for the council at the time.
“This will generally be achieved by providing a pass for people under the age of 66. I acknowledge that this arrangement isn’t perfect and it is something that could be reviewed in the future.”
That was nearly three years ago.
But the policy has not been reviewed.
“Our disabilities don’t disappear,” says Des, now 68, who has neurological issues which affect his balance and ability to walk. “Our disabilities are there before our 66th birthday and they’re there afterwards. If anything, they’re getting worse.”
Liz Silver, who is visually impaired, moved to Nottingham in 1975 from London, and got her disability pass in 1981.
But when she turned 66 in January 2023, she too lost her free bus travel privileges.
“I was shocked,” says Liz, now 69. “I just assumed that my disability pass would just continue. I didn’t have a clue.”
“Trying to save money by targeting disabled people is so out of order just in itself. They’re not thinking about the fact that disabled people have lives that start before 9.30am.”
“It’s just so terrible, really. It’s like if you’re a disabled person but everything’s going to change when you hit pension age, which is so bloody stupid.”
Bus travel had been free 24/7 for disabled people in Nottingham city since 2008 before the Labour council in charge in 2018 scrapped it, blaming budget cuts from local government and financial constraints.
It was reinstated in February 2020 in a council U-turn, after a passionate, two-year campaign spearheaded Des.
But it only applied to disabled people under the age of 66 – which neither Des nor Liz, who was involved, realised at the time.
The Department for Transport says that there is no requirement in legislation for holders of a disabled person’s bus pass to switch to an older person’s bus pass when they reach State Pension age.
It also says that people who continue to meet the eligibility criteria for a disabled person’s bus pass may receive one at any age.
From April 2027, disabled bus pass holders nationwide will be able to travel for free 24/7, after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that he would scrap restrictions which meant the benefit only applied after 9.30am and before 11pm on weekdays.
But as it stands, that benefit won’t apply to Des and Liz – because Nottingham City Council replaced their cards automatically when they turned 66.
“You have a birthday and that makes you a pensioner but nothing else changes for the individual,” says Liz. “It’s just a day.
“You might be working beyond retirement age, you might be going to classes, might be going to all sorts of things. Nothing like that changes just because you’ve had a birthday.
“It just seems so unjustified. Just, logically it just doesn’t make sense when you think about it. It’s just so ridiculously unfair. It’s crazy and it’s just, like, thoughtless.”
Public transport in the East Midlands is now handled by the East Midlands Combined Authority, after it took over responsibility from authorities like Nottingham City Council earlier this year before the start of the 2026/2027 financial year.
It is currently reviewing concessionary travel schemes in the region with a view to any changes coming into play next April.
An EMCCA spokesperson said: “We welcome the Government’s announcement to extend travel times for disabled bus pass holders, bringing greater consistency for disabled people across the East Midlands.
“We recognise the concerns raised about concessionary travel arrangements and following the transfer of transport responsibilities from constituent councils, we will review the concessionary travel scheme over the coming months.
“This will include consideration of how arrangements can be brought together for 2027/28, including issues relating to time restrictions and eligibility.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Anyone who remains eligible for a disabled person’s bus pass can continue to hold and use it, whatever their age, and there is no legal requirement to switch to an older person’s bus pass.
“Disabled bus passes are a lifeline for many, which is why we have lifted time restrictions so it’s free for people to travel all day, every day.”
Nottingham City Council was approached for comment.