Local MP Tom Gordon has written to the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, urging him to remove time restrictions on concessionary bus travel for disabled residents.
The intervention comes after neighbouring mayor Tracy Brabin announced plans to remove restrictions on disabled bus passes across West Yorkshire from 2027, while the same barrier has already been removed in South Yorkshire.
This leaves York and North Yorkshire as the only Labour mayoral authority in Yorkshire yet to act.
Currently, disabled bus pass holders in York and North Yorkshire cannot use their passes before 9:00am, a restriction campaigners say creates barriers to work, healthcare and everyday travel.
Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has been leading the national debate on the issue since his election, securing a debate in Parliament and forcing a vote on removing the restrictions nationwide.
In his letter, Tom highlighted how the growing postcode lottery is affecting bus users locally.
Routes such as the 36 and the 7 from Harrogate begin in North Yorkshire but terminate in West Yorkshire, meaning passengers boarding in North Yorkshire could be charged for journeys that would be free just a short distance away across the county boundary.
Tom Gordon MP said:
“Disabled people should not face barriers to travel simply because of where they live.
“Across Yorkshire, Labour mayors are now moving to remove these restrictions, but York and North Yorkshire is being left behind.
“Passengers on routes like the 36 or the 7 from Harrogate could end up paying for journeys that would be free if they had boarded just a few miles down the road in West Yorkshire. That postcode lottery simply isn’t fair.
“The Mayor has the power to fix this. It’s time for York and North Yorkshire to catch up with the rest of Labour-led Yorkshire and deliver round-the-clock bus travel for disabled residents.”
Tom has also offered to host a meeting between the Mayor and disabled passengers and campaign groups to hear directly about the impact the restrictions have on their daily lives.
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