The current Metro Disabled or Blind Person's Permit

How do I get one?

If as well as applying for a new English National Concessionary Pass, you want to:

• apply for a new Metro Disabled or Blind Person’s Pass for the period up to April 2008 or;
• renew your existing one – because it expires before the start of the English National Concessionary scheme in April 2008;

You should contact your local Social Services Office for an application form. The main offices in the region are listed below. Telephone the office in your area for advice on rules of eligibility, how to apply, what proofs of identity you need to supply. You will need to provide two recent full-faced, passport-sized colour photographs.

Social Services Offices

Bradford District:

Disabled people’s applications.

Transport Concessions for Disabled Persons Team,

Bingley Social Services,
The Town Hall,
Myrtle Park,
Bingley
BD16 2LQ
Tel: 01274 438723

Blind people’s applications.

Sensory Needs Service,
Morley Street Resource Centre,
Bradford
BD7 1BB
Tel: 01274 435001 

Calderdale District:

Social Services,
1 Park Road,
Halifax
HX1 2TU
Tel: 01422 363561

Kirklees District

Gateway to Care,
2 Market Street,
Huddersfield
HD1 2EH
Tel: 01484 223000 

Social Services Info Point,
The Walsh Building,
Dewsbury
WF12 8EE
Tel: 01924 325070

Leeds District:

One Stop Shop,
PO Box 657,
Leeds
LS1 9BS
Tel: 0113 398 4700

Wakefield District

Access to Services,
The Car Badge Unit,
PO Box 208,
Pontefract WF8 1WS
Tel: 0800 169 6520

If your application is approved by Social Services for a bearer only permit*, you will be given a certified application form to take to your local Post Office or Bus Station Travel Centre. You will receive a laminated paper Metro Disabled or Blind Person’s Permit to use immediately with an expiry date of September2008.

* with/without companion permits are issued direct from Social Services. This also applies to all Disabled and Blind Person’s Permits issued in Wakefield and Kirklees Districts.

Metro will send you your new English National Concessionary Pass in the post by the end of March 2008, before the national free off-peak bus scheme begins in April.

Where can I use my current Metro Disabled or Blind Person’s Permit?

Current Metro Disabled Person’s Permit holders are entitled to:

• free bus travel throughout West Yorkshire and free cross boundary bus travel after 0930 to Fridays and all day at weekends and Public Holidays.
• train travel for 35p* throughout West Yorkshire after 0930 Mondays to Fridays and all day at weekends and Public Holidays.
• Before 0930 Mondays to Fridays full fares apply for both bus and train travel.

Current Metro Blind Person’s Permit holders can travel anywhere in West Yorkshire on all trains and buses displaying the Metro symbol FREE AT ALL TIMES.

They are also entitled to free travel to and from the four neighbouring authorities at any time.

Travel within West Yorkshire

Metro Disabled or Blind Person’s Permits are valid for all scheduled train services in West Yorkshire and almost all journeys on buses displaying the Metro symbol.

Exclusions are certain special services, excursions, tours, private hire vehicles, school and works contract services and certain express bus services which cross the West Yorkshire boundary.

Cross Boundary Travel by Bus

Metro Disabled Person’s Permit holders benefit from free travel on most bus services that cross the West Yorkshire boundary after 0930 Mondays to Fridays and all day Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. This includes journeys to and from:

• Greater Manchester;
• Lancashire;
• North Yorkshire;*
• South Yorkshire.

*In the case of North Yorkshire, certain services, including those to the Dales, and those on Yorkshire Coastliner to York and the East Coast, are excluded from these arrangements.

Metro Blind Person’s Permit holders are entitled to free travel to and from these four neighbouring authorities at any time.

On these services Blind Person’s Permit holders will only be able to travel as far as Tadcaster or Skipton. The Dales Summer and Winter Special services are also excluded from these arrangements.

Bus Travel wholly within neighbouring counties

Subsequent bus travel outside of West Yorkshire is now charged at full fare for Metro Disabled Person’s and Blind Person’s Permit holders. Full fare will be charged at all times for any subsequent travel.