What the service is for

The national bus pass will allow you to enjoy free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England. Off-peak times are 9.30am to 11.00pm Mondays to Fridays and all day on weekends or bank holidays.  This service however does not include Cherwell Dial-a-Ride.  For further information on the Dial a Ride service see the leaflet in 'Downloads' (right).

Important changes from 1 April 2011

How you can access the service

If you live in Cherwell and are of an eligible age you can apply to us for a national bus pass.  More information is available from the age of eligibility table (right).

Details required

You should apply in person. Please complete an application form (under 'Downloads' to the right) or collect one from one of the local offices (details under contacts to the right). Take it to one of our local offices together with the following:

• One recent colour passport-size photo of your head and shoulders (45mm x 35mm)
• Proof that you live in Cherwell. This could be a driving licence, a council tax demand, or a rent book
• Proof of age, this could be a state retirement pension letter or card, a birth certificate or a driving licence.

Your new bus pass will be delivered to your home address. Please note it can take up to four weeks to be delivered, however you may apply up to four weeks before your eligible age to ensure you receive the pass in time (please be aware outside influences may affect this).

If you can't attend an office in person, you can send someone else on your behalf. Along with the documents required, they must have a permission letter signed by you and proof of their identity.

Changes to concessionary bus passes and travel tokens

From 1 April 2011 the running of the concessionary travel scheme for bus passes and travel tokens transfers to Oxfordshire County Council.

This change is happening across the country, and means that all enquiries, and renewals of bus passes and tokens that expire after 1 April 2011, should be made to Oxfordshire County Council.

All existing bus passes and tokens can continue to be used until they expire, but when they do expire after 1 April 2011, they will be renewed under the scheme run by Oxfordshire County Council.

All existing personal information about bus pass and travel token users held by us in order to administer the current scheme, will be transferred to Oxfordshire County Council in March 2011.

Further details about these changes and any changes to the scheme will be publicised by Oxfordshire County Council later this year.

The community transport (Dial a Ride) service is not affected by this change.