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Bus passes
Most Gold Cards expire in March 2013.
This does not mean Gold Card is being discontinued. But it does mean we need to send you a new Gold Card. Please check now if yours is one of them. If your Gold Card does expire in March 2013 and you want a new one you need to get in touch now.
There will be a lot of Gold Cards to reissue – there are around 180,000 Derbyshire Gold Card holders – and it’s really important that we get cards to the right people at the correct address.
So we need your help. If your circumstances have changed since you were issued with your current Gold Card please tell us.
This may be because you have moved address or no longer need a card for other reasons. And if you know of someone who may have had a Gold Card and no longer needs it, but is unable to let us know themselves, please also let us know.
The easiest way to tell us is to complete the ‘Change of Circumstances Form’ .Staff at your local library will be able to help you fill this in if you are unable to do so yourself.
Alternatively contact us for assistance on 01246 242424.
What is a Gold Card?
A bus pass or Gold Card, allows people to travel free, off-peak, on local buses throughout the whole of England, discounts at more than 1,300 shops and other local businesses and to borrow at all Derbyshire and Derby city libraries.
Application forms are available from Call Derbyshire, local council offices, local libraries and some post offices.
To qualify for a Gold Card you must be in one of these categories:
- aged over 60 - read our eligibility section to find out more
- blind or partially sighted
- profoundly or severely deaf
- without speech
- have a permanent disability which seriously impairs your ability to walk. This includes blue badge holders.
- have a learning disability
- are without arms or have the long term loss of the use of both arms
- disqualified from driving on medical grounds. This includes some people with severe mental disorder
As from 1st April 2011 your personal information will no longer be kept by us but be transferred and kept by Derbyshire County Council.
This is because responsibility for administering free England-wide bus travel transfers from us to Derbyshire County Council.
We will still have access to your information via a secure database, for example to update a change of address, or to issue you with a replacement for a lost card – although your data will be kept by the county council.
You do not have to do anything. You can continue to use your Gold Card in exactly the same way as before – for travel and for shop discounts, and as a library card.
If you have any concerns about your personal information please contact Jane Brudenell on 01629 536741.
Bus travel
Free bus travel applies to trips on local buses anywhere in England at off-peak times. Off-peak is after 9.30am and up to 11.00pm weekdays and at anytime weekends and bank holidays. However, free bus travel does not apply to long-distance express services (such as National Express services), special tours and excursions, nor does it apply in Wales and Scotland.
Before 9.30am weekdays all Gold cardholders will have to pay full fare on the bus. Free bus travel also applies to community transport dial-a-bus services within Derbyshire and Derby City, but this is only available to Derbyshire Residents (Gold Cardholders).
Library and discount card
Gold Card holders can also use their card to borrow at any library in Derbyshire. To use it as a library card, cardholders will need to activate their membership. They can do this by handing their card to library staff who will register it as a library card.
Gold Card also gives discounts at around 1,300 shops and other local businesses.
If you are turning 60 please be aware that there are changes to when you can apply for a Gold Card.
Before April 6 2010 you automatically qualified for a Gold Card on your 60th birthday. But if you are born on or after April 6 1950 you will have to wait longer to get your card.
The changes affect anyone born on or after April 6 1950 to April 5 1955.
These changes are being brought in across the country – not just in Derbyshire. They are to do with bringing age-related benefits, like free bus travel, in line with the state pension age of 65 for both men and women.
If you were 60 before 6 April 2010 but still do not have a Gold Card then you can apply for one straight away.
If you qualify for Gold Card because of disability, regardless of your age you can apply immediately. Anyone born on or after April 6 1955 will get their Gold Card on their 65th birthday.
Look at our age elegibility to find out when you become eligible for a Gold Card. We have also produced a Frequenty Asked Questions document to give you more information.
For further information or advice please telephone 01246 242424 or submit an enquiry form
Last Updated on Monday, 01 October 2012 10:13
