free bus travel in derbyshire

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• Gold Card bus pass for older people

People who reach the state pension retirement age (depending on your date of birth) are entitled to a free off-peak bus pass, known in Derby and Derbyshire as the Gold Card. It can also be used as a discount and library card.

What does the Gold Card offer?

The Gold Card offers free travel on local buses throughout England between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, all day at weekends and on bank holidays. This includes the Park and Ride bus service anywhere on its route, although if you park a car, normal parking costs apply.

When can I apply?

You are no longer automatically eligible for a Gold Card on your 60th birthday. The date you can apply has changed to bring age-related benefits, like free bus travel, in line with the State Pension age increasing for women as well as men. These changes have been made across England and affect anyone born on or after 6th April 1950 to 5th April 1955. To find out when you can apply please use the State Pension age calculator . You can apply for a Gold Card two weeks before your State Pension age entitlement date.

If you were born after 5 April 1955, you can apply when you are 66.

How can I apply?

The quickest and easiest way to apply is online.

Apply for an older person's Gold Card

Residents are encouraged not to bring applications into the Council House. There is currently a limited facility to have your photograph taken at the Council House. If you can apply online , then please do so. Alternatively, if you have already downloaded an application form , you can send the completed form, along with a passport-sized photo and copies of your proof of age and address, to Concessionary Travel, Derby City Council, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS.

Your card will be posted to you within two weeks.

If you have any questions, please contact us online  or telephone 01332 640000.

What happens if I lose my card?

There is a £5 charge to replace a lost pass. You can also apply online for a replacement card.

Your replacement card will be posted to you within two to three weeks.

Why is my card not working?

Ticket machines on buses throughout Derby and Derbyshire can detect cancelled Gold Cards.

A Gold Card may have been cancelled because:

• you told the Council your card was lost or stolen
• you've had multiple Gold Cards and are not using the most-up-to date card
• your Gold Card has been used fraudulently
• you no longer qualify for free travel.

If your card has not worked, the driver may let you travel for free but will advise you to get a new card. If you have a card because of your age, you can apply for a Gold Card online .

How do I renew my card?

Most Gold Cards are valid for up to five years but many will start to expire in the coming months.

Check the expiry date on your card now. If it's due to expire in 30 days, you can renew your card online .

Removal of travel concessions on Red Arrow X-38

Free travel will no longer be available on the Red Arrow bus service for concessionary card holders. Passengers can continue to travel for free on the following services that run between Derby and Nottingham:

• Gold Card bus pass for disabled people
• Information and advice
• Concessionary Fares Consultation
• Transforming Bus Services

Department:

Concessionary Travel

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Community News from Derbyshire County Council – 21 July 2023 🔹 Free bus rides🔹 Summer holiday activities 🔹 Flood hardship fund 🔹 Free cycle training 🔹Say 'YES' to employment and training opportunities

Free bus rides reminder.

Don't forget that you can take advantage of free bus rides on six summer Sunday mornings, starting this week.

Summer holiday activities

For any child who is eligible for benefits-related free school meals, did you know they can go to an It's About Me Holiday Club for free this summer?

It’s About Me is a FREE Holiday Activity and Food Programme for children aged four to 16, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. There are lots of different activities happening across the county and eligible families can get up to 16 free sessions this summer.

With everything from BMX to performing arts, there are sessions to suit all interests and ages. 

Flood hardship fund open

Free cycle training.

If you're over 18 and want to learn to ride a bike, wish you had a bit more confidence when you're cycling, or just want to be a better rider, we're offering free one-to-one cycle training.

Say "YES" to employment and training opportunities for young people in Derbyshire

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page . You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com .

This service is provided to you at no charge by Derbyshire County Council .

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Public Transport

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North East Derbyshire District has a number of operators running bus services within its boundaries. For more detailed information and timetables please use the Public Transport in Derbyshire website where you can search by bus number or location.

For up to date information on train timetables, fares and disruption please visit the National Rail website. Or you can visit Derbyshire County Council for more information.

A Gold Card allows people to travel free on local buses throughout England (off peak). It gives them discounts at more than 1,300 shops and allows them to borrow at all Derbyshire and Derby city libraries 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.

Check the online calculator to find out when you become eligible for a Gold Card .

• Apply for a Gold Card at the Derbyshire County Council website

Free 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 on weekdays, and at anytime during 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 on 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).

• More information about fares, tickets and passes at the Derbyshire County Council website

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• Gold card - free bus travel
• Street cleaning and parking

Gold Card is our travel, discount and library card for older people and people with certain disabilities.

The Gold Card allows you to travel free, off-peak on local buses throughout the whole of England, get discounts at around 1,000 shops and other local businesses and to borrow at all Derbyshire and Derby city libraries.

Gold Card holders can also use community transport dial-a-bus services for a flat-rate fare.

Who can get a Gold Card?

You no longer receive a Gold Card automatically at the age of 60. Instead, the qualifying age is now linked to the state pension age. 

Check if you qualify for a Gold Card

People of any age with a qualifying disability can also apply for a Gold Card.  Acceptable evidence for disabled applicants is detailed on the application form or on the Derbyshire County Council - Gold Card website.

Gold Card Frequently Asked Questions

How to apply

First of all you need an application form that you can download from the  Derbyshire County Council - Gold Card  website.

Age related applications can be made via the Derbyshire County Council - Gold Card website. You can also pick up a Gold Card application form from your local  library . Alternatively you can call us on 0345 129 77 77 / 01298 28400 and we'll do our best to help.

If you need to provide evidence with your application form such as proof of eligibility, you need to return this WITH your application form. Applications cannot be processed without this evidence.

If you are a High Peak resident you can return your application form with your own photograph by visiting your local  council office .

Please note: we are currently only taking photos in Buxton Town Hall. Please contact us on 0345 129 77 77 or 01298 28400 to make an appointment.

Your Gold Card will NOT be issued at reception, it will be posted out to you.

You can also apply for a Gold Card by sending your completed application form with photocopies of your proof documents and a passport size photograph to Gold Card, Town Hall, Market Place, Buxton, SK17 6EL.

Renewing your Gold Card

You can apply to renew your Gold Card if:

• your  current  gold card has expired or is about to expire in the next 2 months
• if you qualify on the grounds of either Pension Age or Permanent Disability (card issued for 5 years).

Please do not apply to renew your card before it's renewal is due as it will not be accepted.

If you need to renew your disability application, you will need to provide up to date evidence of your eligibility. Please send photocopies of your evidence to Gold Card, Town Hall, Market Place, Buxton, SK17 6EL.

• Report pot holes or road problems
• Gold Card Eligibility
• Apply for a Gold Card
• Public Transport

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• Driving and transport
• Parking, public transport and the environment

Apply for an older person's bus pass

We've matched the postcode to Derbyshire County Council .

You can get information on their website.

Go to Derbyshire County Council website

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

You get an older person’s bus pass when you’re 60. Apply if you’re in:

• Northern Ireland

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Hubs Mobility Advice Service

Accessible uk travel support and mobility advice, derbyshire buses, county advice overview.

Bus operators in Derbyshire have made many buses accessible in compliance with the standards required by government regulations.

This includes the use of ramps, display screens, audio-visual ‘next stop’ announcements and low-floor buses.

You can visit the Derbyshire County Council website for journey planning and timetables.

If you have reduced mobility, or a disability, where possible plan your journey in advance so that you know:

• If the destination stop is accessible, and any arrangements you may need to make for onward travel
• Which mobility aids you will be travelling with. (Contact the bus provider if you are unsure whether you can travel with your scooter/wheelchair.)

It may also be worth considering:

• Where the nearest bus stop is and which bus number you will need
• What method of payment is accepted
• If the ticket can be bought online
• Which destination stop you need. (The bus driver should be happy to help.)

For further information, contact the East Midlands Hubs Mobility Advice Service.

Selected bus operators include:

www.arrivabus.co.uk

trentbarton

www.trentbarton.co.uk

Stagecoach East Midlands

www.stagecoachbus.com

Help with cost

Older person’s bus pass | gold card bus pass.

Concessionary bus passes are available for older people who have reached state pension age and are resident in Nottinghamshire. The Older Person’s Bus Pass is known as the Gold Card Bus pass in Derbyshire. It entitles you to free travel on bus services throughout England from 9.30am to 11.00pm, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

Disabled Person’s Bus Pass | Gold Card Bus Pass

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass, known as the Gold Card Bus Pass in Derbyshire. There is no upper age restriction for the Disabled Person’s Bus Pass. 

Special assistance

The  Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT)  has introduced the Journey Assistance Card Scheme. A range of cards are available for passengers with disabilities or impairments which may not be immediately obvious to those around them. 

The cards cover disabilities such as deafness, visual impairment, or simply can advise the driver to allow the passenger to take their seat before pulling away from the stop.

They are available from travel shops, or you can download one via the Stagecoach and Arriva websites below:

• Stagecoach – Journey Assistance Cards 
• Arriva – Journey Assistance Cards

Sunflower lanyards are also recognised onboard Arriva buses. Wearing one will discreetly inform drivers that a customer may need additional support.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Wheelchairs.

Operators such as Stagecoach and Arriva operate low-floor buses within their fleet.

Low-floor buses have a dedicated area for wheelchair users; other passengers are required to give up the space for wheelchair users.

When your low floor bus arrives at the bus stop, you can ask the driver to lower the step or ramp to allow you to board.

Wheelchair users have priority over everyone else for the use of the designated wheelchair space, since this is the only place in which they can travel safely.

Trentbarton buses are also all wheelchair accessible.

Not all bus operators can carry mobility scooters onboard. If you are a mobility scooter user, you should check with the bus operator in advance of travel.

Arriva and Stagecoach allow mobility scooters onboard accessible buses that are fitted with a ramp. You will need to apply for a standard ‘permit for travel’ prior to your scooter being carried. Mobility scooter users must be assessed and receive on-bus training from the operator before travelling on the bus for the first time. 

To apply for a scooter permit:

• Contact Arriva: 0344 800 4411 .
• Contact Stagecoach: 0345 241 8000 .

Assistance dogs

All recognised assistance dogs are allowed to travel for free on buses.

Routes and timetable links

When planning a journey by bus, things to consider might be “Where is my nearest bus stop?” and “What bus number do I need?”. You may also want to think about buying your ticket, what it will cost, can you pay by cash or card and can you buy it in advance online. Be aware that online tickets for buses are often non-refundable if you cannot make your journey. Buses can only stop at marked bus stops, so you need to be sure where you are getting off in advance. If you are not sure, the bus driver should be happy to help you. You may need to consider if the nearest bus stop is accessible if you are travelling with a scooter or wheelchair.

Local bus providers have journey planners and will be able to help you with information about your journey.

Journey planner, maps, timetables .

Plan a journey, services, timetables .

Routes, journey times, tickets .

You can find routes, timetable links and plan your journey in the Derbyshire and further afield via the travel websites below.

Derbyshire County Council

Timetables and links to trains .

Traveline is a public transport information and journey planning service. It is a partnership of transport companies, local authorities and passenger groups which have come together to bring you routes and times for all travel in Great Britain by bus, rail, coach and ferry and to provide it in as many different ways as possible.

You can use Traveline  to plan your journey and find timetables, before you travel or during your journey. Contact: 0871 200 22 33  

The national NextBuses website will help you search for bus timetables and your nearest bus stop. You can put in your postcode to find your nearest stop and the next bus due. 

SMS text: For live and scheduled arrival information for specific bus stops, text the short code (for example, brkdwtg) shown on the information panel at that stop to 84268 (a charge applies for each return text, on top of the cost of the customer’s initial text message request).

Provides bus, coach and ferry transport information (under the heading ‘Map’, select Track buses and find bus stops). From here, you can track buses across the UK, access timetables and next departure information, view maps, bus stop details and more.

Disclaimer Any advice or information given by the Hubs Mobility Advice Service is impartial and correct at the time it is provided. However, as operators may change their services or equipment prior to your journey or booking, you are strongly advised to check any details directly with them shortly before you expect to travel.

Contact your local Hub

Get in touch with the East Midlands Hub for personal mobility advice and accessible travel information. Your Hub can help with local, national and international accessible travel advice.

Churchill Downs: Where to park for Kentucky Derby 150

The 150th Kentucky Derby is almost here! The biggest days of racing at Churchill Downs on Derby week are May 2 with Thurby, followed by the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 3, and the 150th Kentucky Derby on May 4.

Here is everything you need to know about parking and how to get to  Churchill Downs :

Where to park for the 2024 Kentucky Derby

There will be shuttles taking people to Churchill Downs from the Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, on Thurby, Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. Keep in mind that a permit is needed to park at the Kentucky Exposition Center during Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.

People can also pay to park at the L&N Stadium and walk 10 minutes to Churchill Downs. Parking is paid day of via cash or credit card. There is no pre-purchased parking. Pricing is $40 for a car or truck; $150 for an RV or similar; and $200 for a bus.

On-site parking passes at Churchill Downs are sold out.

Kentucky Derby 150 Guide: Everything you need to know ahead of the Run for the Roses

Is there street parking available near Churchill Downs?

Many Louisville residents who live near the track will sell parking spaces in their driveways or lawns, so there is plenty of residential parking in the area. However, be aware that police close many roads starting on Wednesday until Sunday, so have your route, and parking area, planned before you head to Churchill Downs.

Does Churchill Downs have valet parking?

No, valet parking is not available for the Kentucky Derby.

What city is Churchill Downs closest to?

Thurby, Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby are held at Churchill Downs, 700 Central Ave., in Louisville, Kentucky.

Road closures, street parking and lots around Churchill Downs

Numerous roads near the racetrack will be closed days before the event to help with traffic flow.

These are the streets that will be closed or have restricted access during Derby Week:

Road closures Wednesday, May, 1 to Saturday, May 4

• Fourth Street from Heywood Avenue to Oakdale Avenue
• Oakdale Avenue from Fourth Street to alley at Churchill Downs Backside Gate

Road closures between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Wednesday, May 1 to Saturday, May 4

• Central Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Floyd Street
• Third Street from Central Avenue to Central Station
• Ninth Street from Central Avenue to Heywood Avenue
• North Alley of Central Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Rodman Street
• Burton Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Rodman Street
• Lillian Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Rodman Street
• Rodman Street from Central Avenue to Lillian Avenue
• Sixth Street from Central Avenue to Heywood Avenue
• Fifth Street from Central Avenue to Heywood Avenue
• Fourth Street from Central Avenue to Heywood Avenue
• Third Street from Central Avenue to Brook Street
• Oakdale Avenue from 3rd Street/Southern Parkway to alley at CD Backside Gate
• West Alley (south of Brown Lot) from Third Street/Southern Parkway to Fourth Street
• Fourth Street from West Alley to Longfield Avenue
• Longfield Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to 4th Street
• Queen Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Warren Avenue
• Thornberry Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Warren Avenue
• Homeview Drive from Taylor Boulevard to Churchill Downs entrance
• Racine Drive from Taylor Boulevard to Churchill Downs entrance
• Wizard Avenue from Longfield Avenue to Queen Avenue
• Warren Avenue from Thornberry Avenue to Homeview Drive

Interstate Ramp Closures between 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2

• Interstate 264 West exit ramp at Third Street/Southern Parkway
• I-264 East exit ramp at Southern Parkway
• I-264 West exit ramp at Taylor Boulevard
• I-264 East exit ramp at Taylor Boulevard

Interstate Ramp Closures between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2

• Interstate 65 South exit ramp at Crittenden Drive

Interstate Ramp Closures between 5:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3

• I-264 West exit ramp at Third Street/Southern Parkway

Interstate Ramp Closures between 8 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3

• I-65 South exit ramp at Crittenden Drive

Interstate Ramp Closures between 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4

Interstate ramp closures between 8 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. on saturday, may 4.

These are the streets where no parking will be permitted:

Wednesday, May 1 through Saturday, May 4

• Third Street from Brook Street to Cardinal Boulevard
• Third Street from Central Station to Southern Heights Avenue
• Fifth Street from Longfield Avenue to Lansing Avenue
• Bohannon Avenue from Racine Drive to Queen Avenue
• Southern Parkway from Third Street to Southern Heights Avenue
• Taylor Boulevard from Ashland Avenue to Algonquin Parkway
• Winkler Avenue from Algonquin Parkway to Third Street
• Winn Avenue from Fourth Street to Southern Parkway
• Dearcy Avenue from Longfield Avenue to Queen Avenue
• Kenton Avenue from Fifth Street to Southern Parkway
• Evelyn Avenue from Fifth Street to Southern Parkway
• Fairmont Avenue from Fifth Street to Southern Parkway
• Whitney Avenue from Fifth Street to Southern Parkway
• Lansing Avenue from Fifth Street to Southern Parkway
• Arcade Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Seventh Street

7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 to Saturday, May 4

• Oakdale Avenue from Third Street/Southern Parkway to alley at Churchill Downs Backside Gate
• Longfield Avenue from Taylor Boulevard to Fourth Street

Can I take an Uber, Lyft or taxi to Churchill Downs?

For those using services like Uber, Lyft or taxi, the drop-off location will be at the Bronze Lot at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.

Are there shuttles to the Kentucky Derby?

Yes, some hotels will give guests rides on Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby days. Please check with the staff where you are staying.

How can I get a bus ride to Churchill Downs?

The Transit Authority of River City has offered free bus rides in the past on Thurby, Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby days, but they still have to announce the routes for this year.  Check its webpage  as it gets closer to the event to see the schedule.

Can I ride a rental scooter to Churchill Downs?

No, scooters are not allowed at Churchill Downs or any of the roads closed that lead to the racetrack. Use the rental app to look for an authorized place to park the scooter.

Is there handicapped parking at Churchill Downs?

In the past, parking passes for handicapped people at Churchill Downs have also been sold in advance to people with state-issued ADA parking placards or license plates, and like the regular parking spots, they have not been assigned and were used in order of arrival.