Somerset buses

County advice overview 

First Bus operate over 40 routes in Somerset with easy access buses.

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

You can find more information regarding bus travel on the Travel Somerset website, which is provided by Somerset County Council.

Key tips

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.)

As well as printed timetables on display at all bus stops, many stops show ‘real time’ information so you can see when the next bus will arrive. If you have a smart phone, the First Bus app gives you real-time information, nearby stops, route maps and more, wherever you are.

For further information, contact the West of England Hubs Mobility Advice Service.

Operators

First Bus

www.firstbus.co.uk

Contact: 0345 646 0707

Help with cost 

Older Person’s Bus Pass

Concessionary bus passes are available for older people who have reached state pension age and are resident in Somerset. The Older Person’s Bus Pass 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

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

View the eligibility criteria and apply for an Older Person’s or Disabled Person’s Bus Pass on the Somerset Council website.

Or you can email Transport@somerset.gov.uk

You cannot use your pass for journeys on:

• Taunton Park and Ride services – where the pass holder is using the Park and Ride car park. The pass is accepted when boarding without using a car park.
• Berry’s Superfast services
• National Express services
• Rail services

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 First Bus website.

Independent Travel Training

This free service is available for students aged 14 and over with a special educational need or disability who require help to travel independently to a school, college, resource base or work placement. You can find further details on the Somerset Council website.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Wheelchairs

First Bus operate low-floor and easy access buses.

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.

Scooters

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.

Operators such as First Bus 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 First Bus: 0345 646 0707

Click here for further requirements for mobility scooter users.

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.

The following websites can also provide bus routes and timetable links.

First Bus 

Route information, maps and a journey planner.

Taunton Park and Ride information can be found here.

If you need more help with finding bus stations and routes, the First Bus App is free to download on a smartphone. 

Travelwest Journey Planner

Live arrivals, journey planner, timetables for the West of England.

Traveline

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.

NextBuses

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). 

BusTimes

The BusTimes.org website also 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.