NoWcard Scheme – changes

Changes to a temporary relaxing of times for NoWcard users is taking place from Monday, June 15^th.

A temporary system was introduced at the start of the lockdown to help older and vulnerable people get to shops and carry out essential trips. This meant that the card holders could use buses before 9.30am.

As lockdown continues to be relaxed and more people are returning to work, especially in retail which re-opens on June 15^th, the pre-9.30am concession is now being removed because the space on buses will be restricted due to social distancing as passengers will have to be seated two metres apart on public health grounds.

Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council have considered these factors and have all agreed to reinstate the 9.30am concession restriction,

Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:

This change was brought in to help older and vulnerable people get to the shops and other appointments while the initial lockdown was in place, and there were very few bus users due to many businesses and shops having to close.

This is changing now and we are going to have very strict restrictions on buses around social distancing so we need to go back to the original NoWcard rules to help make this work.”