Bus & Coach – Accessible Cambridge

Disability access information for transport to, from and around Cambridge and the surrounding area. See also separate information on Ely.

Central bus station

There are regular buses to and from all areas of the city and surroundings, including frequent buses between the railway station and the city centre.
There are public toilets and a RADAR toilet at the station, and a small kiosk serving drinks and snacks.
There are some seats for waiting or resting in the covered area, but these are mostly rather thin, high, metal benches.
Public telephones are standard cabin telephones.

The central bus station is located at Drummer Street, on the edge of Christ’s Pieces.
The ticket office is in a small wooden kiosk on the edge of Christ’s Pieces, with a counter at standing height.
Tickets can also be bought on the buses.
There is no parking in the vicinity.

Most Citi buses, including the double decker Citi 1 buses, are accessible for wheelchair users. They have ramps and a kneeling action, and do not need to be booked in advance.
However, please be aware that there is only one wheelchair space per bus, and that some of the older buses used on longer routes are not accessible for wheelchair users.
All buses have priority seats at the front for elderly or disabled.

Information boards have small text, and are difficult to read, particularly when it is dark.
Bus timetables and information are not available in other formats.

Concessionary bus passes can be obtained from the Council if you are over 60, if you qualify for the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners Mobility Supplement, if you are registered deaf, blind, or partially sighted, if you have a significant learning disability, and if you have long term loss of the use of both arms.
If you hold a concessionary bus pass, you can travel for free on any bus within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough after 9.30am weekdays and all day at the weekend or on a bank holiday.
From April 2008, you can travel for free on any bus in England during the same off-peak times. You will need a new England bus pass, but the Council should already have contacted you to replace this.
To apply for a bus pass, fill in a form from the Cashiers department in Hobson House in St Andrews Street and provide them with proof of your eligibility and two photographs. You can get a copy of the form or find out more information by emailing eileen.oliver@cambridge.gov.uk.

National Express coaches provide a nationwide coach service from the city centre.

National Express coaches now stop at a new bus stop on Parkside, rather than at the Drummer Street central bus station.
The ticket office is still located at Drummer Street, in a small wooden kiosk on the edge of Christ’s Pieces, with a counter at standing height signposted 鮮ational Express’. It is open 8am-6pm. There is no parking nearby.
There is a taxi rank at the new coach stop, but very few other facilities. The nearest car park is the Queen Anne multi-storey car park on the other side of Parker’s Piece.
Most National Express coaches now also stop at Trumpington and Madingley Road Park & Ride car parks.

National Express are now starting to introduce ‘easy access’ coaches into their network. These have lifts, flat floors and large toilets to allow wheelchair users (one per coach) to travel on the coach in their wheelchair. The whole network is due to be using these coaches by 2012.
Currently, nearby services using accessible coaches are:

737 (Oxford – High Wycombe – Luton – Stansted)
767 (Nottingham – Leicester – Luton – Stansted)
314 (Liverpool – Stoke – Birmingham – Coventry – Northampton – Bedford – Cambridge)

On other coaches which are not wheelchair accessible, front seats are priority seats for disabled people. Only light manual wheelchairs that can be stowed in the luggage compartment can be taken on the coach.
Staff will help you to get on and off the coach, and will help with your luggage.
You are advised to call regarding any special requests and to give at least 24 hour notice.

Information boards have small text, and are difficult to read, particularly when it is dark.
Large print and audio tape information is available on request with 24 hour notice.
Assistance dogs are allowed on the coach, but please advise in advance.

Registered disabled or over 60 years can get up to 50 per cent discount on an economy ticket. The rules are complicated, so it is best to ask every time you buy a ticket. You should carry proof of your disability at all times.