Not so easy access - in the everyday matter of getting on a bus

[farnam]

Let’s just say - for fun, that today you can't walk very well. Hey, just to let everyone join in - this is an equal opportunities demonstration, after all, why not just tie your shoelaces tightly together so you have to hop everywhere. Now, with your laces tied, lift weights with both your arms and your legs until your limbs are shaking and painful

Comments

[karen2205]

*nods* re unnecessarily complicated security systems. I was living in London when Oystercards were first introduced and don't remember any problems with registering mine. I do have a problem remembering my password because they insist on mixed upper and lower case and with my username. It looks like you can currently top up online without having to register the card. And strangely it looks like you can currently register an existing card online, so maybe they've changed the system again?

And yes definitely Freedom Pass as a longer term solution. If you get DLA at particular rates (I can't remember which off the top of my head) you automatically qualify for a Freedom Pass without having to prove you can't walk very far.

If you end up getting DLA at anything other than the lowest rate for care you will be entitled to a Disabled persons' railcard. This is useful for non-London travel, but also useful in London for trips on National Rail services before 9.30am which aren't free with a Freedom Pass as you can get your railcard discount loaded onto your Oyster card - see here. Err, yes, still confusing and don't ask me how I know all of that.

Everyone in London seems to move house every six - twelve months! It makes getting stuff done with any sort of bureaucracy very hard, particularly anything with the NHS. I remember moving house and having to wait for a month to register with a GP, after having gone in with my passport and either tenancy agreement or lease to prove I was living where I said I was. Fortunately, I am perfectly well and waiting wasn't a problem in practice for me.