The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) provides eligible students with free or subsidised travel from home to school.

Depending on if you are travelling within the Opal network or in rural and regional areas, students may receive a School Opal card or a school bus pass.

School Opal card

School Opal cards are issued to eligible students by Transport for NSW, providing free school travel from home to school on our Sydney and Central Coast bus services.

Applying for a School Opal card

For School Opal card information, visit the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) website or call 131 500 for full details on:

• how to apply for a School Opal Card
• who is eligible for a school bus pass
• conditions of school free travel
• replacing a lost, stolen or damaged School Opal card.

School Term Bus Pass

If you don’t qualify for a School Opal card, you may be eligible to purchase a School Term Bus Pass from Transport for NSW. These will be available to purchase from 8th January 2024.

A School Term Bus Pass offers discounted travel on buses between home and school for a school term.

For School Term Bus Pass information, visit the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) website or call 131 500 for full details on:

• how to apply for a School Term Bus Pass
• eligibility criteria for a School Term Bus Pass
• conditions of travel
• replacing a lost, stolen or damaged term pass.

School Bus Pass

School bus passes are issued to eligible students by Transport for NSW, providing free school travel from home to school on our North Coast bus services.

Applying for a school bus pass

For school bus pass information, visit the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) website or call 131 500 for full details on:

• how to apply for a school bus pass
• who is eligible for a school bus pass
• conditions of school free travel

Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged school bus pass

You can replace your school bus pass by filling the School Bus Pass Replacement Form.

School Term Bus Pass

If you don’t qualify for a free school bus pass, you may be eligible to purchase a School Term Bus Pass from Busways.

A School Term Bus Pass offers discounted travel on buses between home and school for a school term.

Purchasing a School Term Bus Pass

You can purchase a School Term Bus Pass by:

• Using the School Term Bus Pass Order Form

Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged School Term Bus Pass

You can replace your school bus pass by filling the School Bus Pass Replacement Form.

Getting around on buses can be convenient and easy when you have the right information for your journey.

Learn more about planning ahead with Busways to make your trip as smooth as possible.

How to catch a bus

1. Plan your trip
   • Use the trip planner to find the best trip to your destination.
   • Check a timetable and map to know when your service departs and where your bus stop is located.
   • You can find your nearest bus stop using the departures tool or a transport app.
   • Before travelling, check for service updates that may disrupt your travel.
2. Arrive ahead of time
   • You should arrive at your bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled departure.
   • Get your Opal card or cash fare ready before boarding the bus.
3. Signal the driver to stop
   • You can identify the correct bus to catch by checking the route number and route description displayed on the ‘destination sign’ above the front windshield of the bus.
   • When your bus approaches, signal to the bus driver from a safe distance that you want the bus to stop.
4. Getting on the bus
   • If you’re using an Opal card, remember to tap on as you board.
   • If you’re travelling in our North Coast networks, you will need to purchase a ticket from the driver. Tickets can be paid for using contactless payments or cash. It will help the driver if you have the correct or small change ready.
   • Find an available seat or area to stand.
   • Priority seating is available for persons with disabilities at the front of the bus.
   • Stay alert to your surroundings and hold on to handrails when the bus moves.
5. Getting off the bus
   • Press the stop button near your seat before approaching your desired bus stop, so the driver has time to stop.
   • Check that you have all your belongings with you. If you have lost something on a bus, you can use the Lost Property Enquiry Form to let us know.
   • Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before moving to get off the bus.
   • If you’re using an Opal card, remember to tap off as you disembark.

Ticketing and Opal

Depending on where you’re travelling, you can pay for travel using an Opal Card or cash fare.

• If you’re travelling in Sydney or Central Coast, you will need an Opal card to pay for travel or an Opal single bus ticket.
• If you’re travelling in regional NSW, you will need to purchase a ticket from the driver. Tickets can be paid for using contactless payments or cash. It will help the driver if you have the correct or small change ready.

Learn more about Opal, tickets and fares on the Ticketing and Opal page.

Transport apps

There are several transport apps available to help plan your trip, view real-time information and service updates on bus services using a smartphone or tablet.

Visit the Transport apps page to find a transport app right for you.

Travelling with bikes, scooters, surfboards and bulky items

Non-folding bicycles and non-folding scooters cannot be taken on buses because they are difficult to stow without inconveniencing or potentially endangering other passengers.

Foldable bikes and scooters, surfboards, luggage and other items can be taken on board, although the driver may refuse if the service is at capacity. Your items must:

• not prevent other passengers from getting a seat
• not cause inconvenience or risk to other passengers and staff
• be clear of the aisle and doorways.

Travelling with prams and children

Children aged three years and under travel free and don’t need a ticket. Children aged 4-15 (inclusive) pay child fares.

Prams and strollers are welcome and free to take on Busways buses under the following safety guidelines:

• You can request the use of an access ramp or for the bus to be lowered to make boarding and exiting the bus with a pram easier.
• Keep the pram clear of the aisle and doorways.
• You may park your pram in the Priority Seating area if it is not occupied by someone. However, if the Priority Seating area is required by a person with disability or limited mobility, the pram must be folded and stowed.
• If the bus becomes crowded, fold your pram and stow it away in the luggage area to make room for others.
• During peak periods of high ridership, drivers may require that all prams and strollers be folded before boarding the bus.

Travelling with animals and pets

Travelling with an assistance animal

Certified seeing or hearing guide dogs, assistance animals or police dogs are permitted on our buses at all times.

To help our drivers to differentiate between your assistance animal and a pet, please display your Assistance Animal Permit when boarding.

Guide, hearing, police and security dogs do not require a permit.

People with assistance animals are encouraged to sit in the priority seating area near the front of the bus to help keep the aisles clear for the safety of both their animal and other passengers.

Assistance animals may travel for free, however owners are still required to have a valid pass or ticket for travel.

Travelling with pets

Pets are allowed on bus services, with permission from the driver.

The animal must be restrained in a suitable box, basket or container at all times while on board.

The driver can refuse to allow the animal to board:

• if the bus service is reaching capacity
• if the animal is not clean or is likely to affect the safety or travel experience of other customers.

Safety and security

Closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV)

Surveillance cameras operate on all bus services to monitor and deter anti-social behaviour or offences.

Alighting at night

If you’re travelling after 8pm, our buses can (on request) stop between bus stops for your safety. You should let the driver know in advance so they can ascertain a safe place to pull the bus over.

Personal safety

If you need assistance, feel unsafe or threatened in a bus, speak to the bus driver. Call 000 in an emergency.

See something, say something

You can play a role in helping to keep our bus services and network safe by reporting anything suspicious as soon as possible.

• Speak to your driver if you see an unattended bag or package on a bus
• Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you believe an offence such as vandalism, theft, graffiti, glass scratching, rock throwing or other criminal behaviour has been committed or if you’re witness to any suspicious activity.

We’re focused on providing accessible transport services for people in the community, including people with a disability, seniors, children, students and commuters.

Planning an accessible trip

To plan an accessible trip:

• Use the trip planner to find a bus service with accessible features
• On printed timetables and bus stop timetables, look for the wheelchair symbol next to a trip
• On the front of the bus, look for the wheelchair symbol for accessible bus services.

Accessible buses

Accessible buses make a journey safer and comfortable with accessible features including:

• low floors, wide doors and wide aisles
• automatic ramps and kerbside kneeling technology for easier boarding
• priority seating areas
• handrails and stop buttons in easy to reach areas
• colour contrasting within the bus to distinguish between steps, aisles and priority seating area for people with vision impairment

Concession and free travel

Concession travel

Concessions are available to assist seniors, children, students, Centrelink customers and Asylum seekers.

If you’re travelling in our North Coast region, you can purchase a Regional Excursion Daily Ticket for $2.50 for unlimited daily travel, if you hold one of the following concession cards:

• NSW Seniors Card
• Pensioner Concession Card
• NSW War Widow/er Transport Concession Card
• Asylum Seekers Transport Concession Entitlement Card

Free travel

You are eligible for free travel on Busways services if you hold one of the following cards:

• NSW Blinded Soldier Pass
• World War 1 Veteran’s Widows Free Pass
• Vision Impaired Person’s Travel Pass
• Ex-Member of Defence Forces Transport Concession Entitlement Card

If you have a NSW Companion Card, your attendant can travel for free. Please show your NSW Companion Card to the driver when boarding or requested by a transport officer as proof of entitlement for your attendant.

Priority seating area

The priority seating area is intended for use by the following people who may benefit from a seat at the front of the bus:

• people with disability and mobility issues
• people with prams or strollers
• seniors
• young children (under 5 years old)

Priority seating areas are identified by stickers on the window and markings on the floor.

These seats are not reserved and can be used by all passengers on a first come, first served basis.

If you are sitting in the priority seating area, please vacate the seat for the persons listed above if requested. You are not required to exit the bus in order to make room.

If you are a person with disability occupying a priority seat, you are not required to move for another person with disability.

Mobility aids

Accessible buses have been designed to comply with the national standards for mobility aids.

Mobility aids such as walkers, walking aids, wheelchairs and electronic wheelchairs must comply with the following specifications on bus services.

Mobility aid dimensions

Your mobility aid must:

• fit within an allocated space of 1300mm by 800mm
• be no more than 750mm wide
• weigh 300kg maximum (including the occupant and assistant).

Oversized wheelchairs and scooters may not be able to board due to ramp weight restrictions.

Stability

Your mobility aid must:

• be able to move in the direction determined by the transport operator
• have effective braking systems to maintain stability.

Manoeuvrability

Your mobility aid should be able to:

• turn 180 degrees within an area of 2070mm by 1540mm
• cross a horizontal gap up to 50mm wide
• mount a vertical rise (bump) up to 15mm
• cross grating gaps up to 13mm wide and 150mm long
• negotiate a 1:14 grade ramp unassisted
• negotiate up to a 1:8 grade where the ramp is less than 1520mm
• negotiate a 1:4 grade ramp with assistance.

Further detail of these specifications is provided in the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Travelling with an assistance animal

Passengers who have a certified seeing or hearing guide dog, an assistance animal or a police dog are permitted on our buses with their animals at all times.

To help our drivers differentiate between your assistance animal and a pet, please display your Assistance Animal Permit when boarding.

Guide, hearing, police and security dogs do not require a permit.

People with assistance animals are encouraged to sit in the priority seating area near the front of the bus to help keep the aisles clear for the safety of both their animal and other passengers.

Assistance animals may travel for free, however owners are still required to have a valid pass or ticket for travel.

TTY response

For hearing and speech impaired customers, Transport Info offers a TTY response - call 1800 637 500.

Translating and Interpreting Service

If you’re a non-English speaker, you can get assistance with enquiries and trip planning information by:

• calling the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450
• calling 131 500 and asking for an interpreter.

Accessible Transport Action Plan

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ social model of disability states that people with disability are not disabled by their impairment but by the barriers in the community that prevent them gaining equal access to information, services, transport, housing, education, training, employment and social opportunities.

Busways Accessible Transport Action Plan outlines how Busways removes barriers to the bus network and supports inclusion for people with physical, intellectual, cognitive or sensory disability, or immobility due to injury, illness, pregnancy or age.

The primary focus of our Plan is on the aspects of the passenger journey that are under Busways' control, such as workforce behaviour, asset maintenance and service information. It also considers aspects that Busways does not control but can influence through proactive partnership, such as network infrastructure, fleet design and technology.

The strategies outlined in our Plan consider these aspects across the whole journey:

• The period before a journey, including access to information and bus stops
• The journey onboard, including access to the vehicle, appropriate seating or space, comfort of the journey itself, and information provided during the trip
• Post journey, including leaving the vehicle and resolving feedback related to the trip.

For more information view our Accessible Transport Action Plan.

If you have lost something on a bus service, let us know by submitting an enquiry.

Sydney Metropolitan and Central Coast

• Lost Property Form - Transport Info

North Coast

• Lost Property Form

Our drivers will check the bus for lost property items at the end of their shift and return it to the Busways depot where the bus operates from.

All lost property is logged in our lost property register.

Collecting lost property

We will get back to you to let you know which Busways depot you can collect your lost property from.

When collecting your lost property, you must show proof of identity.

Disposal of lost property

All lost property is stored for 28 days. After that time, if the owner cannot be identified, the item will be donated to charity.

Real-time bus stop departures

Find bus services leaving from your stop in real-time, using the Departures tool.

Similar to a departure board you see at the bus stop, it's a tool designed for people who already know where they're going.

GET DEPARTURES

Busways has sub-contracted the exterior advertising space on our bus fleet to advertising companies who specialise in meeting your advertising needs. Contact them directly to discuss bus exterior advertising opportunities.

Go Transit Media Group

For advertising in our NSW North Coast, Central Coast and Blacktown areas contact Go Transit Media Group on 1300 468 726 or fill out the Go Transit Advertising Enquiry Form

JCDecaux Transit

For advertising in our Penrith, Windsor, North Shore and West operating areas, contact JCDecaux Transit on 02 8066 9100 or fill out the JCDecaux Transit Contact Form.