Travel Information West Midlands

Transcription

1 Travel Information West Midlands

2 RIng and Ride 1. Door to Door Transport Ring and Ride is the main door-to-door accessible transport service operating throughout urban parts of the West Midlands. The service operates from 8am 11pm 7 days a week Generally, to use Ring and Ride you must have a mobility problem and be resident in one of the seven urban districts of the West Midlands Bookings for journeys can be made by telephone up to two days in advance of travel Ring and Ride enables users to get to local destinations in their neighbourhood and up to half a mile into an adjoining area When travelling, users can take a companion with them provided they are booked in advance Ring and Ride is unable to take people to hospital appointments A fare of 60p per single trip is charged. Companions who are not registered users pay a fare equivalent to those charged on local bus services Further information can be found at For information about Coventry call or Coventry@ringandride.org For information about North Birmingham call and north@ringandride.org For information about South Birmingham call south@ringandride.org Community Transport There are community transport operators in all seven districts of the West Midlands The operators below offer minibus/ wheelchair accessible vehicles for hire to community groups in their area Because community transport operators are non-profit making, charges for its services are usually much less than those made by typical commercial providers Most community transport providers have specially adapted minibuses to accommodate people with mobility difficulties including wheelchair users and it is sometimes possible to provide groups with a volunteer driver Community Transport Birmingham and Solihull Telephone:

3 Communitytransport.org Community Transport Coventry Telephone: Communitytransport.org 2. Public Transport Travel Passes for Disabled and Older People All older people and eligible people with a disability are entitled to free travel, by bus only, between 9.30am and 11pm, Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays anywhere in England If you are a resident of the West Midlands county you will be able to travel free on bus, rail and Metro services, within the Network West Midlands area only, until the end of daytime service (which is an enhancement provided by West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority) All travel passes are issued by Centro To qualify for a disabled persons pass you must meet one of the following categories: - Be registered blind or partially sighted - Be severely or profoundly deaf - Be without speech - Have a disability or injury that has a substantial and adverse effect on ability to walk - Have loss of use of both arms or be without arms - Have a learning disability - Would be refused a license to drive a motor vehicle or have had a license withdrawn on the grounds of physical fitness, other than on the grounds of persistent misuse of alcohol or drugs, such as uncontrolled epilepsy, severe mental disorder, liable to sudden attacks of dizziness or fainting, established dementia conditions, inability to read a registration plate in good light at 20.5m (with lenses if worn) Application is by post. Application forms are available from: - Centro ticketing team

4 - Or download an application form by visiting form.pdf and sending the completed form to Centro House, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham B19 3SD Disabled Persons Railcard Costs 20 a year, for an individual and their companion Entitles users to a third off most rail travel Rail tickets with up to a third off Visit: Tel: National Rail Assisted Travel When travelling by National Rail, you can request assistance with getting on or off a train or ask for a wheelchair ramp. You can also ask for assistance if you are visually impaired.contact the train company you are travelling with for details. Visit: Travel Mentoring Service This service provides free advice on planning a journey using an accessible route. You can also request a mentor to accompany you on your first few journeys to help you gain confidence to travel independently. Visit: Tel:

5 3. Work, Hospital and Medical Appointments Access to Work The scheme may pay towards the cost of getting to work if you cannot use public transport. For more information visit and search access to work Tel: Hospital and medical appointments Contact your hospital or GP surgery if you are having trouble arranging transport to get to an appointment. You may be entitled to financial or practical assistance. Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme You may be able to claim the cost of travelling to hospital to receive NHS treatment. For more information: Visit Tel: Using a Mobility Car/scooter Motability Wheelchair and Scooter Loan Scheme The Mobility Scooter Loan schemes enables you to get a scooter or powered wheelchair of your choice The scheme also provides help and support. For more information: Please visit: Telephone: (8.30am till 5.30pm Monday - Friday)

6 Motability Car Lease Scheme Individuals in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement, can get a new mobility car at an affordable rate. For more information: Please visit: Telephone: (8.30am till 5.30pm Monday - Friday) Blue Badge Parking The Blue Badge is provided under a national scheme and offers parking discounts for people who have serious walking disabilities. The scheme can provide help to people who find it difficult to use community facilities because of the distance they might have to walk Adults of any age and children aged 3 years and over can get a blue badge To qualify you must live in Birmingham and meet one of the following conditions: - You must receive the higher-rate mobility part of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - You must be registered as severely sight impaired (blind) - You must receive a war pensioners mobility supplement - You must receive an Armed forces compensation scheme award You may also qualify based on the following: - You must find walking very difficult - You must be a regular driver of a vehicle but unable to turn the steering wheel because of very serious arm or hand disabilities The Blue Badge scheme is administered by Birmingham City Council. To apply telephone or olderpeoplesaccessservice@birmingham.gov.uk or you can apply online at If your application is successful you will be required to pay 2 and supply 2 passport sized photographs Birmingham Shopmobility Birmingham Shopmobility provides a hire loan of an electric powered scooter, electric wheelchair or manual wheelchair for use in Birmingham City Centre Shopmobility is based in the Birmingham Bullring. For more information contact or enquiry@birminghamshopmobility.org.