Getting and about

For most people getting out and about depends on being able to get transport.

Getting out and about helps people to get more of their lives.
It is important to know where and how you can get transport.

 

Tripscope

Tripscope has now closed down.
Click for more information - www.tripscope.org.uk

 

Free Bus Passes

People with learning difficulties can get a free bus passthrough the South Gloucestershire Council.

The bus pass can be used on buses and scheduled coach services within South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset.

For further information call 01454 864864.

 

Railcards

Railcards for disabled people give a discount on most train fares. People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they have one if they meet one or more of the following conditions.

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they are registered as visually impaired.

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they are registered deaf.

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they have epilepsy, and are disabled by repeated attacks even though you receive drug treatment.

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they receive Attendance Allowance.

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they receive Disability Living Allowance (in the Higher Rate for help with getting around, or in the Higher or Middle Rate for help with personal care).

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they receive Severe Disablement Allowance.

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement.

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they receive War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability.

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they are the driver of a vehicle provided under the Invalid Vehicle Scheme (before 1976).

People with learning difficulties could have a railcard if they are buying or leasing a vehicle through the “Motability' scheme.

A Disabled Persons Railcard costs £14 (at May 2004).
It lasts and for one year. A supporter or companion travelling with you also gets the cheaper fare.

You can get more details and a Railcard application form from the booklet “Rail and the Disabled Traveller'.
You can get this booklet from railway stations.

You can get more information from the Railcards website www.railcard.co.uk

 

'Dial a Ride' and 'Ring and Ride'

Dial a Ride and Ring and Ride schemes are transport schemes for disabled people.
They offer disabled people accessible transport to wherever they want to go.

Three Community Transport Groups run these schemes In South Gloucestershire,

 

Kingswood Community Transport

Old School House
Kingswood Foundation
Britannia Road
Kingswood
South Gloucestershire

BS15 8DB

 

Contact: Clive Blanning, Co-ordinartor

Telephone: 0117 961 6016

E-mail: kingswoodct@ukonline.co.uk

You will need to pay a fee of £5.00 a year. You can use travel tokens to pay this. There is then no charge for individual journeys.

 

Four Towns & Vale Link Community Transport

Main office:

Norman Scott Park
Coniston Road
Patchway
South Gloucestershire

BS34 5JR

Contact: Doug Howat, Co-ordinator

Telephone: 01454 868529

Thornbury office

The Chantry
52 Castle Street
Thornbury
South Gloucestershire

BS35 1HB

Telephone: 01454 856612

You will need to register. There is no charge for individual journeys.

Yate, Sodbury & District Community Transport
(including Frampton Cotterell Enterprise Group)

Poole Court
Poole Court Drive
Yate
South Gloucestershire

BS37 5PP

Contact: Jenni Moorhouse, Co-ordinator

Telephone: 01454 316448

E-mail: ytc@freenet.co.uk

Web: www.yate-ct.org.uk

You will need to pay a fee of £5.00 a year. You can use travel tokens to pay this. There is then no charge for individual journeys.

 

Car Schemes

For details of car schemes, please contact the Rural Transport Officer at Community Action on 01275 393837

 

Blue Badges

The blue badge scheme lets disabled people park close to places they need to go. This could be badge holders parking free of charge at parking meters or, in some circumstances, on single or double yellow lines. The scheme applies to people who qualify either as drivers or passengers. People with learning difficulties have to meet the same conditions as anyone else. This means that you must have a physical impairment.

You can apply for a Blue Badge by completing an application form.
Application forms are available from:

The Blue Badge Section
Integrated Transport Unit
Riverside Court
Bowling Hill
Chipping Sodbury
South Gloucestershire

BS37 6JX

Telephone : 01454 865994

You can not just pop in to apply for a blue badge.
If you would like to speak to a someone you can telephone or make an appointment.

You can also get a leaflet and application form from the Council's One Stop Shops in Yate and Kingswood.

Once you have read the leaflet, you can complete our online form at http://www.southglos.gov.uk/BlueBadges/index.htm

 

Licensed Taxi Companies using Wheelchair Accessible Taxis

There is a list of taxi companies using Wheelchair Accessible Taxis.
It is produced by the Taxi Licensing Officer at South Gloucestershire Council.
You can click here to get the list.
You can telephone 01454 863704.
The list often changes.

You can contact Tripscope for up to date information for Licensed Taxi Companies using Wheelchair Accessible Taxis in all parts of the country.

 

Out And About in London

Out And About in London is a guide to community safety for people with learning difficulties.

It is an introduction to some of the skills you need to keep safe when Out and About.
Although based in London a lot of the information is OK wherever you live.

The booklet is about Safety

The booklet is about Road Skills

The booklet is about being on the bus

The booklet is about Ways around town: Taxis, Trains and Tubes

The booklet is about being left alone

The booklet is about When things go wrong

The booklet is about Contacts

You can download the leaflet here

There is also a guide for staff, parents, carers and teachers who wish to use the booklet.
This booklet is called For Independent Travel Skills:
A Guide to support a person with learning difficulties to travel independently

It can be used as the basis for a community awareness course.

Click here for The Trainer's Pack for A guide to supporting people with learning difficulties to develop community safety skills

Click here for The Trainer's Pack Scenario cards

THANK YOU!
Out and About in London was developed by the Outreach Team of Greenwich The Community Care and Housing Department in partnership with Transport for London.
We want to thank them for allowing us to include it in Spot On.