Local travel

Taxis

Many taxi firms are disabled friendly and it is worth shopping around for a good price. In Kirklees, for example, some firms have signed up to a charter regarding their services to older people. You may also be eligible for a discount e.g. in Kirklees some taxis offer a discount if you have an Excel card.

Community transport

Many areas have some form of community transport for vulnerable or isolated people. Sometimes this is door to door or on routes in areas not readily served by commercial transport. Some charge is usually made to cover the costs of the service. Very often the drivers are volunteers and sometimes it is part of an outreach or befriending service.

Concessions, passes, blue badges

You may be eligible for these. Check with a travel centre, Metro and or your local council.

Travel training/travel buddies

Many local authorities run travel training schemes for people with disabilities and particular vulnerabilities to help them use public transport. Sometimes they employ travel buddies to help people get used to using local transport independently. This can do much to broaden someone’s travel horizons and help to reduce worries and isolation. Sometimes our services can offer ‘graduated exposure’ which is a behavioural intervention for managing anxieties and phobias.

Lift Shares
Car sharing scheme for West Yorkshire.

Access Bus
Access Bus is a door-to-door service for people in West Yorkshire who have difficulty using other forms of public transport. You will need to register to use the service and all trips must be booked in advance. The service uses modern low-floor accessible buses. Access Bus vehicles are specially designed to carry at least two passengers travelling in wheelchairs. There is a £3 single fare for using an Access Bus, however, if you have a concessionary bus pass you can travel free of charge. Trips are mainly to local shops and operate during the day.

Transport aids/assistive technology
If you are disabled or elderly you may be able to hire a scooter, wheelchairs or walking aid from your council. In recent years there have been breakthroughs in assistive technology like GPS watches and other tracking devices which enable people to raise an alarm if they are in difficulties whilst out about or have strayed from areas they would normally stay within. These are particularly useful for people with learning disabilities or dementia and they help give families peace of mind.

Coping with public transport
A service user from the Richmond Fellowship has produced some excellent advice to help people who suffer from anxiety use public transport (page 2).

Blue Assist
Blue Assist is a national scheme aimed at helping anyone with communication issues. This could be someone with Autism, an acute mental health problem, a hidden impairment, learning disability, Dementia, or speech and language issues.

They use a simple card system for people which can inform others they have an issue and to pose simple questions which will help them get what they want.

Barnsley

Community transport in Barnsley

Barnsley Dial-A-Ride
They run the ‘Door 2Door’ service, Shopper Bus and community care scheme.
01226 7300073
Typetalk 18001 01709 515151
Language Line interpretation also available.

Changes to concessionary travel in South Yorkshire
New enhanced concessionary travel arrangements for disabled and elderly people in South Yorkshire have been approved with effect from Sunday 8 June. To find out more, view the SYPTE website.

Calderdale

Community Transport Calderdale
CTC successfully run an accessible minibus service throughout Calderdale and now Kirklees. All their drivers are DBS checked.

For more information, email info@ctcalderdale.co.uk or phone 01422 888080.

Calderdale Council’s wellbeing hub
Information on travel and transport and covers befriending and other community services.

Kirklees

Connect to Support
Kirklees Council’s online store and information site for sources of social and health support.

Car Sharing

Community transport in Kirklees

  • WVRS Kirklees Good Neighbours is a community scheme which offers befriending and social transport across Kirklees. Call 01484 453679.
  • Cameo is a small service which covers the residents of Denby Dale and Kirkburton Monday – Friday. It provides transport to GP surgeries etc for those unable to use public transport. Call 01484 609122.
  • Travel Companions are volunteers who offer their time to assist a client to carry out every day tasks such as shopping, GP appointments, community groups or simply getting fresh air! Travel companions are either: ‘Car Companions’ – volunteers who use their own car, ‘Public Transport Companions’ – using buses or taxis or ‘Walking Companions’.
  • Caring Cars is an agreement between local taxis and Kirklees Council on customer service standards for the elderly.
  • Kirklees Travel Training Scheme is a pilot scheme for people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable groups. For more information contact Karen Graham (project coordinator) on 07827 946936 or email Karen.graham@cloverleaf-advocacy.co.uk
  • Safe Places Projects aims to provide a safe environment for people with learning disabilities in Kirklees who may require some additional support when out and about in the community. They are ‘havens’ for people to turn to in busy public places if they need help or reassurance. Safe Places are all buildings that are open to the public such as shops, leisure centres or public buildings. Call 01484 340811 or email samantha.jones@mencapinkirklees.org.uk
  • Kirklees ‘Out and About’ leaflets are available from Gateway to Care. They contain information, advice and contact details in one handy pack for elderly residents.

Hospital transport

  • Calderdale and Huddersfield Hospital Foundation Trust run a shuttle bus for visitors between Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital.
  • The service runs:
    Weekdays 7.30am-6pm on the hour and every half hour from HRI main entrance
    Evenings 6pm-8.30pm from HRI main entrance
    Weekends 2pm-8pm from HRI main entrance
  • Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust shuttlebus service runs between the Trust’s hospital sites, Dewsbury and District Hospital, Pinderfields Hospital and Pontefract Hospital.

Wakefield

Hospital transport

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