Transport

You can download this factsheet as a PDF document:
Transport (111 kb) [pdf]

Compiled by the Information Officers for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

This factsheet gives general information on public transport, vehicle finance, assessment centres, advisory organisations and useful publications.

Contents:


Public transport

Trains
The Disabled Persons Railcard Office for the National Rail System can be contacted on 0191 269 0303. Rail companies have two free leaflets available from local rail stations. They are:

  • Rail travel for Disabled Passengers
  • The Disabled Persons Railcard

Train companies have a concessionary railcard that costs £14.00. You qualify if you are disabled and claim:

  • Disability Living Allowance at the middle or higher rates for personal care or the higher rate if you need help in getting around
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • War or Service Disablement for 80% or more disability

Information is also available from your local rail station on access to railway stations and seat reservations.

Underground
London Transport has produced a free guide, entitled "Access to the Underground". It is a step by step guide to each station for disabled people. You can order a copy from:
Transport for London – Access & Mobility
Windsor House
42-50 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0TL
Tel & Textphone: 020 7941 4600
Fax: 020 7941 4605
Website: www.londontransport.co.uk

There is also a "Tube Access guide" which advises on planning a tube journey, avoiding stairs and escalators.
For information about Underground, Bus and Rail services within Greater London please contact London Transport Travel Information on 0207 222 1234

General
Some local authorities offer concessions to disabled people on local buses. Your local Social Services department should be able to give you details.

Community Transport

The Community Transport Association:

  • issues minibus permits to members
  • publishes the Community Transport magazine
  • provides free advice and information on all aspects of minibus and accessible transport
  • organises training courses around the country

Contact:
Highbank
Halton Street
Hyde
Cheshire
SK14 2NY
Tel: 0161 367 8780
Fax: 0161 351 7221
Email: ctauk@communitytransport.com
Website: www.communitytransport.com

Personal transport

The Blue Badge Scheme (formerly the Orange Badge)

The Orange Badge scheme has now been replaced by a new European blue badge, which was phased in from April 2000. The new scheme has not changed the parking concessions in Britain. The new design does require a passport photo but this does not have to be visible when you display your badge. The badge is available from your local authority and covers most of the country excluding the Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, the city of Westminster, the City of London, part of the Borough of Camden, and some airports, such as Heathrow. In order to qualify for a badge people have to:

  • be aged two or over, and
  • be receiving the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance, or
  • be registered blind, or
  • have a permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk, or
  • very considerable difficulty in walking, or
  • drive regularly, and have a severe disability in both arms so that they cannot turn a steering wheel by hand (even if the wheel is fitted with a turning knob)

Badges are issued for three years. Your local authority can charge up to £2.00 for issuing a badge. For an application form for England and Wales, contact the Social Services Department of your county, metropolitan district or London Borough Council. In Scotland contact your Chief Executive of your regional or island Council.

London Congestion Charges

There is a 100% exemption for Blue Badge holders. However, you must register and there is a £10 charge for this.

Call the Congestion Charging Call Centre on 0845 900 1234.

Motability

Motability is a voluntary organisation that can help disabled people or the parents of a disabled child who receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to hire a new car or buy on hire purchase a new or second-hand car or electric wheelchair.

The Mobility Equipment Fund is a separate fund set up by the Government and administered by Motability to give grants to help people to pay for adaptations to an existing vehicle, (not necessarily obtained through Motability), or to hire or purchase a new vehicle through Motability. People who receive the Disability Living Allowance higher rate mobility component may apply. It is means tested. Contact details:

Warwick House
Roydon Road
Harlow
EssexCM19 5PX
Tel: 01279 632227 (main switchboard)
Customer Information Service tel: 01279-635666.
Website: www.motability.co.uk

Driving licences

Anyone who wants to drive must hold a provisional or full licence. You can get an application form from the Post Office. Complete it and send it to:
The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
Swansea,
SA6 7JL
Website: www.dvla.gov.uk

The minimum age for driving a car is 17 years of age, however, people who receive the higher rate mobility component can learn to drive at the age of 16. It is a legal requirement to notify the DVLA of any change in a person’s medical condition or physical disability that may affect a person’s ability to drive.

Publications and information about transport

RADAR (The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation)
 RADAR has produced “Motoring and Mobility for Disabled People – sixth edition”. ISBN 0900-2709-77. Price £7.00 including p+p. This book also includes a list of useful organisations and publications. Contact details:

12 City Forum
250 City Road
London
EC1V 8AF
Tel: 0207-250-3222.
Website: www.radar.org.uk

The Stationery Office
Door to Door: A Guide to transport for people with disabilities
(6th edition 1996) ISBN 0 11 5517472. Price £8.
The book has sections on travelling in and across London, local trips, planning your journey, cars and driving, and travelling abroad. Contact details:

The Stationery Office Publications Centre
PO Box 29
Norwich
NR3 1GN
Tel: 08706 005522
Fax: 08706 005533
Website: www.clicktso.com

There are Stationery Office bookshops in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Manchester.

The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF)
The DLF has extensive information on adaptations and accessories for vehicles. The information service is available by written enquiry. There is a fully accessible equipment centre where people can see items of equipment demonstrated. Please phone the DLF for an appointment. It has also produced resource papers on the following topics:

  • Choosing a Scooter or Buggy
  • Choosing an Electric Wheelchair
  • Choosing a Standard Self-Propelled Chair
  • Choosing a High Performance Wheelchair

Price £2.50 each. (includes p+p).You can also get them online. Contact details:

380-384 Harrow Road
London
W9 2HU
Tel: 0207 289 6111
Local call charge helpline 0845 1309 177
Website: www.dlf.org.uk

Other contacts

Mobilise
An excellent source of information on all issues to do with driving and vehicles is Mobilise - formed from the merger of the Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club and the Disabled Drivers Association.

Ashwellthorpe
Norwich NR16 1EX
Tel: 01508 489449
E mail: enquiries@mobilise.info
Web: www.mobilise.info

Legislative and parliamentary information relating to transport, including the Transport Act, can be found at www.ukstate.com

Assessment Centres
MAVIS (Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service)
MAVIS helps disabled and elderly motorists make informed decisions about their own mobility needs. It provides practical advice on driving, vehicle adaptation and suitable vehicle types for both drivers and passengers. There is a range of assessments on offer - costs do vary depending on the type of assessment. It is able to advise on all aspects of private transport and mobility, and it produces a number of free factsheets on topics, such as:

  • Disabled Drivers assessment centres
  • Insurance
  • Lists of hand control and car adaptation conversion specialists
  • How to return to driving
  • How to get a driving licence for the first time

Contact details:
‘O’Wing
Macadam Avenue
Old Wokingham Road
Crowthorne
Berkshire
RG45 6XD
Tel: 01344-661000.
Email: mavis@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/

Queen Elizabeth's Foundation Mobility Centre
It offers:

  • wheelchair assessments
  • assessment of driving ability
  • advice on car adaptations (for which a charge may be made)
  • a free mobility information service
  • a free leaflet is available about how to choose a pavement vehicle

Contact details:
Damson Way
Fountain Drive
Carshalton
Surrey
SM5 4NR
Tel: 0208 770 1151
Website: www.qefd.org/mobilitycentre


The Mobility Information Service
The Mobility Information Service is a voluntary organisation that offers a wide range of information on cars, adaptations, costs and local mobility centres. It also provides assessments on wheelchairs and offers help when choosing vehicles. Publications include:

  • How to Push a Wheelchair 60p (includes p+p)
  • Adapatations Pack £3.95
  • Passenger Pack £3.95

Contact details:
National Mobility Centre
Unit B1
Greenwood Court
Cartmel Drive
Shrewsbury,
Shropshire
SY1 3TB
Tel: 01743 463072
Fax: 01743 463065
Email: email:mis@nmcuk.freeserve.co.uk
Website: www.mis.org.uk

Mobility Road Shows, run by the Department of Transport are held every year at different locations.