Archive Website of the UK government

Community transport services

Community transport services are provided by community based groups for the benefit of users. The services that might be available include door-to-door transport and services offering trips to shopping centres. Services vary by local area and there are often fewer services in rural areas.

The Community Transport Association runs an advice and information service for both group hire and individual transport needs. They can advise on locally available services.

• Community Transport Association website Opens new window

Taxi schemes

Your local council may operate taxi schemes, possibly using vouchers or tokens.

If you qualify to use such a scheme, you will be given a card or a number of tokens. These can be exchanged with certain taxi firms instead of cash. The local council then pays the taxi firm.

London taxis - 'black cabs'

All London taxis are accessible to disabled customers. You can book a taxi over the telephone using the 'One Number' service.

The telephone number for booking a taxi is: 0871 871 8710

Dial-a-ride

Dial-a-rides are like taxis in that they can be booked to take you from door to door. They are wheelchair accessible and are generally for anyone who has difficulty with public transport. Services have to be pre-booked.

Fares, eligibility and the kind of journeys you can make vary from place to place.

Shopmobility

Shopmobility schemes hire out or lend manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and powered scooters to anyone who needs help with mobility to get around. Shopmobility centres are usually located in a town centre or shopping centre, enabling people to go shopping and to visit leisure and commercial facilities.

All schemes operate independently but you can find out whether there is a scheme near you by contacting the National Federation of Shopmobility. As each scheme varies, it is important to contact the scheme you wish to visit before you go. In some centres you need to book in advance, for example.

There is sometimes a charge for using the service, though some centres provide it for free.

Telephone: 0845 644 2446

• National Federation of Shopmobility website Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Motoring and transport contacts for disabled people

• Transport government contacts