Carers Association Southern Staffordshire - Practical Guide to Transport

If the person you care has mobility problems, it can sometimes be a challenge to get out and about.

Motability – this scheme that gives disabled people and their carers access to a car. The Motability Scheme enables disabled people to exchange either their Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or their War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement to obtain a new car, powered wheelchair or scooter.

Motability: www.motability.co.uk/main.cfm

NHS Choices Carers Direct : Information on Motability: www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/transport/Pages/Motability.aspx

Blue Badge Scheme - If the person you're caring for has severe mobility problems which make using public transport difficult, they may be able to apply for a Blue Badge for their car, to help them park closer to places they wish to visit. Badges can be displayed on any vehicle in which the badge holder travels, as either passenger or driver.

Department of Transport: Information on the Blue Badge Scheme
www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/bluebadge

Road Tax Exemptions – the person you are caring for may be entitled to a free road tax disc if they have a condition or disability that affects their mobility. A free tax disc is available if they have:

a disability which means they get the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance,
a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement, or
an 'invalid carriage' (this includes vehicles such as powered wheelchairs and scooters intended for use on roads).

Concessions on public transport – there may be concessions on buses and trains for those with a disability – see links below for more information:

Door to Door - the transport and travel information website for disabled and less mobile people. dptac.independent.gov.uk/door-to-door/03/07.htm

General Transport links:

Disabled Go - provides free detailed access information for disabled people across the UK www.disabledgo.com

Open Britain: This website gives information on accessible accommodation and travel in the UK for people with disabilities and specific access requirements www.openbritain.net/openbritain

Rough Guide to Accessible Britain - A fully updated third edition of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is now available featuring over 180 attractions and ideas for great UK days out. The Guide is available FREE to Blue Badge and Disabled Persons Railcard holders (£6.99 to everyone else).

To order a FREE copy visit www.accessibleguide.co.uk or call 0800 953 7070.

An audio guide, with special introduction by Ben Fogle, is also available to download free from www.accessibleguide.co.uk