Door to Door: a travel guide for disabled people

Before you travel: Sources of information and advice

Key points to consider | Sources of information and advice | A note of caution - mobility scooters | Insurance | Medical preparations | Legislation - the DDA | Help to travel independently | Personal assistance | Help with costs | Benefits and allowances

Improvements are gradually but constantly being made to public transport vehicles and interchanges to make them more easily accessible. There is often a choice of different ways to make a journey. The biggest problem for many disabled people is knowing where to find advice and information to help you choose the travel option that best meets your particular travel needs.

Department for Transport (DfT)

General information on accessibility for disabled people can be found on the Department for Transport's "Access for disabled people" webpage: www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/.

Directgov

Directgov is the official government website which brings together information on a range of public services in one place. For disabled travellers there is useful information on motoring and transport available at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/MotoringAndTransport/index.htm and on travel, holidays and breaks at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/TravelHolidaysAndBreaks/index.htm.

Local Authority Public Transport Departments

County councils and Unitary Authorities are responsible for passenger transport in the areas they cover. They can give information about facilities and fare concessions for disabled travellers on public transport in their area. Some also publish a guide to accessible transport services in their area and may include these details on their websites.

You can find the contact details for your local authority Public Transport department on the Directgov website at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm.

Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs)

These are responsible for public transport in the six major metropolitan areas in England:
Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Transport for London are associate members.

They provide a similar service as Local Authorities and can give information about facilities and fare concessions for disabled travellers on public transport in their area. You can find more information about the Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG) and links to each of the six metropolitan area websites (plus Strathclyde, Nottingham and London) at: www.pteg.net.

Transport for London

Transport for London(TfL) is responsible for public transport In London.

It is part of the Mayor of London's Office, and has an Equality and Inclusion Office which deals with policy on transport matters for disabled people. TfL is also responsible for running the Central London Congestion Charge (www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/congestioncharging/).

TfL's London Travel Information provides a fully inclusive information service about public transport in London. They can help with enquiries across the different types of transport, and can give information about accessibility as well as timetable and ticket information.

London Travel Information can be contacted on 0843 222 1234 (24 hours); textphone 020 7918 3015.

The Journeyplanner section of the Transport for London website can also help you to plan your journey across London - journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/index.htm. If you scroll down to the 'Advanced options' section, under 'My mobility requirements' you can select the relevant mobility options which apply to you and which the journeyplanner will take into account when offering you the most appropriate mode and route for your journey in London.

For more information about getting around in London for disabled people go to: www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/1167.aspx.

Translink Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland Translink oversees the integrated public transport operation of Northern Ireland Railways, Enterprise, Goldline, Metro and Ulsterbus rail and road services.

More information at: www.translink.co.uk.

Traveline

Many local authority public transport information services are now provided through the national Traveline telephone and internet service. Traveline can give you information about transport timetables and fares throughout Great Britain, as well as information on the operation of wheelchair accessible low floor buses. (For journeys in Northern Ireland this service is provided by Translink to which the Traveline website provides a direct link.)

More information about Traveline can be found at: www.traveline.org.uk. The website explains how to obtain information by telephone, on 0871 200 22 33 (calls provided by BT will be charged at 10p per minute plus 6p set up fee per call. Mobile, business and other providers' charges may vary), by SMS text messages and e-mail.

Transport Direct

Transport Direct is a non-profit service funded by the UK Department for Transport, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government. The Transport Direct website offers journey planning and ticketing services covering all forms of transport - air, bus, car, coach, ferry, train, tram, tube, taxi , as well as information about journeys that involve more than one form of transport. Transport Direct is available at: www.transportdirect.info.

Tourism for All UK (previously known as Holiday Care)

Tourism for All UK is a national charity which provides holiday and travel information to older and disabled people, including lists of accessible accommodation around the country. It also provides advice and support to the tourism industry when they are trying to meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act or when they wish to become more accessible to disabled visitors, by providing consultancy advice about information, training, inspections and assessments, and other options.

More information about Tourism for All UK can be found at: www.tourismforall.org.uk.

Disability Information and Advice Lines (DIALs)

DIALs can often give information about access and facilities for disabled people in the area each local DIAL covers - www.dialuk.info.

Disability organisations

National organisations representing the interests of disabled people with particular impairments, such as the RNIB, RNID Arthritis Care or Mencap, can usually give advice on travel for people with particular disabilities. More details of these organisations can be found in the useful organisations section.

There are also organisations and publications that can give advice on particular means of transport or types of journey.

Public transport

To find out what accessible transport services are available in your area you should contact one of the following:

  • Your local Council or Unitary Authority Public Transport Department (see above)
  • Your Passenger Transport Executive(PTE) in metropolitan areas (see above)
  • Transport for London in London (see above)
  • Translink in Northern Ireland (see above)

You can also contact Traveline (see above) for public transport timetable and fares information throughout the country.

You can also use the Transport Direct website (www.transportdirect.info), a non-profit service funded by the UK Department for Transport, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government.

Going by car

There is a national network of mobility centres that belong to the Forum of Mobility Centres. These were set up to provide disabled motorists with impartial assessments and advice about driving, cars and adaptations.

A list of these Mobility Centres, their locations and contact details can be found here.

There are also two membership organisations, which offer a range of services to disabled motorists:

Going by motorcycle

Disabled people considering taking up or returning to motorcycling can get help and advice from the National Association for Bikers with a Disability: www.nabd.org.uk

Going by air

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), has published "Access to air travel; Guidance for disabled and less mobile passengers". This guide follows a step by step journey through planning your flight, to getting to the airport, boarding and leaving the plane.

It can be downloaded from our website (dptac.independent.gov.uk/pubs/aviation/access/index.htm) or by post from the DPTAC Secretariat. A summary of the main points to consider is also available as a small leaflet.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has published "Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility - Code of Practice". This Code of Practice outlines the standards that are expected of companies in the air transport industry. . It can be downloaded from the DfT website at www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/aviationshipping/accesstoairtravelfordisabled.pdf (Adobe Acrobat).

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published "Your Rights to Fly - What You Need to Know", a step by step guide for disabled and less mobile passengers which can be downloaded from their website at: www.equalityhumanrights.com/your-rights/rights-in-different-settings/air-travel/.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) produces a series of information sheets dealing with different aspects of air travel. They can be downloaded from the 'Information for Passengers' section of their website which can be found at: www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=1759.

The Air Transport Users Council (AUC) is the UK's consumer council for air travellers. It also produces a range of useful information for air travellers which can be downloaded from their website, including a page which contains advice for air travellers with special needs - see: www.auc.org.uk/default.aspx?catid=306&pagetype=90&pageid=2054.

Going on holiday

For holidays in the UK, you can get more information from the local:

For destinations abroad, you can contact Tourism for All UK or try contacting a disability organisation in the country you plan to visit. A specialist tour operator may be able to organise accommodation to meet your particular needs. Foreign tourist boards may have offices in the UK which can help.

A range of holiday guides are published to suit different levels of ability and senses of adventure, from 'Smooth Rides' to 'Rough Guides'. More information on useful contacts about holidays and leisure activities mainly, but not exclusively, for families with disabled children is available from the booklet "Holidays, Play and Leisure", which can be downloaded from the Contact a Family website at: www.cafamily.org.uk/holidays.html.

In and around London

Transport for London

Transport for London(TfL) is the responsible for public transport In London.

More information about Transport for London can be found at: www.tfl.gov.uk.

Access in London

A publication that has proven to be very useful to visitors to London for about two decades is the book "Access in London", part of the Access Project series prepared by Pauline Hephaistos Survey Projects. Now in its fourth edition, and regularly updated with supplements, it gives accurate and confirmed access information about accommodation, transport, entertainment, sporting and cultural venues right across London. Details of how you can get a copy can be found at: www.accessproject-phsp.org.

Benefits and allowances

General advice and information on benefits and allowances for disabled people can be obtained from:

Nationally

Locally

  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)/Benefits Agency offices
  • Citizens Advice Bureaux
  • Disability Information and Advice Lines
  • Associations of and for disabled people

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