You Qualify for the Concessionary Travel Scheme If You Are;

7 Transport

Updated 11 November 2008

Transport Scotland is responsible for running the national concessionary travel scheme which has provided FREE bus travel throughout Scotland for many older and disabled people since April 2006.

Under the scheme anyone aged sixty or over and many disabled people who live in Scotland are able to travel free on ANY local bus and scheduled long distance coach services in Scotland throughout the day – including the morning rush hour.

If you want to take advantage of this FREE bus travel you need to have a National Entitlement Card. This card will allow you to travel on any scheduled bus service throughout Scotland.

You qualify for the concessionary travel scheme if you are;

Aged over 60 years
In receipt of the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
In receipt of the middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
Hold a disabled person’s parking badge
Are profoundly or severely deaf
Are registered blind or have a visual impairment
Have had a driving licence refused on medical grounds
Have a degenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s disorder
Have a learning disability, mental illness or personality disorder
Are terminally ill
Have suffered a loss of limbs

For further information and application form contact Transport Scotland on:

0141 272 7170 or visit their website at:

Application forms are also available form Stirling Council and the Post Office.

Companion Concessionary Cardis available for people from the age of 5 years, whose mobility is such that they require to be accompanied when travelling.

The companion concessionary card allows both the eligible person and the person who is travelling with them to travel FREEtogether on the same bus journey.The person travelling with the companion card holder can vary from journey to journey and the cardholder does not have to be accompanied on all bus journeys. To apply for a Companion Card the applicant must be;

In receipt of the higher or middle rate of the care component of DLAor
In receipt of Attendance Allowanceor
Certified blind and is on a register maintained by or on behalf of Stirling Council.

For further information and details on how to apply contact Stirling Council on:

0845 277 7000

Rail Journeys

Assistance is available at railway stations and on most rail services. If you need assistance we recommend that you book it at least 24 hours in advance of travel through your rail operator.

Booking in advance enables train companies to check the accessibility of the stations you will be using, help you plan the journey best suited to your needs and if necessary, arrange alternative transport to the nearest accessible station.

Details for booking assistance serviceare listed below.

First ScotRail 0800 912 2901

Text Phone 0800 912 2899

Virgin Trains 08457 443 366

Text phone 08457 443367

A full list of rail operators can be found at:

Central Shopmobility

Shopmobility assists those with mobility problems to get around the shops offering free use of manual and electric wheelchairs and scooters. Registration is free but ID is required. Wheelchairs and scooters are also available for longer term loans ata cost starting at £1 per day for a manual wheelchair. For more detail contact:

Mobility Training Officer

Stirling Bus Station,

19 Goosecroft Road,

Stirling,

Tel: 01786 449606.

Dial-A-Journey Ltd

Dial-a-Journey is a door to door transport service for people who have a mobility problem, and who cannot use conventional public transport because of this. You can travel anywhere within the ForthValley area. The fare you pay will depend on the distance you travel. The service normally operates from 7.30am to 10pm Mon-Thurs, Fri 7.30am to 11pm and 9am to 10pm Sat.

For Dial-a-Journey booking and General Enquiries about other available services, contact:

Dial-a-Journey

3 Cunningham Road,

Springkerse Industrial Estate,

Stirling FK7 7SW

Tel: 01786 465355 9am to 5pm Mon to Fri and 9am to 12pm Sat or

Taxicard:

A Taxicard allows people with permanent disabilities who cannot use ordinary buses to travel in taxis at reduced fares. You must book your journey at least one day in advance and you can go anywhere provided your journey starts and/or finishes in the Stirling Council area. Up to 3 people may accompany you.

You DO NOT need to surrender your National Entitlement Card if you apply for a Taxicard. For more details about the criteria for this scheme and an application form you should contact:

The Stirling and Clackmannanshire Public Transport Co-ordination Centre

Stirling Bus Station

19 Goosecroft Road

Stirling FK8 1PF

Tel:01786 442707.

The Blue Badge Parking Scheme.

The Blue Badge Scheme provides a national arrangement of parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. The scheme also applies to registered blind people, and people with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand.

It allows badge holders to park close to their destination. The national concessions allow badge holders to park on-street but they may not apply to car parks.

To be eligible for the Blue Badge parking scheme you will have to meet one of the following criteria:

Receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance

Receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
Use a motor vehicle supplied for disabled people by a Government Health Department
Are registered blind
Have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob

Have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking.

In this case, if you have difficulty in walking, you may be asked some questions to help your local authority decide if you are entitled to a badge.

For more details and an application form contact Stirling Council, Transport Department on 01786 442645 or

StirlingCarers Centre.

Motability

Buying and adapting a car can be expensive. The Motability Scheme - run by the independent not-for-profit organisation Motability - gives disabled people the opportunity to own or lease a car at an affordable price.

How the scheme works

The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing or buying a car if you are getting the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement or the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. Even if you don't drive, you can apply for a car as a passenger and propose two other people as your drivers.

You can also apply for a car on behalf of a child aged three or over who is entitled to the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.

For more information contact

MotabilityOperations
City Gate House
22 Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HB

Tel: 0845 456 4566

Wheelchairs and Scooters

Motability also offers a hire purchase scheme for powered wheelchairs and scooters.For general enquiries please contact:

Motability Powered Wheelchair and Scooter Scheme
Montgomery House
Newbury Road
Enham Alamein
Andover
Hampshire
SP11 6JS
Tel: 0845 60 762 60

Updated 11 November 2008