Transport is a big issue for many disabled people – while city centres are becoming more pedestrianised, this does not always mean that all the disabled people’s parking is retained. Schemes like ShopMobility have helped some disabled people with their city centre transport needs. At the same time, while more public transport is becoming more accessible, services can be patchy. The Disability Discrimination Act does not require all buses and trains to be accessible until 2015
Cycling
Bicycles can be parked around Wolverhampton city centre in the following places: Queen Square, Dudley Street, Victoria Street, St. Peter's Square, Wolverhampton Central Metro stop, and Wolverhampton Train Station.
The cycle route around Wolverhampton, although patchy, has been extended.
The council has a map of Wolverhampton cycle route, you can get a copy by ringing (01902) 555732, or pick one up at the Tourist Information Centre in Queen Square.
Motorcycles
The National Association of bikers with a disability (NABD) help to adapt motorcycles, trikes, and sidecars so that they can be ridden by disabled people.
They also offer grants for bike adaptations, signpost training, produce a quarterly magazine for members, and host events for their members around the country.
N.A.B.D.Unit 20,The Bridgewater Centre, Robson Avenue, Urmston, Manchester, M41 7TE Tel/Fax: 0870 759 0603
Or you can contact your local representative, Vic Hawkes on 01384 347489
The Disabled motorcyclists Association (DMA) is based in the north of England and offers advice on adaptations to your motorbike and where to get them done.
Motoring
Accessible Taxis
All Black Cab taxi firms now have wheelchair accessible taxis, and ramps as standard equipment. However, these are not suitable for some people with high electric wheelchairs.
If this is you, try Rainbow Cars, and ask for the TX1 Taxi. Rainbow Cars is on (01902) 311118
Other Black cab firms are: Albro (01902) 451111
All taxis and private hire firms should take assistance dogs like guide dogs – if a firm or driver refuses you remind them of their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act.
If service is still refused contact One Voice or the Disability Rights Commission for further advice.
Motobility
The Motobility Scheme is for people who receive higher rate DLA mobility.
You can use your DLA money to hire or buy a car or electric wheelchair.
To hire a car, you need to have at least 3 years Mobility Component left.
To buy a car on HP, you must have 2 years left. Contact: Motobility, Warwick House, Roydon Road, Harlow, Essex CM19 5PX 01279 635666
Road Tax Exemption
You may not have to pay road tax if you get DLA Mobility - higher rate, or War Pensioners Mobility Allowance, or if you use an 'invalid tricycle'.
Get a form from the DWP (Molineux House, Temple Street, WV2 4AU), and send it to the Vehicle Licensing Agency.
M6 Toll Road Exemption
People who get DLA high rate mobility can get an exemption certificate so that they can travel for free on the M6 Toll Road.
The exemption certificate costs £5 and lasts for 3 years.
You apply for exemption from Midland Expressway Limited.
You can download a form from:
www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/exemptions.asp
Blue Badge Scheme
This is to help blind people and people with mobility problems to park near to or in the city centre and other shopping centres.
To qualify, you must be over 2 years old, and meet one of the following requirements:
Receive DLA Mobility (higher rate), or War Pension Mobility Supplement;
registered blind,
be unable or virtually unable to walk,
drive regularly and have a severe disability in each arm,
use a vehicle supplied by or partly funded by a Government Department.
The disabled person does not have to be the owner or driver of the car, s/he just needs to be using the car when the Blue Badge is displayed.
The Blue Badge must be displayed properly so that the expiry date can be seen and read through the windscreen – if not it is not valid, and you may receive a ticket.
A Blue Badge allows you to park at roadside parking meters for 3 hours for free.
You can also park on yellow lines for up to 3 hours providing you are not causing an obstruction, you must display your time of arrival also.
In most cases you cannot park in a red route or cycle/bus route or an area where there is a loading/unloading ban
You apply for your Blue Badge at the Council Social Services Department.
For more information, ring (01902) 555308
There is no right of appeal if the Council thinks you do not meet the criteria, but you can apply again immediately, and wait for the Council to contact your GP or you can contact a disability organisation (such as One Voice) or your local Councillor to see if they can advocate for you.
You can use your Blue Badge in other European EEC countries, but the rules vary. The AA produces a leaflet on this which you can get from them if you are a member or download for free at:
www.aatrust.com/files/advice/blue_badge_abroad.pdf
Accessible Parking
There is Blue Badge parking at the following places around the city centre: Cleveland Street, Queen Street, Victoria Street, Blossoms Fold, Bilston Street, Castle Street and Railway Drive.
There are accessible parking spaces in the following car parks:
Civic Centre, Birch Street, Fold Street, School Street, Railway Station, Faulkland Street, Market, Piper’s Row, Mander Centre, Beatties, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Netto.
There are pay-and-display parking meters at the following places:
Bell Street, Berry Street, Birch street, Bond street (cobbled area), Clarence Road, Cleveland Street, George Street (cobbled), Mitre fold, North Street, Paternoster Row, Princess Street, Queen Street, Red Street, Railway Street, St. John’s Square, Salop Street, School Street, Summer Street, Tempest Street, Thornley Street, Waterloo Road, Whitmore Street, Worcester Street.
You can get a city centre parking map from the Tourist Information centre, or you can download one at:
www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/46AC32C4-85EB-4611-B2E5-534991F94CA0/0/city_centre_map05_06.pdf
Shop Mobility
Shop Mobility is a scheme to make shopping easier for people with mobility problems. When you register you must take a simple test. Once you register, you can park your car and rent an electric wheelchair or scooter, to shop around town.
The cost is 50 pence for the first hour, and 25 pence for each hour afterwards.
To register you must have ID including your address and a photo, and evidence of your exact weight.
For more information contact Shopmobility, 12 Cleveland St., Wolverhampton. Telephone/Minicom (01902) 556021
Buses
Ring and Ride
Ring and Ride is a door to door bus service for disabled people who cannot use the standard bus service. To use it you have to register with Ring and Ride. You also have to book each journey you want to make at least 2 days in advance – you will be given a specific time when you can ring up to book a journey. The service is oversubscribed, so you will not always get the journey you want.
For more information visit the Ring and Ride website :
http://bencr-42174-001.dsvr.co.uk/quickstart/index.php?id=71
If you have a problem with Ring and Ride, it can be dealt with at the Ring and Ride Users Group, which meets every 3 months. One Voice has a member on the Ring and Ride Users group. If you would like them to raise your problem contact:
Transport, One Voice, Regent House, Bath Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV1 4EG, or telephone (01902) 810016 or email ian@1voice.org.uk
West Midlands Bus Service
Many of the bus routes run by TWM have accessible buses on them, others do not.
When we contacted TWM they were unable to say what bus routes had regular accessible buses, and informed us that it changes on a day-by-day basis.
This makes it difficult for disabled people to use some of their services. Some services though like the Birmingham and Dudley buses always have accessible buses.
You can get timetable and route information from any bus station, or from their website:
www.travelwm.co.uk/bus/index.asp
Disabled People’s Bus Pass
Disabled people’s passes give you free travel on the bus, train and metro in the West Midlands area from 9.30 am to the end of daytime service Mondays to Fridays, and all day on weekends and bank holidays. It is a free pass if you qualify.
There is a Centro helpline to tell you about the new scheme or to get an application form - telephone (0121) 214 7979.
Or you can download it from their website:
www.centro.org.uk/wwwroot/TicketSales/New%20ticket/usrTktGuideInfo.asp?tktID=BD
You can also get application forms for the Disability Bus Pass from travel information centres (at the bus station), libraries, doctors' surgeries and from Centro. The form is also available in Large Print and audio tape.
To qualify you must meet one of the following:
Registered blind or partially sighted
Severely or profoundly deaf
Speech impairment
Walking difficulties
Difficulty in using arms
Learning Difficulties
Any other disability not mentioned above e.g. epilepsy, mental health issues.
You will need to include proof of where you live, like a recent fuel bill.
They may contact your doctor.
Tickets please pads
Centro produces note pads to assist people with communications difficulties to buy tickets on buses or for train journeys. The pads contain 50 tear-off slips, each of which states that the bearer may have a speech or hearing impairment. The user completes the slip with the required ticket information, and hands it to the person selling the ticket.
To obtain a pad, free of charge, contact:
Centro, Centro House, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham B19 3SD
Telephone 0121 214 7125
Minicom 0121 214 7777
Email access@centro.org.uk
Wolverhampton Rail Station
At the train station you can buy tickets for that day’s travel either by using self service kiosks which are accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments, or you can get a ticket at the counter, which is high.
You can book longer journeys in advance either at the accessible ticket office, by telephone: 0845 7484950, or textphone: 0845 6050600
Or by registering with and using www.thetrainline.co.uk
Payment in both cases is by credit or debit card only.
You can get to the platforms at the rail station via a lift, or stairs.
You should give information about any access needs you have, when you book, so that you have the support, seating and so on that you need.
All intercity train services are wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets onboard. Access to the train is provided by a ramp kept at the station, and the rail authorities require that you give at least 24 hours notice of your intention to travel on one of these trains, so that they can provide the staff to help with the ramp etc
Trains to Europe from Waterloo are accessible, with 2 wheelchair spaces per train.
Telephone: 08705 186 186 email: sales.enquiries@eurostar.co.uk
Rail Pass
British Rail has a Disabled Person's Railcard. It costs £18 a year. With the Railcard, you can get 1/3 off the cost of a standard train fare.
To get the railcard you must be blind or visually impaired, deaf or have epilepsy, or you must get Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, War Pension Mobility Allowance or DLA (higher or middle rate). To apply fill in the form "Rail Travel for Disabled Passengers". You can get this from:
Disabled Persons Railcard Office
PO Box 1YT, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 1YT
Telephone 0845 605 0525
Minicom 0845 601 0132
or online at www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk
It takes 15-21 days to get your railcard, so apply in advance.
Metro
The Metro is a reasonably accessible tram that runs from Wolverhampton to Snow Hill Birmingham.
Trams run every 6 minutes in the day time and also run at night.
The Metro stops are at:
Wolverhampton central (opposite police station), The Royal, Priestfield, The Crescent Bilston, Bilston Central, West Bromwich, Handsworth, the Jewellery Quarter, and Birmingham.
You get your ticket from the conductor on the Metro, or you can buy a bus and metro ticket (£4.50) on any Travel West Midlands bus.
The British Red Cross Society can often provide assistance for people who find it difficult to make a journey on their own. Volunteers can pick someone up from home and drive them either in the volunteer’s own vehicle or a specially adapted vehicle run by the British Red Cross. People can also be met at a bus or train station and accompanied on a journey. As well as taking someone on a short or long journey. These services carry a charge.
For further details, please contact:
British Red Cross Society,
West Midlands Branch
Bradbury House,
7 Lowe Street,
Camp Hill, Birmingham B12 OER
Telephone 0121 766 5444 Fax 0121 772 4944
Email LHall@redcross.org.uk
www.redcross.org.uk
Wheelchair Service
To use this service you must be referred by a GP, Consultant etc. The wheelchair service will assess you for a wheelchair and wheelchair accessories. They are able to provide you with a “standard wheelchair” suitable to your needs. If you want to have a more expensive wheelchair, because it is lighter or more stylish for example, the wheelchair service will issue you with a voucher that you can put towards payment of the wheelchair of your choice, providing the one you chose meets yours needs in the view of the wheelchair service.
The wheelchair service will also give you a one-off payment towards any repair and maintenance of the chair.
The wheelchair service is based at the Maltings centre on Herbert Street.
Telephone (01902) 444042
Highways and Footpaths
If you have a problem with a road or footpath because it is damaged, or obstructed, or overhanging branches prevent you from getting by, contact the Highways Officer at the Council on (01902) 555714
You can also ring this number for information about planned highway digging works.