Getting around your local area
If you have a smart phone, Google Maps can be very useful to show you how to get to places – either by walking, driving or by public transport. It will show you what times buses and trains leave.
You can use an app or website to find a route and bus times.
People who are older or who have certain disabilities can get free or discounted travel by getting a travel pass.
You can search for trains using one of many websites which will allow you to look up train times and buy tickets.
It's usually cheapest to buy travel tickets in advance, up to 3 months before you travel. You can do this online from any train company website such as The Train Line. For the cheapest possible deal, the website splitmyfare.co.uk can find you the cheapest possible route to your destination.
If you regularly travel by train, you might consider buying a rail card, which will give you a discount on most train tickets. Not everyone is eligible to buy a rail card – you can check if you’re eligible on the National Rail website.
Some people, for example people with certain disabilities, can get a rail pass which gives them free or discounted travel.
Taxis are one of the most expensive ways to get around, but they can take you from door to door. Whilst some companies may allow you to book a taxi at a fixed fee, most taxis are paid for on a metred basis, depending on the length of your journey and time it took to get there. You will not pay extra if you have more than one person in the taxi. Taxi rides are not shared in the UK, so the driver will never pick up people you don’t know whilst you are on a journey.
It is safest and cheapest to book a taxi in advance. Bolt and Uber are the most popular apps for doing this.
You can take bicycles on the train, but you may be refused if the train is busy.
You can read about the rules of the road here.
The Omio website can show you your options for getting across the country.
If you regularly travel by coach, one of the companies, National Express offer an annual coach card which will give you a discount on all tickets on their routes. This is available to young people, older people and those with disabilities. You can check if you’re eligible and buy on their website.
You can search for trains using one of many websites which will allow you to look up train times and buy tickets.
It's usually cheapest to buy travel tickets in advance, up to 3 months before you travel. You can do this online from any train company website such as The Train Line. For the cheapest possible deal, the website splitmyfare.co.uk can find you the cheapest possible route to your destination.
If you regularly travel by train, you might consider buying a rail card, which will give you a discount on most train tickets. Not everyone is eligible to buy a rail card – you can check if you’re eligible on the National Rail website.
Some people, for example people with certain disabilities, can get a rail pass which gives them free or discounted travel.
There are schemes that offer discounted or free travel for people with disabilities.
Most public transport is accessible to wheelchair users, but it’s best to contact the travel company before travel to check if your planned journey will be possible and to reserve a space.
Transport for West Midlands offer advice for people travelling with accessibility needs, including free accessibility products.
If you have a disability you might be able to get a travel card. This will give you free or discounted travel on public transport.
If you’re travelling by taxi, tell them when you book if you will need a wheelchair-accessible taxi. If you can't get out of your wheelchair, the taxi needs to have a ramp and restraints to hold the wheelchair while driving.
You may need to contact a few different taxi companies, as not all of them will have a suitable vehicle available.
Most buses are accessible to wheelchair users, with featuers such as a low floor, ramps, and dedicated wheelchair spaces. But this does vary by area and the specific bus route, so you may want to contact the bus company before you travel to make sure.
Many coaches are accessible to wheelchair users, with lifts, ramps and dedicated wheelchair spaces. But it's safest to contact the coach company in advance to check if this is available, and to reserve a space. If you use a powered chair, be ready to tell them the dimensions and weight of the chair, as there may be restrictions.
Coach companies probably won’t accept mobility scooters unless they can be folded up.
Many areas have community transport schemes which help people who have difficulty using public transport. These schemes might include a minibus or volunteer drivers.
This is a national scheme that lets people with mobility problems park close to where they need to go. Often you will be able to park for free, but not always.
The Blue Badge lets you park for a limited time in some areas where it's normally not allowed, such as on double yellow lines. But there are still some places where Blue Badge holders aren't allowed to park, including bus lanes, taxi bays, and areas where loading or unloading isn't allowed.
A disabled parking bay is a reserved area on the road for people who have a Blue Badge. If you would like to have a disabled parking bay near your home, you can apply through your council.
You can borrow mobility aids like walking sticks and wheelchairs from the NHS. Speak to a GP or hospital staff about your needs.
The Red Cross also let you borrow or rent mobility aids.
Shopmobility also rent mobility aids out for people to do shopping or visit leisure facilities in a town or shopping centre.