Transport

There are number of schemes operating in the City of London and Hackney Boroughs to help people who have difficulty using public transport. You will need to apply for them on the right form.

The schemes below are for people who have a long term illness or disability which means they are unable to walk or use public transport. This must usually be confirmed by a GP or hospital consultant. They have similar criteria but it is worth checking if you can apply. People who have the Disability Living Allowance High Rate Mobility component have automatic access to these schemes.

Motability
This scheme can assist disabled people and the parents of disabled children to buy or hire an adapted car or electric wheelchair. The Disability and Carers Service will pay the mobility component of your Disability Living Allowance to Motability.

Contact:
Motability Operations Tel: 0845 456 4566
City Gate House Fax: 0207 928 1818
22 Southwark Bridge Road Minicom: 01279 632273
London SE1 9HB Opening hours: 8.30am till 5.30pm Monday to Friday

Exemption from Road Tax (vehicle excise duty)

If you receive the High Rate Mobility component of Disability Living Allowance you don’t have to pay Road Tax. An exemption form is automatically sent out. You can choose to nominate your carer or someone else who regularly uses a car on your behalf. You can also claim exemption if you own an invalid tricycle or a small car which was issued by the Department of Health.

Disabled Person’s Freedom passes

Freedom passes allow you to travel free of charge on most public transport services. Freedom passes are issued free of charge to people over 60. The post office has application forms and issues the permits. You can travel free on most buses and tubes between 9am and 4.30am the following morning Monday to Friday, plus all day at weekends and on public holidays. On trains after 9.30 am, plus all day weekends and public holidays.

Disabled Freedom passes are issued by Social Service Departments in the City and Hackney. Disabled Freedom Pass Holders travel free at all times except on trains when you travel free after 9.30 am. You will need to complete a form to apply:

For Hackney Tel: 020 8356 6825 or contact:
The Mobility Unit, 205 Morning Lane E9 6JX
You can also download the form from their website www.hackney.gov.uk

In the City Tel: 020 7332 1224 or contact:
Social Services, 15 Half Moon Court, Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7HF

Blue Badge Scheme plus Red Badge Scheme in the City

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport. The scheme operates throughout the UK.

It is a national scheme which allows disabled people to park in places normally restricted. They are issued by the Social Service Departments above. Carers of disabled people can also use the badge when doing caring related tasks. There is an initial fee for the badge.

Due to the pressure on parking, the concessions offered by the Blue Badge scheme do not apply in the City of London, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and the southern part of Camden. Blue Badge holders can only use disabled parking bays freely in these areas. You must adhere to all other parking restrictions or face a penalty notice.

The Red Badge Scheme is only available to City Residents and workers. It offers extra disabled parking facilities within the City.

In Hackney contact the Mobility Unit above to apply for the Blue Badge scheme.
In the City, and for a list of disabled parking bays in the City, contact: Corporation of London, Parking Administration Section, PO Box 270 London EC2P 2EJ Tel: 020 7332 1548. You can also download this information from their website www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

London Congestion Charge for Blue Badge holders

There are a range of discounts and exemptions available to certain categories of drivers or vehicles.

For example, Blue Badge holders qualify for a 100 per cent exemption from the London Congestion Charge, but you must register with Transport for London (TfL) at least 10 days before your journey and pay a one-off £10 registration fee. You can download a registration form from the TfL website.

Telephone: 0845 900 1234

Minicom users: 020 7649 9123

• Blue Badge holders - Transport for London website (opens new window)

Dial-a-ride
Dial a Ride is a door-to-door service for people who are not able to use public transport. It is operated by Transport for London and there is a small charge.

To apply for both City and Hackney contact:

Transport for London
Palmers Green Depot:
Units C/D Regents Avenue Industrial Estate Tel: 020 8829 1217
London N13 5UR www.tfl.gov.uk/dial-a-ride

London Taxi Card scheme

Taxicards provide cheaper taxi travel for people who can’t use public transport because of an illness or disability. It pays an amount towards a limited number of trips in black cabs. You pay a minimum amount and can travel up to a maximum fare of £11.80. If the journey costs more you will have to pay the extra.

For further information and to apply contact:
ALG TEC Taxicard
New Zealand House
80 Haymarket Tel: 020 7484 2929
London SW1Y 4TZ www.taxicard.org.uk

PlusBus and Door 2 Door

These services do not operate in the City of London.

The PlusBus hail-and-ride scheme links housing estates with local doctors, hospitals, shops, day centres etc and is designed for people who have difficulty in using mainstream public transport. Buses have low floors with fully accessible doors and seats. You pay an annual £1 membership fee and then the service is free.

Door 2 Door operates on a membership scheme. If you have a mobility problem where assistance to and from a vehicle is required, this service is well suited to your needs.

For further information, and membership card, route details and a time tables for these services contact:

Hackney Community Transport (HCT)
Ash Grove Bus Depot
Mare Street Email: info@hackneyct.org
London E84RH Tel: 020 7275 2434

Transport to Hospital

If you claim Income Support, the guarantee credit of Pension Credit, Jobseekers Allowance, or are getting Working Tax Credit and Child Tax credit, or are getting Working Tax Credit with the disability element or in certain other situations, you can claim travel expenses to and from hospital out patient appointments. You must use public transport and you will need to produce:

• Evidence of your benefit
• Your appointment card
• The travel ticket

If you are unable to use public transport for your journey to a hospital appointment, your GP can arrange transport for you. It is important that you mention that you will need transport when the appointment is made. Clarify whether an escort can travel with you if you need one. Not all services will take your carer.

Half Price Travel

Londoners on income support will benefit from half price bus fares from the end of August 2007

Up to 250,000 people in the capital on the lowest incomes will pay just 50p using Oyster pay-as-you-go on all single fares.

And, as normal bus prices will drop by 10 per cent in September, they will only have to pay 45p for a single fare on Oyster from the end of next month.

All people living in London on income support - such as carers, the disabled and people on low incomes - will be able to get half price travel on the capital's buses. (To find out how see below. ) The savings follow a deal between London and Venezuelan oil company Petróleos de Venezuela Europa.

This involves London getting funding from Venezuela, which it will then use to give the reduction in bus fares.

In return, Venezuela will get expert and specialist technical help from London to improve its public transport, environment, tourism and town planning.

How to get half-price bus fares
Simply take your letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or the job centre that proves your entitlement to income support and your London address, with proof of identity (such as a passport or driver's licence or bank card) and two passport-sized photos to the post office and fill out the appropriate form. In return, you will receive a travel photo-card which you will then have to show when you take your Oyster card to be topped up.

Half price travel applies to pay-as-you-go bus fares and bus season tickets. It does not cover Tube fares or Travelcards.

Updated December 2008