Public transport takes on many forms. For longer journeys, you can use trains or long-distance coaches, and airplanes. On the other hand, you can use buses, community transport and taxis to cover shorter distances.
Bus information
Journey Assistance Cards
Stagecoach produce Journey Assistance Cards for you to use if you need a bit more
help when using the bus. They make it easier for you to let their bus drivers know
what extra help you need. You can use your cards any time of the day, seven days
a week, on any of their bus services.
You can apply for Journey Assistance Cards if you have limited vision or hearing, difficulty in communication, special educational needs or if English is not your
first language. Or maybe you just need extra time or help to find a seat.
Types of Journey Assistance Cards
Their Journey Assistance Cards have been developed with their trade body, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
The cards available are:
- please be patient, I am deaf
- please be patient, I am visually impaired
- please be patient, I have difficulty speaking
- please be patient, I am hard of hearing
- please speak slowly and face me to help me hear better
- please scan my pass for me
- please count my change for me
Information on how to obtain a bus pass
Buss pass information for new applicants and renewals is available on the Visit Peterborough website. You can also contact them by:
email - buspassoffice@peterborough.gov.uk
Telephone 01733 317936/452336
Visitor Information Centre
41 Bridge Street
Peterborough
PE1 1HA
Train information
National Rail
If you're travelling around by National Rail, you can plan your train journey using the information provided for disabled passengers at National Rail Enquiries
To book assistance you only need to contact one train company and they will organise assistance for your whole journey. You can book assistance by phone or online with the company directly or centrally by telephoning 0800 022 3720. You can find some Frequently Asked Questions here.
Access information for our local train companies can be found below:
London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
You can also apply for a senior railcard or a disabled persons railcard for reduced rates train travel.
Trainline
Trainline is Europe’s leading train and coach app. They work with 270 rail and coach companies to offer our customers travel to thousands of destinations in and across 45 countries in Europe. Their aim is to bring together all rail, coach and other travel services into one simple experience so people can get the best prices and smart, real-time travel info on the go.
Trainline also offers information on accessibility on trains and how to book travel assistance.
Parking - Blue Badges
Blue Badges
Peterborough City Council operates a Blue Badge Scheme which allows people with disabilities to park in designated parking zones. For more information or to apply, please visit the council’s Blue Badge Parking webpage.
The Department for Transport has introduced new criteria for non-visible (hidden) conditions for Blue Badge applications in England.
Due to the nature of non-visible (hidden) conditions, applications will be assessed by looking at an applicant's needs. Having a certain condition or disability does not automatically make an applicant eligible for a Blue Badge.
Please consider applying for a Blue Badge if the applicant has a non-visible (hidden) condition, causing them to severely struggle with journeys between a vehicle and a destination, and either:
- is constantly a significant risk to themselves or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks
- severely struggles to plan or follow a journey
- finds it difficult or impossible to control their actions and lacks awareness of the impact they could have on others
- regularly has intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control
- frequently becomes extremely anxious or fearful of public / open spaces
Driving (including Motability)
Motability
You may be eligible for the Motability Scheme which can provide disabled people with safe, reliable and affordable cars, powered wheelchairs or scooters. You can find more information on the Motability website.
Learning to drive when you have a disability
Many people with a disability drive. There are various modifications that can be designed to help make your driving or travelling experience as comfortable as possible, depending on your needs.
If you are looking to start learning to drive, the disability driving instructors website has an online register of specialist driving instructors for people with physical disabilities, special educational needs and those with hearing difficulties. The website also has advice on how to start to learn to drive, how to return to driving after an accident or illness and how to keep driving safely.who need advice about driving. You can find out more on www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com
Need assistance fuelling your car?
Sainsbury's petrol station colleagues are happy to help disabled or older customers fill up with fuel on the forecourt when needed.
They are proud to be the first supermarket to enable their customers to request assistance via FuelService. FuelService is an app which can be downloaded to your phone, or you can call to ask for help when you arrive at the forecourt. Just look out for the FuelService stickers on the forecourt giving you the number.
To find out if this service is available in your local Sainsbury's petrol station, click here to use our Store Locator.
Volunteer drivers
You can contact the Royal Voluntary Service Volunteer Driver scheme who have volunteers who help you stay independent and involved with your community
Designated Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (Taxi)
Hackney Carriage Vehicles
The following vehicles are approved by the council (the Licensing Authority) to be licensed as Hackney Carriage Vehicles:
- LTI
- TX1
- TX2
- TX4
- Metro Triple T
- Mercedes-Benz Vito
- Peugeot E7 SE and XS short wheelbase models.
Vehicles offered for Hackney Carriage are constructed in a way as to allow the carriage of disabled persons and will accommodate as a minimum a disabled person.
Hackney Vehicles can be accessed from the taxi ranks which can be viewed on the city centre map. Private hire companies also operate non designated wheelchair accessible vehicles.
From 6 April 2017 drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles designated by the local licensing authority as being wheelchair accessible must comply with the requirements of Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010, unless they have been issued with an exemption certificate (see below).
You can read the statutory guidance on access for wheelchair users to taxis and private hire vehicles on the government website.
If you have any questions or for more information contact customer services.
The Equality Act allows for exemptions from the duties on medical grounds or if the driver's physical condition makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for him or her to comply with these duties.
It is the responsibility of drivers who require an exemption to apply for one by contacting for an application form to be sent to you.
When submitting your completed form, you will be required to provide evidence from your Medical Practitioner supporting your application and substantiating the medical reasons applicable to your request.
Based on the evidence provided we will determine if a you should be exempted from these duties. If approved, we will issue you with an Exemption Certificate, and an Exemption Notice to display prominently in the vehicle.
Your application will be determined by the Licensing Manager, and if successful you will be issued with the relevant Exemption Certificate and the Exemption Notice to display within the vehicle.
You can appeal to the magistrates' court within 28 days if we decide not to issue you with an Exemption Certificate.
Helpful videos showing you how to:
Disability assistance at airports
Airports
Stansted airport
Advice for customers with physical disabilities
How to request special assistance if you're travelling from or into London Stansted Airport
Departing from London Stansted Airport
Information about your departure from the airport.
If you need extra assistance while you're at the airport, we have a dedicated team to help you.
Facilities and services available for those requiring assistance when travelling through the airport.
Enjoying a smooth journey through the airport when you arrive back at London Stansted Airport.
Supporting passengers who may have hidden or invisible disabilities.
We welcome your feedback about your experience of special assistance at the airport.
Options for travelling to the airport by public transport if you require assistance.
The Sunflower scheme - Support for passengers with invisible disabilities
London Stansted is pleased to be one of a number of UK Airports using the Sunflower scheme. By wearing our Airport Awareness Sunflower lanyard or floret, it will discreetly indicate to our staff that you have a hidden disability and would like additional support. Our staff have been specially trained to recognise these identifiers and act accordingly by providing you with extra help you may need during your journey through the terminal. To pick up a lanyard or floret at London Stansted Airport, please go to either our Information Desk located in the International Arrivals or the assistance desk in zone A. Alternatively, you can use your Sunflower lanyard obtained from one of the UK airports in the scheme.
London Luton Airport
Advice for customers with physical disabilities
London Luton Airport is fully committed to ensuring that it's Persons od reduced mobility customers have the best possible experience when travelling.
We are working in partnership with The Disability Resource Centre Dunstable, The National Autism Society (Hertfordshire Branch), the RNIB, the Phoenix Group, Luton Dementia Action Alliance and independent disability advocates & travellers to help us do this.
Follow this link to find out all the information you need to know
Advice for customers with non-physical disabilities
In collaboration with the National Autistic Society, we’ve put together some advice to help you and your companions get around the airport.
Travel choice
The Travelchoice website is currently being rebuilt. A new and improved website will be back soon!
For information on bus times please use the Travel line website www.traveline.info or call 0871 200 22 33
If your query is in relation to concessionary fares please call 01733 747474 or email buses@peterborough.gov.uk
If you would like to contact the Travelchoice team please email us at
travelchoice@peterborough.gov.uk or call us on 01733 747474.
Community Link
Community Link is Peterborough City Council’s urban door-to-door service. It is a wheelchair accessible service for anyone who lives in the urban area of Peterborough and experiences difficulty using standard public transport or who has no access to public transport.
The service will collect you from your home, drop you off in the city centre (four days a week) or a supermarket (once a week) and pick you up again for your return journey approximately two and a half hours later.Additional trips may also be organised on an ad hoc basis. Membership costs £5 per person or £7.50 for a couple per year. The additional payment is your fare – similar to a standard bus fare. Concessionary bus passes are accepted on this service.
For a registration form or to make a booking, call 01733 425400– the line is open from 9am – 5pm Mondays to Fridays.
At other times, please email community.transport@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk or leave a message on the answer phone.Community Link currently require 48 hours notice of booking.
