Berkshire Community Transport

County advice overview

There are several community transport schemes in Berkshire which help to connect residents without access to conventional transport from isolated rural locations, to surrounding areas. These consist of Dial-a-Ride minibuses and car schemes run by volunteer drivers. 

Dial-a-Ride and Call and Go schemes provide a bookable service for people who have problems accessing public transport. For example, if you live too far from a bus stop, find it difficult getting on and off public buses, or there is no bus service nearby.

You do not need to be registered disabled or use a wheelchair to be eligible but must register for the service.

Not all Dial-a-Ride schemes can take you to hospital appointments or day care centres. These appointments should be arranged by your doctor, the hospital or social services.

Key tips

It is important to plan your use of community transport in advance. Services are often run by volunteers and pre-booking is essential. You may wish to consider:

• Community transport providers are often in high demand, so it is best to book your journey several days in advance if you can.
• You may need to register with the service in advance of your first booking and a membership fee sometimes applies in addition to travel costs.
• At the time of booking, inform the provider of any mobility and accessibility needs you may have and which equipment you intend to travel with. 
• Some operators offer a discount or are even free with a valid bus pass, so it is worth obtaining one, if you are eligible, even if you never catch a regular bus.
• Not all Dial-a-Ride schemes can take you to hospital appointments or day care centres. These appointments can be arranged by your doctor, the hospital, social services, or you may be able to use a community car scheme.
• Community car schemes are run by volunteers and the drivers will take you to hospital and doctor’s appointments and usually wait with you for your appointment. Some community car schemes can also take you to the shops or other destinations.

Operators

Reading and surrounding areas

Readibus

Readibus website
Contact: 0118 931 0000

Readibus is the Dial-a-Ride bus service providing door-to-door transport for people with restricted mobility in Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire. You must register before using the service for the first time. If you use a wheelchair, it will need to be safety-approved for use within a vehicle. In the first instance, they will need to know the make and model of your wheelchair.

If you have a concessionary bus pass, you can travel from your home into central Reading for free.

Newbury and Thatcham

Handybus

Handybus website
Contact: 01635 37111 or handybus@vcwb.org.uk

Newbury and Thatcham Handybuses provide regular transport for elderly and disabled people on shopping trips and visits to clubs, mostly in and around Newbury and Thatcham, as well as one-off trips and excursions.

The cost per trip depends on the distance travelled. 

If you live outside the Newbury or Thatcham areas, there are other organisations operating Handybus services:

Basildon / Beenham / Bradfield / Pangbourne / Purley / Streatley / Theale

Contact: 0118 930 4837

Burghfield / Mortimer Handybus

Covering Burghfield, Mortimer, Stratfield Mortimer, Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet
Contact: 0118 983 6611

Downland Volunteer Group

Downland Volunteer Group website
Contact: 07561 825302

Providing shopping trips from villages in the Downland area including Chievely, Compton, Yattendon, East and West Isley and others to Newbury, Wantage and local Tesco stores.

A small cost applies and passengers are collected from their homes.

Bracknell Forest and Wokingham

Keep Mobile

Keep Mobile website

Contact: 0345 544 0850 or admin@keepmobile.org.uk

Membership is open to anyone living in the areas covered by either Bracknell Forest or Wokingham Borough Council, who is disabled or over the age of 70. They provide a door-to-door service and can travel outside the area subject to vehicle and driver availability.  For a slightly increased annual subscription, members can take advantage of regular excursions.

Slough

Slough Community Transport

Slough Community Transport website
Contact: 01753 691131

Provide a door-to-door service and will travel outside the area if required for an additional cost. 

Windsor and Maidenhead

People2Places website
Contact: 01628 587920

This service operates daily. They also have volunteers who can accompany you and provide extra assistance if needed, such as help getting around the shops, or waiting with you at a hospital or clinic.

TAPS Service

TAPS Service website

The TAPS service consists of a “travel pot” of £100 worth of journeys, paid for by the Local Authority. This means an eligible individual can have £100 worth of free transport within a 12-month period. It can be renewed each year.

The scheme is intended for permanent residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead who are unable to use conventional public transport because of their disability and who do not drive.

Travel costs

Community transport costs can vary depending on the service provided. 

Many schemes are run by not-for-profit organisations and only charge based on their actual operating costs. So, the fare you pay will be competitive with public transport costs in most cases. Fares are much cheaper than taxis and there is sometimes a reduced rate for bus pass holders.

Check with the individual provider when booking your trip, or browse their website, to receive an estimate of costs.

Special assistance

Assistance is variable for each service. Information can be found on an operator’s website or by contacting them by telephone.

When booking any community transport in your area, be clear about your mobility requirements and check in advance that the service is able to accommodate your mobility equipment.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Check with the individual community transport scheme, regarding travelling with mobility equipment. Services vary depending on the type and size of equipment that can be carried, due to space.  

Most minibuses are wheelchair accessible, although may have limited capacity for wheelchairs. 

Voluntary car schemes often require passengers to be able to transfer independently. Some can stow foldable wheelchairs and aids.