Devon community transport

County advice overview

Community transport in Devon plays an important part in tackling social isolation, maintaining well-being and enabling people to access health services, shops and leisure activities.

It is especially important for older people and those living with disability, and may well be the only means of getting to and from a medical appointment.

You can find details of local community transport services in Devon online, including on the Devon County Council website.

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:

• Many community transport schemes require you to register beforehand to use the service.
• At the time of booking, inform the travel provider of any mobility and accessibility needs you may have.
• Services are not always free but are often cheaper than commercial vehicles. 
• If you are using a volunteer driving service, the driver will be police checked and you have the right to see their identification. 
• Do you wish to take mobility equipment with you? It may be possible to hire a wheelchair or scooter, for example, once you have reached your destination, from an organisation such as ShopMobility.

Remember that your local Hubs Mobility Advice Service will be happy to help signpost you to the correct community transport operator and organisations.

Operators

Ring and Ride Schemes

Ring and Ride Schemes provide a door-to-door minibus service from your home to a nearby town and back. The minibus will have a wheelchair lift and removable seats to accommodate wheelchairs. Different local areas are served on set days. You will be required to book your seat for a small charge.

Community Bus Schemes

Community Bus Schemes provide regular, scheduled services in areas where public transport is not provided. You can find details regarding some of these volunteer community groups in Devon below.  

Coleridge Community Bus

Coleridge Community Bus website
Contact: 01548 531451 or enquiries@coleridgebus.co.uk

Dawlish Community Transport Association (CTA)

Dawlish Community Transport Association website
Contact: 01626 872900 or email office@etcta.org.uk

Newton Abbott CTA

Newton Abbot CTA website
Contact: 01626 335775

Tavistock Country Bus

Tavistock Country Bus website
Contact: 07580 260683

BOB the Bus – Totnes

All services are ‘hail and ride’. You can wave down a ‘BOB’ anywhere on its route.

BOB the Bus website
Contact: 07800 745332

West Dart Bus

Provides regular journeys from Dittisham to Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbott and Totnes.

West Dart Bus website
Contact: 01803 712375

Exe Valley Market Bus

Exe Valley Market Bus website

Provides a community bus with regular services from Oakford to Tiverton and South Molton. 

Travel costs

Each community transport operator will carry its own set of charges and it is important when booking a service to ensure you understand how they will calculate the charges for your journey. For instance, there may be a fixed price per mile to cover a volunteer driver’s expenses. 

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

To find out if you are eligible to claim back travel costs to the hospitals in Devon or other NHS premises, visit the NHS website. 

Special assistance

The assistance provision is variable for each community transport service. Information can be found on an operator’s website or by contacting them by telephone.

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

If you have a Hidden Disabilities ID card/lanyard, it is important to wear it so that the driver can see it and be aware of any additional needs.

Travelling with mobility equipment

It is important to check if your community transport provider can accommodate any mobility equipment you use, prior to your journey. 

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.