Join Disability Equality Scotland as we host a webinar discussion on Monday 24 May, from 1:30pm-3:00pm about accessible journey planning, and the work Transport Scotland and Traveline are doing to improve this experience for disabled people. Transport Scotland is working with Traveline Scotland to understand what changes should be made to improve the travel planning information and associated services currently made available via the Traveline Scotland website and app services. At present, Transport Scotland are engaging various stakeholders ranging from transport operators to Local Authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships and public transport related bodies. They are keen to understand what accessibility
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Everyone Aboard is a campaign by the Poverty Alliance to extend free bus travel to those with a Universal Credit entitlement and other low-income benefits, and to all young people under 25. Addressing transport poverty in Scotland is a vital part of building an environmentally sustainable society,  ensuring everyone’s human rights can be realised, and of combatting poverty and inequality. The Poverty Alliance is calling for the proposed policy to be implemented and fully funded as a necessary investment in building a more just and compassionate Scotland. They will make the case for extending  the concessionary bus travel scheme  based
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Spaces for People is a temporary infrastructure programme in Scotland which offers funding and support to make it safer for people who choose to walk, cycle or wheel for essential trips and exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of monitoring efforts for the Spaces for People temporary infrastructure programme in Scotland, Sustrans is conducting a residents’ survey to assess the impact of temporary street changes (such as cones for pavement widening, pop-up cycle lanes) on peoples’ ability to physically distance and move around safely in their streets. If you live close to one of these measures we would like
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Get in touch with First Bus by using a new live chat feature on the First Bus App. How to get in touch: Open the App on your mobile device. Head to the ‘Info’ tab. Click ‘Contact customer service’. Select ‘mTicket live chat’ and fill in the form to speak to one of our experts! How First Bus can help: The First Bus customer service team are active from 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday and can help you on any subject from account issues, journey planning or payments, to refunds, ticket gifting and other general enquires. Download the First
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Handicabs (HcL) is offering free transport for people with mobility challenges to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Any person who has challenges with getting out and about due to age, disability, heath issues, additional support needs or geographic remoteness is eligible to use the service. You do not need to be registered with HcL already. Bookings are subject to availability so we recommend passengers call as soon as they have their vaccine appointment. Handicabs will do their very best to help transport as many people as they can, under current guidelines. Call 0131 447 9949 to book for transport in East Lothian, Midlothian or
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Transport Scotland would like to thank Disability Equality Scotland members   for your participation in the Blue Badge poll on whether the current scheme delivers a user-friendly and effective service to badge holders. The Blue Badge Scheme is designed to enable people with the most severe conditions, who are unable to walk, virtually unable to walk or pose a risk to either themselves or others in traffic, to park close to their destination and who wouldn’t be able to travel at all without that facility. At Transport Scotland, we will soon undertake a programme of work to review the weekly poll
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The COVID-19 vaccine is now available and NHS Scotland is prioritising people who are at the greatest risk. NHS Scotland strongly recommends you get the vaccine as soon as it is offered. Your local NHS health board will get in touch with you to arrange your vaccination appointment when you are eligible. Your vaccination appointment may not take place at your local GP practice. Remember to plan your travel ahead and allow time for public transport journeys. Help with making your travel plans is available at www.travelinescotland.com or 0141 465 1878.
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Harmful emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles are a major contributor to poor air quality and responsible for thousands of premature deaths in the UK every year. As a result, government have launched a number of initiatives introducing policy to combat these issues, one of those policies is phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2032 in Scotland (2030 for the rest of the UK) therefore only zero emission vehicles will be available to buy meaning the installation of appropriate charging infrastructure is a necessity. Connected Kerb is an electric vehicle charge point operator with a
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A new fund to support taxi and private hire drivers affected by the pandemic was recently launched. Local authorities will directly approach an estimated 38,000 private hire and taxi drivers inviting them to claim a £1,500 grant to assist with fixed costs, boosting the support from other funding for loss of income available through the Scottish and UK Governments. A new total of £57 million has been allocated by the Scottish Government – three times more than the allocation announced in December. Councils will start contacting eligible drivers to brief them on their potential entitlement and ask them to provide
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Following consultation, the Scottish Government is making preparations to extend free bus travel to all young people under the age of 19 who reside in Scotland. Draft legislation has now been laid which, if approved by the Scottish Parliament, will enable arrangements to be put in place for the scheme to start operating as soon as practicable during the financial year 2021-22. Extending free bus travel to approximately 770,000 young people will deliver on parliamentary budget agreements and was a commitment outlined in the 2020 Programme for Government. Once the scheme starts, young people under the age of 19 will
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