South Yorkshire Community Transport providers offer a free return journey to a Covid-19 vaccination site for priority groups
I am writing to advise you that Community Transport providers in our region have stepped in to offer a free return journey to a Covid-19 vaccination site to people from priority groups who cannot access public transport and have no other means to get there.
What is Community Transport?
Community Transport is a subsidised service, funded by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), which, for a small charge, normally provides an alternative solution for residents who may find it difficult to access standard public transport. Offering Door 2 Door ‘Dial-a-Ride’ and ‘Shopper Bus’ services, they are a lifeline for vulnerable members of the community.
During the national lockdown, while everyone has been advised to stay at home wherever possible, Community Transport operators have only been providing a limited Dial-a-Ride service for essential trips. Therefore, we decided to use this vital resource to support people in need across South Yorkshire to travel to vaccination sites for free and support the region’s vaccination effort.
How can people book a free ride to and from a vaccination site?
All Community Transport services use fully accessible vehicles and can pick up passengers directly from their homes.
To book a free ride to and from a vaccination site with Door-2-Door services in South Yorkshire, passengers must call their local provider, once they have their vaccine appointment. There is a dedicated service available for Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield as follows:
- Barnsley Dial-a-Ride - 01226 732096
- Doncaster Community Transport - 01302 342400
- Rotherham Community Transport - 01709 517100
- Sheffield Community Transport - 0114 285 9906
They should try to give as much notice as possible and at least one or two days before the journey itself. Operators will work hard to accommodate as many people as possible, but places are limited, and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
How is this being communicated to customers?
We are will be promoting this offer via our usual social media channels, a press release and on our website at Travelsouthyorkshire.com.
How you can help
It would be appreciated if you could please help by advising as many people as possible about this free service and how to register for their free booking through your online and social media channels, newsletters, or during any video calls you may have with priority groups.
Community Transport services normally run thousands of individual journeys every year and were considered essential by half of its users in a recent survey. To find out more about them, visit: https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/journeyplanning/Door-2-Door.
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