Community Transport providers across South Yorkshire are offering a free return journey to a Covid-19 vaccination site to people, in high priority groups, who cannot access public transport and have no alternative way of getting there.
Community Transport is a subsidised service, funded by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive 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. STYPE has now decided to use this vital resource to support the region’s vaccination effort.
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 are dedicated services available for Sheffield Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham as follows:
Sheffield Community Transport – 0114 285 9906
Barnsley Dial-a-Ride – 01226 732096
Doncaster Community Transport – 01302 342400
Rotherham Community Transport – 01709 517100
Potential passengers should try to give as much notice as possible – preferably 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.
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 here.
