Community TravelWise
Community TravelWise – the ‘one-stop-shop’ for community groups’ travel needs.
How easy is it to travel by public transport to your site?
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Do you know which buses, trains and trams run near to you venue?
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Are travel problems stopping more people joining your activities?
Community TravelWise is a new and exciting concept for community groups and centres, places of worship, health and leisure venues. When you affiliate to Community TravelWise and pledge to promote sustainable travel, your group will be given a FREE customised web page which links to a wealth of travel tools to help people travel more easily to your venue.
Your web page will link directly to information such as journey planning, real time bus and rail information, cycling and walking, community transport and car sharing. With assistance from local TravelWise Officers, these pages can be tailored for your groups’ local needs.
Community TravelWise also includes an events diary and a news page that allows your group to promote forthcoming activities to new and existing members.
How Centro-WMPTA can support affiliates
Not everyone may know about the public transport services in their local area, what travel discounts are available or if they are eligible to use door-to-door services such as Ring and Ride. By providing easy to understand information on how to get to your site, you could increase your membership, attract more visitors and encourage more people to take part in your activities.
By using public transport your members will also be help to reduce CO2 emissions and protect their local environment. Walking to and from bus stops or train stations also gives regular exercise which is important for keeping fit and healthy.
As a Community TravelWise affiliate you will have FREE support from Centro-WMPTA’s TravelWise team who will assist with your organisation's public transport needs by offering the following services:
Web pages
You will have your own public transport page on your section of www.communitytravelwise.org.uk including information about local bus, train and tram services, where they stop and how often they run.
Information packs
We can provide you with public transport packs tailored for you site, which includes maps, timetables and details of travel discounts. These can be distributed amongst your members and displayed at your venue.
Awareness sessions
We can visit your venue to discuss your members travel needs offering:
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Journey planning help for travelling by bus, train and tram.
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Free travel – give advice and support on free travel passes for the over 60’s and people with disabilities including help with completing application forms.
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Discounted travel for under 18’s – provide information and advice on travel passes for students who attend school or college.
Ring and Ride
Centro-WMPTA funds Ring and Ride, a door-to-door transport service for people with mobility problems who find it difficult to use ordinary public transport. We can help your members to find out more about the services and advise on:
How it works.
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If a member is eligible to use the services.
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How to book journeys.
Suggestions and concerns
If your group have any suggestions on improving local public transport or concerns about public transport in your area, your TravelWise officer can feed back information to other departments within Centro-WMPTA or to external transport operators.
Community Fund
Centro-WMPTA has a Social Inclusion Revenue Fund, which helps to address the unmet transport needs of community groups, charities, voluntary groups, public sector and not-for-profit organisations in the West Midlands. Groups can apply for financial support to kick start projects that bring transport benefits and help to improve access to employment, health, leisure and cultural activities.
Contact details
For more information on any of the services provided by Centro-WMPTA, please contact the TravelWise team by email at travelwise@centro.org.uk or call 0121 214 7409.
Birmingham City Council is currently piloting Community TravelWise. For more information on how to affiliate email travelwise@birmingham.gov.uk, call Birmingham's TravelWise team on 0121 303 7249 or visit www.communitytravelwise.org.uk.
Leaflet downloads
Support for Community TravelWise affiliates leaflet.