Community transport - Ring & Ride

Information about how to use Ring and Ride and areas covered.

Ring and Ride is the main door to door accessible transport service operating throughout the West Midlands.

The Service

Ring and Ride (East Birmingham/Solihull) operates from 8.00 am until 11.00pm, 7 days a week and is run by a Charity, West Midlands Special Needs Transport Ltd (WMSNT), which receives funding from Centro.

Ring and Ride focuses on enabling users to get to local destinations in their neighbourhood, and up to half a mile into an adjoining area. A limited 'cross-boundary' service enables users to travel beyond the half a mile limit, to anywhere in the operating areas adjoining their own.

Ring and Ride also links up with other passenger transport services including local trains, the Metro and the cross-boundary bus of another Ring and Ride operating area. This enables journeys to be completed from door to door across the West Midlands. When travelling, users can take a companion with them provided they are booked in advance. Users may also take dependent children with them.

The service uses minibuses with ramps or lifts, so that people who use wheelchairs or find steps very difficult can use the bus.

Do I qualify for the service?

To qualify to use Ring and Ride you must:

• have a mobility problem which makes it difficult or impossible to use conventional public transport
• be resident in one of the seven urban Districts of the West Midlands
• you can be any age
• complete a form declaring you have a mobility problem
• you may be asked to provide a Doctor's Note if there is doubt about qualification to use the service

Fares

Depending on the type of pass held, Senior Citizens pass holders and Half Fare Permit holders can travel free or at half fare. Centrocard and other passes can be used too. Non pass holders pay fares equivalent to those charged on other local bus services in the area. Children over 5 without passes normally pay half fare.

A companion either pays a fare or if they hold a Centro pass, it will be accepted in full or part payment. Dependent children are normally charged at half fare if they do not have a pass.

What is area is covered by Ring 'n' Ride?

The operating area around Solihull is currently:

• Castle Bromwich,
• Chelmsley Wood,
• Fordbridge,
• Kingshurst,
• Lyndon,
• Elmdon,
• Olton,
• Hobs Moat,
• Solihull Town Centre,
• part of Bickenhill Ward,
• Sheldon,
• Shirley,
• Fox Hollies,
• Hall Green,
• Yardley,
• Shard End,
• Hodge Hill,
• Acocks Green,
• Small Heath,
• Hay Mills,
• Washwood Heath,
• Alum Rock,
• City Centre,
• Knowle,
• Hockley Heath,
• Monkspath,
• Cheswick Green
• and Dorridge.

What happens when I contact Ring & Ride?

When you contact Ring and Ride you will be asked a few simple questions about your mobility problem and if you are eligible for the service you will be registered right away. If there is doubt about your eligibility for the service the District Manager will normally make the decision. In exceptional circumstances, cases are decided by the Management Committee of West Midlands Special Needs Transport.

Further information

Information is available on audio tape, large print and printed leaflets in English and Community Languages.

Contact Details

Ring and Ride (East Birmingham/Solihull)
Unit 3
Valepits Road
Garretts Green
Birmingham
833 OTD.

Tel: 0121 784 6644.

Website: http://www.wmsnt.org

If you do not have access to a phone, write to Ring and Ride and alternative arrangements will be made.