Rural Wheels

Rural Wheels provides door-to-door transport for people who do not have, or are unable to access scheduled transport or have a volunteer driver available (see Voluntary Social Car Scheme). 

The service can be used for a variety of purposes including: 

• Making connections with buses or trains 
• Doctor, Dentist or Optician appointments     
• Visiting friends or family in hospital
• Shopping
• Visiting friends or family

 It does not duplicate other County Council transport provision and therefore cannot be used for transport to day care, school, nursery or college and cannot be used for hospital appointments/treatment if Patient Transport is available. If you need transport to get you to your hospital appointment please check your eligibility for Patient Transport by contacting the Patient Transport Service run by North West Ambulance on 0800 032 3240. 

Rural Wheels uses a 'Smartcard' to pay for travel and a central booking system to plan journeys.  Passengers need to apply for the Smartcard before they are able to travel.  The value of the Smartcard can be topped up with the transport provider or alternatively at some local post offices, libraries and mobile libraries.  Transport requests must be booked by telephone before noon the day before travelling and passengers may be asked to be flexible about their travel time and also to share transport which will be at a reduced fare.