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Disabled residents' travel

We know that being able to travel is an important way to stay part of your local community.

We are committed to helping everybody in Wokingham get around as easily as possible:

Making bus travel more affordable

Upgraded disabled person’s bus passes

Since December 2024, you can get on board any bus in Wokingham Borough and travel for free with a disabled person’s bus pass all day, every day!

You can find out more about the disabled person’s bus pass, including how to apply, on the Wokingham Borough Council website.

! Remember if you are getting on board a bus outside of Wokingham borough, check any local restrictions as these may differ from Wokingham. You can check if your stop is in Wokingham Borough by looking at where the borough boundary is on this map.

Bring a companion

If you cannot travel alone, you can also apply for a companion bus pass: Eligibility for a free disabled person's bus pass. This means that one person can travel with you for free, at any time, if they are supporting you.

You can find out more about the disabled person’s companion pass on the Wokingham Borough Council website: Free bus passes for disabled residents.

What makes our buses accessible?

All the buses in Wokingham Borough are wheelchair-accessible and many have entrance ramps. If you need the driver to lower the ramp to the kerb for you, just ask.

There is at least one wheelchair space on every bus (two spaces on the new double decker Lion 4 and 4a routes). Wheelchair users have priority in using this space .

Most buses have screens and announcements to tell you which stop is next, so you know where you are in your journey, and when to get off.

Do you have an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter?

If you have a larger electric wheelchair or mobility scooter you may still be able to bring it on board, but you will need to get a permit from Reading Buses first by contacting them on 0118 959 4000, or by emailing customerservices@reading-buses.co.uk. They will check that your wheelchair or scooter can fit safely on the bus. If it can, you will get a permit which you can show the driver whenever you want to get on a bus.

The Reading Buses website has more information about bringing a wheelchair or scooter on board.

Feel confident to go by bus

Ask our drivers for help

All Wokingham Borough bus drivers have been accessibility and disability-trained, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.

One way to ask for help is to use a Safe Journey Card, which will tell your driver how exactly they can help you. For example, you can ask the driver to let you know when you reach a certain stop, or to wait for you to sit down before driving off. You can also personalise your card: it can say something like ‘Please be patient, I have difficulty speaking’.

You can download a Safe Journey Card and print at home or collect one from the following places:

Reading Buses customer service depot on Great Knollys Street
Reading Buses Broad Street Mall Bus Shop
Wokingham Borough Council Offices at Shute End, Wokingham
Wokingham Community Hub, Erftstadt Court, Wokingham
Any of the libraries in Wokingham Borough

Try travel training

If you don’t feel confident to use the bus on your own, there is help available from specialist travel trainers. Optalis travel trainers have over 15 years’ experience supporting people with disabilities, and their staff have enhanced DBS and are first aid trained.

Their Ability Travel programme provides tailored travel training, so you feel confident to travel independently. You can learn:

Your journey and alternative routes
Personal and road safety awareness
Coping strategies and using technology
Handling money and paying fares

You can find out more by sending an enquiry or by calling on 0118 9778600. Optalis has a video to give you more of an idea 🚉

Try These Travel Tips

If you prefer to read a guide, you can download a Travel Wise booklet. It will give you useful tips on what to do if you feel worried about travelling on your own by public transport. This guide was produced by CLASP, a self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities in Wokingham Borough - you can find more useful information on their website!