Rural Wheels and Village Wheels

Rural Wheels

Rural Wheels is a unique community transport scheme that helps to address the issue of a lack of good public transport provision in some rural areas of Cumbria.  It provides door-to-door transport for people, when required and at reasonable cost of 35p/mile.  The aim is to make better use of the various forms of transport that are available and help to tackle social exclusion.

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 

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 use the scheme.  The 'value' of the Smartcard can be topped up with the transport provider or alternatively at local post offices, libraries, mobile libraries, etc.  Travel under the scheme needs to be booked before noon the day before travelling by telephone so as to allow the most cost-effective use of the transport resources available.  Users may be asked to share transport, which is offered at a reduced price.

To apply online please use the following link or alternatively download the application form from the table below. You can return your downloaded application by post or alternatively contact the Rural Wheels coordinator to apply over the telephone.

Rural Wheels Online Application

Village Wheels

A new initiative, funded by the Community Transport Transitional Fund. It provides a timetabled service for communities to their nearest town.

It was piloted in February 2012 to serve residents of Levens to get to Milnthorpe every Friday, departing at 10am and returning at 12noon.

Schemes are also operational in Little Urswick/Great Urswick to Ulverston, Broughton to Ulverston and Buttermere to Cockermouth.

To find out more about individual Village Wheels schemes please use the links below. Residents will be required to register for a Rural Wheels smartcard to use the service.

As Village Wheels is not a registered bus service passengers are unable to use their concessionary NOWcards.

Transport Providers Opportunities

Are you a Private Hire or Hackney Carriage License holder?  If you would like to provide Rural Wheels or Village Wheels transport to local residents in your available time, please contact the Rural Wheels Co-ordinator using the details below.