The Rural Wheels Scheme provides transport for people who have limited or no public transport where they live and do not have a local Voluntary Social Car Scheme in place.
You must register for the scheme before you can book a journey.
Journeys you can use Rural Wheels for
You can use Rural Wheels for journeys such as:
- attending doctor, dentist or optician appointment
- shopping
- visiting friends
- visiting people in hospital
You cannot use Rural Wheels for:
- travel to day care, school, nursery or college
- hospital appointments or treatment
- travel to work
- journeys that are already covered by other council transport services
Transport to hospital appointments
Rural Wheels cannot be used for hospital appointments or treatment.
If you need transport to a hospital appointment, check if you are eligible for for Patient Transport through the Patient Transport Service run by North West Ambulance
Patient Transport Service
Telephone: 0800 032 3240
Who can join the scheme
You can apply to join Rural Wheels if your main home is in an eligible area of Cumberland.
People aged 18 and over must apply for their own membership.
Children and young people under 18 can only travel if accompanied by an adult.
Areas not covered by the scheme
You cannot join Rural Wheels if you live in one of these areas:
- Aspatria
- Brampton
- Cockermouth
- Dalston
- Egremont
- Keswick
- Maryport
- Silloth
- Workington
- Wigton
You also cannot join if you live in one of these Carlisle city wards:
- Belah
- Belle Vue
- Botcherby
- Castle
- Currock
- Denton Holme
- Harraby
- Morton
- St Aidans
- Stanwix Urban
- Upperby
- Yewdale
You also cannot join if you live in one of these Whitehaven areas:
- Bleachgreen
- Bransty
- Harras
- Hensigham
- Mirehouse
- Woodhouse
- Kells
How to register for the scheme
Further details on how to register will be shared soon.
For postal enquiries, send to:
Rural Wheels Team
Parkhouse Building
Kingmoor Estate
Carlisle
CA6 4SJ
When your application is approved, we will send you a welcome pack. This will include your Rural Wheels membership number, which you need when booking journeys.
How to book a Rural Wheels journey
You can book journeys up to 2 weeks in advance.
Transport is available Monday to Saturday between 8.30am and 6pm, excluding bank holidays.
You must book by phone between 9am to midday, Monday to Friday, before the day you want to travel.
Monday journeys must be booked by the previous Friday.
Telephone: 01228 226 430
You can use the service for up to 2 return journeys a week.
Have your bank or credit card ready when you book.
Checking eligibility
When you book, we will ask questions to check if your journey is eligible. We ask these questions to:
- check if your journey is covered by the scheme
- find out if all or part of the journey could be made by public transport
- check if you have any other transport options
- arrange your journey and choose the right operator
Transport is provided by operators who may have availability between other council work. We will make every effort to provide transport, but there may be times when this is not possible.
Journey costs
You pay for journeys when you book by phone. Payments are taken by card using GOV.Pay
Journey costs are:
- 50p per mile for adults
- free for children under 5 years
- 25p per mile for children aged 5 to 18, paid from the adult's card
- free for carers
- 25p per mile for each passenger when transport is shared
Passengers will be taken to the nearest town or transport hub. Journeys must not be more than 10 miles.
For private hire or Hackney Carriage licence holders
If you would like to know more about becoming a Rural Wheels Operator, contact the Public Transport Assistant.
Telephone: 01228 226 430
Email: [email protected]
How we use your information
Read our privacy notice to find out how we use your information.