|
How the
scheme works
The community car scheme is a non profit car sharing scheme for people who
find public transport difficult or
impossible to use due to their disability or age.
Using volunteer drivers in their own cars we carry people to Doctors,
Dentists, Chiropodists, Hairdressers, Lunch
Clubs and anywhere passengers want to go during weekdays between 9.00 am
and 4.30 pm.
Please note we do not cover Hospital
appointments but we do take people to
visit friends or family who are
in hospital.
We need two working day’s notice for bookings (ie. Book no later than
Mon for Weds, Thurs for Mon etc..), however,
we do take bookings up to two months ahead. Passengers who use a
wheelchair (w/c) must be able to transfer from their chair to a car
unaided with the driver only needing to fold the w/c and put it in the car
boot.
Our charges are calculated on a mileage basis and our current fare
structure is listed below:- |
|
1) Minimum charge - £1.80 for
short ‘single’ or day return journeys.
2) Mileage charge for longer journeys - 90 pence per mile.
3) A ‘Call-out’ charge for failure to cancel a journey not required
and our car actually calls at the house and is turned away - £1.80.
4) A standing charge of £1.20 is also applied to each monthly invoice.
5) In the event that a passenger soils the vehicle, we reserve the right
to make an additional charge, not exceeding £15.00 to cover the cleaning
cost.
|
|
b) If, for reasons of disability, you need a front car seat.
c) If there is difficult access at your home or destination or if you need
the car to call at the back entrance.
3) If you have a disabled persons "Orange Badge" please bring it
with you as it may be helpful should there be waiting restrictions at your
destination.
4) Be ready for your journey in good time. Please note we may be very busy
at certain times and may
need to vary your booked time by a quarter of an hour either way.
For appointments we aim to get you to your destination between a quarter
hour early and the actual appointment time. Our first appointment time is
normally 9.15am.
Please note there
may be occasions when we are unable to schedule your trip, in which case
we will contact you the
day before and notify you.
5) If you write to us, or when you send a payment do make sure you include
your name and address plus the invoice number, if relevant.
6) Please try to settle your account within the month in which you receive
your invoice. Payments may be made by cheque or postal order or, for
callers at our premises, by cash. We do not issue receipts for postal
payments.
7) Advance notice is required if you wish to change a booked time or
destination. Please do not give amendments to the driver.
8) Please remember our drivers are volunteers and subject to the traffic
laws and regulations that apply to every other driver. We know there are
particular difficulties when passengers wish to stop at places where there
are waiting restrictions, eg. pedestrianised areas and bus lanes etc. Although many of our drivers are prepared to take chances and many Traffic
Wardens are very helpful, traffic regulations do have to be obeyed. We are
not able to pay any ‘waiting penalties’ so consequently drivers may
not be prepared to leave you or pick you up at the exact place you want.
Please bear this in mind when planning your journey.
NB: During the Drake Circus redevelopment, there may be certain parts of the city
centre we are unable to access.
9) While most of our drivers are willing to carry a reasonable amount of
shopping, some are only able to pack a limited number of bags into their
car and others may not be able to lift at all. So
please inform the office of your intentions when you book. NB: For Health
& Safety reasons bags should not exceed 20lb in weight - drivers may
have to split if they consider items too heavy.
10) Car seat belts (front) and rear belts (where fitted) should be worn at
all times.
The following are some of the things we cannot do:-
1) Move furniture or large / heavy loads or items.
2) Move unaccompanied packages (unless returning those left in car by
accident).
3) Provide escorts or act other than for personal transport.
4) Take responsibility for passengers’ possessions, although we will be
helpful and careful.
5) Offer medical skills.
6) Provide nursing care in transit.
7) Stop at bus
stops or on taxi-ranks.
8) Take dogs or other pets except guide dogs or pets to veterinary
appointments.
9) Provide the driver of your choice. Our work schedule needs must take
precedence.
10) Although we are happy to provide transport for all sorts of purposes -
business, medical, leisure or just plain frivolous - we do not take people
to hospital appointments. There is a good Hospital Car Service and they
cater for these needs.
11) We regret that because of our charitable status and the way we are
funded, we are not able to reduce our charges to people on low incomes.
Please note that we do not operate our service on a Saturday, Sunday, Bank
Holiday or during the Christmas & New Year period.
Remember we are here to help you, so if you have a problem or query get in touch by phoning:-
PLYMOUTH 600633 |