Dial-a-Bus is designed to help people who have difficulty using standard buses to access local facilities and amenities.

It can be used for:

• shopping;
• visiting friends;
• attending local clubs;
• doctor and health centre appointments;
• hospital visiting.

Dial-a-Bus cannot be used for hospital appointments. If you have difficulty attending hospital appointments, please contact your GP surgery.

If using Dial-a-Bus for shopping, please bring only as much shopping as you are able to carry yourself. Remember you can always take an escort.

Dial-a-Bus can take you to and from your local rail services, and many rail stations are now wheelchair-accessible. First ScotRail are happy to arrange help at the station and you can do this by calling 0800 91 22 901.

All Dial-a-Bus vehicles are wheelchair-accessible, with low floor ramp access at the front of the vehicle. The vehicle will pick up and drop off as near as possible to your home and chosen destination. The driver will assist you on and off the bus. If you require additional assistance you can bring a friend if you feel their support will help.

Dial-a-Bus is available to people who are unable to use or have difficulty in using standard buses and who meet any of the qualifying conditions shown.

Applicants must also hold a valid Scottish Citizens' National Entitlement Card before the service can be accessed. If you do not hold a card please contact Strathclyde Partnership for Transport's Travel Card Unit on 0141 333 3211.

Applicants who meet any of the conditions listed under 1 to 3 are automatically eligible to use Dial-a-Bus.

1. Receipt of any one of the following Department for Work and Pensions allowances:

• Attendance allowance;
• Disability living allowance - mobility component at the higher rate;
• War pensioners' mobility supplement (current proof of qualifying benefit must be provided on application).

OR

2. Registered as blind.

OR

3. Over 80 years old.

4. If none of the above apply but you have difficulty using standard public transport you may still qualify to use Dial-a-Bus. Please fill out the application form giving full details of your medical condition.

5. Applicants with a temporary disability such as a broken leg may apply for temporary registration for up to four months.

Download the Dial-a-Bus application form contained within the Dial-a-Bus information leaflet (pdf format, 632kb, opens a new window) and print it out.

Then either complete the form and return it, or telephone 0845 128 4025 and a member of staff will be happy to complete the form for you over the phone.

We will need you to send in a passport-sized photograph clearly showing your face. Please note this can be a regular photograph cut to size.

If you have difficulty in filling out the form or obtaining a photograph, please do not hesitate to telephone our enquiry line on 0845 128 4025 for assistance.

Completed application forms should be returned to:

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Dial-a-Bus Unit
Consort House
12 West George Street
Glasgow
G2 1HN

We recommend you bookmark this page after sending your application form as it contains useful information.

Your booking line number can be found on the front of your timetable leaflet or on page 2 of the Dial-a-Bus information leaflet.

Call your booking office number and you will be asked for your Dial-a-Bus registration number, your destination and when you would like to travel.

We will attempt to give you journey times as close to the times you request. Please remember that the journey times we give you are approximate. In order to accommodate as many trips as we can we may move your pick up time. If your time is moved by more than 10 minutes earlier or later, we will advise you before the booking lines close.

Sometimes, due to high demand, you may find the line is engaged when you dial. Should you get the engaged tone, please hang up and re-dial.

Advance bookings

Dial-a-Bus users have the option of making advance bookings. Please call your booking line after 2pm to arrange your advance bookings.

Group bookings

If there are more than three people regularly travelling to the same place at a set time, we will be happy to arrange a group booking, subject to availability. This allows one person from the group to make the booking for everyone in the party.

To minimise waiting time for all passengers, please be ready a few minutes before your pick-up time, ready to board your bus.

The driver will give any assistance you require to board the vehicle from the pavement and when you leave, from the bus back to the pavement. However, the driver is unable to provide assistance from inside your home to the bus.

When travelling, please remember to bring along your Dial-a-Bus membership card and your Scottish Citizens' National Entitlement Card. Should you lose your Dial-a-Bus card, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange a replacement card for you.

Dial-a-Bus does not operate on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.

On other public holidays we will advise you of any changes by placing posters on vehicles and leaving newsletters on the vehicle for you to collect. You can also call our recorded information line, 0845 128 4026.

Download public holiday booking arrangements (pdf format, 33kb, opens a new window).

The fares per single journey:

Scottish Citizens' National Entitlement Card Holders travel free.

Escorts travelling with Companion Card Holders also travel free. Fares for all other escorts and children aged 5 to 15 will be confirmed at the time of travel.

The information on this page, including the application form, can be downloaded as a pdf file. It is designed to be printed out on A4 paper.

Download the Dial-a-Bus information leaflet (pdf format, 632kb, opens a new window).

Dial-a-Bus information is now available in a range of other languages.

Dial-a-Bus leaflet in Arabic (pdf format, 2.2Mb, opens a new window).

Dial-a-Bus leaflet in Traditional Chinese (pdf format, 994kb, opens a new window).

Dial-a-Bus leaflet in Hindi (pdf format, 1.1Mb, opens a new window).

Dial-a-Bus leaflet in Simplified Chinese (pdf format, 976kb, opens a new window).

Dial-a-Bus leaflet in Punjabi (pdf format, 787kb, opens a new window).

Dial-a-Bus leaflet in Turkish (pdf format, 782kb, opens a new window).

Dial-a-Bus leaflet in Urdu (pdf format, 3.4Mb, opens a new window).