Call for volunteers to trial travel app

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is on the lookout for disabled volunteers who can help trial a new journey planner aimed at removing barriers on public transport for those with long term health conditions.

The new service will look to allow better coordination of personal travel assistance needs, between the transport operator and the destination host, by alerting each stage of a journey when a person is on the way who needs additional support.

The planner is part of IncludeMe WM, a regional approach to making the West Midlands an exemplar region for engaging disabled people and people with long term health conditions to be physically active.

The trial will take place on transport routes serving four West Midlands leisure facilities in Coventry and Wolverhampton:
Coventry Life The Wave
Coventry Life Alan Higgs Centre
Wolverhampton Active Central
Wolverhampton Active Bert Williams Leisure Centre

Those who participate in the trial will have their cost of the journey covered automatically on booking and as a thank you, volunteers will also receive Amazon vouchers at the end of each journey.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said, “We are always striving as a region to make our transport network as friendly, welcoming and accessible as possible.

“With this aim in mind, I am pleased as a region we champion our IncludeMe WM agenda which sets out our ambition to be an exemplar region for engaging with and encouraging physical activity amongst disabled people and those with other long term health conditions.

“We are inviting residents to volunteer to trial a new app that provides the less able bodied with a journey planner designed to remove barriers they may face whilst navigating public transport. I encourage locals to step forward and help improve quality of life for the fellow West Midlanders.”