Guide

Wheelchair-accessible transport in Dorset: a practical guide to getting around Wimborne, Bournemouth and Poole

If you use a wheelchair, a mobility scooter or travel with someone who does, planning a journey in Dorset takes more homework than it should. This page gathers the details you actually need in one place: how to book an accessible vehicle so the right one turns up, what the law says you are entitled to, which local train stations are genuinely step-free, how hospital and school transport works, and what to expect at popular days out.

It is written and maintained by Wimborne Cab Taxis, a Dorset Council licensed hackney carriage operator in Wimborne with wheelchair-accessible vehicles. We have tried to be honest about what we could not verify, and we flag anything that changes seasonally. Tell us if something is wrong and we will fix it.

1Booking an accessible taxi: what to tell us

Most failed accessible bookings come down to the same thing: the firm was not told enough at the time of booking, so a vehicle arrived that could not take the wheelchair. That is frustrating for the passenger and avoidable. Whether you book with us or with anyone else in Dorset, these are the details worth giving up front.

If you would rather not remember all of that on the phone, build a booking message below and send it by text or WhatsApp. It works with any taxi firm, not just us.

2Your rights in an accessible taxi

Accessible taxi provision in England and Wales is governed by the Equality Act 2010. The detail matters, because the duties that apply depend on whether the vehicle is designated — that is, listed by its licensing authority as meeting accessibility requirements.

What a designated wheelchair-accessible taxi must do

Under section 165 of the Act, the driver of a designated vehicle must:

• carry you while you remain in your wheelchair, if that is what you choose, or carry the wheelchair if you prefer to transfer to a seat;
• carry your mobility aids;
• take the steps needed for you to travel safely and in reasonable comfort;
• give you the mobility assistance you reasonably need;
• make no additional charge for any of this.

There are limited exceptions — for example, where a wheelchair genuinely cannot be carried safely in a compliant vehicle.

Since 28 June 2022, section 164A of the Act has also set out duties towards disabled passengers in taxis and private hire vehicles generally: to carry the passenger, wheelchair and mobility aids where it is safe and reasonable to do so, to give reasonably required mobility assistance, and not to charge extra for it.

Refusing a wheelchair user

A driver of a designated vehicle must comply with section 165, subject to its stated exceptions. For other vehicles, the section 164A duties apply, again subject to the safety and reasonableness provisions and any otherwise lawful ground for refusing a passenger.

Assistance dogs

Taxi drivers must carry the assistance dog and allow it to stay with you, with no additional charge. Private hire operators may not refuse a booking because of an assistance dog, and a driver may not refuse an accepted booking for that reason. Again, a formal exemption may apply.

Exemption certificates — and what to do if one is claimed

An exemption is a formal, certified thing. It is not a driver simply saying no at the kerb.

• Section 166 covers exemption from specified mobility-assistance duties, where the licensing authority is satisfied on medical or qualifying physical-condition grounds.
• Sections 169 and 171 cover exemption from assistance-dog duties on medical grounds.
• The certificate must be in force, and the prescribed exemption notice must be displayed on the vehicle in the prescribed manner.

If a driver claims an exemption, you can ask to see the notice displayed on the vehicle, note the vehicle registration or plate and the driver’s details, and report what happened to the licensing authority. You do not have to work out whether the medical grounds are valid — that is the authority’s job.

How to complain

Complain to the licensing authority that licensed the vehicle or driver — for Wimborne, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch that will normally be Dorset Council or BCP Council, depending on where the vehicle is licensed. The Department for Transport’s guidance says authorities should investigate concerns and take enforcement action where operators or drivers fail their responsibilities.

Failing to comply with these duties is an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

You can check which accessible vehicles a council has licensed to operate through Dorset Council’s taxi information page, which publishes a wheelchair-accessible vehicle list. The Council only publishes an operator’s contact details where the operator has consented to it.

The current taxi licensing complaint contact details for Dorset Council and BCP Council change from time to time. Search “taxi licensing” on your council’s own website for the current address to use, and include the details listed above.

3Bournemouth Airport transfers

Bournemouth Airport (BOH) sits about nine miles from Wimborne, and it is a common accessible transfer for us. Two organisations are involved in an accessible airport journey, and it is worth telling both.

Special assistance at the airport

• Request assistance through your airline or travel provider at least 48 hours before travel, not from the airport on the day.
• The airport’s main switchboard is 01202 364000.
• The airport publishes a separate disability-service-provider number, 07534 988571.

Confirm the current route and number with your airline before you rely on it, as these can change.

Drop-off and pick-up

• Blue Badge parking spaces are in Car Park 1 and the Premium Car Park 1 pick-up and drop-off area.
• The airport’s assistance information describes dedicated Blue Badge pick-up and drop-off spaces permitting a stay of up to four hours at the short-stay tariff then in force.
• Tariffs change — check the live parking page before travelling.

Taxis at the airport

The airport names PRC Streamline Taxis (01202 373737) as its official taxi and private hire service. Wheelchair-accessible availability at the rank could not be confirmed from the airport’s published material, which is why it is worth booking an accessible vehicle in advance and specifying your wheelchair and transfer needs rather than hoping a suitable car is waiting at 2am.

4Ferries from Poole

Poole is a ferry port, and the terminal is at New Harbour Road South, Hamworthy, Poole, BH15 4AJ. This is a genuinely useful detail for wheelchair users: Condor describes Poole railway station as a 20 to 25 minute walk from the terminal, which is not a realistic option for many passengers. A pre-booked accessible taxi removes that problem entirely.

Access at the terminal

• The terminal has ramps for terminal and minibus access, disabled toilets, emergency-use wheelchairs and porters available to help.
• Assistance is not charged as an extra fee.
• Whether your specific sailing can accommodate your needs can depend on the vessel and port arrangements, so confirm it when booking.

Booking ferry assistance

• Condor asks passengers with reduced mobility or wheelchair access needs to call 0345 609 1026 when booking.
• Give at least 48 hours’ notice. Shorter notice may be possible, but a requested sailing may not be, for safety reasons.
• Foot passengers should arrive 70 minutes before departure; check-in closes 40 minutes before departure.
• If you need assistance, be at check-in at least 90 minutes before departure, and tell staff at check-in that you are a wheelchair user or need help.

Check your booking confirmation for the actual carrier and sailing. Brittany Ferries also operates from Poole and says its terminals have disabled access — confirm access arrangements for your specific vessel with whichever carrier you are travelling with.

5Which train stations in Dorset are actually step-free

This is the section people most often get caught out by. A station can list a boarding ramp for the train-to-platform gap and still have no step-free way onto the platform. The two are not the same thing, and the difference matters if you cannot manage steps.

For stations where staff are not available, assistance is provided by the train guard. At unstaffed stations you should still make yourself known to staff, or to the guard.

Passenger Assist: free, and worth booking

• Passenger Assist is free and can cover navigating the station, boarding and alighting, changing trains, help at your destination, and arranging a boarding ramp.
• Book through the Passenger Assistance app or website, or by phone: National Rail on 0800 022 3720, or South Western Railway on 0800 528 2100.
• Requests are accepted up to two hours before your journey, but the earlier you book the better. SWR says Passenger Assist operates 24/7 except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Between Wimborne and Poole, morebus route 3 runs, and Visit Wimborne identifies Poole as the nearest train station with buses or taxis for onward travel. Check the current timetable and accessibility before setting out.

6Buses, bus passes and mobility equipment hire

morebus

• Each bus has a single designated wheelchair space. Low-floor buses run across the network, and the driver can deploy a manual ramp — ask them to.
• Wheelchairs up to 700 mm wide are accepted.
• Some Class 2 scooters are accepted, with a stated limit of 1,000 mm long by 600 mm wide, and a turning circle no greater than 1,200 mm.
• You must reverse against the cushion and apply the brakes; the driver deploys a restraint pole.
• Assistance dogs are welcome at all times and are carried free.

Check the operator’s page and any scooter permit requirements before travelling, and do not assume there will be room for a second wheelchair on a busy service.

Disabled person’s bus passes

Both councils use the same statutory disability categories: blind or partially sighted, profoundly or severely deaf, without speech, having lost the use of both arms, qualifying on walking-disability grounds, having a learning disability, being a seriously injured Armed Forces member or veteran, or being medically unable to obtain a driving licence (excluding drug or alcohol misuse). The disability must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months, and proof is required.

• BCP Council: free local bus travel in England 9:30am to 11pm on weekdays, and all day at weekends and on bank holidays. Blind or partially sighted passholders can travel at any time when boarding within BCP. BCP’s page describes a £1 flat fare trial for travel before 9:30am, which began on 1 June 2026 — check the current terms and whether the trial is still running. A companion pass (marked “C+”) is available where a severely disabled passholder can only use local buses with a companion; the companion travels free on journeys starting in BCP.
• Dorset Council: free off-peak travel 9:30am to 11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and public holidays, with all-week travel for blind or partially sighted passholders under the council’s scheme. Dorset Council lists 0300 330 1201 for information and paper applications. There is an East Dorset concession: residents entitled to a pass who board within the former East Dorset District area can use it all day there — which covers the Wimborne area — with national off-peak hours applying outside it. The council also describes a separate payment scheme for permanently disabled East Dorset residents who cannot use public buses, subject to GP evidence.

Mobility equipment and scooter hire

• BCP Shopmobility at the Sovereign Centre, 600 Christchurch Road — 01202 900859. Confirm current opening hours and charges by phone before visiting.
• Castlepoint Shopmobility (lower-ground car park, red zone, under Sainsbury’s, BH8 9XA) — weekdays 9am–4pm, closed bank holidays. Daily hire is £8 for powered equipment or £6 for a manual wheelchair; annual membership is £20, members pay £5 per visit, and new members get their first hire free. Contact 01202 534027 or info@sedcat.org.uk. Saturday equipment can be arranged by calling during the week.
• Poole Shopmobility has permanently closed, with its last day on 22 July 2025. The council’s directory may still list it — treat that listing as out of date.
• Purbeck Mobility Centre hires scooters and equipment in the Swanage, Poole and Wareham area: £14.50 per day or £87 per week excluding VAT, with an £80 refundable deposit. Delivery is not included and may cost £20. Telephone 01929 552623.
• Active Mobility, Weymouth hires powered wheelchairs and scooters at £20 per day and manual wheelchairs at £10 per day, with free local delivery. Telephone 01305 774422.

Beach wheelchairs

BCP Council lends balloon-tyred beach wheelchairs from the Bournemouth, Boscombe and Sandbanks beach offices — one at each — 9:30am to 4:30pm, May to September, first come first served, against a refundable £50 cash deposit. There is a mobi-mat at Boscombe and a boardwalk at Sandbanks, generally in place from 15 May to 30 September. This is a seasonal loan service, not a paid hire, so it is worth calling the specific beach office to check a chair is free before you travel. Out of season in winter

7Hospital and medical appointment journeys

Getting to an appointment on time, with a wheelchair, and without arriving exhausted, is a real logistical problem. Here is what the local hospitals publish, and what to know about NHS-funded transport.

Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospitals (University Hospitals Dorset)

• Blue Badge parking is free for vehicles displaying a Blue Badge at UHD sites. At Royal Bournemouth, disabled spaces are in the pay-and-display car parks, with P2 and P1 identified. At Poole, extra-wide wheelchair spaces are on levels C and G of the multi-storey car park, and a covered walkway connects level G to the main hospital.
• Drop-off: at Poole, use the Main Entrance or Entrance North drop-off, where waiting is limited to 20 minutes. At Royal Bournemouth, drop-off points are listed by the Urgent Treatment Centre, Emergency Department, Outpatients and the Eye Unit, again with a 20-minute limit.
• Wheelchairs are available at various points in the car parks and inside the hospitals.
• Contact hospital staff in advance for communication, hearing or sight support. BSL interpreters and lip-speakers can be arranged by prior arrangement.
• Allow an extra 30 minutes if parking on or around the hospital sites, as parking is limited. Construction and main-entrance work have relocated some car parks, so follow current signs.

Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester

• Drop-off and collection parking is free for up to 20 minutes — take a ticket at the entry barrier and use a marked drop-off area by the relevant wing entrance.
• Blue Badge holders park free in designated spaces across the site, but there are no disabled spaces in the multi-storey car park. Follow signs for the surface spaces near the buildings.
• Main reception is at the North Wing, Level 1, and staff there can help you find a department. The hospital describes reasonable adjustments including communication assistance and a quiet waiting space.
• A Changing Places facility is outside, near the North Wing entrances and the Portesham Unit. It is open 24 hours and requires a RADAR key — staff can lend one.
• Your appointment letter gives the nearest entrance to where you are going. It is worth telling your driver that entrance.

Community hospitals

Dorset HealthCare runs twelve community hospitals, and access arrangements are site-specific — do not assume they match the larger hospitals. Two useful examples:

• Victoria Hospital, Wimborne — free car park with 60 spaces including eight disabled spaces, described as wheelchair accessible. A car park expansion adding 45 spaces opened in April 2026.
• Wareham Hospital — free car park with eight designated spaces at the front, including two disabled spaces. A separate pay-and-display car park is about a five-minute walk away, with a gentle incline along that route.

Others include Alderney (Poole), Blandford, Bridport, Portland, St Leonards, Swanage, Westhaven (Weymouth), Westminster Memorial (Shaftesbury), Weymouth and Yeatman (Sherborne).

8School, college and SEND transport

One rule catches a lot of families out: apply to the council for the child’s home address, not the council where the school is. Dorset Council states this explicitly.

Dorset Council

• If your child has an EHCP, do not use the general free school transport application — use the SEND route instead.
• For children under 16 with SEND, start with your child’s SEND Provision Lead, who assesses eligibility. If eligible, the SEN Travel Team contacts the family.
• The council may consider travel support where a child cannot walk or cycle to school physically or safely because of a significant disability or mobility need. An EHCP or attending a special school is not, on its own, a blanket entitlement to transport.
• Support can take the form of a shared or individual vehicle, Passenger Assistant support, independent travel support, or a Personal Travel Budget, depending on assessed need.
• SEN Travel Team: sentravelteam@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or 01305 225023.

BCP Council

• Free help is only available to children meeting the council’s eligibility criteria. Start with the school transport pages and use the apply-or-renew route.
• SEND or medical-needs applications need supporting professional evidence. An EHCP may count as evidence, but do not assume it guarantees a particular form of transport.
• If you cannot apply online: 01202 127 963 or htst@bcpcouncil.gov.uk. Decisions can be appealed through a two-stage process.

Where a council has assessed a need and issued a Personal Travel Budget, families sometimes use a licensed accessible taxi for the journey. We are Dorset Council licensed and can be booked for regular runs, so it is worth asking before you assume it is not an option.

9Days out: access notes for popular Dorset destinations

None of the notes below is an access audit, and access, parking and seasonal services change. Treat them as a starting point, check the venue’s own page before you go, and tell us your wheelchair’s dimensions and whether you are staying in it.

10Local organisations who can help

These are the Dorset organisations that disabled residents and their families most often find useful. We have no affiliation with them beyond sharing a county.

11Common questions

12Sources and how this page is maintained

We would rather you check us than take our word for it. Everything below is the published source for a claim on this page, and we have listed them so you can verify anything that matters to your journey.