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Need help?

  • Frequently Asked Questions
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  • Complaints procedure
  • What does your health insurer cover?

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  • What do you notice?
  • What might be causing this?
  • What can you do yourself?
  • When is it advisable to seek help?
  • How Rondom can help
  • Download the Rondom app
  • Make an appointment

Using public transport

Do you find it difficult to travel by public transport? Perhaps you dread the crowds, changing services, climbing stairs, waiting or standing for long periods. Or you’re worried there won’t be a seat available. Public transport can offer a great deal of freedom, but it can also be very tiring and stressful. Travelling by public transport requires planning, walking, standing, processing sensory stimuli and sometimes reacting quickly. If you have any health issues, this can be quite a challenge. It helps to consider in advance what you’ll need to make the journey manageable.

Using public transport
What do you notice?

Difficulties with travelling by public transport may arise before, during or after the journey.

You may, for example, notice that:

  • you dread crowds;
  • you are afraid of falling when getting on or off;
  • standing for long periods is hard;
  • switching causes stress;
  • if you have difficulty with stairs or platforms;
  • you quickly become overstimulated;
  • you are worried that you won’t have a seat;
  • travelling requires a lot of recovery time;
  • you avoid missing appointments because of the journey.

Sometimes it is not the appointment itself that is the problem, but the journey to get there. This is not always recognised by others.

What might be causing this?

Related topics

  • Avoiding family visits or social engagements

    Do you find yourself cancelling family visits or social engagements more often than you’d actually like? Perhaps you look forward to an engagement at first, but on the day itself you find yourself dreading it. You wonder whether you’ll be able to cope, whether there’ll be enough rest, and whether others understand what you need. This can cause a great deal of stress. Social engagements often require more than just being present. You have to travel, talk, process sensory input, sometimes sit or stand for long periods, and then recover afterwards. This can be too much. Avoiding such situations may feel safe in the short term, but in the long run it can mean you miss out on social contact and enjoyment.

  • Cycling

Was this information helpful?

Public transport can be difficult due to pain, tiredness, poor balance, fear of falling or sensory overload. Difficulties with planning or concentration can also have an impact.

The environment is often unpredictable. Delays, crowds, noise, rushing about and unfamiliar routes can cause stress. If your energy is limited, this can become too much.

Accessibility is also a factor. Not every station, stop or vehicle is equally easy to use.

What can you do yourself?

It helps to prepare well for journeys and to minimise distractions wherever possible.

For example, you could:

  • travelling outside peak hours;
  • check the route in advance;
  • allow for extra travel time;
  • choose a route with fewer changes;
  • find a seat as soon as possible;
  • use a support tool when necessary;
  • use earplugs or sunglasses when faced with stimuli;
  • Plan some recovery time after the trip.

Ask for help if necessary. You can ask a fellow traveller, a transport operator or someone at the station.

When is it advisable to seek help?

It is wise to seek help if public transport causes you a great deal of stress or if you find yourself avoiding travel. Advice is also useful if you are afraid of falling, become easily overwhelmed or are unsure how to travel safely.

Please also ask for help if you find yourself becoming dependent on others whilst you would like to travel more independently.

How Rondom can help

Together, we’ll look at what makes travelling by public transport difficult. In doing so, we’ll focus on energy, mobility, incentives, planning and safety.

A occupational therapist can help with travel preparations, energy management, assistive devices and practising practical situations. A podiatrist can help if foot problems, your gait or your shoes are affecting your stability. A physiotherapist can provide support with walking, balance and climbing stairs. In cases of anxiety, panic or overstimulation, it can psychological support should be appropriate.

Together, we are looking for ways to make travelling by public transport more feasible and less stressful again.

Have you noticed that cycling isn’t as easy as it used to be? Perhaps you feel unsteady when getting on your bike, experience pain whilst cycling, or feel anxious in traffic. Cycling offers a great deal of freedom. You can go where you like, get some exercise outdoors and are less dependent on others. If cycling becomes more difficult, it can have a significant impact on your daily life. Cycling requires balance, strength, reaction time, situational awareness and confidence. The bike itself must also fit you properly. If any one of these things changes, cycling can become stressful or difficult.

  • Daring to go outside

    Do you find going outside a bit daunting? Perhaps you’re worried about falling, experiencing symptoms, losing your bearings or panicking. Or you may feel insecure because you’ve lost confidence in your body. Going outside may seem simple, but it can be a big step if you feel vulnerable. Being outdoors is important for exercise, social interaction, daylight and independence. If you’re less willing to go outside, your world can quickly become smaller. It’s important to take this seriously and see, step by step, what helps.

    • Work on your health with the Rondom app

    • Direct contact with healthcare professionals via chat
    • A community where you share experiences and motivate one another
    • Personal challenges that match your goals
    • Step counter for your daily exercise
    • Earn points for healthy choices
    • Articles, videos, recipes and assignments
    • Register for (online) events
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