Fiona Bruce MP showed her support for a campaign led by the charity Guide Dogs to make travelling by bus easier for people with sight loss.
The MP for Congleton went to a reception at the Houses of Parliament on 2nd July in support of Guide Dogs’ campaign to make sure all new buses have audio visual (AV) next stop announcements, which are vital for blind and partially sighted bus travellers.
The reception, which was addressed by Bus Minister Baroness Kramer, highlighted how announcements enable blind and partially sighted people to understand their location, and prevent them from missing their stops.
AV systems are only fitted to around one fifth of the bus fleet nationally, with the overwhelming majority of these buses operating in London.
Guide Dogs is calling for the Government to require all new buses be fitted with AV, as currently bus operators are under no obligation to include this technology when upgrading their fleet.
Fiona Bruce MP “I am very pleased to support this important campaign. The Guide Dogs charity is very active in my constituency; Congleton has the only Guide Dogs charity shop in the country. Having experienced a ‘blind walk’ with a guide dog, I can say what a benefit these AV enhancements would be for those who are visually impaired. Without AV bus travel for people with sight loss can be especially difficult, stressful and dangerous when stops are missed and they end up in an unfamiliar area. This is about social inclusion – it’s about providing safe and accessible bus services which give people with sight loss much greater freedom to work, socialise and participate in the community. I commend Guide Dogs for their sterling work.”
James White, Guide Dog’s Campaigns Manager, said: “Buses are a lifeline for people who are blind or partially sighted, and we welcome the support of Fiona Bruce MP for people with sight loss to be able to travel safely and independently.”
