The European Parliament has proposed new rights for disabled passengers using buses and coaches. The UK government is not supportive of the proposals and the RNIB are calling on people to act now on this rare opportunity to improve access to transport.
From the end of September, the European Parliament will be seeking agreement from individual European governments over proposed new rights for disabled people using buses and coaches to get around. The proposals include
- accessible information (e.g. accessible timetables or information about delays)
- mandatory disability awareness training for all bus drivers and terminal staff.
Despite the vital importance of bus travel to many disabled people's independence, the UK government is not currently supportive. According to the RNIB, "they do not want the new rights to apply to local bus and coach services." The RNIB are running a campaign, supported by Sense, Radar, Scope, RNID, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Age UK, to put pressure on the UK government to change their minds.
If you agree that these changes are urgently needed to ensure equal acces to transport for disabled people, you are urged to contact your MP. The RNIB website provides an online form to help enable you to put your views to your MP.
Source: RNIB