Bus firms sign up to sight loss charter

A campaign to make public transport more accessible for blind and partiallysighted people is being backed by McGill’s buses.

The company, which has a base in Inchinnan, will endorse sight loss charity the RNIB’s Bus Charter on Friday at Glasgow Museum of Transport.

The other seven bus operators formally signing up to the charter are Stagecoach, Citylink, First, Lothian Buses, Xplore Dundee, Prentice Coaches and Whitelaws.

The charter commits transport operators to moves such as approaching bus stops more slowly so people have time to make out the number and route, not pulling away from stops before passengers with sight loss have found a seat and letting people know when they arrive at their destination.

George Mair, director of the Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland, said:“CPT is delighted to endorse the RNIB Bus Charter.

“The bus industry is responsible for three-quarters of all public transport trips in Scotland and operates the government’s Concessionary Travel Scheme.

“As such, it is hugely important that bus services are accessible to all.

“Working with partners such as the RNIB helps highlight elements of the journey experience that may be challenging to people with certain disabilities and the Bus Charter is a valuable tool to help make bus more inclusive, easy to use, and welcoming for the blind and partially sighted.”

James Adams, deputy director of RNIB Scotland, said with today’s technology getting around by bus should be easier for people who need some support.

“It’s great news that the voice of Scotland’s bus and coach industry is backing our campaign.

“Blind and partially sighted people rely on buses more than most because they are unable to drive and taxis are too expensive for everyday journeys.”

There are around 170,000 people in Scotland with significant sight loss, a number likely to increase in the next two decades due to our ageing population.