Following a successful campaign in Parliament, Dame Caroline Spelman MP has welcomed Government action to introduce new measures in order to help make public transport in Solihull Borough ore accessible for disabled passengers.
During a recent reading of the Bus Service’s Bill in the House of Lords, the Government successfully introduced a new clause which would make it a legal requirement for all UK bus operators to provide audio-visual announcements on board their local services. Under the terms of this new clause; designed to aid disabled passengers, operators will be required to provide specified information about the name or other designation of the local service; the direction of travel; stopping places; and terminating locals.
Dame Caroline Spelman MP said: “Already, some local bus services here in Solihull Borough, such as the National Express X1 (Coventry, to Birmingham via Meriden and Birmingham International Airport), have introduced these audio-visual aids. However, I have long believed that more can be done to improve upon the current public transport provision.
“Having previously urged the Government to make further improvements to public transport for disabled passengers, I am delighted that the Government has successfully introduced this measure – ensuring that it will soon be a legal requirement for buses to introduce audio-visual announcements”.