Bus timetable bid voted down
Scotland's leading sight loss charity has expressed its disappointment that a key move to improve the accessibility of transport for blind and partially sighted people was narrowly rejected six votes to five votes by the Scottish Parliament's Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee.
RNIB Scotland had actively pressed for MSPs on the committee to vote in favour of Colin Smyth MSP’s amendment that would require bus timetables to be produced in accessible formats such as braille, large print and audio on request.
Commenting on the vote in yesterday's committee meeting, RNIB Scotland campaigns manager Catriona Burness said:
"Yesterday's vote by a majority of members of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee will mean a missed opportunity to create a more inclusive society. Blind and partially sighted people rely on public transport more than most people as they are unable to drive themselves and taxis are expensive.
"Clearly accessible information on timetables and routes would actually have benefited everyone.
"Despite this setback, we would like to thank Colin Smyth for tabling these amendments and supportive MSPs. We will continue to campaign for the right of people with sight loss to access the same level of service as everyone else.”
