[guide.chat] Forwarded Email: Talking Buses Campaign Update

From: "davidguidedog145@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <davidguidedog145@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Mrs Sue Barrell" <sue@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Mr Clayton Beckwith" <claytonbeckwith@xxxxxxx>, "Mrs Annette Bodsworth" <netsybods@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Monica Butcher" <monicaruth1916@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Juliet Beaumont Business Administrator Business Support \(adult Social Care\)" <Juliet.Beaumont@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Madeleine Cassidy" <Madeleine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Mrs Ann Evans" <alondon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Mrs Annie Feltham" <annie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Mrs Faye Gatenby" <faye.gatenby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Guide Chat" <guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Theresa Higgins" <theresa.higgins203@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Ms Jo Johnson" <jo.johnson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Heather Lord" <heather.lord@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Mr Brian Mister" <mister.brian@xxxxxxxxxx>, "Dominic Lund-conlon Principal Transport Development Officer" <Dominic.Lund-Conlon@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Maureen Parmenter" <maureen.parmenter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Houghton; Paul" <Paul.Houghton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Peter Skivington" <peter.skivington@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Mr Brian Upton" <brian.upton@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:26:13 +0100

Please circulate the enclosed as widely as possible.  
many thanks,
David Evans.  

-----Original Message-----
From: James White - Email Address: James.White@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent On: 20/06/2011 12:53
Sent To: James White - Email Address: James.White@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Talking Buses Campaign Update

Dear all,

There has been some positive news from some local authorities and bus
operators in recent months. Edinburgh Council have announced they
support the Talking Buses campaign, and Brighton & Hove buses have
introduced Audio Visual systems for their new buses.

However, the need for legislation remains pressing, and we hope you can
continue to support the campaign by asking your campaigners to
participate.

Transport Minister for the UK Government, Norman Baker has recently
advised of his decision not to require operators to install Audio Visual
information systems on buses. Baker said although research carried out
by his department had demonstrated there are clear social benefits to
such systems, it also showed a clear business case for them was
difficult to establish. As a result, he had decided he will not, for the
time being at least, make Audio Visual systems a mandatory requirement.

He went on to acknowledge where such systems had been installed, they
had been welcomed by passengers. He wants to encourage bus operators and
manufacturers to consider increasing the uptake of such systems on new
buses.

With this in mind, we have two new ways that you can ask your supporters
to help the campaign. 

1. We would like blind and partially sighted people, people with hearing
problems, and other disabled people that use their local bus services to
complete the Forgotten Passengers Survey to tell us about their
experiences. The results will be used to highlight the issue and lobby
the Government and bus operators for change. The survey is available
online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PVKRPQ9. For a plain text
version that people can complete and send back please email
james.white@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx . If people do not have access to the
internet, they can leave a message on the Guide Dogs Campaigns hotline
on freephone 0800 028 4348 and say they would like to take part in the
survey. The Campaigns team will call them back. 

2. We are encouraging people to write to Norman Baker directly in his
capacity as Transport Minister for the UK Government. This takes just a
couple of minutes, and can be done online at http://bit.ly/emeDWs. We
particularly want to challenge his assertions about the cost of Audio
Visual systems, which are based on outdated calculations.

If you have other ideas for the campaign, please don't hesitate to get
in touch. If there are other people within your organisation who you
would like me to add to the campaign distribution list please let me
know.

Thanks,

James White
Campaigns Officer
The Guide Dogs For The Blind Association
Tel: (0118) 983 8307
Mobile: 0755 443 8268

Support our Talking Buses Campaign. Simply click on the following link
and email the Minister for Buses, Norman Baker MP, with our letter. It
takes just two minutes! http://bit.ly/emeDWs

Registered Office: Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading,
Berkshire, RG7 3YG
Registered Charity No. 209617
A company limited by guarantee Registered in England Company No. 291646

Celebrating 80 years of extraordinary partnerships

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Registered Office: Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 3YG. 
A company limited by 
guarantee registered in England and Wales (291646) and a charity registered in 
England and Wales 
(209617) and Scotland (SC038979).

Tel: 0118 9835555
Website: www.guidedogs.org.uk
Email: guidedogs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[guide.chat] Forwarded Email: Talking Buses Campaign Update

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