[Nyagdu] Fw: [nagdu] UK: Guide dog change to help travellers

[Margo and Arrow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ginger Kutsch" <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 8:28 AM
Subject: [nagdu] UK: Guide dog change to help travellers


> UK: Guide dog change to help travellers
>
> October 3, 2011
>
> The Press Association
>
> http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jQCrUF2cZ4UNQ9cqYgJsM
> y-yeQPA?docId=N0723731317633815401A
>
>
>
> England - Guide dogs will be allowed on moving escalators on transport
> systems in London for the first time from this week under changes to an
> "antiquated" bylaw.
>
>
>
> The move will affect trained assistance and police dogs on the Tube,
> Docklands Light Railway and London Overground.
>
>
>
> Transport for London said it had been advised for years that dogs should 
> not
> be allowed to use moving escalators to prevent injuries, so passengers had
> to carry dogs or use lifts or stairs instead.
>
>
>
> Recent research carried out by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
> proved that dogs can be trained to use a moving escalator.
>
>
>
> Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "The modernisation of this antiquated
> bylaw helps make the Tube more accessible for all and is the fruit of some
> excellent collaborative work between Transport for London and The Guide 
> Dogs
> for the Blind Association."
>
>
>
> Oliver Barton, client services manager at Guide Dogs for the Blind, said:
> "Once guide dog owners are trained, they will be able to safely use
> escalators if they provide the only means of accessing TfL managed 
> stations.
>
>
>
> "Our aim is to help guide dog owners live independently and this change is
> another step towards helping blind and partially sighted people enjoy the
> same freedom as everyone else."
>
>
>
> Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and
> chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said: "The ban on blind
> people being able to take a guide dog on to moving escalators on the 
> London
> Underground is outdated and wrong. There is clear evidence that trained
> guide dogs can safely use moving escalators.
>
>
>
> "Having campaigned for a change in this policy, I am delighted that this
> change is finally taking place."
>
>
>
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