Dear Mr Scott,
As discussed, I've attached a copy of the remit for the review of the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People. This document is also published on the Scottish Government website.
The eligibility criteria for the scheme already allow blind people and their travelling companion, where appropriate, free travel on all local and long distance buses within Scotland and to Berwick-upon-Tweed and Carlisle in England. Blind people who live on Scottish islands also qualify for 4 free single ferry journeys per year to the Scottish mainland.
While the current review is considering what improvements might be made to the scheme, there are no plans to amend the current eligibility criteria as they apply to blind people. Indeed, Ministers have stated in Parliament that all currently eligible people and bus services will remain eligible following the review.
We invited RNIB Scotland, amongst others, to comment on the current operation of the scheme and to recommend any changes which they would wish to see introduced in the future. In the absence of a reply, we shall assume that they are content with the current arrangements,
I hope this note provides the re-assurance that you were seeking.
Best wishes.
George Davidson
Scottish Government
Friday, August 22, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Integrated Accessible Transport 2
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Regarding Real Time Bus Information in Edinburgh it appears that, at present, only one bus company can use this system - Lothian Region Buses. I do not see why other bus companies cannot join this scheme, such as First Bus, Stage Coach, McEwan and any others who may wish, in the future, to use the bus stops. Obviously these buses must be fitted with the equipment to be part of the system.
I enquired a number of years ago, with Councillor Andrew Burns, about making this system accessible for blind and partially sighted people with an added audible system for a number of bus stops in the city centre. I was told at the time that the Council Transport Department were looking at two or three systems, but since then no one from the Transport Department has informed me of any developments on the research of these systems. Quite a number of people find the colouring of the screen unsuitable for reading. Audible systems are already in place in other parts of the country such as Dundee, Manchester, and Bournemouth, and I feel strongly that more city councils should get together and liaise with the Transport Operators to achieve best value for an accessible transport system.
As well as the above, some of the London buses also have the audible information system on them, informing the passengers of the next stop. A speaker system already exists in Edinburgh buses, so why not fit in the appropriate software to complete the system, which would also assist tourists as well as blind and disabled people? I am also concerned that there are seven or eight different models of buses in Edinburgh, which can be confusing to visually impaired people as seats are placed differently and fold down in various directions. In the future, why can it not be reduced to just two or three models, with the disabled area standardized, throughout the country? More and more buses are accessible for the disabled; however, there are two main bad practices: people not taking seats and standing between the door and the stairwell which blocks the exit and entrance, and mothers bringing prams on board, who are then unable to fold them down when a wheelchair needs the space. Bus drivers also have problems to take on or drop passengers, especially people in wheelchairs, because cars are being parked carelessly in bus stop areas. This can also lead to unnecessary traffic jams behind the buses, as cars cannot overtake the buses on narrow roads.
A consideration of the above mentioned points would help improve the transport system and would facilitate less stressful travelling for both passengers and drivers.
Regarding Real Time Bus Information in Edinburgh it appears that, at present, only one bus company can use this system - Lothian Region Buses. I do not see why other bus companies cannot join this scheme, such as First Bus, Stage Coach, McEwan and any others who may wish, in the future, to use the bus stops. Obviously these buses must be fitted with the equipment to be part of the system.
I enquired a number of years ago, with Councillor Andrew Burns, about making this system accessible for blind and partially sighted people with an added audible system for a number of bus stops in the city centre. I was told at the time that the Council Transport Department were looking at two or three systems, but since then no one from the Transport Department has informed me of any developments on the research of these systems. Quite a number of people find the colouring of the screen unsuitable for reading. Audible systems are already in place in other parts of the country such as Dundee, Manchester, and Bournemouth, and I feel strongly that more city councils should get together and liaise with the Transport Operators to achieve best value for an accessible transport system.
As well as the above, some of the London buses also have the audible information system on them, informing the passengers of the next stop. A speaker system already exists in Edinburgh buses, so why not fit in the appropriate software to complete the system, which would also assist tourists as well as blind and disabled people? I am also concerned that there are seven or eight different models of buses in Edinburgh, which can be confusing to visually impaired people as seats are placed differently and fold down in various directions. In the future, why can it not be reduced to just two or three models, with the disabled area standardized, throughout the country? More and more buses are accessible for the disabled; however, there are two main bad practices: people not taking seats and standing between the door and the stairwell which blocks the exit and entrance, and mothers bringing prams on board, who are then unable to fold them down when a wheelchair needs the space. Bus drivers also have problems to take on or drop passengers, especially people in wheelchairs, because cars are being parked carelessly in bus stop areas. This can also lead to unnecessary traffic jams behind the buses, as cars cannot overtake the buses on narrow roads.
A consideration of the above mentioned points would help improve the transport system and would facilitate less stressful travelling for both passengers and drivers.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Integrated Transport
My main concern for the Edinburgh and Lothians is the transport situation and I fully support the Airdrie Bathgate link the opening of the Waverley line to Galashiels with a twin track to Gorebridge with the feasibility to take this further to the Borders on to Newcastleton and Carlisle.
The opening of the railway link to Penicuik, to Peebles Innerlethan Walkerburn and Galashiels. with the appropriate stations and the re-opening of the South suburban line and this could work in conjunction with the Fife circular line for example a figure of eight for passenger trains. Stations should also be opened at Abbeyhill Gorgie and Portobello with a rail link to Edinburgh airport. A passenger ferry service to Burntisland to Granton, (the road distance is 19.9 miles) Kirkcaldy to Portobello (distance being 32 miles) and a ferry ticket which covers all modes of transport within Edinburgh. A car ferry from Dunbar/Anstruther (distance being 94 miles). These measures with an integrated public transport system would alleviate congestion the environment and stress in which people suffer from traffic jams etc.
A metro rail-tram connection from Granton to Haymarket or the viability of a line Granton Trinity Abbeyhill instead of the disruption that tram lines are going to cause to the people from Leith Princess Street Roseburn and the Gyle etc.
There should be more investment in the Scottish train system with electrification of the east coast line to Aberdeen, with the same improvements on the line to Glasgow Queen Street with the opening of the cross Glasgow rail link with dual tracking on more of the line between Perth and Inverness. These measures taken in conjunction with trains running up to an hour and a half later between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street and trains from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh about one hour later than they are just now. This will help to increase business and tourism.
There should be a Southeast passenger transport authority to co-ordinate low fares accessible integrated transport system for Edinburgh East Lothian Midlothian West Lothian Fife and the Scottish borders covering buses metro rail trains and ferries. Edinburgh has a very good bus system which can be diverted if there are hold-ups if there are problems on the road unlike trams. Unfortunately when Lothian regional transport review their programme of routes there is always people who lose out on the 18 / 32 route and the 11 / 31 and this has happened around Edinburgh as well.
The opening of the railway link to Penicuik, to Peebles Innerlethan Walkerburn and Galashiels. with the appropriate stations and the re-opening of the South suburban line and this could work in conjunction with the Fife circular line for example a figure of eight for passenger trains. Stations should also be opened at Abbeyhill Gorgie and Portobello with a rail link to Edinburgh airport. A passenger ferry service to Burntisland to Granton, (the road distance is 19.9 miles) Kirkcaldy to Portobello (distance being 32 miles) and a ferry ticket which covers all modes of transport within Edinburgh. A car ferry from Dunbar/Anstruther (distance being 94 miles). These measures with an integrated public transport system would alleviate congestion the environment and stress in which people suffer from traffic jams etc.
A metro rail-tram connection from Granton to Haymarket or the viability of a line Granton Trinity Abbeyhill instead of the disruption that tram lines are going to cause to the people from Leith Princess Street Roseburn and the Gyle etc.
There should be more investment in the Scottish train system with electrification of the east coast line to Aberdeen, with the same improvements on the line to Glasgow Queen Street with the opening of the cross Glasgow rail link with dual tracking on more of the line between Perth and Inverness. These measures taken in conjunction with trains running up to an hour and a half later between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street and trains from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh about one hour later than they are just now. This will help to increase business and tourism.
There should be a Southeast passenger transport authority to co-ordinate low fares accessible integrated transport system for Edinburgh East Lothian Midlothian West Lothian Fife and the Scottish borders covering buses metro rail trains and ferries. Edinburgh has a very good bus system which can be diverted if there are hold-ups if there are problems on the road unlike trams. Unfortunately when Lothian regional transport review their programme of routes there is always people who lose out on the 18 / 32 route and the 11 / 31 and this has happened around Edinburgh as well.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
European Ferry Service
Concern over the future of ferry services, the economy and the environment
I see no reason why this service cannot be carried on, as Scotland wants to be in the mainstream of Europe with the economy expanding. It would help the industry and tourism of both nations if this was kept going.
The ferry takes up to 120 cars, up to 100 trucks, and up to 1000 passengers - and it is not a daily service - it only runs every two / three days.
Keeping this service going means that tourists and freight don't have to travel down to Hull to travel to Zebrugge, and this helps make Rosyth a alternative gateway to Scotland.
With the cost of fuel and the damage that is being done to the environment, I feel strongly that we should look at the viability of a car ferry from Dunbar to Anstruther in Fife as it's 94 miles round the coast road. I believe it's 7 or 8 miles across the Forth. This would require work on the Harbours at the two sites, but this would help the economy and save on congestion heading towards the Forth Road Bridge. This would also help tourism in Fife and the Scottish borders, and save on transportation times between Aberdeen and Newcastle.
Although this would require a substanstial financial investment, the benefits over the years would repay itself. Take for example the Greenock to Dunoon route, which supports four ferries because the land route alternative takes so long. This obviously works on the West Coast, so why not utilise it on the East Coast?
I fully support the reintroduction of the hovercraft ferry between Portobello and Kirkcaldy as it is 32 miles around the road, and this would save on congestion and pollution. With a bus service linking the hovercraft to the centres of the city and town, it would effectively create a park and ride for Kirkcaldy.
Edinburgh Council is always saying that they want to encourage regeneration in the city centre of shops and businesses without the extra traffic. The above measure would help take Edinburgh into the 21st century.
I see no reason why this service cannot be carried on, as Scotland wants to be in the mainstream of Europe with the economy expanding. It would help the industry and tourism of both nations if this was kept going.
The ferry takes up to 120 cars, up to 100 trucks, and up to 1000 passengers - and it is not a daily service - it only runs every two / three days.
Keeping this service going means that tourists and freight don't have to travel down to Hull to travel to Zebrugge, and this helps make Rosyth a alternative gateway to Scotland.
With the cost of fuel and the damage that is being done to the environment, I feel strongly that we should look at the viability of a car ferry from Dunbar to Anstruther in Fife as it's 94 miles round the coast road. I believe it's 7 or 8 miles across the Forth. This would require work on the Harbours at the two sites, but this would help the economy and save on congestion heading towards the Forth Road Bridge. This would also help tourism in Fife and the Scottish borders, and save on transportation times between Aberdeen and Newcastle.
Although this would require a substanstial financial investment, the benefits over the years would repay itself. Take for example the Greenock to Dunoon route, which supports four ferries because the land route alternative takes so long. This obviously works on the West Coast, so why not utilise it on the East Coast?
I fully support the reintroduction of the hovercraft ferry between Portobello and Kirkcaldy as it is 32 miles around the road, and this would save on congestion and pollution. With a bus service linking the hovercraft to the centres of the city and town, it would effectively create a park and ride for Kirkcaldy.
Edinburgh Council is always saying that they want to encourage regeneration in the city centre of shops and businesses without the extra traffic. The above measure would help take Edinburgh into the 21st century.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Concern over the future of ferry services, the economy and the environment
Concern over the future of ferry services, the economy and the environment
I see no reason why this service cannot be carried on, as Scotland wants to be in the mainstream of Europe with the economy expanding. It would help the industry and tourism of both nations if this was kept going.
The ferry takes up to 120 cars, up to 100 trucks, and up to 1000 passengers - and it is not a daily service - it only runs every two / three days.
Keeping this service going means that tourists and freight don't have to travel down to Hull to travel to Zebrugge, and this helps make Rosyth a alternative gateway to Scotland.
With the cost of fuel and the damage that is being done to the environment, I feel strongly that we should look at the viability of a car ferry from Dunbar to Anstruther in Fife as it's 94 miles round the coast road. I believe it's 7 or 8 miles across the Forth. This would require work on the Harbours at the two sites, but this would help the economy and save on congestion heading towards the Forth Road Bridge. This would also help tourism in Fife and the Scottish borders, and save on transportation times between Aberdeen and Newcastle.
Although this would require a substanstial financial investment, the benefits over the years would repay itself. Take for example the Greenock to Dunoon route, which supports four ferries because the land route alternative takes so long. This obviously works on the West Coast, so why not utilise it on the East Coast?
I fully support the reintroduction of the hovercraft ferry between Portobello and Kirkcaldy as it is 32 miles around the road, and this would save on congestion and pollution. With a bus service linking the hovercraft to the centres of the city and town, it would effectively create a park and ride for Kirkcaldy.
Edinburgh Council is always saying that they want to encourage regeneration in the city centre of shops and businesses without the extra traffic. The above measure would help take Edinburgh into the 21st century.
I see no reason why this service cannot be carried on, as Scotland wants to be in the mainstream of Europe with the economy expanding. It would help the industry and tourism of both nations if this was kept going.
The ferry takes up to 120 cars, up to 100 trucks, and up to 1000 passengers - and it is not a daily service - it only runs every two / three days.
Keeping this service going means that tourists and freight don't have to travel down to Hull to travel to Zebrugge, and this helps make Rosyth a alternative gateway to Scotland.
With the cost of fuel and the damage that is being done to the environment, I feel strongly that we should look at the viability of a car ferry from Dunbar to Anstruther in Fife as it's 94 miles round the coast road. I believe it's 7 or 8 miles across the Forth. This would require work on the Harbours at the two sites, but this would help the economy and save on congestion heading towards the Forth Road Bridge. This would also help tourism in Fife and the Scottish borders, and save on transportation times between Aberdeen and Newcastle.
Although this would require a substanstial financial investment, the benefits over the years would repay itself. Take for example the Greenock to Dunoon route, which supports four ferries because the land route alternative takes so long. This obviously works on the West Coast, so why not utilise it on the East Coast?
I fully support the reintroduction of the hovercraft ferry between Portobello and Kirkcaldy as it is 32 miles around the road, and this would save on congestion and pollution. With a bus service linking the hovercraft to the centres of the city and town, it would effectively create a park and ride for Kirkcaldy.
Edinburgh Council is always saying that they want to encourage regeneration in the city centre of shops and businesses without the extra traffic. The above measure would help take Edinburgh into the 21st century.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Accesible Rail Travel
I am campaigning in the UK to make rail travel more accessible for blind and disabled people, for example all the Rail Companies eg. Virgin, Arriva, National Express, First Scotrail and the other companies have the buttons all in different positions.
Here’s an example: in the toilets, buttons in the same position do different functions in different trains. In one train a button might open the door, but in another train the button will do something different. I personally know two people that were trapped in the toilet and required assistance to escape, and even more extreme, I know a gentleman that pressed the emergency button by mistake and stopped the whole train.
I was hoping my colleagues in the UK would contact their Westminster MPs, Minister of Transport and the Association of Train Operating Companies to ask that all the buttons be relocated in the same order, have contrasting colours, and even an audible signal. This would help give blind and visually impaired people more independence and make travelling by rail more stress free.
I am surprised at the number of people that have joined this group since November 2007.
I lost my sight in 1977 due to problems with the Optic nerve, and I’ve been active in the National League of Blind and disabled (Trade Union for the Blind and Disabled).
I coordinated the successful campaign for free concessionary travel for the blind and partially sighted on buses, ferries, trains, and Glasgow underground. This campaign took from 1978 to 1999.
I am active locally in campaigning for information and accessibility on all fronts.
Here’s an example: in the toilets, buttons in the same position do different functions in different trains. In one train a button might open the door, but in another train the button will do something different. I personally know two people that were trapped in the toilet and required assistance to escape, and even more extreme, I know a gentleman that pressed the emergency button by mistake and stopped the whole train.
I was hoping my colleagues in the UK would contact their Westminster MPs, Minister of Transport and the Association of Train Operating Companies to ask that all the buttons be relocated in the same order, have contrasting colours, and even an audible signal. This would help give blind and visually impaired people more independence and make travelling by rail more stress free.
I am surprised at the number of people that have joined this group since November 2007.
I lost my sight in 1977 due to problems with the Optic nerve, and I’ve been active in the National League of Blind and disabled (Trade Union for the Blind and Disabled).
I coordinated the successful campaign for free concessionary travel for the blind and partially sighted on buses, ferries, trains, and Glasgow underground. This campaign took from 1978 to 1999.
I am active locally in campaigning for information and accessibility on all fronts.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
some information about my background.
I lost my sight in 1977 after a period with some retraining I started work in blindcraft Edinburgh a supported workshop for blind and disabled in1978. I became interested in campaigning to promote what blind people can do and was active in trade union movement. I did a fair amount of travelling and notice there were a number of travel schemes for the blind so in1987 the national league of blind and disabled campaigned to unify these schemes and I coordinated this in contacting all 32 local councils in Scotland. I met 4 transports ministers in process, I addressed the convention of Scottish local authorities transport committee and anybody involved in transport. In 1999 we were successful in achieving free travel for blind and partially sighted people on buses trains ferries and Glasgow underground this covers all Scotland and allows Scottish people to go to Carlisle, Berwick on tweed. This was followed with a scheme for disabled people and senior citizens on buses only at the moment.
After this I became interested in transport issues and fully support the south suburban line in Edinburgh, the re-opening of the Waverley line to Galashiels and on to Newcastlton and Carlisle this would help tourism in the Scottish borders and also the re-opening of the appropriate stations from Portobello onwards. I think this would help the congestion in Edinburgh and looking at the possibility of opening of the line to Peebles Walkerburn Innerlethan and Galashiels. The viability of opening the metro raillink to Penicuick with appropriate stations.
After this I became interested in transport issues and fully support the south suburban line in Edinburgh, the re-opening of the Waverley line to Galashiels and on to Newcastlton and Carlisle this would help tourism in the Scottish borders and also the re-opening of the appropriate stations from Portobello onwards. I think this would help the congestion in Edinburgh and looking at the possibility of opening of the line to Peebles Walkerburn Innerlethan and Galashiels. The viability of opening the metro raillink to Penicuick with appropriate stations.
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