Forum Brief: Transport for the blind

Guide dog owners are set to welcome the passage of new legislation that outlaws discrimination by minicab drivers.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the RNIB are marking the passage of the Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) Act with a Commons reception.

The act moves towards fully accessible transport for blind and partially sighted people by ensuring that guide dog owners are no longer left stranded by minicab drivers who refuse to allow dogs into their cars.

Forum Response: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Robin Hutchinson, head of communications for Guide Dogs, said: "We have campaigned hard in recent years to ensure that guide dog owners are able to make the most of the mobility and independence their guide dogs offer.

"We are delighted that this new law has been passed. It both protects guide dog owners against further discrimination and gives them redress when they do encounter it.

"The Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs etc) Act plugs a major loophole in anti-discrimination law and we would like to warmly thank Neil Gerrard MP for introducing the Bill and guiding it through the House of Commons, and Lord Ashley of Stoke for steering it through the Lords.

"We now look forward to the act coming into force at the earliest opportunity and to all other forms of public transport being covered by the Disability Discrimination Act."

Forum Response: Disability Rights Commission

Will Dingli, senior press officer for the DRC, told ePolitix.com: "We welcome the passage of the Bill and see it as a step forward in the right direction. We need to have fully accessible transport for blind and partially-sighted people.

"The DRC would like the act to come into force as soon as possible. We would like all forms of transport to be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act which is not currently the case."

Forum Brief: RNIB

Nicholas Russell, campaigns officer at RNIB, said, "Tonight's reception is celebrating the passage into law of an Act that will make a huge difference to the lives of 6000 people in this country who have faced discrimination and difficulty in achieving something that most of us take for granted; getting from A to B.

"The act moves towards fully accessible transport for blind, partially sighted and other disabled people by ensuring that owners of guide and assistance dogs are no longer left stranded by minicab drivers who refuse to allow dogs into their cars."