Audio visual equipment on buses can support a wide range of disabled passengers to feel sufficiently confident to use buses. It enables them to access education, employment and other services, whether or not they are familiar with the route they are travelling.
Through the Bus Services Act 2017, accessible information powers require all bus operators who operate local services across Great Britain to provide audio and visual route and next-stop announcements on board buses.
The Government has also committed, through the Inclusive Transport Strategy, to investing £2 million towards ensuring audio visual equipment is installed on buses. The Real Time Information Group, who support good practice regarding communications technology on public transport, will work with the Department for Transport to allocate the £2 million to small bus operators, for audio and visual on-board information.
I understand concerns relating to the pace of the rollout of audio visual announcements on buses and am reassured by plans to publish the response to the accessible information consultation and lay the Accessible Information Regulation. Subject to Parliamentary approval, these Regulations will commence this year.
