Final week for applications to £50m Better Bus Fund

Guide Dogs were delighted with the announcement of the £50m Better Bus Areas funding scheme by the Department for Transport in late 2011, seeing it as a way of increasing the use of public transport.

We were particularly encouraged to note that one of the examples used by the Department for applying to the fund was providing better information to passengers. Guide Dogs continues to campaign for the introduction of audio-visual announcements on buses – a vital way of providing on-board information to passengers. As well as benefiting blind and partially sighted people, this would ensure all bus passengers would have clear and consistent information about the next stop and final destination of the bus they are taking.

If bus operators (working with the local authorities in their areas) have submitted, or are considering submitting, proposals which includes the provision of audio-visual announcements on their buses, Guide Dogs would be delighted to support this. We will happily provide a letter to accompany applications explaining the many positive benefits of audio-visual announcements for all passengers. We can also assist with the completion of your application form if you have not already done so.

More information about the scheme can be found at

www.dft.gov.uk/publications/better-bus-areas-fund/. Applications close on Friday, 24th February 2012.