Following a campaign by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, the legal ban on guide dogs travelling on the escalators on the London Underground is being lifted on Wednesday.
Transport for London and the Government are changing a by-law which originated in the era of wooden escalators which could expand and contract depending on heat and humidity. This meant larger gaps have to be left by default than on modern metal escalators, with resulting fears that guide dogs (now often called assistance dogs) might get their paws stuck on days when the heat and humidity was against them.
The old rule therefore required guide dogs – and police dogs – to be carried on escalators.
Following Caroline Pidgeon raising the issue with London Mayor Boris Johnson, picking up on previous work by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the Mayor stalled for three months – failing to reply to correspondence on the issue before finally agreeing to the change.
The change does not affect other dogs. Or cats.
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2 Comments
I’m sorry but this was nothign to do with Caroline. I worked with TFL 3 years ago when this project commenced and the whole thing got stalled over some other byelaws which needed to change also. SHame on you Caroline for taking credit some something you didn’t do.
Of course the greatest credit should go to Guide Dogs for the Blind, but I think Jemma needs to answer the question why did things stall? Why did TfL and the Department for Transport not sort this issue out years ago?
It was almost certainly due to pressure from people like Caroline Pidgeon – and it should be said Norman Baker – that this issue has finally been resolved:
As an example of Caroline Pidgeon raising this issue this is a webcast to a Mayor’s Question TIme earlier this year:
http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/webcasts 23rd March 2011 – starting at 48 minutes and 40 seconds into the webcast