Stagecoach ‘Meet the Bus’ event in Gloucestershire
Friday 20 May 10:00am - 1:00pm
Stagecoach West, Gloucester Transport Hub, Station Road, Gloucester, GL1 1SZ
Stagecoach West, in partnership with Sight Loss Councils, would like to invite blind and partially sighted Gloucestershire residents to a public event being held this Friday (20th May 2022). ‘Meet the Bus’ will give visitors the chance to familiarise themselves with a bus layout, speak to drivers and training managers about their experiences and discuss how changes can be made to improve the accessibility of buses in Gloucestershire.
Stagecoach West is keen to improve the experience for their blind and partially sighted passengers and are working closely with Sight Loss Councils which advocates for the needs of blind and partially sighted people.
Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director, Stagecoach West says:
“We’re constantly looking for ways to improve our service for all of our customers and to remain as accessible and inclusive as we can. This is a great opportunity to meet our customers, gain valuable feedback and see where we can improve.”
Alun Davies, Engagement Manager, for Gloucestershire Sight Loss Council says: “Public transport is such a vital service to blind and partially sighted people and we are very pleased to be working with Stagecoach to enhance the awareness of their drivers and other staff.
“This will be a great opportunity for Stagecoach staff to ask questions that they may have and also for blind and partially sighted people to ask questions about bus travel too.
“The past two years have been exceptionally challenging for bus providers and blind and partially sighted people and so it is extremely encouraging that Stagecoach have been able to organise this event.”
No pre booking or tickets required.
ENDS
About Sight Loss Councils
Sight Loss Councils, funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust and led by blind and partially sighted volunteers, advocate the needs of blind and partially sighted people, and influence positive change.
SLCs are currently working in Birmingham, Black Country, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Merseyside, Gloucestershire, London, Bedfordshire, Tyne & Wear and Merseyside. Each SLC is made up of around 10-12 blind and partially sighted members who meet monthly to discuss accessibility issues and plan projects in their regions under the six priority themes of education, employment, technology, health and social care, transport, sport and leisure. www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk
Over the next year Thomas Pocklington Trust will be extending its SLCs across the country. To find out more visit: www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/become-a-member
Stagecoach West:
- At Stagecoach West, we are proud to serve communities throughout the West covering Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.
- Our team of around 1500 people help to connect over 40 million passengers every year in the West across a fleet of 570 buses and coaches.
About Stagecoach:
- Stagecoach is one of Britain’s leading public transport businesses, helping connect communities for 40 years.
- Our team of 24,000 people and our 8,300 buses, coaches and trams are part of the fabric of daily life in England, Scotland and Wales.
- We connect people with jobs, skills and training, bring customers to our high streets, connect tourists with visitor attractions, and draw families, friends and communities together.
- Stagecoach is Britain’s biggest bus and coach operator. We run Megabus, the market-leading value coach operator, and Scottish Citylink, which connects 200 locations across Scotland. In Sheffield, we also operate the Supertram light rail network.
- We are proud to serve communities in major cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Hull, Sheffield, Oxford and Cambridge, as well as rural locations from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to Wales and south-west England.
- Our impact is about far more than transport – we support the economy, help cut congestion on our roads, protect our environment and air quality, boost safety on our roads, and contribute to a healthier nation.