As part of October Transport Month, the City of Tshwane commemorated World Sight Day on 14 October 2021, in collaboration with the South African Guide Dog Association for the Blind.
MMC for Roads and Transport, Councillor Dikeledi Selowa says the commemoration event focused on demonstrating how the City’s A Re Yeng bus system is designed for universal access, as it is able to accommodate a variety of end-users’ needs.
“To demonstrate A Re Yeng user-friendliness for the visually impaired, four guide dogs, three of which still in training and one already a service dog, were oriented around the bus system,” added Selowa.
She said that the orientation had four training objectives, the first was to access a public building which was Tshwane House, the municipal headquarters. The second was to access an A Re Yeng Bus. the third was to access an A Re Yeng station and forth was to access a shopping mall along the Line 2B corridor.
“Our four-legged friends, Hazel, Feather, Fay and Yara took to the programme exceptionally well travelling from Tshwane House to the Hillcrest shopping mall with a stop at the Loftus A Re Yeng station,” Selowa said.
She added that this exercise has set a benchmark and exceptional standard for inclusive public transport, it also enables independence and freedom of movement for people with disabilities.
Concluding, Selowa said, “I wish to congratulate the SA Guide Dog Association for the Blind for the sterling work that they do to champion the rights of people who are visually impaired.”
