The guide dog and the bus driver

Before making my very serious complaint, I must emphasise that this concerns an individual and not the public bus service. In fact, as a guide dog owner, with all the independence this gives, I am a heavy user of the public transport system and I have found the vast majority of the bus drivers to be both friendly and helpful.

Now for the facts. On the morning of October 2, at 9 a.m., I waited, with my guide dog, at the bus stop in Mrabat Street, Sliema, to catch the 42 bus to Mater Dei Hospital for an appointment. The bus came past and did not stop. Fortunately, or so I thought, the bus was held up at the narrow bit of the road. I, therefore, went up to the bus. The bus driver then closed the door and ignored my repeated knocking.

This is not the place to assert the legal right of all guide dogs to travel on every form of public transport but I do have a message for that "socially conscious" gentleman driving the bus.

I hope you have and will continue to have the eyesight of a hawk because if you ever became visually impaired you might have the misfortune to meet someone who behaves like you.