11:30: At last at the Gautrain terminal, a longish walk, I am glibly trusting that Barklee was taking notes for I am not sure I could find it again, but I reckon that he could. Here we are accosted by the inevitable and regrettable, all too common, occurrence, and the bane of all guide dog users - the security guard who either missed the lecture on access for guide dogs, (or more probably was never taught this rather important bit of information). After firmly assuring him that Barklee was indeed a dog but a dog that was allowed to be there, we managed to get exactly 3 metres before encountering another, this time more assertive security enthusiast, with the same challenge. This has to be a record! Surely Gautrain have thought of this? I need not have worried. Suddenly Julia appears, introducing herself as Gautrains Marketing Manager, and welcomes me as, she believes, the first guide dog user to make use of yhe Gautrain outside of the previous publicity and testing occasions. She was not amused by the tales of the security guards zealousness either. She points out to me, somewhat redundantly, clear signage, I must presume, evidently states that guide dogs are allowed. A little note is in order here: it is an extraordinary truth that despite the good intentions of most organisations about access for guide dogs, the fact remains that security is almost always outsourced, and sadly this little bit of service information seems to be diligently omitted in training by all security labour brokers. - Jeremy Opperman - See more at: sancb.org.za/article/blind-travellers-experience-travelling-gautrain#sthash.g7tJXwyd.dpuf
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:08:42 +0000
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