MPs back service dog access to public transport after Paralympian turned away in Athens
Source: in-cyprus.com
The Transport Committee has backed a bill guaranteeing service dogs access to all public transport and taxis after an incident in Athens where a taxi driver refused to allow Paralympian Karolina Pelendritou’s assistance dog into the vehicle.
Movement of Ecologists’ leader Stavros Papadouris, who submitted the bill, said there is a gap in legislation. He said the bill secures the right of people with disabilities to travel on public transport with service dogs but added that parliament needs to examine other issues, including training and costs.
The Transport Ministry, Road Transport Department and police agreed with the bill, though concerns were raised about whether the transport minister should have authority over service dog equipment and breed.
The Law Office stressed the need for a holistic approach. Its representative said authority for licensing service dogs may need to be given to another ministry.
During the discussion, organisations raised concerns about the bill’s provisions, stressing the need to ensure dogs are fully trained. OEV said the impact on fellow passengers or drivers must be considered.
POVEK expressed doubts and called for a solution on how to transport animals. It noted that people with disabilities now have their own specialised vehicles for transport.
The inter-city taxi association representative said they accept service dog transport but have faced problems, as passengers have complained about the presence of service dogs in vehicles.
Christakis Nicolaides, president of the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled, stressed that people must be able to move around independently and as they wish.
He made clear that public transport is obliged to accept service dogs. “The problem is with taxis. Tourists who come from abroad don’t face such problems when they have a service dog with them,” he said.
He noted that in some countries dogs are trained to follow up to 150 commands, whilst in Greece dogs follow around 50 commands.
Nicolaides said there is an issue with funding to obtain a service dog. “Years ago the police had taken on the training of 10 guide dogs. Unfortunately, the programme did not continue,” he said.
DISY MP Demetris Demetriou said in his intervention that this should be unnecessary legislation. “If we were in a normal country, this issue shouldn’t even be discussed. It reminded me of Ms Koukouma’s proposal years ago about public breastfeeding or the proposal for priority for pregnant women. There shouldn’t need to be legislative regulation for the obvious,” he said.
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