YORK’S biggest bus operator is being urged to help its passengers - particularly those with visual or hearing problems - ensure they get off at the right stop.

Three charities have written a joint letter to First York managing director Marc Bichtemann to press for audio and visual bus stop warnings to be installed on his firm’s vehicles.

York Older People’s Assembly, York Blind and Partially Sighted Society and the Wilberforce Trust said they were concerned about the lack of progress in providing such displays on First buses in York.

“Representing, as we do, older citizens of York and other citizens with a sight or hearing loss, the absence of audio/visual displays is increasingly frustrating,” they said.

“The benefits to residents and tourists alike are not just for those with a visual/hearing difficulty but for all of us, particularly during the darker nights, which would be immense.

“Simply to know where you are and the bus stop you want being shown and announced on every bus at the same time would be a measurable improvement.”

They said First provided such facilities on buses in other towns and cities and they were at a loss to understand why they could not be provided in York.

They also said the Government had included a requirement in the Bus Services Act for all bus operators to provide audible and visual announcements, although regulations to bring this in to force had yet to be laid.

Asked by The Press to comment on the charities’ demands, Mr Bichtemann said: “We will be introducing audio visual technology onto our Park & Ride services within the next 18 months and we are exploring other options to include this technology on our city services, for the near future.”