Guide dogs allowed on London Underground escalators – Caroline Pidgeon campaign success

Following a campaign by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, the legal ban on guide dogs travelling on the escalators on the London Underground is being lifted on Wednesday.

Transport for London and the Government are changing a by-law which originated in the era of wooden escalators which could expand and contract depending on heat and humidity. This meant larger gaps have to be left by default than on modern metal escalators, with resulting fears that guide dogs (now often called assistance dogs) might get their paws stuck on days when the heat and humidity was against them.

The old rule therefore required guide dogs – and police dogs – to be carried on escalators.

Following Caroline Pidgeon raising the issue with London Mayor Boris Johnson, picking up on previous work by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the Mayor stalled for three months – failing to reply to correspondence on the issue before finally agreeing to the change.

The change does not affect other dogs. Or cats.