Blind say buses in West Midlands don't cater for their needs

[dutchman]

Blind and partially sighted people are being cut off from the world around them because buses do not cater for their needs, a survey has found.

The Road to Nowhere Survey, by charity The Guide Dogs for the Blind, revealed 81 per cent of people with sight loss in the West Midlands said they were unable to enjoy the freedom others enjoy because they find it difficult travelling by bus.

It found people have missed out on jobs or had to cancel appointments because of the problem. The survey also found 59 per cent were put off visiting friends and family and 68 per cent have missed out on social occasions like birthday parties.

It has led to the organisation calling for talking buses to be made commonplace, providing audio announcements for bus routes, destinations and next stops.

The group also wants more training for bus drivers to support its blind and partially sighted passengers.

Guide dog user Maggie Bowes, who lives in Warwick, said: “I need to use buses at least four times a week.

“I cannot see the bus coming and always wait at bus stops so that I am clearly visible to the driver. It is not uncommon for them to drive straight past which makes me really worried because I will be late for appointments.

"The problems are even worse when it comes to getting off at the correct stop. When I get on the bus I always ask the driver if they can tell me when we reach the stop I need.

“Drivers often forget to tell me so that when I do get off I am completely disorientated and do not know where I am.

“It is no good the driver telling me to walk back to the stop I wanted because I don’t know how to get there.

“Often the only way for me to reach my destination is to ask a stranger for help to find out where I am and then phone for a taxi which is very expensive.”

Richard Leaman, chief executive for Guide Dogs, said: “Buses are a vital way for people with sight loss to get out and about freely and independently but many feel excluded from bus travel because of a lack of accessible information.

“We urge bus companies to fit more buses with audio visual technology for the benefit of all passengers.”