Many travel providers and local councils are doing a great deal to make it easier for blind and partially sighted people to travel safely and independently.
Southern Railway
Southern Railway is working towards making journeys on its trains much safer and more enjoyable for blind and partially sighted people by introducing several new initiatives such as a Priority Seat Card and tactile maps.
The Priority Seat Card is free and can be used to show train staff and other passengers that the holder is entitled to a designated priority seat on Southern trains. The priority seats also have clearer signage and different colour seats on their newly refurbished trains so that they're easier to find.
One Priority Card holder said "It is very empowering and a superb innovation - I hope it will continue and spread to other train providers."
Southern has also invested in visual and tactile maps called Maps for All at their Lewes, Three Bridges and Worthing stations. The maps are designed for blind and partially sighted customers and provide an accessible overview of each station including basic layout, facilities and seating information. Southern are also planning to install more Maps for All at other stations soon.
Southern provides train services between central London and the South coast. You can contact Southern about the Priority Seat Card, tactile maps and arranging assistance for your journey by calling 0800 138 1016 or emailing myjourney@southernrailway.com
Nottingham City Council
Nottingham City Council is making journeys on its buses easier with tactile buttons on bus stops and a new transport guide for blind and partially sighted residents.
Nottingham City Council have installed tactile buttons across city centre bus stops so that blind and partially sighted users are able to identify which bus stop they are at, something that has been problem because of banks of bus stops. Bus stops on the main routes into the city centre have also been given these tactile buttons. The buttons identify the street name and number of the bus stop, for example: K2 for the second bus stop on King Street.
Nottingham City Council has also produced a transport guide for blind and partially sighted residents. The 'Linking the Journey' guide offers:
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tips about getting on and off the bus
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information about the tactile buttons at bus stops
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how to get bus number cards
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information about the local Shopmobility service.
The guide is available in large print, braille and audio formats from information points throughout the city, in libraries and Transport Travel Centres.
Nottingham City Council have also added to the benefits of The Mobility Citycard. The Mobility Citycard is available for free for all residents with a qualifying disability. Card holders get free travel as part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, which allows free bus travel between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and at all times on weekends and bank holidays. However, Nottingham City Council has increased the benefits by including travel before 9.30am and after 11pm, as well as, inclusive tram travel.
Brighton and Hove Council
Brighton and Hove Council have used RNIB React to ensure that blind and partially sighted people are able to take advantage of the bus information boards that sighted people have become so familiar with. The RNIB React system provides audio information about a location from signs which can be activated using a small handheld device. When buttons on the device are pressed they trigger information from speaker units along the route.
Blind and partially sighted people in Brighton and Hove are now able to carry a handheld device which they can press to hear information about which buses are approaching the bus stop and when the buses are due to arrive. There are currently 20 bus stops in Brighton and two in East Sussex that have this system, with more planned.
RNIB React has been installed in over 13 locations across the UK including Birmingham, Leeds, London and Belfast.
To find out if there's a RNIB React system in your area visit our RNIB React webpages or contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk