RNIB has awarded Nottingham City Council transport services exemplar status in the following areas, recognising that these approaches could be emulated across the industry by other providers in order to improve access to transport for blind and partially sighted people:
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Adding tactile buttons at bus stops
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Bus stop plate simplification
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Creating new guidance for blind and partially sighted customers
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Engagement with sight loss organisations and individuals
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Introducing a Mobility Citycard.
About Nottingham City Council transport services
Nottingham is home to a multi award-winning public transport authority and Nottingham City Council's subsidised Link bus network alone provides seven million passenger journeys a year.
Tactile buttons and bus stop plate simplification
Nottingham City Council has made it easier for blind and partially sighted people to locate the right bus stop in the city centre by placing tactile buttons on bus stop timetables. The tactile buttons use a code that identifies the street and the number of the bus stop, for example the second bus stop on King Street would be K2. This allows blind and partially sighted people to find the right bus stop more easily, especially where there are banks of bus stops or multiple bus stops along one road.
In addition, responding to feedback that bus stop plates can be difficult to read, Nottingham City Council has been working with local operators to convert the old plates to a new simpler version. The new style plate consistently uses the Nottingham City Council logo at the bottom and no longer includes the operator logo. The new plates also use a larger clearer font and are in black and white for maximum colour contrast.
Transport guide for blind and partially sighted users
In conjunction with RNIB and a local sight loss charity, Nottingham City Council has developed a transport guide for blind and partially sighted transport users in Nottingham. The award-winning 'Linking the journey' guide provides information about travelling by bus and tram, including hints and tips for catching and getting off the bus, and information about where to get travel products and advice in Nottingham. The guide is available in braille, large print and audio formats.
The Mobility Citycard
The Council has also introduced the Mobility Citycard, which offers free bus and tram travel, as well as discounts at over 70 local shops and services. The card offers free bus travel in excess of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, which usually only applies between 9.30am and 11pm, Monday to Friday, and at all times at weekends and on bank holidays. However, the Mobility Citycard extends free bus travel in Nottingham to before 9.30am and after 11pm.
Are your services exemplary too?
We want to celebrate more best practice and we are keen to hear from transport providers who believe they have a service which is already going that extra mile for blind and partially sighted people. Get in touch with us to share your best practice.
Tel: 01733 37 53 45
Email: transport@rnib.org.uk