Shared surface streets perceived as 'no go' areas by blind and partially sighted people says new national survey

Shared surface streets perceived as 'no go' areas by blind and partially sighted people says new national survey

Research commissioned by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) has confirmed that shared surface streets – where vehicles share the surface with pedestrians – are becoming ‘no go’ areas for many blind and partially sighted people.

In the survey of 500 blind and partially sighted people, carried out by leading market research company TNS-BRMB, 9 out of 10 participants interviewed said that they had concerns about using shared surface streets, with 6 out of 10 avoiding these streets or very reluctant to use them.

Nearly 50 percent of respondents who had used a shared surface street had experienced an accident or a 'near miss' on at least one occasion, something which in 85 percent of cases affected their confidence.

Reduced confidence and higher levels of anxiety in shared surface streets stemmed predominantly from a lack of boundaries such as kerbs and crossing points which makes orientation difficult, together with difficulty identifying approaching traffic and crossing the street.

Tom Pey, Guide Dogs’ Director of External Affairs, explained: "Whilst shared surface streets are hailed as the solution to traffic and pedestrian related ills, it has become very clear, through our work with the blind and partially sighted community, that the promise of ‘safer streets for all’ is not being delivered.”

According to Pey, an increase in dialogue with affected parties is the only way to reach a real solution for all. He explained that shared space developments could be more successful and less challenging for people with sight loss if there was some consistency in their design, particularly in relation to the way areas for vulnerable pedestrians are delineated. So far the only effective means of delineation that has been demonstrated is a kerb with regular dropped kerb crossings to meet the needs of all disabled people.

Whilst the research focuses on the impact of shared surface designs on blind and partially sighted people, Guide Dogs believes that the concerns are also shared by people with other disabilities, and calls on the Department for Transport to research this.

Mr Pey continued: “We fully support the stated aims of the Department for Transport to produce evidence-based guidance on how the shared space concept can be made to work for blind and partially sighted and other disabled people. We are concerned that their current research may not do so and we would urge them to ensure that is addressed.

“Shared surface areas are becoming ‘no-go’ for blind and partially sighted people in towns and cities across the UK. We do not feel that the exclusion of any group is an acceptable ‘compromise’ for the shared space ‘dream’ to be realised.

For further information about Guide Dogs’ campaign against shared surface streets, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/sharedstreets