Prioritise street safety
Being able to get out and about independently is something most people take for granted. However, a quarter of people with sight loss do not feel able to do so due to the obstacles and challenges they face on our streets and other public spaces.
Local authorities play a critical role in ensuring our public spaces are accessible for everyone, including disabled and older people.
Research by UCL and Guide Dogs investigated the challenges for disabled people travelling in areas with features such as Floating Island Bus Stops and Shared Bus Stop Boarders. The research found significant design flaws with both types of bus stop, which cause fear and distress for people with sight loss and other disabilities, and lead some to avoid using buses altogether. Following Guide Dogs’ campaign, the Government has now paused the installation of Shared Bus Stop Boarders, as well as issuing new design guidance and commissioning further research to investigate how these types of bus stop can be made safe for disabled people.
As stewards of our public spaces, local authorities must make every effort to ensure our streets are accessible, so people with sight loss can navigate public spaces confidently and independently.
We are calling on councillors to make sure their local authority:
- Conducts an audit of their local area to establish how accessible street environments are for people with sight loss.
- Consult with a wide range of disabled people – including people with sight loss – and disability organisations when making changes to the built environment.
- Follows guidance from disability organisations on creating accessible public spaces, transport hubs, and buildings, such as Guide Dogs’ guidance ‘Making the built environment inclusive’.
- Pauses the installation of Shared Bus Stop Borders, in line with Government guidance.
- Pauses the roll out of Floating Island Bus Stops until further research into how they can be made safe for disabled people is completed.
