Wrexham: Blind bus passenger on biggest travel challenge
Just one-in-10 blind or partially sighted people can make all the journeys they want or need to by bus in Wales, according to a report recently released by RNIB Cymru.
Buses are a vital mode of transport for blind and partially sighted people to access work, healthcare, education, and community activities.
RNIB Cymru's 'All Aboard' report shows that nearly half (43 per cent) find making familiar bus journeys either fairly or very difficult and this rose to nearly nine in ten (87 per cent) for unfamiliar journeys.
The charity highlights challenges at every stage of a person with sight loss' bus journey, from planning their travel, to getting to the bus stop, and getting on and off the bus.
Rob Williams, 30, from Ruabon, Wrexham, said: 'The biggest issue for me is definitely drivers. Their attitudes and training feel so inconsistent which is frustrating because I'm often dependent on them to let me know when I'm at the right stop.
'I'm totally blind, so without someone telling me where I am I've no way of knowing, especially on an unfamiliar route.
"In the past drivers have remembered once we've gone past the stop and I've been dropped off in the rain on the side of a main road without a pavement, which wasn't ideal.
'One time I was told we'd gone past my stop and I had to choose between walking back three miles or waiting several hours for the next bus going the other way.'
Other findings in the report, based on feedback from blind and partially sighted people in Wales, included:
Just two per cent can access timetables at bus stops.
One in four (27 per cent) can't easily identify their local bus stop.
80 per cent say that audio announcements are 'sometimes, rarely, or never' present.
Nearly three in four (71 per cent) say bus drivers don't have suitable training to support blind and partially sighted people
Based on the findings of its report RNIB Cymru is making recommendations to Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and local bus operators on how they can make their services more inclusive and accessible.
These include making sure that digital and physical timetables are accessible to all, improving the design of bus stops and stations, and guarantees of a consistent level of audio information and support on board buses.
Welsh Government has recently introduced a Bus Services Wales Bill in the Senedd, something RNIB Cymru hopes will make bus travel more accessible to the 112,000 blind and partially sighted people living in Wales.
Ansley Workman, RNIB Cymru Country Director said: 'Bus travel is absolutely vital for blind and partially sighted people. Unfortunately, bus services in Wales are failing their blind and partially sighted passengers by being shockingly inaccessible.
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'Nobody with sight loss should feel like they're having to overcome hurdles at every stage of their bus journey. This is why our report doesn't just highlight problems, it offers lots of solutions.
"We want to see bus planning tools that are accessible and work with assistive technology, safer routes to and from bus stops that are designed to be inclusive.
"On board buses there also need to be changes, with reliable audio announcements available on every bus, and drivers who feel confident to support their passengers with sight loss.
'These improvements could be absolutely life changing for blind and partially sighted people who rely on accessible bus travel to be live a full and active life.'
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