Bus drivers in Merthyr Tydfil got a taste of what life is like for people with sight loss (Friday 4 September) as they swapped places with their passengers.
Stagecoach in south Wales, VIM (Visual Impairment Merthyr Tydfil) and RNIB Cymru teamed up for a special “Swap with Me” event designed to build understanding between drivers and bus users at the bus depot at Pant Industrial Estate.
Drivers wore special “sim specs”, which simulate different types of eye conditions, to experience what it is like to navigate to and on a bus with sight loss. Blind and partially sighted bus users learnt about the challenges of communicating with customers from the driver’s seat.
Throughout a ‘Swap with Me’ experience bus drivers are paired with a blind or partially sighted passenger so that they can talk about how they feel and what advice can be shared.
Stagecoach recently signed up to RNIB’s street charter at its headquarters in Perth, Scotland.
Partially-sighted bus user Margaret Barlow from Dowlais said: “It was a great idea to take part in the swap and for drivers to understand the difficulties that we encounter. I also wear a hearing aid so I explained how important it was to me that the driver speaks directly to me. The most difficult thing for me very often is finding a seat, particularly when the driver has pulled away while I’m still standing.”
Bus driver Phil ‘Patch’ Jones from Porth wore sim specs which replicated cataracts. He said: “It was a scary and intimidating experience. I felt vulnerable and disorientated even though I know the layout of the bus, I didn’t know where I was on it. We had a real insight into everyday challenges that blind people can encounter, like counting change, shopping or catching a bus.
Partially-sighted bus user Val Lloyd from Merthyr Tydfil took a turn in the driver’s cabin and experienced the noise levels that bus drivers often encounter. She said: “I really didn’t like how claustrophobic it felt being in the driver’s seat. I’ve learned a lot today.”
Huw Harding from Merthyr Tydfil uses a long white cane. He said: “As people with sight loss, we have a responsibility to let drivers know that we need help too. The white cane is often an important visual clue, but particularly in summer – when lots of people wear sunglasses too, it isn’t as easy for drivers to know what type of help people might need.”
Ceri Jackson, Director of RNIB Cymru, said: “Local bus travel is a lifeline which provides an important means of transport and independence for blind and partially sighted people. Stagecoach has made a great step towards making bus travel more accessible for people with sight loss.”
Richard Davies, Commercial Director for Stagecoach Wales, added: “The drivers from our Merthyr depot who took part in the event all found it enlightening. The event fell shortly after Stagecoach signed up to RNIB’s Bus Charter which confirmed our commitment to accessible transport.”
