FOR people with sight loss, buses are often the only affordable way to travel independently to work, for appointments or to visit friends and family.

However, the difficulties blind and partially-sighted people face in making journeys that other people often take for granted are unacceptable and often unnecessary.

I am registered blind and I use my local bus service to get to the city centre for shopping. I have experienced good and bad drivers but I definitely feel that things could be improved. One time I pressed the bell to request my stop and the driver went straight past it. He said he would stop further up the road but that wouldn’t help me as I don’t know the route from there. I rely on familiar routes. I had to go all the way to the bus terminal and wait for the bus going back to my stop – a waste of my time.

Nine in ten blind and partiallysighted people cannot see to hail the bus they want and eight out of ten have missed a bus because it didn’t stop.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People’s Stop for me, Speak to me campaign calls on bus operators to stop for blind and partially sighted people waiting at a bus stop and speak to people like me when we board the bus because the majority of us struggle to get clear information from the driver.

I do not believe any driver wants to leave anyone behind or ignore a blind customer’s request for verbal information. I have had some good experiences on buses but there are too many occasions when I have had bad experiences and am put off using my local bus service.

Join our campaign. If you think blind or partially sighted people shouldn’t be left behind at bus stops visit rnib.org.uk/bus

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