Dundee bus drivers swap with blind passengers
Dundee bus drivers with RNIB Scotland volunteers
Drivers at the Xplore Dundee depot took part in a hands-on session this week to better understand the experiences of blind and partially sighted passengers.
The company held a ‘Swap With Me’ event in which volunteers from RNIB Scotland explained the challenges they face when travelling on public transport, and how the drivers’ actions can help make bus travel as accessible as possible for all users. The charity estimates that around 193,000 people in Scotland live with sight loss that impacts daily life.
At the event at Xplore Dundee, drivers had the opportunity to wear sim-specs; glasses that simulate different eye conditions to experience first-hand the barriers that blind and partially sighted passengers face when trying to hail a bus, buy a ticket and board.
Drivers discussed their role in making the journey as accessible as possible, while participants with sight loss had a chance to sit in the cab to gain a better sense of what the job entails from the driver's perspective.
This is the latest step in an ongoing relationship between RNIB Scotland and McGill's Bus Group, which has already seen monthly 'Swap With Me' sessions roll out across Johnstone and Larbert.
Kacper Pasternak, Training & Recruitment Officer for McGill’s Buses, said:
“It’s fantastic to see our ‘Swap With Me’ sessions being rolled out more widely across the group following their success within McGill’s operations. By extending this initiative, even more of our colleagues can gain valuable, first-hand insight into the challenges faced by blind and partially sighted passengers. By learning directly from those with lived experience, we can continue to shape services that work better for everyone.”
Daryl Stewart, an RNIB Scotland volunteer who took part in the event, added:
“There are wee things that make a huge difference to me with low vision, whether that’s a driver telling you where to tap your card, or confirming the route number when you board. You don't always get that, and it can make the whole journey stressful for someone with low vision.
“It was good to speak to drivers about exactly what barriers we face, and for the drivers to wear the sim- specs so they can have an idea what it’s like to have a visual impairment.”