TRANSPORT FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED: A LOOK AT URBAN BRITAIN

Abstract

There is much inequality of transport provision in Britain for the disabled and other vulnerable sections of the community. I am myself disabled and will use my experiences of being partially sighted. My disability ensures that I am unable to drive a motor car, and am therefore dependent on buses, trains, cycling and walking. For these modes of transport, provision is least developed and in some areas declining rather than developing. Problems experienced by visually impaired people, whether partially sighted or blind, are common to many other sections of the community who may be, or perceive themselves to be, vulnerable. These would include ethnic minority groups, the old or young, and physically disabled people using wheelchairs. Although the difficulties faced by disabled people are similar around the world, I will only compare the provision of facilities of urban Britain with those of urban western Europe, where in many countries transport planning has catered for the needs of disabled people. Having been fortunate enough to visit India, I recognize that the facilities for disabled people in urban Britain are substantially greater than those of many developing countries.