The RNIB calls for inclusive standards to support accessible streets

New research from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has detailed the ways in which it is becoming more difficult for blind and partially sighted people to navigate streets independently, due to increasing obstacles.

The charity has called on the UK Government to work with disabled people and street environment professionals to creative inclusive standards that could be robustly enforced.

A survey of nearly 1200 blind and partially sighted people in the UK found that 92% report that they have to walk in the road to avoid collisions with cars, bikes, and e-scooters obstructing pavements.

More than one third of blind and partially sighted people have collided with street obstacles, the report suggests, while only one in 10 blind people report feeling confident walking in their own neighbourhoods.

The survey identified five barriers to accessing the streets experienced by those surveyed in the three months prior to the survey, with the top being cars or vehicles parked on the pavement (82%).

Poor quality pavement, such as uneven or cracked surfaces, was the second major barrier (71%), while 56% identified temporary or moveable obstacles such as A-boards, e-scooters, bikes, and bin bags.

Space where a path or pavement is shared with cyclists or e-scooter riders was indicated as a barrier by 52% of those surveyed, and 44% identified a lack of accessible pedestrian crossings.

Erik Matthies, policy lead for travel and transport at RNIB, said: “It’s getting harder for blind and partially sighted people to walk and wheel independently due to more and more obstacles on the streets.”

“E-scooters and dockless bikes left on pavements have added to the issues with cars being parked on pavements and advertising boards strewn all over as they always have been,” Matthies said, adding: “This accumulation of all these trip hazards mean blind and partially sighted people are having to walk on the road just to avoid a collision.”

The survey found that 81% of respondents felt bikes or e-scooters left on pavements make their journeys harder, and 45% of respondents report issues of anxiety or stress due to street obstacles.

More than half of respondents (61%) said they cannot make all of the journeys they want or need to.

Highlighting responses to the survey, Matthies shared: “One respondent described how their guide dog had to be withdrawn due to the increased stresses and now relies on just their cane. Another cited said how anxious they had become of getting injured now.”

Sharing a personal experience, Matthies, who has sight loss, said: “I’m always having to double check or think about how I am going to get around by foot. This is tiring and takes up more time. It makes me feel unsafe too.”

The findings have been published in a new report by RNIB In My Way: Navigating pedestrian journeys with sight loss.

The report identifies steps which the RNIB suggests the UK Government, devolved administrations, and local authorities “should and can take to make getting around more accessible and inclusive for all.”

Matthies commented: “Decision makers need to step up and play their part in making the streets work for everyone. Local authorities need to maintain pavements during roadworks. They also need to better monitor food delivery courier cyclists, and where powers are devolved and hire schemes exist – regulate hire bikes and e-scooters. A UK-wide law against pavement parking needs to be brought in and then enforced as a priority.”