‘Swap with Me’ in Hull

A group of blind and partially sighted people have taken part in an event that saw them swap places with bus drivers in Hull to demonstrate the barriers they face when travelling on buses. The event was part of the Royal National Institute of Blind People’s (RNIB) recently launched bus campaign: Stop for me, Speak to me. It was a joint event between RNIB, Hull and East Riding Institute for the Blind (HERIB), ViAbility, Hull City Council, East Yorkshire Motor Services and Stagecoach. Entitled ‘Swap with Me’, it saw drivers take part in tasks such as trying to board a bus and paying for a ticket while blindfolded. By experiencing first hand the difficulties their visually impaired customers face, it is hoped it will prompt operators to take on board the campaign’s key asks.

EYMS Training Manager, Darren Kendrew, said, ‘This is an excellent opportunity to improve both the customer experience and our drivers’ understanding of how to meet the needs of all our customers, including those with sight loss.’

Operations Manager for Stagecoach in Hull, David Lee-Kong, said, ‘The “Swap with Me” event will build on the dedicated awareness training that all of our 300 strong driving team at Hull have already benefited from. This is also an excellent opportunity for our staff to answer any questions and offer reassurance to customers who rely on our network of services throughout the city.’

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