Built Environment

Visually impaired people face significant obstacles on many streets, endangering their safety. The increase of fast and silent e-scooters, illegally parked cars and thoughtlessly placed obstacles like chairs, tables, A-boards and overhanging bushes pose significant dangers and hinder the free movement and independence of blind and partially sighted individuals.

By driving change in these spaces, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of their abilities.

#StreetsForAll

#StreetsForAll is our campaign aimed at enabling blind and partially sighted individuals to navigate public spaces safely and independently.

Increased street furniture, shared space schemes, continued challenges of pavement parking and a great amount of other hazardous obstacles such as rubbish bins and overgrown hedges, are amongst the issues in our streets and built environment that impact blind and partially sighted people’s ability and confidence to use our public spaces independently and safely.

Many vision impaired people are forced into danger by being expected to step into the road to avoid these obstacles. We work with partners locally and nationally to make our streets accessible so everyone can travel independently with confidence and safety.

Three years ago the government ran a public consultation to find out people’s views on pavement parking – yet we are still to hear the results, with no mention in the recent King’s Speech.

A key area of our work focuses on rented e-scooters left in the middle of pavements or outside building entrances, increasing the chance of falls and trips for blind and partially sighted people. As part of our ongoing work, we have produced advice guides for e-scooter rental operators and local authorities to encourage and promote best practice and safety measures to be taken into place.

We are calling for the government’s guidance on e-scooters to include:

• The installation of Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems (AVAS) on e-scooters
• A reduction to the current 15.5mph speed limit
• Geotagging restrictions to prevent pavement use

Sight Loss Councils are working with a e-scooter operators to increase street safety and help them develop AVAS. They are also working e-scooter and e-bike operators, and local authorities, to ensure that appropriate local parking policies are in place in trial areas, and promoting parking etiquette.

See our campaigns in your local area by Sight Loss Councils.

We campaign for the creation of inclusive built environments, where blind and partially sighted individuals can navigate public spaces independently and safely. We want to empower blind and partially sighted people to enjoy hospitality settings, arts and entertainment venues without hindrance.

Read our policy positions