Eye-Opening Bus Driver Sessions Hit 100
An initiative helping bus drivers better understand the experiences of blind and partially sighted passengers is celebrating a major milestone today.
Launched by national sight loss charity, RNIB Scotland, the ‘Swap with Me’ project is designed to improve accessibility on public transport by bringing together bus drivers and people with sight loss for a hands-on learning experience.
The programme has now marked its 100th session and has engaged nearly a thousand drivers across Scotland, in partnership with Lothian Buses, First Bus and McGill’s Buses, helping to build understanding, confidence and more inclusive journeys for passengers.
At each session, drivers have 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 also discuss their role in making the journey as accessible as possible, while participants with sight loss have a chance to sit in the cab to gain a better sense of what the job entails from the driver’s perspective.
With an estimated 183,000 people in Scotland living with sight loss, the ‘Swap with Me’ programme forms a key part of RNIB Scotland’s wider work to improve transport accessibility, working with operators to embed inclusive practices and ensure services are usable for everyone.
A celebration was held on Wednesday 18 March at the charity’s headquarters to mark the programme’s 100th ‘Swap with Me’ session. The event brought together drivers, volunteers and partners to recognise the milestone, celebrate the impact of the programme so far, and highlight ongoing efforts to make bus travel more inclusive.
Eileen Clarkson, Campaigns Officer at RNIB Scotland"Reaching 100 sessions is a fantastic achievement. Today’s celebration recognises how these sessions are changing attitudes and helping make bus travel more accessible for people with sight loss across Scotland”
Sylvia Paton, a blind volunteer“Bus travel can be a lifeline for those of us who rely on it, but many blind and partially sighted people still face challenges when using services. I’ve experienced how difficult it can be at different points in a journey, from knowing when the right bus has arrived to feeling confident about where to get off.
“If drivers have a better understanding of the barriers people with sight loss face, they can take that extra bit of time to support passengers and make a real difference. Sharing these experiences helps make bus services better and more accessible for everyone.”
Join our mailing list
If you are a Visionary member or partner and would like to receive regular news and updates about our work, then you can sign up to our mailing list.
You can find out more about becoming a Visionary member on our Eligibility and Pricing page