Audio bus displays a 'game changer' says blind man

New displays for electric buses have been a "game changer" for visually impaired people, a blind man has said.

Hugh Spence, 34, from Northampton, was part of a team of 20 people with sight issues to try out and provide feedback on, the new Stagecoach Midlands ePaper displays across the town.

He said having something so simple, that included buttons with braille and spoken information, just "worked" and that he felt people had been "listened to".

He added that usually, while waiting for the bus, he would just have to keep his arm out for possibly up to 10 minutes, and then ask the driver or another traveller what number it was.

Spence, who works for NAB Sight Support for Northamptonshire, said he took part in a two-and-a-half hour trip on 30 September, around Moulton Park, to test out the live information display.

He said the displays would make bus travel much easier, providing more independence for blind people.

He said: "A lot of people who are visually impaired are over 65 and new technology can be hard for them, so having something simple works.

"It's a game changer. You get to feel the buttons on the bottom right hand corner with braille, it's really tactile for people that can't read."

The displays give information about the next five buses to arrive.

Spence said: "Old buses you could hear from miles [away]. Electric buses - until you hear those doors open you wouldn't hear the bus has turned up."

Louise Danielczuk, the charity's chief executive, said they welcomed the opportunity to shape the future design of the technology.

She said: "As a local charity supporting people with sight loss, it is vital that we empower our clients to have a voice and contribute to the development of services like this."

Patrick Stringer, Stagecoach Midlands commercial director, said it was important to make services as accessible and inclusive as possible.

He added: "The feedback will be useful as we plan for the future and will help us make the bus even easier to use."

Reform UK councillor Richard Butler, West Northamptonshire Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "One of the best ways to improve public transport is to listen to the people who use it."

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