Visually impaired Londoner says E-scooters are pushing blind people towards isolation
E-scooter incidents have nearly tripled since 2020 according to the most recent department for transport figures
Following new E-scooter statistics, a visually impaired Londoner is telling us it's getting harder and harder to leave his front door
E-scooter incidents have nearly tripled since 2020 according to the most recent department for transport figures
Darren Mead chairs The Beyond Sight Loss community group for visually impaired people in London
He says he's had several near misses regarding E-scooters, he told us about recent one that stood out to him
"As I'm crossing, he's coming the wrong way on his scooter. He basically rushed past my left shoulder.
I start doubting myself. If I go out today, could the same thing happen? If I go out tomorrow, could the same thing happen? And it's a challenge to lead your front door."
Darren added that the fear these incidents cause can isolate people who are visually impaired
"It knocks you back tenfold and to the point that, you know, should I leave the house?
Should I just surrender everything and let somebody just come and do everything for me, which puts you then in a spiral of depression."
E-scooters + Floating bus stops
A floating bus stop is a bus stop which has a cycle lane between the main pavement and the bus boarding area, meaning those getting on or off as bus have to cross a cycle lane.
Darren told us these combined with the rise in e-scooters is making travelling around London very difficult for those that are visually impaired
"I got off a bus and this thing just went zooming past me. And it's quite startling, you know? And so your heart rate goes up. You then start losing confidence, faith in everything you do. So, you know, what can you do?
It's going to get worse. It's evident that it's going to get worse. There's no real solutions put there for people like myself. So we become defenceless.
It's quite annoying and frustrating the future doesn't look bright."