Scotland: Street Charter toolkit
Part of our ‘Who put that there’ campaign
Contents
Foreword........................................................................................... 2
Introduction ....................................................................................... 3
Street Charter ................................................................................... 3
The Law ............................................................................................ 5
The main problems ........................................................................... 8
Inaccessible crossings
New developments: shared space
Parking on pavements
Advertising boards (A-boards)
Street and cafe furniture
Wheelie bins and recycling bags
Overgrown shrubbery and branches
Other issues or challenges ............................................................. 22
How we can help ............................................................................ 22
How to organise a blindfold walk .................................................... 23
B Scotland – supporting people with sight loss
B Scotland registered charity number SC0393016
Foreword
Sight loss in Scotland could almost double by 2030 due to our
ageing population and the rise of health conditions such as
diabetes.
Our streets must be more accessible, yet they remain a daily
obstacle course. Getting to work, the shops, the GP surgery, local
services or simply meeting friends for coffee can be like running the
gauntlet, with increased fear and anxiety, and a real risk of injury.
Personally, I have frequent encounters with A-boards, bins and
badly parked cars – and recently almost broke a couple of teeth on
what appeared to be a jutting out railing. Paradoxically, pedestrian
precincts are particularly hazardous as the absence of vehicles
seems to attract even more street furniture.
I know it’s difficult to keep our streets obstacle-free, but I also know
that our local authorities could do much more to make them
accessible and inclusive for everyone.
If decision-makers understood how blind and partially sighted
people (including cane and guide dog users) navigate the street
environment, they could help tackle one of the biggest barriers
faced today by people with sight loss.
I’m delighted to endorse the RNIB Scotland Street Charter as a way
to begin the much needed dialogue between decision-makers and
their visually impaired residents. I believe this toolkit will enable
blind and partially sighted people to develop their own Street
Charter in partnership with their local authority, which will go a long
way to making our streets more accessible for everyone.
Sandra Wilson
Chair, RNIB Scotland
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Introduction
Around 188,000 people in Scotland are living with significant sight
loss and the number of Scottish people with this could almost
double to 400,000 between now and 2030. Blind and partially
sighted people can often face challenges getting around their local
area. Nearly everyone who took part in a 2014 RNIB survey said
that in the last three months they had collided with at least one
obstacle, and a third of people had suffered an injury from a street
obstruction. Some people have told us that they were so intimidated
by the risks outside that they ended up staying at home and
becoming isolated. This is simply not acceptable.
We are calling on decision-makers to work with local blind and
partially sighted people to develop a Street Charter and to review
their existing policies around the highway. To support this process,
RNIB Scotland has created this booklet to help shape and guide the
development of a Street Charter. We explain what a Street Charter
can look like, the main problems and possible solutions that are
available, and which laws and policies exist to support your case.
We hope you’ll find this booklet useful, and best of luck with your
Street Charter.
Street Charter
We’re calling on local authorities to engage with blind and
partially sighted people in their area and develop a Street
Charter that puts a ‘clear highway’ policy at the heart of their
local decision making.
In essence, a Charter is a simple document that shows a
commitment, or list of commitments, which is abided by everyone
involved. So in this case, the local council and campaigners will
decide on actions to take regarding various street obstacles. By
signing the Charter, the local authority makes a pledge to
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implement the Charter’s action points. We imagine the finished
Street Charter will be between one and two pages long, stating the
issues and the action points agreed between the local council and
campaigners.
Charters are a tried and tested engagement tool which can open up
conversations between campaigners and decision-makers. They
are often used to recognise quality, set standards, define duties,
gain agreement and establish goals. A Street Charter needs to be
flexible enough to take into account the local geography,
characteristics and features of the area, while at the same time
being shaped by the knowledge of people who rely upon kerbs,
tactile paving and crossings. This booklet provides all the
information and guidance you’ll need to create a Street Charter.
We cover the main challenges that blind and partially sighted
people face when out and about:
 Inaccessible crossings
 New developments: shared space
 Parking on pavements
 Advertising boards (A-boards)
 Street and cafe furniture
 Wheelie bins and recycling bags
 Overgrown shrubbery and branches.
Each section has an overview of the issue, the legal framework and
possible Street Charter options. In addition, at the back you’ll find a
guide on how to organise a blindfold walk in your local area, which
can help decision-makers understand the issues.
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We believe this type of meaningful engagement will empower
residents, and help prevent some of the injuries, anxiety and
isolation that blind and partially sighted people face on a daily basis.
If you have any questions or need support, just get in touch with
RNIB Scotland.
The Law
There is a significant body of legislation, regulations and
guidance which is relevant to blind and partially sighted
people’s access to the street environment. The main laws
that support our case in Scotland are:
Roads (Scotland) Act
Under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, it is the duty of the highway
authority to assert and protect the rights of the public to use and
enjoy the footway (the term ‘footway’ in this instance meaning
pavements). They also have a duty to prevent obstruction to the
road which means keeping streets clear.
It is a criminal offence under the Roads Scotland Act 1984 to wilfully
obstruct free passage along the road and to deposit anything on the
highway which causes an interruption to, or obstruction of, the road.
So streets should be kept clear of obstacles and clutter, enabling
people to walk along them without any problems.
Equality Act
The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for public authorities,
including highways authorities, to discriminate in the exercise of a
public function. They also have a duty to make reasonable
adjustments including changing practices, policies and procedures
which have a discriminating effect, and to take reasonable steps to
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enable disabled people to avoid substantial disadvantages caused
by physical features.
The Public Sector Equality Duty in the Equality Act 2010 came into
force in April 2011. This is often referred to as the General Duty.
Scottish public authorities must have ‘due regard’ to the need to
eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity
and foster good relations. The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties)
(Scotland) Regulations 2012 places specific duties on Scottish
public authorities to enable the better performance of the Public
Sector Equality Duty. These are also known as the Scottish Specific
Duties and include the duty to provide information that is accessible
for everyone.
Under the Equality Act Public Sector Equality Duty, public
authorities – including highways authorities – are also required to
have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination under the
Equality Act and to achieve equality of opportunity between
disabled and non-disabled people. This means anyone responsible
for looking after the street environment has a responsibility to
eliminate and tackle problems that make a highway inaccessible for
disabled people. It is simply not an option to leave things as they
are.
International obligations
In Scotland, human rights are protected by the European
Convention on Human Rights (‘the Convention’), the UK Human
Rights Act and the Scotland Act,1998. An inaccessible street
environment may be considered a breach of Article 8 and Article 14
of the UK Human Rights Act. Such arrangements may also breach
the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with a
Disability, in particular, Articles 5, 9, 19 and 20.
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Inclusive mobility
In November 2002 the UK Department of Transport published
‘Inclusive Mobility – A Guide to Best Practice on Access to the
Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure’.
The guide aimed to provide advice on best practice to assist
professionals working in this field and enable them to meet their
responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (now
superseded by the Equality Act). There is much in it for highway
authorities to note. For example:
‘Apart from road works and scaffolding, there are many other,
sometimes temporary, obstructions that can cause problems for
disabled people, particularly those with visual impairments. A-frame
advertisement boards placed outside shops, ladders, overhanging
tree branches, dustbins, vehicles and bicycles parked on
pavements are all potential hazards.
Wherever feasible, obstructions of this kind should be kept to a
minimum and should not encroach on the clear space (horizontal
and vertical) needed to provide safe passage for pedestrians.’
The Scottish Government has adopted Design Standards based on
‘Inclusive Mobility’ (see transportscotland.gov.uk) and in 2013
published ‘Roads for All: a Good Practice Guide for Roads’. This
highlights good practice to minimise obstruction and emphasises
the requirement for traders to seek licences from their local
authority for street furniture and A-boards.
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The main problems
Inaccessible crossings ...................................................................... 8
New developments: shared space ................................................. 10
Parking on pavements .................................................................... 12
Advertising boards (A-boards) ........................................................ 15
Street and cafe furniture ................................................................. 17
Wheelie bins and recycling bags .................................................... 19
Overgrown shrubbery and branches .............................................. 20
Inaccessible crossings
Crossing the road is an essential part of negotiating the
local area. The provision, or absence, of accessible crossing
points affects blind and partially sighted people’s desire and
ability to get around.
Padma, who has campaigned successfully for two crossings in her
local area, shares her story:
“One crossing we campaigned for was on the road that links the
railway station to the path leading to the high street. The road is
very, very busy with four junctions feeding into it, and a fire station
nearby. There is a college campus on one side, so students were
crossing there all the time. There was no alternative route for me to
use, because without crossing that road I couldn’t get to the bus
stop. I often had no other option than to take a risk. I knew it was an
accident blackspot and decided we had to do something about it. I
wrote several letters to the council, as well as contacting other
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organisations such as the bus users group, residents’ association
and students’ association. Networking is vital – without it, my
campaigns wouldn’t get anywhere. After two years we were
successful and a new crossing was installed, which was a great
result.”
The Law
As well as the requirements of the Equality Act, outlined earlier, the
following provisions are relevant:
 Guidance on the use of tactile paving surfaces, published by
the Scottish Government and the Department for Transport,
advises that tactile paving is used at crossings.
 Local Transport Note 2/95 ‘The Design of Pedestrian
Crossings’ (1995) recommends the use of audible and tactile
signals unless local conditions suggest otherwise.
 Inclusive Mobility Guidance states that: ‘Tactile indicators
should not be considered as a substitute for audible signals, as
they are required by different people. Although some will
benefit from both.’
In relation to the likely requirements of the Equality Act, the
following example is taken from guidance published by the
Disability Rights Commission (predecessor of the Equality and
Human Rights Commission) in relation to the Disability
Discrimination Act. It is likely to be persuasive in relation to the
interpretation of the Equality Act:
‘A highway/roads authority is installing a new pedestrian crossing at
a busy junction. The highway authority is likely to be carrying out a
public function in determining that the crossing is required, where to
site the crossing, and what type of crossing it will be. It will thus be
covered by the public authority function provisions. When designing
the crossing the authority considers the design requirements of
disabled people. Consequently, it consults with disability groups
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and ensures that the crossing has a flush kerb, is fitted with audible,
visual and tactile indicators and that the appropriate tactile paving is
installed. It also ensures that there is adequate time allowed for the
“safe to cross” phase.’
Street Charter options
Local authorities should explore the following options with blind and
partially sighted people for inclusion in their Street Charter:
 Work with blind and partially sighted people to review and
audit crossings.
 Enforce national guidance when it comes to the use of audible
beeps, rotating cones and tactile paving.
 Regularly monitor and maintain the accessibility of crossings
and look at increasing crossing times, especially in busy areas.
 Ensure that reporting processes for potential new crossing
points are accessible for blind and partially sighted people.
New developments: shared space
We all want to make our streets safer for pedestrians, but
many people do not realise what a devastating impact
removing crossings, kerbs and tactile paving has on people
with sight loss. Over half of the blind and partially sighted
people in our research reported that recent building
developments in their area had made it harder for them to
get about.
Naomi lives in an area where shared space is already a reality. She
shares her experience with us:
“The pavement and the road are at the same level and there is no
definitive kerb edge. In order to navigate shared space, drivers and
pedestrians are expected to make eye contact, to let each other
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know who has the right of way. If you’re blind, you can’t make eye
contact. My local council wanted to get rid of the crossing, kerbs
and tactile paving, but I have been campaigning to keep them.
Kerbs and tactile paving help me know when I’m approaching a
road. They tell me where to stop, so I remain safe. The pedestrian
crossing is also really important because the area has many side
streets and busy bus routes. The planning team at the council
thought it would be OK to just put a thin strip along the edge of the
pavement instead of wider tactile markers, but I explained that a
blind person could step over a thin line while walking normally, and
not know they’ve missed it. They seem to be listening, and at the
moment the crossing and tactile paving are still in place.”
The Law
The duties in relation to the Equality Act and the Public Sector
Equality Duty are particularly relevant to the issue of shared space.
Under the provisions of the former, it is unlawful for a public
authority to discriminate in the exercise of its public functions. This
includes highway functions. Section 20(4) requires that, where a
physical feature puts a disabled person at a substantial
disadvantage in comparison to a person who is not disabled, an
authority is required to take such steps as is reasonable to remove
the disadvantage.
Shared space schemes undoubtedly place blind and partially
sighted people at a particular disadvantage and so authorities will
need to make reasonable adjustments to mitigate these effects.
‘Designing Streets: A Policy Statement for Scotland’ (2010) states
that:
‘Shared space, and level surfaces in particular, can cause problems
for some disabled people. The absence of a conventional kerb in
level surfaces can pose problems for some blind or partially sighted
people, who often rely on this feature to find their way around. The
lack of visual cues may also pose problems for pedestrians with
cognitive difficulties. It is therefore important that level surface
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schemes include an alternative means by which visually-impaired
people can navigate. Such elements can be designed in
collaboration with local people, including representatives from local
disability groups and access panels.’
The requirement of the Public Sector Equality Duty requires local
authorities to specifically consult with blind and partially sighted
people about shared space schemes and to carry out an equality
impact assessment of the scheme. Where negative impacts are
identified, the local authority will need to consider changes to the
scheme in order to eliminate discrimination and better promote
equality of opportunity. Where appropriate safeguards are not
possible, a local authority should consider whether it is appropriate
for the scheme to go ahead.
Street Charter options
Local authorities should explore the following options with blind and
partially sighted people for inclusion in their Street Charter:
 Work with blind and partially sighted people to assess existing
shared spaces on grounds of safety. Where safety issues are
identified, mitigating measures need to be taken including the
reintroduction of kerbs and crossings.
 In accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty, involve
and consult with blind and partially sighted people when new
shared space schemes are put forward and make any
necessary changes to the schemes. Where this is not
possible, they should consider whether or not the scheme
should still go ahead.
Parking on pavements
Research undertaken by RNIB shows that people with sight
loss often collided with cars parked on pavements (the legal
term ‘footway’ is commonly used in Scotland).
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Drivers that use the pavement for parking often think they
are doing the right thing by keeping the road clear, but fail to
realise the consequences of their vehicle now blocking the
footway. The result is that people with sight loss often
cannot see the obstruction until it is too late, and collide with
the parked vehicle.
Charlotte has experienced these problems in her area and shares
her experience:
“The main route I have to take to get to the bus stop and the shops
has a lot of cars parked on the pavement. It’s normally deliveries for
the local businesses and things like that. Walking into wing mirrors,
or the back of the car itself can really hurt. I often can’t get round
the car by staying on the pavement, so have to walk out onto a
main road which has fast traffic and buses. To tackle this I’ve
spoken to the police and the local businesses to explain why this is
an issue and how we can work together to address it. Sometimes
the police send a duty officer out to speak to the car owners.
They’ve also discussed the possibility of issuing penalties if the
drivers continue to block the footpath.”
The Law
As well as the duties outlined in the introduction, there are
additional provisions around parking on pavements.
Under section 72 of the Highways Act 1835, it is an offence to
‘wilfully ride upon any path or causeway by the side of any road
made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot
passengers. Or to wilfully lead or drive any carriage of any
description upon any such footpath or causeway.’
Local authorities have powers under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984
to restrict or prohibit footway parking on individual streets by the
making of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), but this can be a costly
process.
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The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 states that it is illegal to drive on
footways but the position is less clear with regards to casual or
occasional parking on footways.
The police have powers under the Highways Act 1986, which
makes it an offence to obstruct the free passage of the highway, but
the police appear reluctant to take enforcement action on cars
parked on footways. Enforcement action can vary, depending on
the individual police officer, and it is unrealistic to expect vulnerable
pedestrians to report an obstruction and await the arrival of a police
officer to confirm it. In some cases, the individual will know the
person concerned, as a neighbour for example, and there may be a
reluctance to create a potential conflict.
Other activities, like dog fouling, can already be reported
anonymously. The lack of clarity in relation to parking on footways
is unhelpful to pedestrians, drivers, the police and parking
enforcement officials.
The Scottish Parliament has seen several attempts to legislate
against pavement parking. Sandra White MSP’s proposed
Responsible Parking (Scotland) Bill is currently before Holyrood.
However, the Scottish Parliament‘s Non-Government Bills Unit
(NGBU) takes the view that the Bill falls outwith the legislative
competence of the Scottish Parliament.
In 2014, Mark Lazarowicz MP introduced a Private Member’s Bill
which aimed to resolve the impasse in the Scottish Parliament. In
September 2014 he withdrew his Bill after receiving confirmation
from the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
that there was willingness to resolve the situation, by means of a
legislative order if necessary, subject to the Scottish Government
agreeing/requesting the necessary changes. This may happen over
the next few months.
In the meantime, with the notable exception of London, there are
relatively few local authorities in Britain, and only one in Scotland
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(Aberdeen City), that have used these TRO powers to restrict
pavement parking.
Street Charter options
Local authorities should explore the following options with blind and
partially sighted people for inclusion in their Street Charter:
 Ban pavement parking and support the Scottish and other
national legislation to do this.
 Use existing powers such as Traffic Regulation Orders to
introduce bans where practical.
 Work with the police to use their existing powers under the
Highways Act and other legislation to keep the pavement clear
of obstructions caused by parked vehicles.
 Work with the police to engage with blind and partially sighted
people and the wider community to improve awareness of the
dangers of parking on pavements.
Advertising boards (A-boards)
Advertising boards or A-boards are in general use across
the country. They physically obstruct the pavement and
present a trip hazard, especially to people who cannot see
them. Nearly half of all blind and partially sighted people
who participated in our research stated that they had
collided with an A-board in the last three months, often
resulting in cuts and grazes. The temporary and mobile
nature of these boards means that blind and partially
sighted people cannot learn where they are, so struggle to
avoid walking into them.
Phil has been drawing attention to the problems associated with Aboards in his local area:
15
“A-boards are a big issue for me. I’ve campaigned on this for about
four or five years. We did an audit back in 2010, and recorded over
300 A-boards in our town. We plan to do another one this year to
see what has changed. I’ve knocked into A-boards before, which
can be painful. Sometimes if you’re using a cane, it can get stuck
underneath. Even for a well trained guide dog it’s difficult – for
example in the past when my dog tried to avoid a pushchair, she
went straight into an A-board. It’s like navigating around an obstacle
course.
To tackle this problem I’ve attended scrutiny committees at my local
council, and raised the problems caused by A-boards at the access
group which I sit on. I’ve also taken our local councillor on a
blindfold walk to highlight the problems that A-boards can cause
blind or partially sighted people. We’re trying to get the system
improved. At the moment the licensing department at the council
rely on people to report A-boards, but don’t always do anything with
that information when they receive it. We want them to commit to
tackling the problem.”
The Law
As well as the duties outlined earlier, there are additional provisions
relevant to obstruction by A-boards.
Under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements)
(Scotland) Regulations 1984, it is an offence to display an outdoor
advertisement without the consent of the local planning authority.
There are a number of categories of deemed consent, but A-boards
do not appear to fall under any of these. In order for consent to be
granted, the advert would also need the explicit consent of the
highway authority.
Street Charter options
Local authorities should explore the following options with blind and
partially sighted people for inclusion in their Street Charter:
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 Have a zero tolerance of A-boards on pavements and have
clear policies available to the public.
 Work with local blind and partially sighted people to monitor
and mitigate the impact of any temporary obstructions that
appear on pavements.
 Work with local business owners to make them realise how Aboards cause real difficulties for blind and partially sighted
people and to consider alternative forms of advertising.
Street and cafe furniture
Many items of street furniture, including tables and chairs,
hanging baskets, bollards and lamp posts, appear on
highways for practical and aesthetic reasons. Permanent
street furniture which is sensibly placed, like railings and
benches, can be useful navigation aids for people with sight
loss.
However, problems are caused when they are poorly placed and
managed, overused, or when the obstacle itself is hard to see or
detect properly with a white cane.
Over half of blind and partially sighted people who participated in
our research have collided with both permanent and temporary
street furniture.
Dianne shares her experience with us:
“Street furniture has become more and more of a problem in my
area. Often cafe tables and chairs aren’t cordoned off, so you can
end up walking into people when they’re eating their meal. This is
really embarrassing for me, and must be awful for them too. Trying
to dodge the obstacles can be very frustrating, and it’s even harder
if I’m with my young son. I try to remember where bollards and
flower baskets stand, but if I forget, walking into them can be quite
painful.
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I have taken part in blindfold walks to help people understand the
issues, and I’ve spoken on the radio and in newspaper articles
about street accessibility. I joined the disabled council auditing
group. It has people with lots of different disabilities and they can
impact council policies and have their say.”
The Law
As well as the requirement to keep highways free from obstruction
and the Public Sector Equality Duty as outlined on page 5, there are
additional provisions relevant to permanent street furniture:
Under section 120 of the Roads (Scotland) Act, local authorities are
required to have regard to the needs of blind and partially sighted
people when placing lamp-posts, bollards, traffic-signs, apparatus
or other permanent obstructions in a street.
Street Charter options
Local authorities should explore the following options with blind and
partially sighted people for inclusion in their Street Charter:
 All cafe furniture must be licensed, with care being taken to
ensure that the tables and chairs are adequately cordoned off
and do not constitute a hazard. Licensing requirements must
be enforced.
 Set up accessible ways for blind and partially sighted people to
report collisions and injuries they experience.
 Monitor how many blind and partially sighted people are being
injured due to collisions with obstacles.
 In accordance with section 120 and the Public Sector Equality
Duty, undertake a street furniture audit with blind and partially
sighted people to ensure that it is as safe as it can be.
 In accordance with section 120 and the Public Sector Equality
Duty, when town centres and neighbourhoods are
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redeveloped, proactively engage with blind and partially
sighted people around design of the development and
implementation of street furniture.
Wheelie bins and recycling bags
Wheelie bins and recycling bags are now a common sight
on most pavements. Almost all local authorities request that
these are left on the highway to be collected. With
scheduled collections for different types of recycling and
waste on various days across the local area, the pavements
are obstructed several days a week.
Our survey results showed that just over half of the blind and
partially sighted people who participated have collided with wheelie
bins and recycling sacks. Some people even told us they avoid
going out on bin days because it was just safer to stay indoors,
despite this often being inconvenient for them.
Mike explains:
“Bins are a nuisance. I am instructed to put my bin on the corner of
a major road, which is also a crossing point for children going to
school. The refuse collectors don’t put the bins back in the same
place so I’m never sure if I’ll end up bumping into them or not. The
pavements near my house are very narrow, so the bins take up
quite a bit of space and I often end up having to go into the road. I’d
be very reluctant to go out on bin day if I didn’t have my guide dog.
Also when I go to town, often shops leave their black sacks on the
pavement. I have almost tripped over a mound of bags, and it’s
worse as it gets dark. Even if you have a small amount of sight,
being able to see a black sack, on a grey pavement in the dark is
incredibly difficult.”
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The Law
The requirement to keep highways free from obstruction and the
Public Sector Equality Duty are particularly relevant to this issue,
along with the requirements of the Equality Act as outlined earlier.
The duty to make reasonable adjustments to practices, policies and
procedures that place blind and partially sighted people at a
substantial disadvantage, is likely to require local authorities to
reconsider policies that require bins to be placed on the highway.
Street Charter options
Local authorities should explore the following options with blind and
partially sighted people for inclusion in their Street Charter:
 All bin crews to be trained in why it is so important to store bins
as safely as possible.
 Run awareness campaigns to encourage residents to be
considerate in how they place their bins.
 Give consideration to the requirements of the Equality Act in
relation to their waste collection policies.
 When negotiating contracts with waste management
companies, build in ‘clear highway’ policies as part of the
contract.
 Where residents can leave bins in an accessible area off
pavements and footpaths, this should be required and bin
crews should return bins back to this safe place as well.
Overgrown shrubbery and branches
Many campaigners have described the problems caused by
overhanging branches and shrubbery when walking around
their local area, particularly in the summer months.
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Paul told us:
“I think that very little is done to tackle shrubbery which spills from
residential properties and past their property boundaries. For me,
as a guide dog user, this is a nightmare especially on narrow paths
as it causes my dog to take a wider line and head towards the road,
or alternatively puts us dangerously close to other obstacles.
Overhanging foliage which often catches me in the face, such as
rose bushes are the worst.”
The Law
Sections 50 and 51 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 set out
conditions requiring the removal of overhanging branches and
hedges which cause an obstruction or inconvenience to
pedestrians.
Local authorities will also be liable for any damage or injury
resulting from overhanging branches and shrubbery, as a result of
the law relating to nuisance where they are aware, or ought
reasonably to have been aware, of the nuisance or danger caused
by the foliage.
Street Charter options
Local authorities should explore the following options with blind and
partially sighted people for inclusion in their Street Charter:
 Set up accessible ways for blind and partially sighted people to
report overgrown shrubbery and branches.
 Act swiftly upon these reports by alerting the residents or
taking action if it is a council-owned property.
 Run awareness campaigns to encourage residents to be
considerate in managing their shrubbery and trees.
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Other issues or challenges
We want the Street Charter to be useful to all campaigners,
regardless of where you live in the country.
If, when looking at the options given for each of the main street
challenges, you think there is a better solution, do go ahead and
suggest it as a Street Charter commitment.
Equally, if we’ve not covered a street environment issue that you
think is important to address in your area, do highlight it to your
local council and ask them to improve things.
Have a think whether there are local groups that could support your
cause – for example, parent groups or other disability groups who
would support the calls in your Charter.
Is your local council already doing a great job?
If your local council already tackles many of these street issues in
an efficient way, the Charter can provide a way to acknowledge the
great work they’re doing, while also asking them to address the
problems they haven’t tackled yet.
How we can help
We hope this booklet provides you with the main information you
need to create your own Street Charter in partnership with your
local council. Please let us know how you get on, so that we can
keep a record of the activity taking place to tackle these issues
across the country.
Over the course of this campaign, we will produce a variety of
toolkits to aid you in creating your own Street Charter. Keep an eye
on our website or call the Campaigns Hotline to find out what’s
available.
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If you have questions, or want advice, just get in touch with RNIB
Scotland and we’ll do our best to help.
Call us on 0131 652 3164
Email mailto:rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk
Or find out more information on our website rnib.org.uk/onmystreet
How to organise a blindfold walk
Any Street Charter focused on keeping streets free from
clutter must have the needs of blind and partially sighted
people at the heart of its design.
By involving people with sight loss when delivering or designing
street environment policies, councillors and local authority officers
will gain a better understanding of the impact of sight loss on
mobility. This could include aids and adaptations people use to get
around and the impact of obstacles and clutter on movement.
A blindfold walk brings decision makers together with blind and
partially sighted people to talk about the street environment. The
group may focus on a specific area, for example a pedestrianised
zone, local pavement or high street. They may also discuss plans
for a new development.
To start with, campaigners with sight loss talk about the area and
share their experiences of walking around it.
Councillors and officers will then get to experience wearing
simulation-spectacles or sim-specs, which simulate different eye
conditions. Wearing sim-specs, they are encouraged to walk along
the pavement and cross a road. Throughout the experience,
decision-makers are guided, so they can talk about how they feel
wearing the spectacles.
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A council official who recently attended a blindfold walk told us:
“The walk covered pedestrian zones and streets with signalised and
uncontrolled road crossings in the city centre. Different blindfolds
and glasses replicated different types of visual impairment. I found it
very worthwhile. It gave me an opportunity to experience the
problems encountered on a daily basis by blind and partially sighted
people.”
Whilst on the walk
Whilst walking the councillor will be shown a number of features
and asked to consider their usefulness in aiding navigation through
the street.
Features and discussion points may include:
 Contrasting colours – what colours were used?
 Any designated areas such as cycle ways, floating bus stops –
how did you keep out of the cycle path?
 Kerbs and dropped kerbs – how can these be used to keep
you safe?
 Highway line – is it free from obstruction?
 Crossing points – could you find the rotating cones and hear
the audible beep?
 Zebra crossings – how do you know it is safe to cross?
 Tactile paving – was it there? Was it contrasting?
 Permanent objects – the presence of street furniture, bins and
lampposts – could they be navigated? Were they contrasting?
 Temporary objects – were you able to avoid the A-boards? Did
you have to walk out into the road when a car was parked on
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the pavement? Were you able to spot the road and pavement
works before it was too late?
 How someone with a guide dog navigates the streets.
 How someone with a long cane navigates the streets.
 How someone with a symbol cane gets around.
Why they work
Blindfold walks work because they are an interesting activity,
providing a safe environment where everyone can come together
and learn from one another. There is the opportunity for decisionmakers to ask questions of residents living with sight loss, as well
as to experience the obstacles and barriers for themselves. These
events can be really useful when trying to improve an area or
before the design and build of a new scheme.
When?
From experience we know that holding these events in the winter
isn’t always a great idea. Bad weather and bad light can make the
events difficult although these are conditions which blind and
partially sighted people face in reality. Day time is best and will give
participants the best possible experience. As a rough guide, an
hour is a good amount of time for the walk and discussion.
If the problem you are trying to address is related to a certain time
or day, for example cars parked on the pavement or bins put out for
collection, then it is probably best to arrange the walk to coincide
with it.
We recommend having time before and after the walk to discuss
the issues. This meeting can take place in a number of places – a
local cafe, council offices or local society. The location just needs to
be close to the area of interest. This is the opportunity for the
organisers to go over the specifics of the walk with the participants,
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and offer insight of what it is like for people with sight loss walking
the area.
It’s important that everyone meets up again after the walk, which
will provide an opportunity for people to ask questions and share
learning.
Where?
We would recommend identifying the route in advance. If you’re
doing a general walk, then try to pick areas which will highlight a
number of issues – for example a high street.
Who?
From the local council
It’s great for councillors to better understand the mobility issues
faced by the people they represent. It’s also really valuable for local
authority officers who are responsible for the street environment
and highways to take part in the walks. Finally, any staff members
who work on the highways, such as waste management staff, could
really benefit from understanding how any obstructions on streets
and pavements could affect blind and partially sighted people.
Blind and partially sighted people
If possible, try to get a group of people with different experiences of
sight loss together to give a more balanced view of navigation and
mobility. Whilst the sim-specs can simulate sight loss, they don’t
explain everything. It’s good to understand that people use different
mechanisms and aids to get around – the experiences of a symbol
cane user to a long cane user to someone who uses a guide dog
could be very different. Someone who has lived with sight loss for
many years could be in a different emotional place compared to
someone who has been more recently diagnosed. It’s also likely
that people of different ages are likely to have different experiences.
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Support staff and volunteers
It’s good to have support staff in place. They can be people who
work with blind and partially sighted people such as RNIB Scotland
staff, local society staff or local authority rehabilitation workers.
What do you need?
You’ll need some sim-specs – these are plastic spectacles which
mimic different sight loss conditions. You can get these by emailing
RNIB Scotland at rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk with ‘Blindfold Walk –
sim-spec request’ in the subject line. Someone from RNIB Scotland
can guide you in the use of sim-specs and assist you in holding an
event.
Stick to these principles:
 Keep it focused on sharing experiences.
 Keep it focused on the everyday problems that blind and
partially sighted people experience.
 Keep it fun and informal.
 Keep people comfortable – it will help them talk.
 Keep it active.
 Keep it safe.
Street walk
An alternative to a blindfold walk is to take your councillors on a
street walk – no sim-specs or blindfolds needed. Just walking up a
street and pointing out the numerous obstacles that cross your path
could be enough to get a councillor to think twice about the policies
they have in place.
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Making the experience sustainable
We realise staff and councillors change. Why not ask if these
blindfold or street walk sessions, or principles from these sessions,
can be built into existing training or information that is provided on a
regular basis.
Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland
12 – 14 Hillside Crescent,
Edinburgh EH7 5EA
rnib.org.uk/scotland
Telephone 0131 652 3164
Email mailto:rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk
For further information on this toolkit and RNIB Scotland’s
campaign work, please contact James Adams at
mailto:james.adams@rnib.org.uk
© 2015 RNIB Scotland
Registered Charity Number SC039316
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