STAGECOACH Merseyside and South Lancashire have partnered with a national charity to further improve the service offered to blind and partially sighted bus passengers.  

Each of the region’s 4 bus depots are undertaking ‘Swap with Me’ training events, hosted by RNIB, to boost understanding of and develop solutions to common barriers to bus travel. 

Drivers, driving instructors and senior managers are all given the opportunity to attempt specific challenges; including boarding a bus, scanning a smart card and finding a seat while wearing vision impairment goggles and using a white cane.  

The 1st event, held at Birkenhead depot, also included a round table discussion on ways to make Stagecoach services even more accessible.  

Training sessions were set up in response to the release of the RNIB’s new AllAboard? report, which explores blind and partially sighted people’s experiences of bus services in the UK.  

Matt Davies, Managing Director of Stagecoach Merseyside, said:- “Customer service is paramount to us, and I firmly believe that we already do a huge amount of good work in how we welcome people with sight loss onto our services. However, we’re always open to learning and refining our approach and the best way to do that is by working closely with expert organisations such as RNIB. These open discussions and practical demonstrations have already furnished us with a wealth of extra knowledge that will help us to improve our customer experience even further.”  

Terri Balon, RNIB Regional Campaigner for the North of England added:- “Travelling on buses is vital for blind and partially sighted people to get to work, go shopping and live their lives independently. RNIB’s All Aboard Report unfortunately found fewer than half of blind and partially sighted people can make all the journeys by bus they want and need to. This event was a fantastic opportunity for Stagecoach bus staff and people with sight loss to swap and share their travelling experiences. Being able to sit in the cab and help our group gain an insight into what a driver must do when they are behind the wheel, while discussing how they can help improve the accessibility for blind and partially sighted people has been mutually beneficial. This level of engagement can really help improve the bus travel experience for people sight loss and thank Stagecoach for hosting the event.” 

Released in May 2025, the All Aboard? report highlights how buses are the most used form of public transport by people with sight loss, providing a vital link to work, education, healthcare, and community life. It concluded that some barriers are making bus travel too challenging for many. The findings include:-

• 56% of blind and partially sighted people said they’d like to go out more than they do 
• Fewer than 50% of blind and partially sighted people can make all the journeys by bus that they want and need to 
• 83% said it is “very important” to have the option to travel by bus 

The report draws on insights from nearly 1200 people with sight loss, and highlights the barriers faced at every stage of a bus journey, from identifying the right stop, to boarding safely, to knowing when to get off. It also outlines the steps various stakeholders can take to make bus travel more accessible and inclusive. 

For more information on Stagecoach Merseyside, visit their website.  

For more information about RNIB, click here.