Ask your Councillor for accessible streets

Bernie and Abby are forced to walk on either side of a big cargo bike which has been parked on the pavement.

Every day, blind and partially sighted people face potentially dangerous barriers when walking around their local neighbourhoods, like cars parked on pavements and a lack of accessible crossings. Councils can take steps to make the street environment inclusive.

"Making any journey today is something that I do because I have to, not because I want to. I no longer make journeys for pleasure."

RNIB’s new report, In My Way, reveals just how widespread and serious these issues are. Shockingly, 92 per cent of blind and partially sighted people have had to walk into the road to avoid obstacles, and only 9 per cent strongly agree they feel safe making independent walking journeys in their neighbourhood.

To view this page in Welsh, please click here.

Write to your Councillor

If you live in England or Wales, we’ve prepared a letter for you to send, highlighting the barriers blind and partially sighted people face. Our letter explains what councils can do to solve the issues where you live.

Your experience

If you would like to tell your Councillor about the barriers you face when walking in your local area, whether it's a pavement blocked by parked cars, a dangerous crossing or a route you avoid altogether, please enter your experience in the box below and it will be added to the template email on the next page.

The barriers I've faced

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Town or City

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Keeping in Touch

Every day, 250 people in the UK start losing their sight—that’s one person every six minutes. By sharing your information below, we’ll send you occasional updates on ways that RNIB can help you or a loved one, and how you can get involved.

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