Initiative details
Individuals who are blind or have low vision face unique challenges when it comes to navigating our roads. These challenges include not being able to access traditional signage and visual warning signals, not being able to make eye contact with drivers and other road users, veering on crossings or collision with obstacles due to an absence of visual information. The NCBI conducted research and found that 63% of individuals with a vision impairment reported being injured in a public place at least once when navigating outdoors and 59% indicated increases in micro mobility and changes in public space reduced their confidence to walk and access the community. Research also highlighted that despite not having legislation for e-scooters in Ireland, 64.9% of individuals with a vision impairment had experienced a near miss with an E-Scooter on Irish roads.
Initiative date
to
Who was/is your target audience?
Pedestrians
Topic
Knowledge building and sharing
Create awareness
Improve vehicles and infrastructure
Organisation details
Enhancing road safety for pedestrians who have a disability in Ireland
Association
Ireland
Dublin
Contact name
Chantelle Smith
Telephone number
1800911250
hello@possibilitylab.ie
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
The NCBI has worked collaboratively with a broad range of external stakeholders and partners to make this project a success.
Disability Organisations - We conducted a combination of workshops and meetings directly with a number of disability service providers and their clients who have disabilities to ensure their access needs and lived experience was captured and included in the content development of the safe micromobility module - NCBI Access Network, Irish Wheelchair Association, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, and many others. We also formed and led out on an alliance with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Irish Wheelchair Association who had reported similar safety concerns from their clients. This alliance allowed us to broadly circulate the position paper on micromobility which identifies clear safety requirements for people with access needs – such as no e-scooters on footpaths & reducing speeds. We jointly presented our concerns and recommendations to the Oireachtas Joint Committee for Transport for consideration when they are passing the Road Safety Bill. We also collated findings with the alliance partners on the Experiences with E-Scooters survey ensuring we had insights from a broad range of individuals with disabilities across the country.
Emergency Services - We held meetings with the Gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade to ensure they were aware of the needs of individuals with a disability in relation to micromobility, securing their ongoing support and input into the content development of the Safe Micromobility module.
The AA - We collaborated with the AA around a press release on support for increased safety requirements and they provided a written foreword for the Safe Micromobility Module.
Micromobility Scheme Operators - Tier Mobility was instrumental in initiating NCBI's response to the changes in micromobility in Ireland and part funded the development of the Safe Micromobility module in Ireland. Chantelle Smith also represents NCBI by sitting on the Tier Mobility Safety Board to ensure their schemes consider the needs of individuals who are blind and are held to a high level of safety accountability. The Safety Board members have also endorsed the module.
Academic Partners - We worked with Technology University (TU) Dublin to gather insights on navigation & important granular street information needed for safety relating to individuals who are blind. These results were published in; A Survey on Outdoor Navigation Applications for People with Blindness or Visual Impairment. FE El Eltaher, L Miralles, S McKeever, K Millar, C Smith, J Courtney (2023), publisher IEEE
International Peers, Sight Loss Agencies - Thomas Pocklington Trust in Northern Ireland shared learnings around micromobility in their locality, transferring knowledge so that NCBI was in a strong position to learn from their activities in the space and attain positive outcomes.
Disability Organisations - We conducted a combination of workshops and meetings directly with a number of disability service providers and their clients who have disabilities to ensure their access needs and lived experience was captured and included in the content development of the safe micromobility module - NCBI Access Network, Irish Wheelchair Association, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, and many others. We also formed and led out on an alliance with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Irish Wheelchair Association who had reported similar safety concerns from their clients. This alliance allowed us to broadly circulate the position paper on micromobility which identifies clear safety requirements for people with access needs – such as no e-scooters on footpaths & reducing speeds. We jointly presented our concerns and recommendations to the Oireachtas Joint Committee for Transport for consideration when they are passing the Road Safety Bill. We also collated findings with the alliance partners on the Experiences with E-Scooters survey ensuring we had insights from a broad range of individuals with disabilities across the country.
Emergency Services - We held meetings with the Gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade to ensure they were aware of the needs of individuals with a disability in relation to micromobility, securing their ongoing support and input into the content development of the Safe Micromobility module.
The AA - We collaborated with the AA around a press release on support for increased safety requirements and they provided a written foreword for the Safe Micromobility Module.
Micromobility Scheme Operators - Tier Mobility was instrumental in initiating NCBI's response to the changes in micromobility in Ireland and part funded the development of the Safe Micromobility module in Ireland. Chantelle Smith also represents NCBI by sitting on the Tier Mobility Safety Board to ensure their schemes consider the needs of individuals who are blind and are held to a high level of safety accountability. The Safety Board members have also endorsed the module.
Academic Partners - We worked with Technology University (TU) Dublin to gather insights on navigation & important granular street information needed for safety relating to individuals who are blind. These results were published in; A Survey on Outdoor Navigation Applications for People with Blindness or Visual Impairment. FE El Eltaher, L Miralles, S McKeever, K Millar, C Smith, J Courtney (2023), publisher IEEE
International Peers, Sight Loss Agencies - Thomas Pocklington Trust in Northern Ireland shared learnings around micromobility in their locality, transferring knowledge so that NCBI was in a strong position to learn from their activities in the space and attain positive outcomes.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
There are over 58,000 individuals in Ireland that are blind or have a vision impairment and it is NCBI's mission to enable them to overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society. NCBI responded to the increased safety concerns experienced by these individuals when navigating Irish roads and streets with a multi-dimensional and collaborative approach. Working in a solution focused way to minimise the impact on safety and confidence in individuals who have a disability.
NCBI conducted the following activities in relation to the impact of micromobility and public space changes in Ireland:
- NCBI developed a position paper on E-Scooters in February 2021. Over the ensuing year we updated and prepared a joint position paper with other disability organisations to support members of the Oireachtas to have an informed debate on the upcoming Road Traffic & Roads Bill.
- NCBI conducted a survey on the experiences of individuals with disabilities in relation to the increases in micromobility in Ireland so that we had valid local data to support lobbying and awareness activities in 2022. There were 97 respondents.
- The NCBI presented their proposals to improve the safety of individuals with a vision impairment at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Transport and Communications on the topic of Disability and Transport on the 19th of January 2022.
- NCBI provided 13 online workshops between August 2021 & May 2023 on micromobility to individuals who both have a vision impairment as well as other disability groups, ensuring they had an understanding of the changes in Ireland but also a mechanism to have their views and experience included in the development of content for all of our awareness activities and learning materials.
- NCBI provided inclusive design advice and accessibility consultancy to 12 micromobility rental scheme operators between February 2021 & July 2022. These activities resulted in improved safety in the design of the devices and schemes. Examples include improved disability education for riders, increased contrast on the devices so that they are more easily detected by pedestrians, advice on design elements to enhance safety including acoustic alerts, allocation of parking infrastructure outside of accessways and accessible reporting processes.
- NCBI represents the needs of individuals who are blind or vision impaired on 3 Safety Boards with rental scheme operators to ensure we are ongoingly enhancing safety of vulnerable road users in relation to these schemes. These activities commenced in February 2021 and are ongoing.
- NCBI provided technical advice to local authorities on parking infrastructure and allocation of space in new cities where rental schemes exist during 2022-2023
- NCBI developed an industry first, free learning module for all people with a disability called Safe Micromobility in Ireland. It is available in two formats; live webinars or a self-paced e-learning course. The module aims to educate and empower people around the changes to roads and public space that is happening in Ireland. We talk about the many different types of micromobility and where to expect them. We also cover the upcoming legislation in Ireland, the rules around micromobility usage and how to report incidents or issues. Importantly, it also covers safety tips for both micromobility users and a video demonstrating 10 top tips for pedestrian safety. We strove to ensure that it was accessible including a sign language interpreter, closed captions and audio description on the video content. The module was formally launched in May 2023 for all individuals in Ireland with an access need.
NCBI conducted the following activities in relation to the impact of micromobility and public space changes in Ireland:
- NCBI developed a position paper on E-Scooters in February 2021. Over the ensuing year we updated and prepared a joint position paper with other disability organisations to support members of the Oireachtas to have an informed debate on the upcoming Road Traffic & Roads Bill.
- NCBI conducted a survey on the experiences of individuals with disabilities in relation to the increases in micromobility in Ireland so that we had valid local data to support lobbying and awareness activities in 2022. There were 97 respondents.
- The NCBI presented their proposals to improve the safety of individuals with a vision impairment at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Transport and Communications on the topic of Disability and Transport on the 19th of January 2022.
- NCBI provided 13 online workshops between August 2021 & May 2023 on micromobility to individuals who both have a vision impairment as well as other disability groups, ensuring they had an understanding of the changes in Ireland but also a mechanism to have their views and experience included in the development of content for all of our awareness activities and learning materials.
- NCBI provided inclusive design advice and accessibility consultancy to 12 micromobility rental scheme operators between February 2021 & July 2022. These activities resulted in improved safety in the design of the devices and schemes. Examples include improved disability education for riders, increased contrast on the devices so that they are more easily detected by pedestrians, advice on design elements to enhance safety including acoustic alerts, allocation of parking infrastructure outside of accessways and accessible reporting processes.
- NCBI represents the needs of individuals who are blind or vision impaired on 3 Safety Boards with rental scheme operators to ensure we are ongoingly enhancing safety of vulnerable road users in relation to these schemes. These activities commenced in February 2021 and are ongoing.
- NCBI provided technical advice to local authorities on parking infrastructure and allocation of space in new cities where rental schemes exist during 2022-2023
- NCBI developed an industry first, free learning module for all people with a disability called Safe Micromobility in Ireland. It is available in two formats; live webinars or a self-paced e-learning course. The module aims to educate and empower people around the changes to roads and public space that is happening in Ireland. We talk about the many different types of micromobility and where to expect them. We also cover the upcoming legislation in Ireland, the rules around micromobility usage and how to report incidents or issues. Importantly, it also covers safety tips for both micromobility users and a video demonstrating 10 top tips for pedestrian safety. We strove to ensure that it was accessible including a sign language interpreter, closed captions and audio description on the video content. The module was formally launched in May 2023 for all individuals in Ireland with an access need.
Evaluation
What has been the effect of the activities?
The effect has been widespread awareness of the challenges experienced by individuals with a vision impairment in Ireland, engaging stakeholders from across the disability sector, government bodies, academia, mobility & transport sector operators and of course individuals who have a disability. The focus of education has elsewhere been on the micromobility rider. This is the first time vulnerable pedestrians who have to move safely around them have been equipped with the knowledge they need to move confidently through the community.
We now have an industry first, universally designed learning module which is available for free to all individuals with a disability, their support persons and professionals who work with persons with access needs who are impacted by the rapid increases in micromobility in Ireland. Over 22% of the population can benefit from the learning material, empowered to confidently navigate a world with unprecedented changes to mobility systems and infrastructure.
Feedback from a webinar participant - “Everything was great! I really liked the range covered and how informative the session was, I learned so much more about micromobility, what it is, what the rules are and how they are changing. It has really increased my awareness of mobility and how micromobility has to become a bigger consideration for safe travel and movement”
Feedback from a Micromobility rental operator - "the workshop had provided design solutions and made you think about the possibilities. We look forward to implementing a more inclusive scheme in Ireland"
We now have an industry first, universally designed learning module which is available for free to all individuals with a disability, their support persons and professionals who work with persons with access needs who are impacted by the rapid increases in micromobility in Ireland. Over 22% of the population can benefit from the learning material, empowered to confidently navigate a world with unprecedented changes to mobility systems and infrastructure.
Feedback from a webinar participant - “Everything was great! I really liked the range covered and how informative the session was, I learned so much more about micromobility, what it is, what the rules are and how they are changing. It has really increased my awareness of mobility and how micromobility has to become a bigger consideration for safe travel and movement”
Feedback from a Micromobility rental operator - "the workshop had provided design solutions and made you think about the possibilities. We look forward to implementing a more inclusive scheme in Ireland"
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
This initiative is a good example of improving road safety for everyone with nobody left behind. The needs of vulnerable pedestrians are elevated in line with other road users.
Mobility is a fundamental right and the model demonstrates how persons with a disability can have enhanced safety and co-exist with new and sustainable transport modes when they are genuinely engaged and co-design schemes from design stage. We implemented a Design for All approach (I.S. EN 17161:2019) throughout the initiative to highlight the significance of user-involvement activities and ensuring the stakeholders we engaged with had the knowledge to extend the accessibility and usability of the places and services they are responsible for. The initiative is aligned with accessibility legislation and advocates for services deployed on our roads to be easily accessed, understood and used. This is a European standard and is therefore scalable and may be adopted by our peers across the continent.
Providing inclusive design advice to a broad range of stakeholders means that road safety has been improved by adapting the physical environment to meet the needs of people with disabilities. It also empowers individuals with information that allows them to have an awareness of safe road behaviours which can minimise collision with other road users.
Mobility is a fundamental right and the model demonstrates how persons with a disability can have enhanced safety and co-exist with new and sustainable transport modes when they are genuinely engaged and co-design schemes from design stage. We implemented a Design for All approach (I.S. EN 17161:2019) throughout the initiative to highlight the significance of user-involvement activities and ensuring the stakeholders we engaged with had the knowledge to extend the accessibility and usability of the places and services they are responsible for. The initiative is aligned with accessibility legislation and advocates for services deployed on our roads to be easily accessed, understood and used. This is a European standard and is therefore scalable and may be adopted by our peers across the continent.
Providing inclusive design advice to a broad range of stakeholders means that road safety has been improved by adapting the physical environment to meet the needs of people with disabilities. It also empowers individuals with information that allows them to have an awareness of safe road behaviours which can minimise collision with other road users.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
The initiative was promoted and shared with all partner organisations and individuals who provided input into the content development of the Safe Micromobility module in Ireland.
NCBI presented the project at the International Mobility Conference in Warsaw Poland on the 23rd of May, 2023 (Urban Mobility & the changing landscape in Ireland).
NCBI also presented the project at the ERSC National Relay meeting in Brussels Belgium in March, 2023 (Road Safety: Vision Impairment & a Human-Centred Approach).
The NCBI has also presented the e-scooter survey information at the Department of Transports Accessibility Consultative Committee in Ireland.
NCBI have promoted the module and workshops broadly across its social media platforms and website.
Our intervention has resulted in:
- An alliance with Irish Guide Dogs and Irish Wheelchair Assocation and developed a position paper to collectively lobby and influence Irish legislation based on joint findings and survey data.
- Through access consultancy we are influencing the design of micromobility rental schemes and working with them to find innovative solutions which enhance safety through deployment of new technologies.
- The industry-first micromobility e-learning module will empower people with access needs with strategies and resources that can improve their safety and confidence.
NCBI presented the project at the International Mobility Conference in Warsaw Poland on the 23rd of May, 2023 (Urban Mobility & the changing landscape in Ireland).
NCBI also presented the project at the ERSC National Relay meeting in Brussels Belgium in March, 2023 (Road Safety: Vision Impairment & a Human-Centred Approach).
The NCBI has also presented the e-scooter survey information at the Department of Transports Accessibility Consultative Committee in Ireland.
NCBI have promoted the module and workshops broadly across its social media platforms and website.
Our intervention has resulted in:
- An alliance with Irish Guide Dogs and Irish Wheelchair Assocation and developed a position paper to collectively lobby and influence Irish legislation based on joint findings and survey data.
- Through access consultancy we are influencing the design of micromobility rental schemes and working with them to find innovative solutions which enhance safety through deployment of new technologies.
- The industry-first micromobility e-learning module will empower people with access needs with strategies and resources that can improve their safety and confidence.
Supporting materials
