Aberdeen’s blind community is stepping up a campaign to improve safety on a “dangerous” street in Aberdeen.
Local members of the Guide Dogs UK charity believe that a lack of curbs on the partially-pedestrianised Broad Street places them at risk, as their dogs can’t tell where the pavement ends and the road – which is still used by buses following a £3.2million revamp – begins.
They have now been backed by an anonymous council traffic warden, who told the Press and Journal that they shared similar fears about the layout of the street.
The traffic warden said: “I’ve seen a fair few drivers get confused about where the pavement begins at the Upperkirkgate, and drive far too near pedestrians. It is definitely a problem for blind people and their animals.”
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
The charity volunteers are now campaigning for a voice speaker system to be installed on all local buses, to ensure blind people know where they are.
They have also taken politicians on blindfold walks through the centre to highlight the problem, which they first flagged concerns about ahead of the road reopening in August.
The group’s fears have since increased after it emerged that hundreds of motorists are continuing to drive cars through the “pedestrian-priority” space, with £22,000 worth of fines being administered in the first month of it opening.
Ells McHaffie, who has two small assistant dogs to help with mobility problems, said the problem extended beyond people with vision problems.
She said: “If I have to go to Marischal College for something council-related, like to get a new bus pass or to pay a bill, it has become far more stressful than it used to be.
“If I don’t hear buses coming, or cars that don’t realise they aren’t meant to be on Broad Street, then I might not be able to move out the way fast enough.
“At this rate, it’s going to take someone getting hurt to prove to the council that something needs to be done.”
Liberal Democrat councillor, Steve Delaney, has called for buses to be banned from Broad Street and suggested that disabled people are now avoiding the area amid fears for their welfare.
He added: “Our city centre should be accessible to all and enjoyed by everyone.”
The council’s transport spokesman, Ross Grant, said the feedback would be taken into account.
He added: “The design and build of the project followed best practice and government guidelines.”
Four local politicians have undertaken blindfolded walks across the city.
MSPs Lewis Macdonald, Peter Chapman and Tom Mason, and Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson, all took part.
Mr Thomson said: “It is difficult to fully understand how challenging it is to get around a city centre area until you have done this.”
Attempting a blindfolded walk around Aberdeen city centre
The hubbub of sounds from outside Marischal College made it impossible to tell which direction the buses were coming from as I clutched the arm of the volunteer who guided me along Broad Street.
Nearby construction work and noise of deliveries being unloaded seemed to drown out any sound of traffic as what would usually have been a brief amble from Littlejohn Street to the P&J offices became far more stress-inducing at the removal of one just one sense.
I volunteered to undertake the blindfolded walk, under the auspices of Guide Dogs Aberdeen and with the assistance of “guide person” Pam Munro, as it felt like the only way to truly grasp how difficult it can be to get around the city centre when you are deprived of your vision.
Thinking the flattened surface of the newly revamped street would at least stop me from tripping turned out to be a naive thought as I stumbled along.
At one stage I entirely lost my bearings, thinking we’d moved past Marischal College, when in fact Pam had led me across Broad Street.
The severity of the problem facing the city’s blind community became most apparent as we reached the Upperkirkgate roundabout and I ventured into the road with no idea of what may have been heading my way.
While the bumps in the road do indicate to guide dogs where is safe to cross, if it is approached diagonally or from a different angle, it can be easy to bypass them and walk directly onto the road.
Thankfully I had Pam, but it is a worrying thought for those who only have their dogs to show them the way.
