Visually Impaired Residents Help Shape Bus Information Improvements in West Northamptonshire
Feedback from NAB Sight Support members is guiding enhancements to new electronic bus displays across the region.
By Aisha Mahmood
••3 min read
AI
An ePaper bus information display on a pole at a bus stop in West Northamptonshire.
Residents with visual impairments have tested new electronic bus information displays in West Northamptonshire, offering feedback to improve accessibility and user experience.
Members of NAB Sight Support for Northamptonshire have played a key role in refining new electronic bus information displays being rolled out across West Northamptonshire. They participated in a trial trip, travelling from Moulton Park to various bus stops equipped with the new ePaper displays, providing valuable insights for further improvements.
These advanced displays, funded through the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), offer real-time bus information. Louise Danielczuk, Chief Executive of NAB, initiated contact with the West Northamptonshire Council after learning about the technology. In collaboration with Stagecoach Midlands, the council organised the session for NAB members to experience the technology firsthand.
During the trial, participants evaluated the displays at different locations, suggesting enhancements such as improved contrast settings and greater consistency in the placement of bus stop equipment. This feedback has been relayed to the suppliers to inform future design and development.
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"We were delighted to be invited to work with Stagecoach Midlands and West Northamptonshire Council on this project and to engage some of those living with a visual impairment in looking at how the service will improve accessibility across the town. As a local charity supporting people with sight loss, it is vital that we empower our clients to have a voice and contribute to the development of services like this. We welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the new technology and to help shape its future design and delivery and we look forward to future opportunities to work together to make travel across Northamptonshire more accessible for people living with a visual impairment."
The initiative also provided participants with the chance to experience travel on an electric bus and understand how real-time information can foster independent travel and reduce social isolation within the visually impaired community.
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"One of the best ways to improve public transport is to listen to the people who use it. We’re really grateful to NAB members for taking the time to try out the new displays and share their views. Their feedback will help us make these facilities even more accessible, while giving more people the confidence to travel independently and stay connected to their communities."
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"It was a pleasure to demonstrate the new electric buses and electronic displays to members of the NAB. Making sure that our services are as accessible and inclusive as possible is really important to us and we are grateful for the feedback from NAB on how recent investments are being received and can be further improved. The feedback will be useful as we plan for the future and will help us make the bus even easier to use."
