New app to help guide blind or partially sighted passengers around bus stations
A new app is available as part of a trial to help guide blind and partially sighted people around bus stations in Surrey, helping residents to travel confidently and independently.
The app is called Aira Explorer. It works by allowing users to place a video call with a trained visual interpreter on speakerphone. The visual interpreter then looks through the user’s smartphone camera to guide them around the bus station.
As well as helping residents to locate their bus, interpreters can also:
- direct them to a member of staff for assistance
- read the timetable
- explain the best way to get into town
Passengers can use the app at Guildford, Redhill, Staines and Woking bus stations. It is free of charge to residents and is funded using some of our allocation of the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Fund.
We are the first local authority in the UK to provide this service for blind or partially sighted residents. This initiative follows a successful roll out by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), who have also partnered with Aira.io to support visually impaired passengers get around their rail network more confidently.
To find out more, visit our Bus Service Improvement Plan and Enhanced Partnership webpage.
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