I agree with Vin........
people with sight loss are not able to make eye contact with motorists,
cyclists etc. This is one of the key requirements of the shared space concept
if people and motorists are to cohabit and use the same space safely. Blind
people are therefore excluded from these areas because it is no longer safe
for them to be there.
The elderly gentleman referred to in John Dale's article might find the kerb
more difficult to negotiate than a flat surface but it does not exclude him
completely which is the case for blind and visually impaired people.
I agree that a compromise will have to be made but not at the expense of the
total exclusion of a complete sector of society who are only now starting to
feel more confident about going out and about independently because of
improvements (small though they may be) in the built environment and
technology brought about by the DDA. More research must be put into this
concept and designers must be made more aware of the issues so that
exclusion does not happen.
Alan Hunt
Access Officer
Pembrokeshire County Council
tel: 01437 775148
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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