Bolt engineers and operations team to take part in workshop and blind simulation to better understand what obstacles people who are blind or vision impaired face daily and how shared e-scooters services can be improved
Dublin, 9 September 2021: Today, NCBI will host Bolt, the leading European mobility platform focused on making urban travel more convenient, reliable and sustainable, for a workshop where people living with blindness or vision impairment will share their experiences and views on increased e-scooter usage and any current concerns.
Members of Bolt’s international e-scooter engineering and operations team will take part in the discussion in Ireland and will also be led through low vision and blindness simulation activities to gain a better understanding of the obstacles facing people who are blind or vision impaired who navigate our streets on a daily basis.
NCBI and Bolt are currently testing an ambient noise feature that will make a sound in areas with high footfall to make e-scooters more distinguishable. Following the workshop, Bolt hopes to update the latest model of its e-scooter with improvements based on this discussion. Bolt aims to publish its findings and recommendations to raise awareness of the challenges of pedestrians who are blind or vision impaired and how multi-modal transportation in Europe can become more friendly for them.
Chantelle Smith, NCBI Access and Mobility Manager said “we welcome opportunity to work with Bolt to advise and upskill them on the challenges e-scooters present to people who are blind or vision impaired so they can modify their e-scooter designs to ensure key safety features such as audio features, speed limitations and rider training and awareness of vulnerable pedestrians become standard. This collaboration then results in safer roads and footpaths for all.”
About Bolt
Bolt is the leading European mobility platform with 50 million customers in over 40 countries. Bolt will bring 130,000 e-scooters to more than 130 cities across the continent in 2021, becoming Europe’s largest operator.
About NCBI
NCBI is Ireland’s national sight loss organisation, working for people with sight loss. NCBI provides practical and emotional support, rehabilitation services and other training designed to help 55,000 people who are blind or vision impaired to live independently and confidently.