E-scooters: RNIB looks into bad parking with Cambridge hire firm

The Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) spent a day with Voi staff in Cambridge

A blind charity has been showing an e-scooter company around a city to highlight the issue of bad parking for people with sight loss.

The Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) spent a day with Voi staff in Cambridge.

Staff were given a white cane and specially designed glasses to simulate what blind and partially sighted have to deal with.

Voi said it was installing more parking racks in the city.

The company provides about 800 e-scooters and 130 e-bikes in Cambridge, available to hire and then re-park at various locations using an app.

The RNIB provided a walking session as part of Voi's aim to ensure their operations were accessible and did not disadvantage people such as those with sight loss or wheelchair users.

Voi hoped to install more parking racks in Cambridge, including outside the main railway station

Warren Wilson, RNIB's East of England community facilitator, who is visually impaired, said he often had problems negotiating busy streets.

"Having e-scooters parked inconsiderately is just another thing to think about," he said.

"If you're tripping over them or walking into them with your cane, it can be quite disorientating.

"It's really important and very appreciated that Voi staff have given up their time to take part in one of these sessions."

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Bernie Reddington, RNIB's regional campaigns officer for the East of England, said badly parked scooters could be the "difference between some having the confidence to travel independently or feeling too scared to leave their home".

Voi customers are told to park using the designated spaces marked by white lines on the pavement and must send a picture of their parked e-scooter. Voi staff also try to tidy up parked two-wheelers to avoid obstructions.

Jim Hubbard, senior public policy manager for Voi, said: "We want to make sure that we do everything we can to make sure that e-scooters are parked so that they do not become an additional challenge for blind and partially sighted people, or people with wheelchairs or buggies."

Voi said it was working with the city council to get parking racks installed.

Bad parking of Voi e-scooters can be reported at report.voi.com.