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In Touch: Safe travel - Trialling at Tandem

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Two people on tandem

16/09/2014

Safe travel - Trialling at Tandem

BBC Radio 4 - In Touch, Safe travel - Trialling at Tandem

What is safe travel, and who should decide? Plus a borrow-a-tandem scheme.

Peter White speaks to a blind commuter whose method of negotiating a station platform was challenged by station authorities. Who should decide what is safe travel?

Peter White speaks to blind commuter Michael Lambert, about his experience of being challenged at a railway station, on his method of negotiating a busy platform. Michael follows the edge of the platform with his white cane to orientate himself and to keep in a straight line. Station staff felt this method was unsafe and insisted Michael obtains assistance or find another route. The station management have since reassessed the situation, apologised and agree that Michael's method is safe.

We discuss the issue with seasoned travellers Julie Smethurst and Chris Danielsen, spokesperson for the National Federation of the Blind in the United States, who should decide what is safe travel for a blind person?

We also hear about a scheme which loans tandem bikes for a period of up to two months to visually impaired people. Dave Williams finds out about the charity called Charlotte's tandems.

Presenter: Peter White
Producer: Lee Kumutat.

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