Surrey County Council is now providing access to the Aira Explorer app which helps blind and partially sighted Surrey residents to travel independently, at major hospitals and healthcare sites across the county.
The app allows customers to place a video call with a trained visual interpreter on speakerphone, who looks through the person’s smartphone camera to guide them from the nearest bus stops to the hospital entrance. The sites included in the trial are:
The App is also currently available to help users navigate major bus stations and interchanges in Guildford, Redhill, Staines and Woking, as well the nearest bus stops to Caterham, Dorking, Oxted, Leatherhead, Epsom, Reigate and Horley train stations.
All app usage at these locations is free of charge, provided by Surrey County Council using some of its allocation from the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Fund.
Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member Highways, Transport and Economic Growth at Surrey County Council, said, “We’re very aware that using buses and navigating bus stations can sometimes be difficult for people with visual impairments. We’ve expanded this trial to cover hospitals to assist users who are travelling by bus for vital appointments. We’re keen to make bus travel accessible for everyone and hope this expansion will support people to travel confidently and independently.
“This initiative is part of our wider investment in buses which also includes £6.3m to provide more ultra-low and zero emission community transport minibuses, £9m in bus priority measures to ensure Surrey buses turn up on time, and £1.4m in improving information for passengers at bus stops. Our Surrey LINK card gives young people half-price bus travel and we’ve also expanded our on-demand Surrey Connect bus services to cover areas where there are limited fixed bus routes, giving more options to travel by bus for all residents right across Surrey.”
Clare Burgess, CEO of Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey, said, “The expansion of areas that blind and partially sighted people can use the Aira app in for free is fantastic news. The app is a helpful tool for people with sight loss when travelling around the county.”
Nikki Roberts, CEO at Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, said, “We’re thrilled that the Aira app is now available free of charge at 13 hospitals across Surrey in addition to some bus stations in Surrey. The provision of this service free of charge at key locations will be hugely beneficial for our members with sight loss to help them navigate their way round Surrey.”
Dave Smith, Engagement Manager for South East England at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said, “The expansion of the Aira app is brilliant news. It’s really helpful for times when I may get disorientated or if there are temporary roadworks or blockages that require me to use a different route. Having Aira available to support at those times is really reassuring and reduces any anxiety I might have with travelling.”
Aira Explorer is available for both iOS and Android devices. Follow these steps to download the app: