Forest steps up accessibility with Sight Loss Council collaboration

E-bike operator Forest has taken part in a ‘Simulation Spectacles’ walk and vision awareness session led by the London Sight Loss Council (SLC).

Last week, members of the Forest policy, people and customer service teams took part in the walk and vision awareness session to better understand the daily experiences of blind and partially sighted people.

Guided through busy London streets wearing simulation spectacles that replicate different eye conditions, the Forest team gained first-hand insight into the challenges faced by visually impaired pedestrians.

They also heard directly from Sight Loss Council member Haren Thillainathan, who shared his lived experience navigating the capital and the role e-bike operators can play in improving accessibility.

The initiative builds on Forest’s ongoing collaboration with the SLC, which earlier this year saw the operator sign its e-bike charter, committing operators, local authorities and governing bodies to six principles designed to protect blind and partially sighted pedestrians.

In line with this, Forest has been working to minimise street obstacles – rolling out more dedicated parking bays on carriageways rather than footways, maintaining a dedicated phone line and displaying QR codes so that obstructive bikes can be reported quickly and easily.

Alex Berwin, Head of Policy at Forest, said: ‘We are hugely grateful to the Sight Loss Council for coming in to meet the Forest team and helping us to better understand the lived experience of blind and partially sighted people. Our partnership with the Council – and our commitments to its e-bike charter – remain central to our operations across London.

‘While we have certainly made progress in improving our operations so that it benefits the whole community, particularly non-users with accessibility needs, we know more needs to be done. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Sight Loss Council as we improve on and build an inclusive service across the capital.’

The charter recommends the following measures:

1. provide parking bays and racks where users should park e-bikes. These should usually be on the carriageway to avoid obstructing pedestrians. By exception, parking may be on the pavement but must be safe and segregated. Where parking is not provided nearby, users should park e-bikes safely and securely.
2. put in place a Reporting and Monitoring framework of e-bike providers’ performance and make non-commercially sensitive results publicly available. This should include robust targets for speedy retrieval of abandoned or poorly parked e-bikes, or those not parked in designated bays.
3. provide one universally accessible way BPS people and other digitally excluded residents can report e-bike incidents.
4. commit to ensuring reasonable maximum weight and speed restrictions of rental e-bikes. Work towards implementing common restrictions as quickly as possible.
5. work towards ensuring all rental e-bikes are fitted with some form of audible alert equipment. For example, a horn or bell  that can be operated by riders to warn pedestrians.
6. work together to minimise incidents of rental e-bikes used in pavement riding, including through trialling available technology and advocating for robust police enforcement.

Haren Thillainathan, SW London SLC member, said: ‘It was good to contribute to the sim spec walk with Forest’s team and share my lived experience of the challenges I face as a blind resident, commuting and navigating London’s streets with my guide dog.

‘It was evident that the participants were receptive and gained a greater appreciation of the problems poorly parked and abandoned e-bikes pose every day to blind and partially sighted people.

‘I am encouraged that the issues we raised will help Forest improve its e-bike operations, benefitting VI pedestrians as well as other pedestrians across the capital.’

Nicki Guy, Senior Engagement Manager for Thomas Pocklington Trust, added: ‘London Sight Loss Councils have been working with Forest over the last ten months to highlight some of the challenges e-bikes present to the blind and partially sighted community in London. Forest has been keen to engage with us, and we were pleased when they became a signatory on London SLCs’ E-Bike Charter, committing to six key principles.

‘Much work remains to be done, but inviting some of the team to take part in our sim-spec walk was a positive and practical way to experience the impact of poorly parked bikes first-hand – from the trip hazards they create to the serious risks they pose to confidence and independence. It also underlined the importance of accountability. We look forward to continuing our work with Forest to help achieve meaningful improvements for visually impaired pedestrians navigating London’s streets.’