Overview

• Only 9% of blind people feel confident walking in their own neighbourhood, according to RNIB’s survey of 1,197 respondents.
• Some 92% said pavement obstructions from parked cars, bikes or e‑scooters force them into the road, and 34% reported a collision with a street obstacle in the past three months.
• RNIB calls for legally enforceable inclusive‑pavement standards and tougher local oversight of rental e‑bike and e‑scooter schemes and delivery cycling.
• The Department for Transport says private e‑scooters remain illegal on public roads and that it is bringing forward new powers to regulate e‑scooters and e‑bikes to tackle obstructive parking.
• Officials cite 52 pedestrians seriously injured in e‑scooter collisions in England in 2023, as councils seek stronger powers and national rental trials continue.