CATCHING a bus to the shops, to work or to a doctor’s appointment is something that most of us take for granted but for the hundreds of blind people living among us, it can be a nervous, confusing and often frightening experience.

Globe senior reporter Emma Rigby spent nearly two hours without sight in an event organised by Guide Dogs Liverpool in an attempt to raise awareness of the challenges faced by blind or partially-sighted people on a daily basis.

The blindfold bus journey from Wallasey Village to Liscard, was organised as part of the charity’s latest campaign to have audio visual announcements installed on the region’s buses.

PUTTING your complete trust in another person is something many of us struggle with, especially when it’s a choice between life and death.

But that is exactly what I had to do when I took on Guide Dog Liverpool’s “blindfold bus journey” challenge.

You don’t realise how much you take your sight for granted until it is taken away from you.

Simple things like knowing which bus to catch, where you are and when to get off are just some of the challenges faced each day by the more than 1,300 registered blind people living among us in Wirral.

Buses play a vital role in enabling disabled people, including those with sight loss, to live more independent lives.

But the worry of being unsure if you have caught the right bus puts many people off – that’s where the Talking Buses campaign comes in.

Audio-visual next stop and final destination announcements (AV) are essential to allowing blind and partially-sighted people the chance to live their lives to the full.

They enable people to use buses with confidence as well as improve the experience of bus travel for all passengers.

Joined by Globe chief reporter Craig Manning – who made it his mission to capture each and every step on film – I met up with Lynette Proctor and her guide dog Pippa.

Pulling on my blindfold, my world plunged into darkness and I was instantly filled with a sense of fear and uncertainty.

But I was in safe hands as Maureen Batholomew, mobility instructor for Guide Dogs Liverpool, would be my eyes for the next hour or so.

We were joined by Penny Williams, engagement officer for Guide Dogs Liverpool, and began our nerve-wracking and somewhat slow-paced walk to the nearest bus stop.

Holding on to Maureen’s arm for dear life, she guided me out of Lynette’s home – including numerous steps and a garden gate – and down Leasowe Road.

Our destination was Liscard which meant we needed to cross over to the other side of the road to catch the 413.

I’ll be honest, I was a little scared and unsure whether my next step would lead me straight into a nearby lamppost.

But Maureen was excellent, she kept me where I needed to be and ensured I was safe at all times.

She told me what the floor surface was like, how to determine if I was near to a road or not, and whether or not it was safe to cross.

I wondered how Lynette was able to do this each day with a dog, rather than a person, as her guide.

But guide dogs are trained so well that giving Pippa a location will lead to her getting you there in one piece – amazing.

Guide dog user Lynette Proctor talks about the difficulties she faces with  buses...

Waiting at the bus stop I soon realised that I had no way of knowing if an oncoming bus was the one I wanted.

Lynette herself has faced such difficulties, with some bus drivers simply asking “Are you blind?” if questioned on the number.

One of things that struck me quite hard was the inability to cope with social issues.

Conversations were difficult as I had no idea who was talking, where they were stood or if they were even speaking to me.

I found myself unable to contribute to conversations, instead standing perfectly still and tight-lipped until spoken to.

I felt like I was missing out on what was happening around me and felt extremely insecure and somewhat foolish at the same time.

After our return journey, it was time for me to remove my blindfold.

The sense of relief that washed over me was surreal, I had never been happier to be able to see.

As the light flooded back into my eyes, I realised one thing – while I was able to remove the blindfold, for people like Lynette and millions of others across the country, that was not an option.

Until Pippa entered her life 18 months ago, 26-year-old Lynette was unable to leave the house on her own for two years.

Lynette Proctor and Penny Williams, from Guide Dogs Liverpool, talk about the blindfold challenge...

Despite the help and support of charities like Guide Dogs Liverpool, Lynette says she would still rather pay for a taxi to Liverpool than travel on a bus for free.

But she hopes that by travelling up and down the country with Pippa, she will be able to help the charity reach their aim for all new buses to have AV announcements so people like her can travel in confidence.

This autumn, as part of National Guide Dogs Week – which runs from October 4 to October 12 – the charity is encouraging people to “stand out for Guide Dogs” by wearing high-visibility clothing and taking part in numerous fundraising events.

They will be touring the country with their Big Bus and urging people to sign their Talking Buses petition.

The Big Bus Tour will be in Liverpool this weekend. You can jump on board at the Pier Head on Friday and Sunday or at Williamson Square on Saturday between 10am and 4pm. 

  • To sign the Talking Buses petition, click here.