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Shared Surfaces Campaign

This is a campaign aimed at ensuring the pedestrian environment is inclusive and safe for all users.

It is particularly aimed at problem environments where there is no clear pedestrian area, as traditionally distinguished by a kerb, where there are access and safety implications for all disabled people – including those with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.

What we want

We will only support streetscape and public space developments, including those that follow the ‘shared space’ concept, which meet the needs of all disabled people, and we call on:

• Central and local government to demonstrate their commitment to social inclusion and to meet their disability equality duty in regulations, guidance, planning policy and decisions which impact on the pedestrian environment. We also want them to meet their obligations under Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 in relation to their highway functions.
• Professionals involved in the design, development and monitoring of streetscape and public space schemes to take into account the requirements of disabled people. We also want them to be able to demonstrate, through robust research and clear access and design statements, the accessibility and safety of innovative designs.
• All parties to consult with disability organisations at all stages in the process of developing our streets and public spaces.

To obtain our campaign statement in alternative formats (Braille, large print, audio or electronic format), please contact Gill Kenyon at Guide Dogs’ head office Tel: 0118 983 8359 Email: sharedsurfaces@guidedogs.org.uk.

You can obtain more information about the campaign from the guide dogs for the blind association website and the information in the links below.

Organisations who support the shared surfaces campaign

The campaign is supported by the following organisations:

• Arthritis Care http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Home
• Capability Scotland http://www.capability-scotland.org.uk/
• Deafblind UK http://www.deafblind.org.uk/
• Disability Alliance http://www.disabilityalliance.org/surface.htm
• Disability Wales http://www.disabilitywales.org/
• Dog Aid http://www.dogaid.org.uk/
• Dogs for the Disabled http://www.dogsforthedisabled.org/
• Guide Dogs http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/
• IMTAC http://www.imtac.org.uk/
• Inclusion Scotland http://www.inclusionscotland.org/
• Joint Committee for the Mobility of Disabled people
• Joint Committee for the Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted people http://www.jcmbps.org.uk/
• Leonard Cheshire Disability http://www.lcdisability.org/
• Mencap http://www.mencap.org.uk/
• NALSVI http://www.nalsvi.cswebsites.org/
• NFB http://www.nfbuk.org/
• Radar - The Disability Network http://www.radar.org.uk/radarwebsite/
• RNIB http://www.rnib.org.uk/
• RNID http://www.rnid.org.uk/
• Scope http://www.scope.org.uk/
• Sense - for Deafblind People http://www.sense.org.uk/
• Tendring Community Transport http://www.dial-a-ride.org/
• The National Autistic Society http://www.nas.org.uk/
• The National League for the Blind and Disabled http://www.community-tu.org/information/101434/nlbd/
• United Kingdom Disabled People's Council http://www.bcodp.org.uk/

More information

• campaign update - April 2009
• campaign update - 2008
• guide dogs invites lord faulkner to walk blindfold on a 'shared surface'
• more about the campaign - guide dogs website

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