Blind People Complain About the Lack of Audio Stop Announcements on Buses in Cyprus

In Cyprus, Christakis Nicolaides, chairman of the Pan-Cypriot Organization of the Blind, speaking on a television program about a recent incident in which a visually impaired person was injured due to an inadequately equipped bus, pointed out systemic problems in transporting blind passengers.

Nicolaides emphasized that audio stop announcements are not used. He stated: “We don’t understand why it is not used.” He also mentioned the long distances buses must travel to transport people to the School for the Blind for educational and training programs.

According to Nicolaides, the entrances of buses used for transportation are poorly adapted for visually impaired people, seating is very limited, and passengers are forced to stand in the aisle. He also described the technical condition of such buses as unsatisfactory and suggested replacing a specific bus with a larger, more spacious, and new vehicle.

It was noted that the person injured in the recent incident is now in better condition. For visually impaired residents, these issues mean reduced accessibility and higher risk when using public transport.