Riding for the Blind Saturday 19th June

As mentioned at the AGM.
Every year a small group of Driving Instructors in Association with Grampian Society for the Blind, organise a day at Alford transport Museum to enable the blind and visually impaired to experience driving a car in a safe enviorment, with a driving instructor at their side, to avoid any mishaps. They normally have a session of approx 10 to 15 mins going round the track.

There is also refreshments available inc BBQ, it is a very relaxed day.

As we have been doing this for a few years now we would like to try and change the format of the day.

The day would start at approx 10am and normally runs to about 4pm. You would be asked to take several Blind people on the back of your bike (if you have a spare helmet that would be great) round the track at a leisurely pace for approx 5 to 10 mins at a time. It would also be great if you had some form of Rider to pillion intercom so you could talk through the ride.

Therefore if there any Riders who are comfortable with pillion passengers and would like to get involved please contact myself on this forum via message.

I'm so up for this I've already emailed you as you know but wanted to express public support for what you are doing with this. What an amazing initiative. I'm watching the One Show on BBC 1 at the moment and they're showing a clip of a blind water skier teaching the lady presenter how to ski! How poignant.

Thanks for inviting us!

BUMP

As discussed I am looking forward to Saturday 19th of June Steve

Dave

Quote :

you would be asked to take several Blind people on the back of your bike (if you have a spare helmet that would be great)

I guess you would need several spare helmets

Well what can I say? This was a phenomenal day - the organisers were fantastic and made us all feel very welcome. The sight impaired people who attended were amazing. I can't put into words how much they appreciate the opportunity to drive a car or ride pillion on a motorcycle. One lady I gave a ride to said it was a lifelong ambition realised!
I know Dave Morris will post his own feelings but I feel sure he had as good a time as myself.

I even had the chance to drive a car with a blindfold on - just to see what it's like - JEEZ it's scary! I don't think I reached more than 10 mph all the way round. At one point I heard the instructor say "Your mate Dave is running alongside us"

All in all a fantasticly rewarding day and I've already committed to doing it next year. Even the poor weather didn't spoil the day - despite needing the heated grips on all day!

Thanks to Steve and Andrea for making us feel so welcome and for inviting us to join them in the first place.

I would just like echo what Phil has written. It was a privilege to have taken part and share in the experience of assisting Steve and Andrea and the other three drivers to give people with impaired vision the opportunity to experience what we take for granted. The smile on their faces after the ride round the track said it all. I also am looking forward to helping again next.



Dave

I am really glad that both David and Phil saw what a rewarding experience it is.

And although I was very cold everyone still had a smile on there face.

Both myself and Andrea Would once again Like to thank both Phil and David for giving up there time,

having the bikes there as well as the cars made the whole day even more enjoyable for all involved.

Lets hope next year the weather is a little kinder.