Settling into the journey
The door closes with a dull thud and suddenly the world feels different. The floor vibrates as the engine stirs, voices murmur around you, and the faint smell of coffee or fuel lingers in the air. One hand grips your bag, the other rests on a cane, a phone, or the arm of a friend. There’s relief you’re finally on the move but also a flicker of tension: how will you know when it’s time to step off?
Sighted or non-sighted, that moment of adjustment is shared. It’s about finding your seat, settling your things, and switching into “journey mode.”
Coaches and long-distance buses
Drivers often guide passengers up the steps, stow luggage, and point out a seat. If you’re travelling with company, they’ll help you get comfortable too. The challenge is knowing when to get off. Coaches rarely announce stops, so many travellers, sighted and non-sighted alike, rely on the driver to let them know. Blind and visually impaired passengers often back this up with Google Maps to track progress, while sighted travellers keep an eye out for familiar landmarks.
Trains
On long-distance trains, staff support is common. In the UK, Passenger Assist can be booked so staff guide you on and meet you again when it’s time to leave. Even without pre-booking, most conductors will offer help if asked. For sighted passengers, stop boards and signs are the main guide; for blind and visually impaired travellers, it’s often a mix of listening to announcements, tracking progress with Google Maps, and relying on staff.
There’s a shared moment once the train glides forward, a collective settling, bags tucked away, the journey underway.
Ferries
Ferries can feel like floating towns: stairwells, lounges, and the salty air on deck. Staff usually walk blind and visually impaired passengers on board and settle them in a safe area. Some travellers stay put, while others ask for guidance to cafés, toilets, or seating areas. For sighted passengers, finding the right spot often means following signs and maps; for blind passengers, it’s about knowing support is there if you ask. Either way, the hum of engines and the sway beneath your feet remind you that you’re moving forward.
Flights
Airlines tend to provide the clearest systems of all. Assistance staff guide blind and visually impaired travellers onto the aircraft and directly to their seat, while cabin crew continue the support once on board. For sighted passengers, the process is familiar: stow your bag, buckle in, and wait for take-off.
Both experiences converge in the same ritual: settling into the seat, hearing the safety announcements, and feeling that push-back from the gate that signals it’s time to fly.
Reflection
Being on board is often the first time you can breathe out. The logistics of getting there are behind you, and the rhythm of the journey takes over. But there are still unknowns: Will the next stop be announced clearly? Will the connection go smoothly?
That’s why sharing strategies matters. From staff support to tech, from simple requests to personal hacks, every traveller has something that makes their journey easier. At Be Seen Net, we want to gather those tips and stories from blind, visually impaired, and sighted people alike, so no one feels they’re travelling alone.
Because everyone deserves to be seen.