Amit Patel, a former A&E doctor, who lost his sight five years ago, has highlighted his daily struggles in getting around London using modern GoPro technology.
The 37-year-old began attaching a small, lightweight camera onto guide dog, Kika’s, back in efforts to film his daily trials tribulations whilst travelling on public transport. .
Amit then uploads the footage onto a computer where it is then reviewed by his able-sighted wife, Seema, who helps to identify moments where Amit was ignored or abused.
Commuters were filmed barging past, as well as remaining seated in carriages were Amit was standing with kika. People were even caught hitting him with their umbrellas and bags in efforts to move him aside.
“It all started when people barged me out of the way [on the escalator],” he said.
“They have loads of space to get past, but they seem to think it is fun to barge into a blind person.
“Kika always sits to my left hand side so we often block the escalator, and people will hit her with bags and umbrellas to get her to move out of the way.
“The worst part is the tutting and negative comments behind me. People are so rude and arrogant and assume they can do whatever they want.”
Amit explains that he was even ordered to apologise for ‘holding people up’ on the escalators.
“One lady even said I should apologise to the people behind her for holding them up. I asked her if I should apologise for being blind and she said “yes”.’
“It really scares Kika sometimes. I can feel how upset she gets, and when I get upset she senses it as well – and she won’t go on the escalators for a few days.”
Travel is an everyday part of Amit’s life. He often commutes on Southeastern trains to London Bridge, and then on the London Underground.
“People just don’t care,’ Amit continues. ‘They assume I’m going to take up the whole carriage.
“Sometimes I get a train with my four-month-old son and I say quite loudly, “Kika, find me a seat”, but no one budges.
“When my wife reviewed a piece of footage once, a lady was sitting on a seat and had her shopping on the one next to her.
“Sometimes the only way I get a seat is to scratch Kika behind the ears so she shakes a little. No one likes a wet dog.”
“People even walk right up to me but then swerve at the last minute. They also come up to Kika and touch her and distract her while she is walking, which puts her off.”
Amit’s is heavily reliant on Kika, he explains how the specially-trained dog once saved his life when a car ran a red light at a crossing in Lewisham.
“She saw the car and she got in front of me and took the hit,’ he said. ‘The car grazed her nose. It was three days before she could work again.”
Amit is now an active volunteer with RNIB, Action for Blind people and Guide Dogs for the Blind, where he helps coach people who require the assistance of guide dogs.
‘Losing my sight was very lonely,’ Amit said. ‘If I’m travelling by public transport, I’m sometimes like a scared little boy sat in the corner.’
