Brighton & Hove Buses enables its passengers to connect with the people and places they value most. The company aims to do this safely, reliably, and sustainably, while providing excellent value for money, and ensuring that independent travel is accessible to all people living with disabilities. 

By switching their aid to hearing loop, passengers gain access to crisp and clear announcements - such as next-stop information, driver communication, and more. We want all customers to receive teh best possible experience when it comes to travel. Through ClearConnect, we empower hearing aid users to take every journey with confidence, transforming what may once have been a daunting experience into a comfortable one.

Our aim is to provide a product that not only does the job, but one that does it better than every other product on the market - because being inclusive matters to us, and we hope it does to you too. 

Brighton & Hove Buses enables its passengers to connect with the people and places they value most. The company aims to do this safely, reliably, and sustainably, while providing excellent value for money, and ensuring that independent travel is accessible to all people living with disabilities.

Victoria Garcia MBE, the accessibility and communities manager at Brighton & Hove Buses, has been working to implement a top-quality hearing loop system onboard each of its buses.

The challenge

The Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 states that all new buses must be fitted with a hearing loop system, and some older buses should now be retrofitted.

However, ensuring accessible travel for all is not only a legal obligation, but an ethical one too –  hearing aid users must be empowered to take every journey with confidence, transforming what may once have been a daunting experience into a comfortable one.

Brighton & Hove Buses required a hearing loop system that not only does the job, but which does it better than every other product on the market – giving each customer the best possible experience when it comes to travel.

The solution

Having worked in close collaboration with experts and charities, such as the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), a solution was developed that truly addresses the needs of those who are hard of hearing – and overcomes the drawbacks of many other commonly used devices, allowing Brighton & Hove Buses to provide the highest level of customer care. Having undergone a rigorous three-year development programme, the result is ClearConnect™, a sophisticated hearing loop system that provides utmost comfort to the user.

 

ClearConnect provides direct communication between the driver and passengers, with its key features including:

  • Driver/passenger communication aid: The entrance platform induction loop allows the driver to communicate directly with passengers using hearing aids, regardless of physical barriers and ambient noise.
  • Extensive connectivity and coverage: The system has the ability to cover listening areas outside of ‘priority seating’ – even the whole upper deck – with minimal interference, aiding passengers’ comfort and enabling them to choose where to sit.
  • Direct delivery of vehicle information systems messages: The induction loop system located in the saloon allows for the delivery of vehicle information system announcements directly into the hearing aid.
  • Compliant with disability and safety regulations: The system has been specifically designed to conform to the BS 7594 code of practice for AFILS and the PSVAR, which took full effect in 2020.

 

 

The outcome

Passengers are able to connect while sitting anywhere on the bus, even on the upper deck – they no longer need to be confined to ‘priority seating’, enhancing the overall experience of their journey. The system experiences less interference than others on the market, and is leading in its intelligibility and in picking up natural speech, meaning clear communication at all times.

 

Plus, drivers get peace of mind the system is activated and working and will be auto-alerted if there is a fault.

 

ClearConnect isn’t just another hearing loop. It’s a sophisticated and effective system that’s been designed with the user in mind – and it shows: 

 

“I’ve seen myself how this new hearing loop system has empowered hearing aid users to travel with confidence, transforming what may have once seemed a daunting experience into a comfortable one. The impact this has had on Brighton & Hove Buses is huge, with deaf people opting to travel with them wherever possible, and I’m confident the same will be true for other bus companies. Investing in accessible initiatives isn’t just beneficial to customers, it’s good for business too. We’re hopeful that, as word of the ClearConnect system continues to grow, our bus routes will too.”

 

Victoria Garcia MBE

Accessibility and communities manager, Brighton and Hove Buses