The BBC's Transport Correspondent Tom Heap: "Courage and ingenuity" are needed to use public transport

Many also found difficulties just walking down the street because of poorly maintained pavements and cyclists who rode on the pavement.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) says a survey of 800 blind and partially sighted people found that 40% relied on others to drive them around.

The Rights of Way report launches a year-long RNIB campaign to make journeys more accessible for people with sight problems.

The report found that people had fallen onto railway tracks because there were no announcements on the train or at stations.

Blind people have problems accessing public transport

Some had been knocked over by people cycling along pavements.

Others had been seriously injured getting on and off buses because of poor design.

And some had broken limbs after tripping on broken pavements.

Steve Winyard, the RNIB's head of public policy, said: "We can send a rocket to Mars, but we can't design our streets and public transport to make it possible for blind and partially sighted people to travel safely and independently.

The BBC's Tom Heap: "The RNIB insists that safe and independent travel is a right"

"RNIB's research shows that the rights of people with serious sight problems are being ignored.

'Fundamental right'

"And yet simple things, like proper training for bus and train staff could make all the difference."

The RNIB says there are one million blind and partially sighted people living in the UK and that it is "a fundamental right" to be able to travel safely and independently.

It is calling for every part of the transport chain to be made accessible to people with sight problems.

"If a link is missing, the entire journey becomes impossible," it says.

In particular, it is demanding:

• Mobility training for blind and partially sighted people and for local authorities to take their needs into account when taking decisions on street environment
• That bus companies provide audible and visual announcement of the next stop and give staff disability awareness training
• That train companies provide high quality announcements on stations and trains and that assistance be available at all stations
• That train companies give staff disability awareness training
• That the government legislate to allow free travel to all blind and partially sighted people
• That they be able to use footpaths free of obstructions, including cyclists.