Bus Users UK has called for further investigation into the so-called “floating bus stop” design following the handing of a petition to ban them to 10 Downing Street on 15 May.
Two hundred and seventy organisations signed the petition, which was started by the National Federation of the Blind UK. The topic was also raised by Baroness Brinton in the House of Lords on 13 May.
This type of infrastructure, particularly common in London but also seen elsewhere, involves a cycle lane between the bus stop and the pavement and has long been controversial.
Claire Walters, Chief Executive Officer of Bus Users UK, says: “The priority must be to keep all road users safe and it’s clear that the designs of many floating bus stops are creating confusion and anxiety.
“If we were starting from scratch, we would design a more equitable use of road space that kept private car use to a minimum and allowed separate spaces for different kinds of users.
“As that isn’t feasible, we need a thorough investigation of how safety and confidence can be improved for spaces that need to be used by pedestrians, boarding and alighting bus passengers, and cyclists.”
However, a Transport for London (TfL) report Bus Stop Bypass Safety Review 2024, published last month, concluded the risk of pedestrian injury with such stops is “very low”.
As part of its plan going forward, TfL says it will update noncompliant bus stop design, review design guidance, update bus customer information, and use “innovative trials” to boost safety.
