Disabled groups demand pause on London floating bus stops after injuries
Campaigners say the design forces blind and partially sighted passengers into cycle lanes
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Blind and partially sighted Londoners are calling for an immediate pause on all floating bus stops after Transport for London recorded six pedestrian casualties at the sites between 2020 and 2022. The stops, which place a cycle lane between the pavement and the bus, require passengers to cross the path of cyclists to board or alight.
The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, a statutory body, advised the government to pause all floating bus stops in August 2024 and again in October 2025. The committee warned that current designs pose risks to vulnerable passengers, but the Department for Transport has not extended its pause beyond one specific type of stop.
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Campaigners report injuries and abuse
Gary Wiggins, a partially sighted member of the Waltham Forest Blind Association, said he was knocked over by a cyclist at a floating bus stop in Walthamstow. The cyclist blamed him for the collision, Wiggins told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. He now avoids buses and relies on taxis, adding to his transport costs.
““The bikes that people are riding, the e-scooters, the e-bikes and the illegal e-bikes, they’re absolutely coming down here at speed. People can’t hear them, they can’t see them, and they can’t get out of the way.””
Sarah Gayton, National Federation for the Blind UK
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Hyacinth Malcolm, who is fully blind, said she now takes taxis everywhere because she cannot predict whether a bus stop will have a cycle lane. “The bus is my life and it’s the only way I can travel,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. “Sadiq Khan and TfL keep saying that every journey matters, but it only matters if I can take the bus.”
Mayor defends design despite risks
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has defended floating bus stops as part of his target to have 80% of London journeys made by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041. City Hall argues the stops separate cyclists from motor traffic, making roads safer for all users.
Simon Munk of the London Cycling Campaign told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that floating bus stops are no more dangerous than other stretches of road. He said calls to ban them would harm efforts to make cycling more inclusive. The Department for Transport is conducting further research but has not halted all designs, citing the need for safer cycling infrastructure.
Thomas Turrell, City Hall Conservatives transport spokesman, called the stops “needlessly risky” and said TfL’s own warnings to passengers prove the design is flawed. “What is Sadiq Khan’s obsession with this failed design?” he asked the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
What happens next
The Department for Transport is carrying out further research into floating bus stop designs but has not committed to a full pause. Transport for London has not announced any changes to its current or planned stops. Campaigners say they will continue to press for a halt until accessibility concerns are addressed.
Questions this report answers
+How many people have been injured at floating bus stops?
Transport for London recorded six pedestrian casualties at floating bus stops between 2020 and 2022. Campaigners say the design forces passengers to cross cycle lanes, leading to collisions and close calls.
+What has the government said about floating bus stops?
The Department for Transport paused one type of floating bus stop in 2025 but has not halted all designs. It is conducting further research to improve accessibility but says a full pause would harm cycling infrastructure.
+Why do campaigners want floating bus stops scrapped?
Blind and partially sighted passengers say the stops are unsafe, forcing them to cross cycle lanes where they risk injury. Some now avoid buses entirely, relying on taxis instead, which increases their transport costs.
+What does the Mayor of London say about floating bus stops?
Sadiq Khan has defended floating bus stops as part of his plan to increase cycling and public transport use. He argues they separate cyclists from motor traffic, making roads safer, but campaigners say the design ignores accessibility risks.
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