Floating bus stops paused after safety warnings for blind Londoners

The Department for Transport is reviewing the safety of floating bus stops after disability groups warned the designs put vulnerable passengers at risk. Six pedestrians were injured at floating bus stops between 2020 and 2022, Transport for London data shows. The stops make up 1.5% of London’s 19,000 bus stops.

Floating bus stops separate cyclists from traffic by routing cycle lanes between the pavement and the bus boarding area. Passengers must cross the cycle lane to reach the bus. Two types exist: Shared Use Bus Borders, where the cycle lane runs in front of the stop, and Bus Stop Bypasses, where it runs behind.

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Government pauses one design, not all

In 2025, ministers paused the rollout of Shared Use Bus Borders but allowed Bus Stop Bypasses to continue. The Department for Transport told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it is funding research to improve accessibility. A department source said a full pause would delay safer cycling infrastructure.

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, a statutory body, advised pausing all floating bus stop designs in August 2024 and again in October 2025. Sarah Gayton of the National Federation for the Blind UK said the committee’s advice should be followed. She called the stops "totally unsafe" and "inaccessible".

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“People can’t hear them, they can’t see them, and they can’t get out of the way. So designs like this are totally unsafe, totally inaccessible, and blind people will keep away from them.”

Sarah Gayton, National Federation for the Blind UK

Blind residents avoid buses, use taxis instead

Gary Wiggins, a partially sighted member of the Waltham Forest Blind Association, said he no longer uses buses after a cyclist knocked him over at a floating bus stop. He now relies on taxis, which cost more. Hyacinth Malcolm, who is fully blind, said she avoids buses because she cannot tell if a stop has a cycle lane.

Transport for London warns passengers to be careful when alighting at floating bus stops. Wiggins said the warning is ineffective. "People just want to get off the bus and go. It’s not right that we’ve been put in this situation," he said.

Mayor defends stops as essential for cycling

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. A City Hall spokesperson said the stops separate cyclists from motor traffic, encouraging more people to cycle.

Simon Munk of the London Cycling Campaign said the evidence shows floating bus stops are no more dangerous than other roads or pavements. He said removing them would harm inclusive mobility. "Floating bus stops should be delivered in as high-quality and inclusive manner as possible," he said.

Thomas Turrell, transport spokesman for City Hall Conservatives, called the stops "needlessly risky". He said disability groups and charities consistently raise concerns about their safety. "The mayor should do the right thing and scrap them," he said.

What happens next

The Department for Transport’s research into floating bus stop accessibility is ongoing. No date has been set for its completion. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee’s advice to pause all designs remains in place. Transport for London has not announced any changes to its current or planned floating bus stops.