Floating bus stops paused after safety warnings from disabled groups
Barnet residents using stops near cycle lanes face risks as campaigners demand a halt to new schemes
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The rollout of floating bus stops in London has been paused for one design after warnings from disability campaigners, but Transport for London (TfL) continues to defend the infrastructure. The stops, which separate cyclists from bus passengers with a cycle lane, have been linked to six pedestrian casualties in the capital between 2020 and 2022.
Floating bus stops make up 1.5% of London’s 19,000 bus stops. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced a pause on Shared Use Bus Borders (SUBBs) in 2023 but did not extend the halt to bus stop bypasses (BSBs), where the cycle lane runs behind the stop. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee recommended pausing all floating bus stops in August 2024 and again in October 2025.
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Safety concerns raised by campaigners
Sarah Gayton of the National Federation for the Blind UK (NFBUK) told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the stops are "totally unsafe" for visually impaired people. She said e-bikes and e-scooters travel at speed, making it difficult for pedestrians to hear or avoid them. "People can’t hear them, they can’t see them, and they can’t get out of the way," she said.
The bus is my life and it’s the only way I can travel. I have to take a taxi everywhere because I’m not sure if there will be a cycle lane when I step off the bus or not.
Hyacinth Malcolm, blind campaigner
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Gary Wiggins of the Waltham Forest Blind Association, who is partially sighted, said he was knocked over by a cyclist after alighting from a bus. He now avoids buses due to safety fears. "It’s not right that we’ve been put in this situation," he told the LDRS. "I’d rather be safe than sorry."
TfL defends floating bus stops
TfL said the six casualties at floating bus stops between 2020 and 2022 represented 0.8% of the 623 pedestrian casualties involving cyclists in London. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has defended the stops as part of efforts to increase cycling and meet a target of 80% of journeys being made on foot, bicycle or public transport by 2041.
Simon Munk of the London Cycling Campaign said the evidence showed floating bus stops were "no more dangerous than other stretches of road, pavement and cycle route." He added that calls to ban them were "not coherent or safe for anyone."
What happens next in Barnet
Barnet Council has not confirmed whether it will install new floating bus stops in the borough. Residents can respond to consultations on local transport plans, which are published on the council’s website. The DfT said it was conducting further research to ensure accessibility is prioritised in future designs.
Questions this report answers
+How many people have been injured at floating bus stops in London?
Six pedestrian casualties occurred at floating bus stops in London between 2020 and 2022. This represents 0.8% of the 623 pedestrian casualties involving cyclists in the same period, as reported by Transport for London.
+Why are disability campaigners calling for a pause on floating bus stops?
Campaigners say floating bus stops are unsafe for visually impaired people, who struggle to hear or avoid cyclists. Groups like the National Federation for the Blind UK argue the design forces vulnerable residents to avoid buses, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
+Has the government paused all floating bus stops?
The Department for Transport paused one type, Shared Use Bus Borders, in 2023 but not bus stop bypasses. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee recommended pausing all floating bus stops in August 2024 and October 2025, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
+What is Barnet Council’s position on floating bus stops?
Barnet Council has not confirmed whether it will install new floating bus stops. Residents can respond to consultations on local transport plans, which are published on the council’s website, but no formal decision has been announced.
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