Floating bus stops present a “very low” risk to pedestrians, Transport for London (TfL) has insisted, despite repeated concerns raised by campaigners including the National Federation of the Blind.
Also known as bus stop bypasses (BSBs), floating bus stops are where a cycle track and bus stop interact, with passengers often needing to cross a cycle lane to board or leave a bus.
For TfL, they play a major role in helping build more protected cycleways in London while maintaining existing road space for motorists. However, campaigners have consistently raised concerns over the accessibility and safety of BSBs for older and disabled people.
Last year, ministers announced a pause on the rollout of one type of floating bus stop, called a Shared Use Bus Border (SUBB), where the cycle lane runs across the front of the bus stop.
However, the pause did not prevent the future construction of bus stop bypasses, where the cycle lane runs behind the bus stop. Together, these two types account for around 1.5 per cent of the capital’s 19,000 bus stops.
Officials have now released a long-awaited safety review into bus stop bypasses, updating one published in 2024 because of incorrect data relating to the installation dates of some BSBs.
Three new reports, released on Friday, 13 November, confirm that TfL has maintained its position that “the risk of pedestrians being injured at BSBs is very low” and that it is “rare” for a pedestrian and cyclist to “interact” – or collide – at a floating bus stop.
TfL claims there were only five pedestrian casualties involving cyclists and one involving an e-scooter over the three-year period analysed, compared with 11,400 pedestrians injured in collisions with motorists.
Campaigners call for pause on floating bus stops
However, Sarah Gayton from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) claimed the true figure is far higher because of what she believes are unreported injuries at floating bus stops.
“There is an accessibility crisis in London,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
“It’s dangerous, discriminatory and disgusting. The Mayor wants to gets people cycling without thinking of the impact on people in this city. There are lots of incidents, but nobody is reporting them.”
She also suggested that disabled Londoners, particularly those with mobility or sight impairments, are avoiding the stops altogether.
The TfL report noted that when “comparing boarding levels at bus stops before and after bypasses were constructed between 2019 and 2022, there is a slightly greater reduction in the number of older and disabled passengers at bus stops where bus stop bypasses were constructed” of up to three per cent.
However, TfL said the difference was not “statistically significant”.
“The data does not include the people who are too scared to go near them,” Ms Gayton said.
“Does every journey really matter? TfL do not know what they are doing – they need to listen to the London Assembly and pause them.”
Last week, the London Assembly passed a non-binding motion calling for a pause in the installation of floating bus stops, suggesting the designs have left some people “fearing for their safety”.
The motion cited several incidents across the capital, including one in which a disabled man was hit in the ribs and ankle by an e-bike after getting off a bus in Camden.
Reform UK Assembly Member Keith Prince, who proposed the motion, told the LDRS: “I’m disappointed that Transport for London’s report supports the continued use of floating bus stops and dismisses safety concerns. It is a missed opportunity to put Londoners’ safety first and address the serious concerns raised by blind, partially sighted, older and disabled Londoners.
“My motion in City Hall last week was a step in the right direction that saw all political parties working together. I will keep working to eliminate floating bus stops from London.”
Green Party Assembly Member Caroline Russell acknowledged that the concerns of older and disabled Londoners needed to be “heard and acted on”, but urged TfL to continue rolling out the “important” bus stop type.
She added: “The evidence shows that bus stop bypasses have reduced the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads. They are an important part of making cycling a safe option for getting around London, allowing people to ride their bikes behind stationary buses rather than having to weave into dangerous traffic.
“This TfL review is about improving the design of existing bypasses rather than questioning whether this very sensible measure should exist and I welcome that.”
The review came just a week after London TravelWatch, the capital’s transport watchdog, also called for a pause on any new bus stop bypasses.
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “The Mayor and I remain committed to enabling safe and sustainable travel across the capital for everyone. It’s encouraging to see data confirming that the risk of bus stop bypasses to pedestrians is extremely low, but also that TfL remains committed to making this infrastructure work for everyone.
“We will continue working with Londoners and organisations to understand their experiences and explore potential transport network enhancements as we build a greener, safer, better London for all.”
