TfL insists floating bus stops are ‘very low risk’ despite safety campaign

Detailed summary

A safety review said it was ‘rare’ for a pedestrian and cyclist to ‘interact’ at a floating bus stop

Floating bus stops have a “very low” risk for pedestrians Transport for London (TfL) has insisted, despite campaigners warning of risks to older and disabled people.

The road layouts force passengers to cross a cycle lane to board or exit a bus.

While TfL relies on them to build protected cycleways without taking road space from motorists, groups including the National Federation of the Blind have repeatedly raised alarm over their safety and accessibility.

Last year, ministers paused the rollout of one type of these bus stops called Shared Use Bus Borders (SUBBs), where cycle lanes run directly in front of the stop.

However, construction of floating bus stops, where bikes pass behind, was allowed to continue.

Both these types make up around 1.5 per cent of the capital’s 19,000 bus stops.

In a long-awaited safety review published yesterday (November 13), TfL maintained its stance that “the risk of pedestrians being injured at BSBs is very low” and that it was “rare” for a pedestrian and cyclist to “interact” – or collide – at a floating bus stop.

TfL claim there were only five pedestrian casualties involving cyclists and one involving an e-scooter over a three-year period analysed, compared to 11,400 pedestrians injured in collisions with motorists.

Sarah Gayton from the National Federation of the Blind said: “It’s dangerous, discriminatory and disgusting. The Mayor wants to gets people cycling without thinking of the impact on people in this city.

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