TfL insists risk to pedestrians from floating bus stops 'very low'

It comes amid growing calls for City Hall to pause the installation of the bus stops which force people using bus stops to walk across cycle lanes, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

A floating bus stop in London (credit National Federation of the Blind)

Floating bus stops present a “very low” risk for pedestrians, Transport for London (TfL) has insisted, despite repeated concerns being raised by campaigners – including the National Federation of the Blind.

Floating bus stops are where a cycle lane and bus stop interact, either with the cycle track running behind the bus stop (a bypass) or with the cycle lane running through the bus stop (a boarder) so that passengers have to cross it to board or alight the vehicle.

For TfL, they play a major role in helping build more protected cycleways in London while maintaining current road space for motorists, but campaigners have consistently raised concerns over the accessibility and safety of bus stop boarders in particular, because of the risk of collisions between cyclists and bus passengers.

Last year ministers announced a pause on the rollout of bus stop boarders, but it did not prevent future construction of bus stop bypasses. In total floating bus stops make up around 1.5% of the capital’s 19,000 bus stops.

Officials have now released a long-awaited safety review into bus stop bypasses (BSBs), updating one they published in 2024 which contained some incorrect data.

Three new reports released today (Friday 13th) confirm that TfL has maintained its stance that the “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.

However, Sarah Gayton from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) claimed that the true figure is far higher due to what she claims 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 – especially those with mobility or sight issues – are staying away altogether. The TfL report appears to confirm this, noting 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” by up to 3%. However, they claimed this is not “statistically significant”.

“The data does not include the people who are too scared to go near them,” said Gayton. “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 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, which is non-binding, cited a series of incidents at floating bus stops across the capital, including a disabled man who 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.”

It came just a week after London TravelWatch, the capital’s transport watchdog, also called for a pause on any new BSBs.

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.”

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