November 1st 2024.
As the schoolboy dressed in his uniform made his way to the bus stop in Elephant and Castle, he never could have imagined what was about to happen. Little did he know, an E-bike rider was about to collide with him, sending them both tumbling to the ground in the midst of the busy cycleway. It was a chaotic and confusing scene, with people quickly rushing over to help.
This incident once again brought attention to the controversial design of floating bus stops. These stops have cycleways running behind them, creating an island between the stop and the main road. The National Federation for the Blind, who captured the incident on video, has been a strong advocate against these floating bus stops, citing safety concerns. In fact, they have started a petition calling for their urgent halt, which has garnered support from over 270 organizations, including Age UK and Disability Rights UK.
The design of the road in this particular location means that the bus stop is literally floating between the road and the cycle lane. This makes it necessary for bus users to cross a small zebra crossing over the cycleway in order to access the stop. This may seem like a simple task, but as the incident showed, it can be dangerous and even lead to accidents.
So, what exactly is a floating bus stop? It is a bus stop that has a cycle lane between it and the pavement behind it. This creates an island for the stop, separating it from both the cycleway and the traffic. The London Assembly claims that this design ensures passengers alight from the bus directly onto the island, rather than onto the cycle track or road with oncoming traffic. This design was first introduced in London in 2013, with the intention of making it safer for cyclists and reducing accidents.
However, charities have pointed out that this design poses a threat to those with vision problems. The NFB has described these floating bus stops as "chaotic, confusing, and dangerous" for blind and visually impaired individuals to use independently. Despite these concerns, Transport for London has rejected calls to pause the installation of more floating bus stops, stating that there have been "very few collisions" between cyclists and pedestrians.
It is worth noting that in June, it was revealed that more than a third of the floating bus stops in London do not adhere to the best practice design. This has led to campaigners calling for these stops to be scrapped altogether. However, Mayor Sadiq Khan has stated that City Hall is actively working with disabled and accessibility groups to look into improvements in design and behavior of road users.
The main purpose of these floating bus stops is to allow cyclists to continue moving without getting stuck behind buses. According to the Mayor, this was done in response to a high number of accidents involving cyclists and buses. However, Sarah Gayton, the Street Access Campaign Coordinator at NFB, argues that this design puts blind and visually impaired individuals in an unsafe situation, while cyclists have the ability to see and stop. She believes that the better solution would be to have the buses pull up directly to the pavement, allowing blind individuals to board without having to cross or step into the cycle lane.
This incident has once again sparked the debate on the safety and accessibility of floating bus stops. While Transport for London stands by their decision, charities and campaigners continue to push for a change in design. The hope is to create a safer and more inclusive environment for all individuals, regardless of their mode of transportation.
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