Floating bus stops in London, with cycle lanes extending between the bus stop and the pavement, have drawn criticism from disability groups who warn they create serious safety risks for visually impaired pedestrians and other vulnerable users.

Campaigners urging the government to halt all floating stop designs—including SUBBs and BSBs—cite repeated accessibility and safety concerns, even as the Mayor of London and pro-cycling groups defend them.

Officials note new statutory guidance from the Department for Transport to improve floating stop design, with ministers pointing to approved schemes, such as a cycleway between Aldgate and Blackfriars, after review under the updated guidance.

Authorities emphasize ongoing engagement with communities and a commitment to safe, accessible, and greener transport, including the use of bus stop bypasses to separate buses and cyclists from pedestrians when needed.

City Hall and TfL defend floating stops as essential for expanding cycling infrastructure and achieving sustainable travel goals, arguing that proper design can make them inclusive and safe.

Transport authorities and pro-cycling groups frame floating stops as part of safer, more inclusive cycling infrastructure, aiming to boost walking, cycling, and public transport use by 2041.

TfL data show six casualties at floating stops between 2020 and 2022, accounting for 0.8% of 623 pedestrian casualties involving cyclists in that period.

Local Democracy Reporting Service observations at Blackhorse Road reveal near-misses between pedestrians and cyclists and ongoing movement of e-bikes and e-scooters, underscoring safety concerns.

The design features a cycle lane that continues between the bus stop and pavement, forcing pedestrians to cross the cycle path to board or alight, a setup introduced in 2013.

The DfT is conducting further research to improve accessibility and is not pausing all floating stop types nationwide, aiming to balance safer cycling infrastructure with accessibility needs.

The Department for Transport is funding modifications to existing sites to prioritize accessibility, while stopping short of a nationwide halt on floating bus stops.

Ministers paused the rollout of Shared Use Bus Borders (SUBB) in late 2024 and consider Bus Stop Bypasses (BSBs) behind the stop; together they account for about 1.5% of London’s 19,000 stops.