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London cycleway plan to go ahead after pause

Ben LynchLocal Democracy Reporting Service
NFBUK A floating bus stop in central London, with a cycle lane (marked in blue paint) runs between the pavement and a 'floating' area of pavement, on which the bus stop is located. There is a bus stop shelter and sign, at which a red double-decker bus is parked. A cyclist in the cycle lane is cycling towards a woman in a red coat, who is using a zebra crossing to cross the cycle lane to the bus stop.NFBUK
Charities for blind and visually impaired people have branded floating bus stops as "dangerous"

Work on a new cycleway between Aldgate and Blackfriars is to go ahead after it was paused due to concerns about floating bus stops.

The City of London Corporation approved the cycleway in October 2024, with two-way protected cycle lanes on Queen Victoria Street.

However, during the public consultation some campaigners had argued that floating bus stops posed a risk to visually impaired people.

Since then, the government published new guidelines and the authority concluded that its plans aligned with "best practice and [met] required standards" but added it would incorporate "additional mitigation measures to address user needs, especially for disabled people".

What are floating bus stops?

Also known as bus stop bypasses, floating bus stops involve a cycle lane running between a bus stop and the pavement.

This allows cyclists to continue riding while passengers board or alight, whilst pedestrians have to cross the cycle path in order to catch a bus.

Cycling groups argue that they are key to reducing road danger and improving cycling safety.

However, groups including the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK) have called the bus stops "dangerous" for visually impaired people.

'Devastating decision'

The Department for Transport paused the rollout of floating bus stops in July.

Updated guidance on all floating bus stops was published earlier this year.

Corporation officers reviewed the proposed floating bus stops against the guidance.

They concluded the designs met the "recommended design process" in a report prepared for a City meeting on Wednesday, in which members voted in favour of the project.

After the meeting, Sarah Gayton, street access campaign coordinator at the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, said the decision was "devastating for blind people", adding: "The City of London will become inaccessible to blind people for generations to come. It is shocking."

A City of London Corporation spokesperson said: "We are taking the issue of accessibility extremely seriously and will ensure the City's streets are safe and usable for everyone."

Additional reporting by Winnie Agbonlahor

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