The UK Government’s decision to pause the rollout of certain types of “floating” bus stops across England is a welcome development. It is time to bring forward a moratorium in Scotland on streetscape schemes that require pedestrians to cross a cycle lane to access public bus stops - they are unsafe and damage the confidence of many pedestrians.

Street design affects the independence and safety of blind and partially sighted people. The growing adoption of floating bus stops threatens that independence, and it’s time to act.

The “bus stop boarder” type of floating bus stop places a cycle lane between the pavement and the point where buses pick up passengers. In some cases, passengers must board or alight directly from a cycle lane. In others, cycle lanes run behind the bus stop shelter. While the aim is to improve cycling flow and road safety, the unintended consequence is a frightening obstacle course for blind and partially sighted bus users.

Bus stops are only part of the journey for people with sight loss and other disabilities. Advertising boards, street café furniture, wheelie bins, and cars parked on pavements all add to the hazards. A third of blind and partially sighted people surveyed by RNIB said they had been injured by pavement obstacles when walking outside. Some felt so intimidated they ended up isolated in their homes.

James Adams (Image: RNIB)........

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