Protesters have demanded a change to London's floating bus stops.
Floating bus stops enable cyclists to continue riding while allowing bus passengers to disembark. This is achieved with a bike lane positioned between the pavement and the bus stop.
However, more than 270 groups have signed a petition created by the National Federation of the Blind UK (NFB), which will be delivered to Downing Street later.
Signatories to the petition include Disability Rights UK, Age UK London, and the London Sports Club for the Blind.
Why are campaigners calling for a ban on floating bus stops?
Why are campaigners calling for a ban on floating bus stops?
A video filmed and shared by the NFB prompted the campaign.
WARNING We've been filming the chaotic & downright dangerous situation at the Westminster Bridge floating bus stop at St Thomas' hospital. Clip includes a speeding cyclist crashing into an elderly person. These designs are not safe & they need to be urgently halted @Mark_J_Harper pic.twitter.com/MrScNnWLs7
— NFBUK (@NFBUK) May 5, 2024
The video depicts "the chaotic and downright dangerous situation" at a bus stop bypass outside St Thomas' Hospital in the vicinity of Waterloo.
It shows a pedestrian entering a bike lane, losing his balance, and falling on the ground as a result of the rider.
"These designs are not safe and they need to be urgently halted," the NFB captioned the video.
The NFB's street access campaign coordinator, Sarah Gayton, emphasised that the group was not advocating for the complete elimination of bike lanes.
She said: "We're calling for a redesign of cycle lanes around bus stops so the bus can pull up directly to the pavement so blind and visually impaired people can board the bus directly without having to cross – or step into – a cycle lane.
"Blind people have fewer choices. Cyclists can see and stop. We want the floating bus stops and the shared-use bus borders to be removed."
What has TfL said about floating bus stops?
Christina Calderato, TfL's director of transport strategy and policy, said: "Keeping everyone travelling in the capital safe is our top priority and we're determined to make the network as inclusive as possible, which is why we have carried out an extensive review of safety at bus stop bypasses.
"Our analysis suggests that bus stop bypasses have not led to a reduction in bus stop use by older or disabled customers.
"Any moratorium on bus stop bypasses would put at risk the programme of work we are undertaking to improve cycle safety in London and encourage more people to cycle."
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "TfL are responsible for these schemes in London but we expect them to engage with disability groups and follow our guidance which clearly sets out that all infrastructure designs should be accessible for everyone."
Why were floating bus stops installed in the first place?
The BBC was informed last month by London mayor Sadiq Khan that "floating" stops were put in place during his second term due to the fact that "a disproportionate number of cyclists" had been "injured and killed as a consequence of buses”.
