Disability experts urged a halt to the implementation of new floating bus stops, citing a failure by cyclists to yield to pedestrians at zebra crossings, according to a report that has since come to light. The Government's disabled persons transport advisory committee (DPTAC) expressed that the concerns of vulnerable pedestrians were understated in existing research on these bus stops, which require passengers to cross a cycle lane to board a bus. The committee also suggested that the Labour party had been influenced by cycling advocacy groups and called for cyclists to alter their behavior near zebra crossings.
Floating bus stops were introduced to prevent cyclists from overtaking buses, but they have become a point of contention due to research indicating that a majority of cyclists do not stop for pedestrians. Social media has shown incidents where individuals, including the elderly and children, have been struck by bicycles at zebra crossings associated with these stops. A report from DPTAC in 2025, marked 'official - sensitive,' was a response to draft government guidance on floating bus stops. It was recently uncovered through a Freedom of Information request and reviewed by the Daily Mail.
The report detailed the expert committee's repeated calls for a pause on the installation of floating bus stops until further research was completed. 'For the record we would wish to restate that, as set out in our [2024] advice, our position remains that there should be a pause on all new installations until further research is complete,' the report stated. It added that the review of existing research 'somewhat underplays the concerns expressed by disabled people' and recommended greater emphasis on measures to alert cyclists to slow down and yield to pedestrians. The report noted instances where the guidance seemed to prioritize cyclist convenience over pedestrian safety.
In November of the previous year, the government had ordered a pause on the installation of stops where bus users must step onto a live cycle lane. However, Sarah Gayton of the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, which obtained the report, has advocated for an immediate cessation of all floating bus stops, questioning whether the ministerial code may have been breached given the information available to ministers. Videos captured by the organization show numerous near-misses between pedestrians and cyclists at these locations.
Floating bus stops exist in various forms. 'Bus stop bypasses' feature a cycle lane situated between the pavement and the bus shelter. 'Bus boarding islands' direct cyclists between the bus stop and a dedicated kerb for boarding. The Department for Transport no longer endorses 'shared use bus boarders,' which require passengers to board or alight buses directly onto cycle paths.
Other charitable organizations have also voiced apprehension regarding floating bus stops. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has called for a complete halt to all types of floating bus stops until their safety can be definitively proven. Previous testing by the association indicated that trained guide dogs instinctively avoid floating bus stops, perceiving them as unsafe for their handlers. Professor Nick Tyler of University College London, who conducted simulated environment tests, characterized these bus stop and cycle path intersections as 'conflict zones.'
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport stated that the department has listened to the concerns raised by various groups, including DPTAC and disability charities. Following the pause implemented in November on some floating bus stops, further research is being conducted to ensure accessibility is prioritized in future designs. Funding is also being made available to assist local authorities in modifying existing sites.