Calls to halt the installation of controversial "floating" bus stops were reportedly ignored by ministers, even after it emerged that cyclists frequently do not stop at the zebra crossings associated with them, according to a disability charity. The Government's disabled persons transport advisory committee (DPTAC) had demanded a pause on the rollout of these designs, citing concerns from vulnerable pedestrians that were "underplayed" in government research.
Floating bus stops, designed to prevent bicycles from overtaking buses, have become a point of contention due to a majority of cyclists reportedly failing to give way to pedestrians. Videos circulating on social media have shown incidents where individuals, including children and the elderly, have been struck by bicycles at the zebra crossings leading to and from these stops.
A report from DPTAC in 2025, marked "official - sensitive" and obtained through a Freedom of Information request, revealed the expert committee's repeated calls for a pause on new installations. "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 also noted that the review of existing research "somewhat underplays the concerns expressed by disabled people" and called for "more emphasis on suitable calming measures to alert cyclists of the need for a change in behaviour, to slow down and give way to pedestrians."
In November of the previous year, the government announced a pause on the installation of certain floating bus stops, specifically those where pedestrians must cross a live cycle lane to board a bus. However, Sarah Gayton of the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, which uncovered the DPTAC report, has urged for an immediate cessation of all floating bus stop implementations.
"Parliament should be open and the question here is if the ministerial code has been broken. The ministers would have had this information," Gayton told the Daily Mail. "We have also done briefing after briefing on the issue."
Floating bus stops exist in various configurations, including "bus stop bypasses," where a cycle lane is situated between the pavement and the bus shelter, and "bus boarding islands," which route cyclists between the bus and a dedicated kerb for boarding. The Department for Transport has stated that it no longer recommends the use of "shared use bus boarders" that require boarding or alighting directly onto cycle paths.
Other organizations, such as the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, have also voiced concerns, requesting a halt to all floating bus stop types until their safety can be definitively proven. Previous testing by the association indicated that trained guide dogs instinctively avoid these stops, perceiving them as unsafe for their handlers. Professor Nick Tyler of University College London, who conducted tests in a simulated environment, described these bus stop designs as "conflict zones."
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport stated, "We have listened carefully to the concerns raised about floating bus stops from a wide range of groups, including DPTAC and disability charities. Following our pause on some floating bus stops in November, further research is being carried out to ensure accessibility is at the heart of these designs, and funding is available to help local authorities make changes to existing sites."