City of London approves Aldgate to Blackfriars cycleway after floating bus stop review
Plans for a protected cycleway between Aldgate and Blackfriars will move forward after the City of London Corporation approved revised designs following concerns over floating bus stops and accessibility for blind and visually impaired people. The scheme includes two-way protected cycle lanes along Queen Victoria Street and was originally approved in October 2024 before being paused during wider government scrutiny of floating bus stop designs.
Floating bus stops, also known as bus stop bypasses, place cycle lanes between the pavement and the bus boarding area so cyclists can continue through while passengers cross the cycle track to reach the stop. Cycling groups say the layouts help improve cycling safety and reduce road danger.
But organisations including the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK) have argued the designs can create risks for visually impaired pedestrians.
The Department for Transport paused the rollout of floating bus stops in July before publishing updated guidance earlier this year.
City of London officers reviewed the Aldgate to Blackfriars proposals against the new guidance and concluded the designs met the recommended standards and design process. The Corporation also said additional mitigation measures would be included to support accessibility and address the needs of disabled users.
After the decision was approved at a City meeting, Sarah Gayton, street access campaign coordinator at the NFBUK, described the outcome as “devastating for blind people.”
“The City of London will become inaccessible to blind people for generations to come,” she added. “It is shocking.”
“We are taking the issue of accessibility extremely seriously and will ensure the City’s streets are safe and usable for everyone,” a spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said.
Readers can find the latest government guidance through the Department for Transport.
London’s cycling network has expanded significantly in recent years, with daily cycling journeys across the capital rising sharply since 2019. The latest scheme follows other recent TfL projects that introduced new cycle routes and pedestrian crossings across London.
Have floating bus stops changed the way you travel through London? EyeOnLondon wants to hear from cyclists, pedestrians and disabled road users across the capital.
Follow us on:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!
We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!
