Moment Lime bike rider ploughs into baby at ‘floating’ bus cease – as campaigners name for ‘harmful’ crossings to be axed

A Lime bike rider has been filmed ploughing into a child at a ‘floating’ bus stop, as campaigners urge the ‘dangerous’ crossings to be axed.

The collision, last month, happened when the youngster attempted to cross a cycle lane to reach a bus stop in Elephant and Castle, south London.

The road design in this location means that the bus stop is ‘floating’ between the road and the cycle lane – leaving pedestrians with no choice but to dodge cyclists while getting on or off their bus.

Campaigners have called for these so-called ‘floating bus stops’ to be scrapped – insisting they pose a danger to pedestrians, particularly those who are blind or visually impaired.

Sarah Gayton, Street Access Campaign Coordinator at the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK), said: ‘I had only been there about an hour or so when this happened.

‘That poor little lad could have really hurt himself. And what was so shocking was that the cyclist got off and said, ‘Is he deaf? I rang the bell.’

The incident happened last month while the child was attempting to cross a cycle lane to reach a bus stop in Elephant and Castle, south London

The road design in this location means that the bus stop is ‘floating’ between the road and the cycle lane – leaving pedestrians with no choice but to dodge cyclists while getting on or off their bus

Campaigners have called for these so-called ‘floating bus stops’ to be scrapped – insisting they pose a danger to pedestrians, particularly those who are blind or visually impaired

‘As if that excuses it! Surely that just shows that people need to be aware of those who may be blind and deaf – and may not notice bikes coming?

‘The whole layout is not safe. It’s dangerous and yet there are similar ones all over London.

‘The design shows no consideration at all for blind and visually impaired people. It’s discrimination. These floating bus stops need to be scrapped.’

Ms Gayton shared the video on NFBUK’s Twitter – prompting a significant response.

The footage also shows several near misses – with pedestrians narrowly escaping being hit by bikes – as well as moments where cyclists zoom down the lane far too quickly.

Ms Gayton said she witnessed another collision that afternoon – and one more a couple days later.

‘How many more are happening that are not being recorder?’ She said.

Diagram of a shared use bus stop boarder, which has a cycle lane between the road and the bus shelter, meaning passengers need to cross the traffic to board and exit the bus

Shared use bus boarders (SUBBs) have become more common in London since mayor Sadiq Khan rolled 62 miles of cycle lanes in just 12 months during the pandemic

Social media users also shared Ms Gayton’s concerns around these sorts of cycle lanes.

One commented: ‘Having a bike lane in the middle of a pedestrian path is one of the nuttiest ideas that I’ve seen. It’s like this in Leith walk, Edinburgh.’

Another added: ‘In whose mind is a bike lane in the middle of a very busy pedestrian area and pavement a good idea? Absolute madness.’

And a third said: ‘Quite possibly one of the stupidest designs I have ever seen. Yet they continue to be rolled out.’

Ms Gayton and the rest of the team at NFBUK say all passengers should have direct access to the pavement when alighting from a bus.

They are urging councils to prevent the construction of any more ‘floating bus stops’ – and asking for all bus stops which currently accommodate cycle lanes to be ‘changed back to ensure direct access to and from the bus stop for all bus passengers.’