CSPA Deputy General Secretary Jonathan Safir today joined members of the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK) and other campaigning organisations to support the hand-in of a petition calling for a rethink of floating bus stops.
Campaigners are concerned that floating bus stops can create significant safety risks for blind people, who may be required to cross active cycle lanes to access bus services. Many pedestrians report feeling unsafe and at risk of collisions with cyclists, particularly in busy urban environments.
There are also concerns that these designs can reduce independent mobility. If older people and those living with sight loss, hearing loss or mobility problems feel unable to use bus stops safely, they may be discouraged from travelling, limiting their independence and access to services, social activities and community life.
Campaigners further argue that the lived experiences of disabled and older people have not always been given sufficient weight when transport infrastructure decisions are made. They are calling on decision-makers to listen directly to those affected and ensure accessibility is at the heart of future transport planning.
Older people and those living with sight loss, hearing loss and mobility impairments should never be excluded from using public transport safely and confidently. Accessible streets and transport networks must work for everyone, not just some.
