Hackney Council's floating bus stops face protest from disabled residents

Hackney Council is facing opposition to updated proposals for Queensbridge Road that include the introduction of floating bus stops. Disabled residents and campaigners have expressed significant safety fears, arguing the design puts vulnerable individuals at risk. The revised scheme, which intersects cycle lanes with bus stop bypasses, has prompted protests and calls for the council to reject the plans.

Safety Concerns Raised

John Thornton, a visually-impaired wheelchair user and resident of Dalston, described the proposed floating bus stops as potentially life-threatening. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the proximity of a fast-moving cycle lane, used by e-bikes and scooters, to the bus stop ramp presents a danger. "I can't see either side as I go down the [bus] ramp. Two and a half metres from the bus is a fast-moving cycle lane, with speeding e-bikes and scooters," Mr Thornton stated. "They don't stop, so I'm wheeling straight down into fast-moving traffic."

Mr Thornton attended a protest at the Town Hall on Wednesday, September 16, and informed the council of his intention to begin a hunger strike until the plans were altered. He also criticised the council for not holding an accessible consultation event specifically for blind and visually-impaired residents, noting that 70 per cent of disabled people had rejected the original Queensbridge Road proposals the previous year. Sarah Leadbetter, who is also visually-impaired, echoed these concerns, telling the LDRS that pedestrians cannot adequately detect approaching cyclists through the bus stops and that most cyclists do not stop.

Council's Response and Consultation

Hackney Council maintains that its updated proposals incorporate measures to assist visually-impaired and disabled individuals. These include cycle speed-activated warning signs, distinctive bypass paving, kerb upstands, and textured pavement strips. However, Mr Thornton accused Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, of failing to uphold manifesto promises regarding disabled access and consultation quality.

Sarah Gayton from the National Federation of the Blind warned that such designs were causing disabled people to be "designed out" of London, leading to increased isolation and reliance on taxis. She highlighted that Transport for London had withdrawn a report defending floating bus stops due to data quality issues. Councillor Jacob Cable, Cabinet Member for Climate, Clean Air, Energy and Transport, confirmed he had met with Mr Thornton and was arranging a meeting with council officers. "These changes are still at the proposal stage and no decision has been made," Cllr Cable said in a statement. "We opened a 21-day statutory public consultation this Friday (September 18), giving everyone the opportunity to review the plans and raise formal objections. We are legally bound to consider and respond to any objections we receive."

Cllr Cable added his commitment to bringing together advocates for cycle routes, accessibility, and transport engineers to address the complex design challenges. Mr Thornton has temporarily suspended his hunger strike but indicated it would resume if floating bus stops remained part of future considerations.

Next Steps

The 21-day statutory public consultation on the revised Queensbridge Road plans commenced on September 18, 2026. Residents are encouraged to submit formal objections during this period. Hackney Council has stated it will consider and respond to all objections received as part of the decision-making process.