There are fresh calls for Wirral Council to halt plans for installing cycle lanes across bus stops, following a statement by a Government Transport Minister.
During the debate on the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill in the House of Lords, Lord Hendy of Richmond, Minister of State in the Department for Transport, said, “We have decided to instigate a pause on the installation of the most problematic floating bus stop designs.
“These are the ones with shared-use bus boarders, where the cycle track runs across the front of the bus stop, between the stop and/or shelter and the kerb.”
In Wirral, floating bus stops, sometimes referred to as ‘Bus Boarder Facilities’, have been installed at both Fender Lane and Harrison Drive, with many more planned as part of the Core Active Travel Network, given outline approval by Wirral Council in January.
Councillor Ian Lewis (Conservative, Wallasey Ward) said: “Mixing bus stops with cyclists will never be safe for pedestrians. The floating bus stops at Fender Lane and Harrison Drive are now less safe for pedestrians, especially those with poor vision.
“This is one of the reasons why 94% of people who took part in the Council’s consultation opposed the plans for yet more cycle lanes.
“Now that a Government Minister has called for a pause, I have asked Wirral Council if they will follow suit and if the existing floating bus stops at Harrison Drive and Fender Lane will have to be redesigned.”
Vivienne Francis, RNIB’s Chief Social Change Officer, added: “Evidence tells us that the current design of bus stop bypasses is dangerous for blind and partially sighted people."
“We want to see a halt to building new bus stops with cycle lanes, and at the same time, existing floating bus stops need to be adapted so that they are safe and accessible to blind and partially sighted pedestrians.”
