Blindness Peril: Floating Bus Stops Create 'Frogger' Risk

New "floating" bus stop designs implemented in Leeds are posing significant safety risks, particularly for individuals with visual impairments. These stops require passengers to cross dedicated cycle lanes to board buses, a design that sight loss advocates deem perilous.

Iain Mitchell, who is severely sight impaired, likens the experience to playing the video game "Frogger," highlighting the constant danger of not being seen by cyclists. He emphasizes the loss of environmental control and the anxiety such designs induce.

Despite a pause on new installations nationwide since November 2025, following a directive from the minister for roads and buses, existing designs are causing distress. Leeds City Council is making adjustments to three stops on the A660 in Headingley after receiving feedback.

However, advocates like Mitchell feel these changes are insufficient, calling for traffic signals to ensure safe crossing. Similar concerns are echoed in Cleckheaton, where visually impaired resident Maqsood Sheikh anticipates difficulties locating the stops and fears for his safety when navigating cycle lanes.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) reports that nearly half of blind and partially sighted people avoid journeys altogether to circumvent these bus stops. The psychological impact and the potential risk to guide dogs are also critical concerns.

While some cyclists acknowledge potential design flaws, others like Martin Bennett Stanley suggest that correctly implemented floating stops can be effective. He stresses the importance of adequate widths, visibility, and cautious approach speeds from cyclists for safe coexistence.