Campaigners in Downing Street [Simon Lamrock]

CAMPAIGNERS against “floating” bus stops have high hopes for the new government after delivering a sixth petition to the Downing Street.

The National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK) handed in a petition to the new prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Department of Transport on Monday.

The petition calls for a halt to the construction of bus stops – which put cycle lanes between the bus stop and the pavement – and for existing ones to be adapted.

NFB street access campaigner Sarah Gayton told the Tribune blind people were routinely put off using buses because of the dangers they face from cyclists in the lanes, adding: “Blind and visually impaired people have been saying for the past 10 years they cannot and will not use these floating bus stops. They are not safe. The are not in use.

A floating bus stop in Tollington Road, Holloway

“We cannot ignore this evidence. Over 280 organisations throughout the UK have signed it. We will not be ignored, and if you don’t act on this petition, we will be back again and again and again.’”

But she added: “We feel like there is a wind of change with this new government.”

Among the campaigners outside 10 Downing Street were Lib Dem MP Steven Darling and Labour MP Elsie Blundell.

Segregated lanes that run between bus stops and the pavement have been introduced following outcry over the number of deaths of cyclists in recent years. Cyclists are often squeezed into danger due to the narrow roads and the new layouts mean they do not have to overtake buses or be overtaken.

But there are concerns that passengers disembarking from a bus, particularly those in need of assistance, could be hit.

Statistics show that injuries at floating bus stops are very rare but campaigners say many instances go unrecorded.