Consultation on ‘floating’ bus stops

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'Floating' bus stop on Grand Parade

North Tyneside Council would like to hear your views on a type of bus stop design included in first phase of the Sea Front Sustainable Route in North Tyneside. It is known as a Bus Stop Bypass arrangement and can be found on Grand Parade, located south of its roundabout with Beach Road.

A Bus Stop Bypass is a design which helps reduce conflict where cycle routes interact with public transport bus stops. The key principles of the design is to keep buses, cyclists and pedestrians separate at bus stops. This is typically done by routing the cycle track behind the bus shelter boarding area to maintain separation between people cycling and motor traffic. A formal crossing is provided on the cycle track at the rear of the shelter to give pedestrians priority over cyclists using the bus stop. National guidance on the design of Bus Stop Bypasses is located within the Department for Transport’s Cycling Infrastructure Design document sections 6.2.29 to 6.2.32.

The Authority have received concerns relating to the new arrangement and are seeking your view to understand what works, what doesn’t and what could be improved.

Any views you may have on this matter will be incorporated into a report and used to make informed decisions regarding future infrastructure projects.

Please email Gary.Walker@capita.com with comments by Wednesday 6 November.

8 responses to “Consultation on ‘floating’ bus stops”

  1. Chris Thompson avatar
    Chris Thompson

    Floating bus stops in themselves are not dangerous. You might as well say zebra crossings are dangerous due to the cars that drive over them. All i see is a constant negativity towards cyclists who are in general good natured and accommodating of fellow pedestrians. All pedestrians need to do is look left and right before crossing the cycle way. Why is this culture so difficult to implement? It would be interesting to have a tick box with this consultation on who uses the buses specifically in these areas. I for one do not use the bus and only periodically cycle but i am all for both floating bus stops and the new cycle ways. Anything to avoid cycling alongside cars.

    Reply
  2. Su Shaw avatar
    Su Shaw

    As a driver and walker on the routes near the floating bus stop my experience is that anyone standing at the bus stop obscures the view of other area users. There is also an issue to those stepping off the islands into the live bike route. For me they are an accident waiting to happen and I’m against them.

    Reply
    1. Fiona Stacey avatar
      Fiona Stacey

      I find them extremely confusing and not obvious where to stand to proceed safely. Feel concerned that car drivers may not see you or may think you are about to step out.

      Reply
  3. Steven Johnston avatar
    Steven Johnston

    I think they are a positive addition. The crossing is clearly marked and as with a regular road it is incumbent on both pedestrians and road users to/ cycle lane users to be aware of their movements.
    Any change would likely be to the overall detriment of road, cycle lane and pavement users

    Reply
  4. Keith E Aldred avatar
    Keith E Aldred

    If the cycle lane is to be bidirectional as depicted there is no alternative! (how does a cyclist travelling in a contraflow direction get round a bus?)
    If constructed to the guidance there is no evidence of danger for pedestrians.

    Reply
  5. Vin Wynne avatar
    Vin Wynne

    I suppose the truth is that there are points in our infrastructure where different modes converge and it is incumbent on all users of such spaces to show greater care and consideration.

    In this instance, 4 modes of transport (pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and private motorists) are inevitably brought close together. The arrangement illustrated seems to be the least worst option – any alternatives create more difficulties, forcing less sympathetic mixing of modes, increasing the likelihood of late decisions which are inherently more risky.

    At various times I am likely to be found in any of those modes and find the ‘floating bus stop’ relatively straightforward. One observation I would make is that in some circumstances , greater use of signage could help users of the space , regardless of their mode of travel.

    Reply
  6. Lea Davidson avatar
    Lea Davidson

    The floating bus stops are clearly marked with visible crossings. I don’t have any issues with them. The cycleways are a positive addition and the crossings have no higher risk than any other pedestrian crossing.
    Maybe more signage at the bus stops alerting people to the cycleways would be useful. The bus should also warn you that you are alighting at a floating bus stop, especially for the visually impaired.

    Reply
  7. Sue Macfarlane avatar
    Sue Macfarlane

    If it makes life more difficult for blind people whose life must already be very difficult I think it would be better not to have them at all

    Reply

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