Petition for Safe & Accessible Bus Stops For all users in Exeter
The Issue
Petition For Safe & Accessible Bus Stops For Blind, Partially Sighted, Disabled & Older Bus Passengers In Exeter. Where All Passengers Can Board & Alight the Bus Direct from the Pavement Without Having To Cross or Step Into A Live Cycle Lane: Floating bus stops, like the ones just built on Rifford Road in Exeter, intentionally route cycle lanes right between the pavement and the bus stop. These designs are not safe or accessible for blind people as they cannot see or hear cyclists', often travelling at speed and do not always want to stop to let pedestrians pass. Blind people are terrified of these designs and do not want to play Russian Roulette with cyclists or people riding e-bikes, which are heavy, silent and add to the danger of trying to cross the cycle lane to the bus stop. It is impossible to hear these quiet modern bikes due to the background noise of the adjacent road and thus blind people are choosing not to use busses as they can no longer keep themselves or their Guide Dogs Safe. This petition has been set up locally by Guide Dog user, Marilyn Lant, who is blind; with the intention to stop the construction of any more floating bus stops in Exeter and to remove the existing ones on Rifford Road.
This isn't just an Exeter issue, it is a dangerous and inaccessible national design trend that violates British Safety Standard (BS 8300-1:2018) and strips disabled people of their independence, leading them to become more and more isolated; as they can no longer safely get out and about independently, as they once could. The Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network (RWPN), who support people with sight loss to travel independently, recently commented on this particular issue, illustrating the devastating impact of the floating bus stop designs; 'We regularly hear from our members that floating bus stops are inaccessible and often dangerous, with blind people potentially being put at significant risk. We know that many people with sight loss are choosing to stop using their bus services as a result, significantly impacting their ability to engage with their communities and live the independent lives they wish to live’.
On 12th October 2026, Marilyn is taking this fight directly to 10 Downing Street, where she will be joining other blind, partially sighted, disabled and older people from across the UK, who will be calling on the Prime Minister to put a halt to all floating bus stops, which are causing so much distress and discrimination across the UK.
Whether you live in Exeter or anywhere else in the UK, your signature sends a powerful message to the Prime Minister; our streets and our bus services must be safe and accessible for everyone.
Please support!
Sign and share today!
387
The Issue
Petition For Safe & Accessible Bus Stops For Blind, Partially Sighted, Disabled & Older Bus Passengers In Exeter. Where All Passengers Can Board & Alight the Bus Direct from the Pavement Without Having To Cross or Step Into A Live Cycle Lane: Floating bus stops, like the ones just built on Rifford Road in Exeter, intentionally route cycle lanes right between the pavement and the bus stop. These designs are not safe or accessible for blind people as they cannot see or hear cyclists', often travelling at speed and do not always want to stop to let pedestrians pass. Blind people are terrified of these designs and do not want to play Russian Roulette with cyclists or people riding e-bikes, which are heavy, silent and add to the danger of trying to cross the cycle lane to the bus stop. It is impossible to hear these quiet modern bikes due to the background noise of the adjacent road and thus blind people are choosing not to use busses as they can no longer keep themselves or their Guide Dogs Safe. This petition has been set up locally by Guide Dog user, Marilyn Lant, who is blind; with the intention to stop the construction of any more floating bus stops in Exeter and to remove the existing ones on Rifford Road.
This isn't just an Exeter issue, it is a dangerous and inaccessible national design trend that violates British Safety Standard (BS 8300-1:2018) and strips disabled people of their independence, leading them to become more and more isolated; as they can no longer safely get out and about independently, as they once could. The Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network (RWPN), who support people with sight loss to travel independently, recently commented on this particular issue, illustrating the devastating impact of the floating bus stop designs; 'We regularly hear from our members that floating bus stops are inaccessible and often dangerous, with blind people potentially being put at significant risk. We know that many people with sight loss are choosing to stop using their bus services as a result, significantly impacting their ability to engage with their communities and live the independent lives they wish to live’.
On 12th October 2026, Marilyn is taking this fight directly to 10 Downing Street, where she will be joining other blind, partially sighted, disabled and older people from across the UK, who will be calling on the Prime Minister to put a halt to all floating bus stops, which are causing so much distress and discrimination across the UK.
Whether you live in Exeter or anywhere else in the UK, your signature sends a powerful message to the Prime Minister; our streets and our bus services must be safe and accessible for everyone.
Please support!
Sign and share today!
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Petition created on 8 September 2026