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TfL introduces middle-door only boarding on buses

Following a successful trial, Transport for London has introduced middle-door only boarding on buses to protect bus drivers and to ensure that public transport is safe for staff and for critical workers who need to use it for absolutely essential journeys. TfL has been working with Unite the Union and bus operators and has already actively discouraged passengers from sitting near the driver with signage and has recently added an extra layer of protection to the clear screen that separates the driver from customers to create a more complete barrier.

Middle-door only boarding could ensure that critical workers can continue to rely on London’s buses to travel, while ensuring that drivers, who have no option to change seats or move in the bus, can maintain social distancing while working. The trial will assess how the change works in live operations and whether it causes any issues.

Claire Mann, TfL director of bus operations, says: “London’s hard-working transport workers are making a heroic effort at the frontline of the fight against this pandemic, and it is only right we consider everything we can to protect them. We’ve already delivered many other enhanced safety measures and by trialling middle-door only boarding on buses we can gain the information we need to see if we can further improve safety on London’s buses.”