Following a successful trial, buses in London will temporarily become middle door only boarding from Monday 20 April until further notice as part of efforts to help combat coronavirus. This change will improve safety for bus drivers, enabling better social distancing while the city is fighting the virus.
The change to boarding will provide better protection for drivers, who are playing a vital role in helping other critical workers, to tackle the virus. The safety enhancement follows a trial on nine routes to ensure that it was safe for all.
The new operation of buses builds on the enhanced social distancing measures already introduced including signage asking passengers not to sit in the seats near the driver’s cab, improvements to the protective screen that shields drivers, and regular announcements to reinforce the need to keep a safe space from others.
A new cleaning regime has also been introduced in stations, depots, bus garages, trains and on buses, including the driver’s cab.
Please note that during the period of these temporary arrangements where passengers enter through the middle-doors, they will not be required to touch in. Passengers should not approach the card reader near the driver’s cab. These arrangements will be kept under review and will need to be adjusted as the Government begins to review the travel restrictions now in place across the country.
