Walking and cycling in Hammersmith & Fulham will be safer and easier after the council insisted on redesigning TfL’s cycling routes planned for the borough.
“Our goals are to make sure all residents – especially children, Disabled people and older people - can walk and cycle safely around the borough, ensuring environmental concerns are at the heart of all we do, and that we improve the look and feel of our public spaces,” said Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
“Making sure residents’ voices are properly heard whenever we make decisions is key to how we operate. So later this summer we’ll be hosting a number of workshops with residents’ groups, Disability groups and schools to do the detailed designs. That way, we know we’ll be delivering a scheme designed by the community, for the community.”
The redesign means that Cycle Superhighway 9 is no more in Hammersmith & Fulham. Instead, working with TfL and a residents’ advisory group, the council is proposing to introduce a Cycle Highway along the A4 and a Safer Cycle Pathway that will complement the streetscape along King Street and Hammersmith Road.
The new routes will mean cyclists of all abilities – from complete beginners to daily commuters – can ride safely.
Listening to residents
Cllr Cowan said: “We listened to residents. The A4 Cycle Highway will be more suitable for the faster cycle commuter and is an important new investment from the Mayor of London.
“Together, we're determined to improve our streetscape and deliver healthier streets that are better for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages and abilities. This is an important part of our approach to improving our environment for all.”
Two routes to suit all riders
- The Safer Cycle Pathway will be suited to slower, less confident riders. It will run from the Chiswick end of King Street across the north of Hammersmith gyratory to Hammersmith Road, and finish at the borough border with Kensington. It will be designed to improve the environment and protect the high numbers of pedestrians in these areas.
- The A4 Cycle Highway will shuttle faster, more confident riders and commuters from the border with Chiswick to the Hammersmith gyratory.
The schemes will be delivered as part of the council’s Healthy Streets Programme, to encourage more sustainable transport, making walking and cycling easier and planting more trees to improve air quality and make the area more pleasant.
Working with you to get it right
The Safer Cycle Pathway will be tailored to suit families, novice riders and those just looking to pop to the shops. While the Cycle Highway will provide an alternative route for faster riders away from the high street.
London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said that it was important to take the time to get the scheme right.
“Getting more people walking and cycling as part of their everyday routine has huge benefits for our health and wellbeing, and we know there is a high demand for more cycling in this part of west London,” he said.
“It was absolutely right that TfL took the time to work with the councils to ensure everyone’s response to the consultation were looked at properly, ensuring the proposed scheme is the very best it can be. I’m delighted that we are on course for work to begin on the route later this year.”
Dates for the forthcoming workshops will be announced shortly. Watch this space.
Want to read more news stories like this? Subscribe to our weekly e-news bulletin.
