Cycling over the River Thames has become that bit easier in West London, thanks to a temporary cycle lane opened earlier this week on Hammersmith Bridge.
The two-way lane has been installed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, which owns the bridge, for around 10 weeks while it carries out repairs to its gantry. Previously, anyone cycling had to dismount and walk their bike over the bridge alongside pedestrians. While the cycle lane is in-place, they can continue straight down the centre of the Grade-II* listed structure, with marshals on-hand to manage any safety issues.
Among those making use of the new lane yesterday morning (February 13) was the Treasurer of the Hounslow Cycling Campaign, Ruth Mayorcas, 70. Ms Mayorcas, who said she visits Hammersmith regularly, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “[It’s] so exciting. It’s so exciting I can’t tell you. It’s just a game changer really.”
Being able to cycle across the bridge is important, Ms Mayorcas said, partially due to the impact on pedestrians by those walking their bikes over. “Walking with a bike is very difficult, and you take up twice as much space, and pedestrians don’t like you and it’s not fair,” she said. “You impact on pedestrians and we mustn’t do that. Which is why cycling across the middle is so important.”
Ms Mayorcas added she would like to see the bridge, once it fully reopens, to be repurposed for walking and cycling permanently, alongside provisions for people who require alternative transport to cross.
Sarah Gould, 56, lives just around the corner from the bridge on the Richmond side. She said she got rid of her car after the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion in 2021, and has since taken to cycling far more regularly.
Asked whether the temporary lane is welcome, she said: “It makes life a bit easier. It’s helpful, I’d say.”
On whether the ongoing works to the bridge had impacted her, she said it “definitely has. Like anything it’s a bit of a war of attrition. Everyone’s sort of gotten used to it now.”
Melanie Etherton, part of the London Cycling Campaign team, endorsed the installation of the lane as a positive move by the council. Describing how she felt approaching the bridge earlier yesterday morning, she said: “It was just this really joyful feeling. Because you see people come up to the bridge, expecting to get off or even already walking, and then they realise someone has thought about and cared about them and they can cross safely and easily.”
Ms Etherton added that similar to Ms Mayorcas, she would like to see the bridge eventually repurposed to prioritise walking and cycling.
“On a personal level, it’s a really beautiful way to start the day, when you cross over the river and see the other side,” she said.
Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, was also down making use of the new cycle lane. She said while she welcomes the update, “the fact repairs have been paused isn’t cause for celebration”.
“The Government promised to fix the bridge back in 2019,” she added. “It is time for them to honour that commitment, show some transparency and end this ongoing nightmare for local residents.”
Once the repairs to the bridge’s gantry have been completed, the council’s focus will be back on stabilisation works. The full restoration of Hammersmith Bridge has however been held up by a stalemate between the council, Department for Transport and Transport for London over funding, estimated at £250m. The Government is also yet to approve a business case submitted by Hammersmith and Fulham last year.
Announcing the installation of the cycle lane, Cllr Sharon Holder, Cabinet Member for the Public Realm, previously said: “We are committed to the full re-opening of Hammersmith Bridge to motor vehicles including buses, and we are doing all in our powers to deliver on that commitment. But we are a small local authority, and we must have the financial support of the DfT and Transport for London, as well as an agreement to fund our share via a toll.”
A DfT spokesperson told the LDRS it has already given nearly £10m to restore the bridge, and is reviewing the council’s business case “to ensure it is viable and offers value for money for taxpayers”.
Photos: Sarah Olney, Richmond Park MP.
Sarah Gould said she began cycling more regularly following the 2021 ULEZ expansion.
Ruth Mayorcas said she visits Hammersmith regularly, and that enabling cycling down the middle of the bridge “is so important”.
The cycle-lane on Hammersmith Bridge is to be open for around 10 weeks.
