New Group Aims to Alter Plans for the Proposed Cycle Superhighway
Hammersmith residents part of RedesignCS9 campaigning to 'Ditch it or Switch It'
Artist's impression of superhighway looking west from Olympia
A group of people based in Hammersmith and Chiswick has formed RedesignCS9, aiming to make changes to the plans for the CS9 cycle superhighway.
The group is launching a public campaign to set out concerns about the impact of the cycle lane in the area. Its
slogan is " Ditch It Or Switch It."
The group's members say they are not political and represent a growing group of residents, business owners and community leaders who would like to see "a more collaborative and through initiative being undertaken to improve cycling infrastructure."
Some of the group's complaints are that the current scheme discriminates against pedestrians and public transport users "with little evidence of demand or key impact assessments undertaken", that it creates a dangerous obstacle course for pedestrians, especially the old, infirm, those with mobility issues, auditory and sight impairment; pushchair users and the very young, and that bus journey times, pollution, traffic congestion and noise levels will rise as a result. You can read more here.
The group maintains that the Tfl consultation, which opened on September 21 and closed on October 31 2017, was not transparent and says that obvious interest groups that should have been consulted were not. Tfl is due to publish a report about its consultation next month (February). Several petitions opposing the current plans have since been launched.
The group says: "RedesignCS9 is urgently seeking to raise wider local awareness about the Tfl scheme and to air the views of hundreds of local residents and business owners in Chiswick and Hammersmith. Many have never been informed of the public consultation by Tfl, despite claims of “an extensive marketing and community engagement campaign."
The local section of the 5.6 mile long superhighway between Hammersmith to Brentford would extend from Olympia in West Kensington to the western end of King Street and would involve changes, including the replacement of some traffic lanes with segregated cycle tracks, changes to bus and coach stops, alterations to side roads including new signals at junctions, new pedestrian crossings, narrower footpaths and new trees and seating areas.
Cycle Superhighway 9 (CS9) would form part of an emerging network of Cycle Superhighways and would provide improvements for all road users and communities on the alignment, offering a clearer and safer route for people to cycle in west London, making it easier to cross busy roads and removing through traffic on some residential roads.
The consultation held in the autumn separated the route in Hammersmith into five sections:
Section A - Hammersmith Road. A summary of proposals:
Segregated two-way cycle track replaces some general traffic lanes, some footway and some bus lane in each direction on Hammersmith Road from Olympia Way to Hammersmith Gyratory
Segregated one-way cycle track between footway and carriageway level on Hammersmith Road westbound from Addison Bridge Place to just west of Avonmore Road
Bus and coach stop bypasses for cyclists
New signalised junctions and two new pedestrian crossings over Hammersmith Road at Shortlands, replacing the crossing at Colet Gardens
Changes to turning movements permitted for cyclists
Changes to bus lanes
Changes to bus and coach stops
Changes to parking, loading and taxi ranks on Hammersmith Road and side roads
Urban space improvements, including planting new trees and seating areas
You can see maps showing these changes here and full details of the proposals here
Section B - Hammersmith Gyratory. A summary of proposals:
A new segregated two-way cycle track on King Street, Hammersmith Gyratory, segregated two-way stepped cycle track on Hammersmith Road, with footway narrowing in some places
Changes to parking and loading on King Street
Urban space improvements, including planting new trees and seating
Retaining the layout of Hammersmith Gyratory as approved in 2017
You can see a map showing these changes here and full details of the proposals here
Section C - Beadon Road. A summary of proposals:
New traffic signals at the junction of Hammersmith Grove and Beadon Road
New signalised pedestrian crossing of Beadon Road
You can see a map showing these changes here and full details of the proposals here
Section D - King Street East. A summary of proposals:
New segregated two-way cycle track on the northern side of King Street, with footway and carriageway narrowing
Changes to bus stop U
Changes to loading bays on King Street
Pedestrian crossing moved to Lyric Square
Urban space improvements, including planting new trees and seating
You can see a map showing these changes here and full details of the proposals here
Section E - King Street West. Summary of proposals:
New segregated two-way cycle track mostly on the southern side of King Street, with footway and carriageway narrowing in some places
Banned manoeuvres and other changes at the Chiswick High Road / British Grove junction
Changes to parking and loading on King Street
No access to Studland Street from Nigel Playfair Avenue for all vehicles (including cyclists)
Changes to bus stops and parking on King Street and Studland Street
New bus gate at Goldhawk Road
Urban space improvements, including planting new trees and seating
You can see maps showing these changes here and full details of the proposals here.
Launching the consultation. Mayor Sadiq Khan said:"As the capital continues to grow, it is vital that we encourage more Londoners to walk and cycle to improve health, productivity and air quality. That's why I've set out bold plans to change the way we look at how our transport network and committed record levels of investment to improve cycling.
"This new cycle superhighway will bring a high-quality segregated cycle lane to west London for the very first time. It will make a real difference in encouraging Londoners of all ages and abilities to get on their bikes and improve conditions for pedestrians across the area."
September 21, 2017