Consultation Backs Dedicated Cycle Lanes on Hammersmith Gyratory
Proposal to remove crossing at by Shepherd's Bush Road to be 'investigated'
An artist’s impression of the proposals at the King Street junction with Hammersmith gyratory (looking North East)
Transport for London (TfL) are claiming that their recent consultation on the proposal to introduce cycle lanes on the Hammersmith Gyratory has shown substantial support for the plan.
There were 656 responses to the consultation, 57% of which supported the proposals. 165 respondents to the consultation came from the W6 post code area and 112 from W14. Of the comments given on the proposals 42% were positive.
TfL have promised to 'investigate' one of the more controversial aspects of the scheme, the removal of the pedestrian crossing at the bottom end of Shepherd's Bush Road near the Hammersmith Broadway. Their report claimed this was lightly used with most pedestrians using the crossing at the bottom of King Street but 13% of the responses to the consultation objected to this change. One respondent to the consultation said that pedestrians would continue to follow their 'desire line' and cross where the crossing used to be to enter the Hammersmith Broadway centre exposing them to additional danger.
TfL now intends to proceed with the proposals which also include a new bus lane and changes to the arrangements for pedestrian crossing. Construction is set to start next summer and is expected to be completed in summer 2018. They say that they expect the extra traffic likely to be generated by the changes to be minimal but their modelling does show that it will increase on Goldhawk Road and Hammersmith Grove.
There will be a 750 metre kerb-segregated two-way route for cyclists on the north side of Hammersmith Gyratory which will remove the need to cycle around the junction which has been described as one of the most intimidating for cyclists in London.
There will also be anew eastbound cycle track along King Street, to enable onward connections on the A315 corridor and eight cyclist-specific signals at junctions to separate cyclists and motorised vehicles. Sections of the footway on King Street will be widened and a new bus lane will run on Beadon Road between Glenthorne Road and Hammersmith Broadway.
Val Shawcross, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said, “The changes to the gyratory have to work for everyone and we’ve asked TfL to continue to work with local residents and look closely at the lessons from previous schemes to minimise disruption when the changes are made. This includes the feedback they’ve received about retaining a pedestrian crossing between the south side of Hammersmith Broadway and Shepherd’s Bush Road.”
Cllr Wesley Harcourt, Hammersmith & Fulham’s Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Residents’ Services, said: “It is great that so many people have shown their support for plans to make cycling safer and less intimidating in Hammersmith & Fulham.”
The Hammersmith Grove Residents' Association expressed concerns that the spill over of general traffic into local roads as a result of the changes will add to traffic and pollution in the area.
The Hammersmith Society was broadly in favour of the proposals but was concerned that they only seemed to address issues at the northern half of the Gyratory with no explanation as to the arrangements for cyclists coming from the east off the A4, Fulham Palace Road and Hammersmith Bridge.
The changes are part of a broader plan which aims to provide a continuous cycle route across the whole of the borough and are due for consultation next year. This route would form part of Cycle Superhighway 9 which is still in the early stages of design. It is subject to further work and discussion with stakeholders including the London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.
An artist’s impression of the proposals at the Hammersmith gyratory junction with Shepherd’s Bush Road (looking West)
August 9, 2016
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