The location of the new bridge is shown in red.
Cyclists were disappointed to hear that the new bridge proposed for Westbourne Green has been removed from Sustrans's Connect2 programme. The bridge would have replaced the existing footbridge over the railway, known locally as 'Muggers' Bridge'. This news is particularly disappointing after the scheme was selected by the public to benefit from the lottery-funded Connect2 project.
This scheme would have seen the construction of a new, straight, wider bridge, with ramped accesses that would be at the heart of a network of cycle and pedestrian priority routes, linking to existing networks. Kensington Gardens, Westbourne Green, Kilburn, Kensal Green and the new City Academy would be connected by routes that prioritised walkers and cyclists. The new railway bridge, and its linking routes, as well as improvements to two existing bridges over the Grand Union Canal, would mean journeys through Westbourne Green would often be quicker, and certainly more attractive, when made on foot or by bike.
The location of the new bridge is shown in red.
The bridge, at Westbourne Park, is intended to be built using structures developed as part of the Crossrail project. However, current timeframes for Crossrail mean that the bridge cannot be completed within the five-year life span of Connect2 and so, unfortunately, the scheme can no longer be funded as part of this programme and will therefore not be delivered within the timescale originally hoped.
Carl Pittam, Sustrans’ London Director, explains; ”Major construction projects are liable to changes in timetable and in this case the Westbourne Park Bridge scheme is the innocent victim of circumstances beyond anyone’s control.
“We have been working hard with colleagues at Westminster City Council to salvage the situation and we all remain committed to delivering this project – which would benefit the thousands of Londoners who want to walk and cycle around the area. However we are committed to a tight timeline for the UK-wide Connect2 project and this unforeseen delay to Crossrail, on which the bridge depends, has meant that the development of the bridge, and its accompanying walking and cycling routes is also delayed.”
The Royal Parks are seeking funding for an 18-month trial to allow cycling along Kensington Gardens' Studio Walk, which runs in front of Kensington Palace.
This path would extend the east-west route across the park, which currently goes no further west than the Broad Walk. Cyclists' ultimate aspiration is to have a route through to Kensington Church street and then up Holland Street and through Holland Park. Allowing cycling along Studio Walk would be the next step towards this aspiration.
Studio Walk, where cycling is not currently permitted.
Atkins Intelligent Space have now produced a Cycling Assessment Report, following consultation with the Royal Parks Senior Management team, Crown Estates, Royal Household, Historic Royal Palaces and the Police (Diplomatic Security section). The report concluded that pedestrians and cyclists could both use the path without getting in each other's way.
The path alongside Lisson Grove Estate is currently owned by CityWest Homes and due to be adopted by Westminster City Council. The path will only be adopted by WCC once it has been upgraded to public highway standard at the expense of the current owners.
The path currently has anti-cycling barriers along it, which some cyclists see as a challenge to their balancing powers. In addition, traffic signals have recently been installed at the junction of Lisson Grove and Frampton Street to ensure a safer journey through the streets for walkers and cyclists following the canal where it passes through a tunnel.
The high-level path at Lisson Green may be improved.
There is also to be a Cycle Route Inspection Meeting (CRIM) on the canal. Top of our list will be doing something about the one-way streets that prevent eastbound cyclists from following the canal where it cannot realistically be cycled, namely Delamere Terrace and Blomfield Road.
One-way Delamere Terrace is currently an obstacle for eastbound cyclists.
» More on cycling Westminster's canals
The
workshops will take place at Velorution,
18 Great Titchfield Street London W1W 8BD.
You will carry out most the work on your own bicycle but some other bicycles or material will be available for demonstration and/or practice. Tools will be provided but you may want to consider bringing a small tool kit with you. (Also available for purchasing at Velorution.)
The class will be run by two instructors and there will be a maximum of 12 participants.
The cost for the two sessions will be £50 (payable in advance). If you need small items such as inner tubes, cables etc you can purchase them from the shop. (please note that we are able to offer this low rate only thanks to a grant from the London Borough of Camden whom we gratefully acknowledge)
If you would like to join future series, please
Saturday December 5th, 10am-12 noon
Paddington Arts Workshop, 32 Woodfield Road, London W9 2BE
Street
map
Drop-in Maintenance Workshop (followed, for those who wish, by a ride to Grosvenor Square, to take part in The Wave, the demonstration in support of action on climate change, in advance of the Copenhagen talks).
This is a self-help workshop - not a professional training, but they'll make sure that there are a number of people who know what they are doing, and will attempt to fix basic problems with appropriate tools, and help you understand how to do your own basic maintenance.
No charge, but if you want to make a contribution to the cost of hall hire, they'd be very grateful.
Westminster has now published its list of proposed cycle hire stations. A total of 123 stations are proposed, with spaces for 2728 cycles. Of these, 84 stations will be on the carriageway and 39 on the footway. In addition, there will be a certain number of stations in the Royal Parks and on main roads managed by Transport for London.
You can find details of the proposed sites at www.westminster.gov.uk/cyclehiremap. The council will be pleased to receive any observations or comments on the proposals in writing by 9th October. (Email: cyclehire@westminster.gov.uk ref. 5536/MG.
Holles Street is not one of the proposed sites!
The cycle hire scheme is expected to start in the summer of 2010, with 6000 cycles available at 400 points in central London.
The Royal Parks have now opened cycle paths connecting Marble Arch with the cycle route around Hyde Park. The paths line up with the toucan crossings around the Marble Arch gyratory, enabling you to reach the roads radiating from Marble Arch via the central area. Although you avoid the traffic circulating around the gyratory, you may have to stop up to four times to wait for a green cycle signal.
Royal Parks' contractors apply the final touches to a cycle path.