TfL reviews safety fears on Embankment after series of fatal collisions

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

A Chelsea cycle lane where people keep getting hit could be extended again.

Transport for London (TfL) is looking into extending Cycleway 8, west from Chelsea Bridge along the Embankment, after a series of fatal collisions.

A new pedestrian crossing was installed by TfL on the north side of Battersea Bridge after a man was killed while jogging across the bridge early last year.

But there is no protection for walkers and cyclists on the other three arms of the busy junction.

London’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman said adding more crossings at the three unprotected “arms” of the Battersea Bridge junction is not enough to address safety fears, the Evening Standard has reported.

But TfL cannot start work on new safety measures yet because of uncertainty about funding from central government.

Mr Norman has written a letter to local residents who are calling for immediate safety improvements near the north side of Battersea Bridge.

In the letter seen by the Standard, he told them extending the protected cycle lane along Chelsea Embankment would be “the right thing to do” following multiple accidents.

Mr Norman reportedly told residents there were 28 collisions at the junction in the three years to September – 15 with cyclists, 10 with motorbikes or mopeds and three with walkers.

He wrote: “TfL is undertaking a further review of the planned pedestrian crossings’ design to explore what other options there are to accelerate cycling safety improvements ahead of any potential westward extension to Cycleway 8, which currently runs along Grosvenor Road to Chelsea Bridge.

“I feel that this is the right thing to do given the long history of cycling collisions at the junction, and in light of the tragic collision in January.”

A spokesman for the Better Streets for Kensington and Chelsea group said: “There have been plans to make Chelsea Embankment, including the critical bridge junctions, better and safer for those on foot, wheeling or cycling for over twenty years.

“Delayed implementation has resulted in inevitable tragedy, an unpleasant daily experience for thousands, and countless others who understandably find it too off-putting just to cross the road or to make their journey by bike.

“We recognise concerns and challenges around road space allocation and impact on surrounding streets, but it is now time to press ahead with solutions.”

TfL had pledged to make the area safer as part of its mission to put a stop to deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads by 2041.

It is working with Kensington and Chelsea council to add more pedestrian crossings at the junction and is planning to improve routes at the southern end of the bridge with Wandsworth council.