‘Reckless’ cyclists could be fined £100 on Thames Path

By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter

Cyclists could be fined up to £100 or taken to court by a town hall for riding recklessly next to the River Thames.

Hammersmith and Fulham council is looking at bringing in strict rules for the next three years after residents reported feeling unsafe due to cyclists, e-scooters and e-bikes whizzing by.

To tackle the issue the council is considering introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), and under the new rules police officers and the council’s enforcement officers could start issuing fines.

Vehicles and reckless cyclists would be banned for the whole length of the borough on the north side of the Thames. This would stretch from Furnival Gardens to beyond Putney Bridge.

A council consultation into the policy said: “We want pedestrians to feel safe when taking walks and travelling along the Thames Path.

“We are considering introducing a PSPO to prohibit the riding of e-scooters and e-bikes and other motorised vehicles along the Thames Path. We are also considering the prohibition of reckless riding of pedal cycles.”

It added: “If a person fails to comply with the requirements of the order following a warning from an authorised council or police officer, they will be issued with £100 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) and taken to court if the fine is not paid within the specified timeframe.”

The rules would not apply to mobility scooters or other mobility aids. The consultation comes to a close on January 29.

Hammersmith and Fulham council has also explored using PSPOs to solve other issues in the borough.

The council is looking into fining dog walkers £100 if they do not have any poo bags on them when they are out with their pets.

The measures could also exclude dogs from certain areas like playgrounds and introduce lead-only areas. The council would also be able to limit the number of dogs walked at once.

Pictured top: Thames Path in Hammersmith and Fulham (Picture: Google Street View)