Anger at racing cyclists endangering pedestrians in Greenwich foot tunnel
Pedestrians using the Greenwich foot tunnel under the Thames are facing danger from cyclists using it as “a race track.”
Protests have been made to Tower Hamlets council about cyclists speeding through the walkway linking the Isle of Dogs and Greenwich.
Now trial measures are proposed aimed at stopping cyclists speeding after complaints raised by Isle of Dogs councillor Peter Golds, whose Blacklwall & Cubitt Town constituency includes the tunnel entrance at Island Gardens.
“It’s a real safety issue for pedestrians—especially at night,” he told the Advertiser.
“Pedestrians often have to scatter when the cyclists race through. It has become a race track at night.”
You may also want to watch:
Tower Hamlets transportation chief Tony Davis has passed the complaints to Greenwich Council, which manages the tunnel, only to discover Greenwich had also received complaints about speeding cyclists.
He told Cllr Golds that it was sometimes “difficult to deal with individual cyclists—other than enforcement by police.”
Most Read
- 1 Ethnic communities not taking up Covid jabs, Tower Hamlets Mayor warns
- 2 'Racist consultation' protest rejected on Tower Hamlets street closures as Labour sticks to its manifesto
- 3 Airbnb house party violence leaves police officer with broken finger
- 4 Council fined for Alexia Walenkaki's playground death in Mile End and says sorry to family
- 5 Police hunt after stabbing in Cable Street: One man hurt
- 6 Streets around proposed Chinese embassy building could be renamed after persecuted Muslims
- 7 Teenager found dead in Victoria Park
- 8 No injuries but 20 rescued as firefighters tackle Limehouse blaze
- 9 Police raid cannabis factory near Liverpool Street station: 2 arrests
- 10 Death of woman, 75, in Mile End fire could have been avoided
A trial measure was now proposed to erect two sets of railing chicanes in the tunnel to prevent speeding that won’t impede people in wheelchairs or parents with pushchairs.
“We hope this will make it difficult for cyclists to ride here,” Mr Davis added in his response to Cllr Golds.
“The barriers will carry the instruction ‘Cyclists dismount.’ New signs at the entrances will also make clear the tunnel is part of the London cycle network—but a dismounted section.”
The tunnel has recently undergone the most extensive refurbishment in its 110-year history. It was first opened in 1902 for workers living on the south side of the Thames to reach the Millwall Docks and the wharves and factories on the Isle of Dogs, after a campaign by Poplar trade unionist Will Crooks, a leading member of the London County Council who became MP for Woolwich a year later.
