| Topic: | Yes we can cope with Hammersmith Bridge being open to pedestrians and cyclists | |
| Posted by: | Paul Campbell | |
| Date/Time: | 03/06/19 16:19:00 |
| I can't answer for Tony to whom I guess you're asking the questions here but my answer was "yes" we can cope. We will adapt. The question we should really be asking is how can we improve the quality of our lives during the three years of coping? There are plenty of measures that can be taken to improve the movement of people and goods in Chiswick. Mostly we are lacking the political will to take these measures. Some people may favour stopping all of the construction projects that you cite. There may be others that you have missed e.g. gas mains replacement on King St this summer. I don't believe it is feasible to halt progress on housing, utilities and transport infrastructure. My personal preference is to limit the flow of through traffic in our residential streets, blocking rat runs by filtering, keep the traffic on the A roads. Increasing the viability of alternative modes of transport for both people and goods is even more of a necessity in the present circumstances. Safe cycle paths achieve that as would e-cargo bike schemes sponsored by local government to help local businesses deliver their goods much more efficiently. I saw a report that a minority of businesses on Castelnau are reporting loss of trade due to their dependence on delivering goods by car to customers in Hammersmith and Fulham. Car not van or lorry. That is crying out for a local cargo bike delivery service, which can continue to use the bridge, to at least alleviate the shortfall. Ultimately those of us who can need to use our cars less. I'm as guilty as anybody else of using my car for short journeys of less than two miles in Chiswick. But after a couple of hours sitting in my car on SCR waiting to cross the A4 to Grove Park, I am no longer driving that route between 10:30 and 6pm on a weekend. If I want to be quick I cycle and if not I walk. There are plenty of people who could do the same, leaving more space and quicker journeys for those who really are dependent on cars or buses. So what else can we do? We know that it will be at least three years before cars drive over Hammersmith Bridge again. What are the people of Chiswick going to do to make their lives better? |