Hello All

I felt it be may be useful to add an up-date about a serious accident that happened right by the new crossing at around 8.10am on Thursday, 13th January.

Many people will have heard sketchy details. Rather than let possibly wrong information spread, I can provide a full 'report' because - by some awful coincidence - I was walking over the bridge (as were countless others) very soon after the collision happened.

It was also uncomfortably ironic that this accident should happen on the first anniversary of Jack Ryan's death - just as fresh flowers had been laid at the memorial by his family.

Although yesterday's incident happened only a short distance from last year's accident, it had entirely different circumstances. This involved a large tipper lorry and a female cyclist on the corner where Cheyne Walk connects to the bridge. 

I spoke to three eye witnesses. What unfolded was this: The lorry was waiting to turn left. It was noticeably abreast of the middle lane in order to have the angle to make the sharp turn. Maybe it looked as though it was going straight on.

The lorry was indicating left and pulled across. At this exact moment the cyclist came up on the inside of other idling cars to go straight ahead. The cyclist and the lorry collided. The woman sustained a serious injury to her right leg and was incredibly lucky to have survived. A medic working across the street was apparently there within minutes. 

Because of my connection to TFL due to the new crossing, I supplied a full memo of the incident to Commissioner Byford, his senior team, and various members of RBKC. Some key points and observations I made included:

- The traffic light stop line at this point heading WEST on Cheyne Walk urgently needs an ASL (Advance Stop Line) - better known as a bike box. This provides cyclists with a safe stop place and enables them to get ahead of traffic and be more visible. I raised the urgent need for one of these in a memo back in November.

Plans are actually already in place to install this as part of Phase 2 to make this crossroads safer. However, Phase 2 is currently on hold due to lack of funding. TFL confirmed to me yesterday that, in light of this new accident, they are looking at pulling forward the installation of this bike box as a stand alone issue. They are exploring ways of doing it expeditiously.

- the timing of the green light allowing drivers to turn left appears to be quite short, which is leading to drivers jumping the lights.

- TFL's closure of the Left turn onto Chelsea Bridge (CB) last year (under emergency Covid powers - and without consultation) has meant that ALL heavy vehicles wanting to go south from this stretch of Chelsea must now use Battersea Bridge. This means that vehicles such as yesterday's large lorry have to negotiate a tighter turn onto a smaller bridge than CB.

I have asked TFL, and representatives of the Mayor (ie: Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman) to re-consider this decision. Whilst they have reduced the risk for cyclists on and around CB - which is undoubtedly a good thing - they have exacerbated the same problem at Battersea.

The reason to close the left turn at CB is to pave the way for the extension of the CS8 cycle lane along Chelsea Embankment. As the completion of this may be years away, I believe that a better solution needs to be found during the interim period. 

- I have offered to act as an 'honest broker' between all parties (TFL, City Hall and RBKC) on these issues to see if a workable compromise can be found. Currently, there seems to be a dysfunctional impasse regarding the best way forward. This is a complex issue and key people need to start talking in a positive and collaborative fashion.

My fear is that with so many more heavy lorries etc heading towards that tight turn onto Battersea Bridge, the victim of the next accident may not be as "lucky" as the woman who was so seriously hurt yesterday.

Sorry for such a long post. Have a nice weekend!

RM (14/01/22)