Putting pedestrians first on the Riverside Path

As your local Councillor, many residents have told me that speeding cyclists can make them feel unsafe walking along the Riverside Path. This is not right. 

Hammersmith & Fulham is currently consulting on whether reckless cyclists should be banned from the Thames Path. This would allow Police Officers and the Council’s law enforcement officers to issue fines of up to £100 to anyone breaking the rules. Wandsworth Council should do the same.

Wandsworth Council is currently considering extending the London e-scooter trial to the Borough. At the last Transport Committee and again at Full Council, I said this would be a bad idea for our ward. Having e-scooters on the Riverside Path would make the Path even more congested and unsafe for local residents. So, I was delighted that the Council agreed that, if the e-scooter trial were extended to Wandsworth, the Riverside Path would be exempt.  But I think more can be done by the Council to make the Riverside Path safe and pleasant for residents. That’s why I’m now calling on the Council to monitor and introduce measures to ensure safe and considerate cycling on the path. 

This is not a petition against cycling. I’m a keen cyclist! My bike is my main means of transportation. Considerate cyclists would not be affected by what I’m proposing. 

This is a petition to ensure a better experience for all path users and calls on Wandsworth Council to take more proactive action to make the Riverside Path safe for pedestrians by: 

1. Introducing specially designed road surfacing, planters and speed bumps at strategic locations to slow cyclists down 
2. Painting signs on the ground at pinch points on the Path to highlight that pedestrians have priority 
3. Designating the Riverside Path as a non-drop-off point for hire bikes with the Council committing to immediately confiscate any that are left on the Riverside Path

Yours Sincerely

Cllr Caroline de La Soujeole - St Marys Ward