Time running out to comment on London cable car plans

There are just days left to give your views about Transport for London's plans to build a cable car across the Thames linking Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks.

TfL's public consultation period on the project ends on Monday 2 August.

The cable car is a possible solution to the problems pedestrians and cyclists have crossing the river east of Tower Bridge.

Linking the Royal Docks and Greenwich Peninsular makes sense, says TfL, because of the growing amount of leisure and entertainment venues in the area - and to improve access to some of the Olympic events in 2012.

The London Cycling Campaign says the cable car would be the first London crossing to allow bikes on it since the Queen Elizabeth II bridge opened in 1991. But cyclists are allowed to push bikes over the Hungerford and Millennium bridges provided they don't ride them, so that claim doesn't really stand up.

Since the QEII bridge opened, eight river crossings have been built - six for rail passengers only, and two for pedestrians. They are:

• Jubilee line (four crossings), for tube passengers
• DLR (two crossings), for rail passengers
• Hungerford Bridge, for pedestrians
• Millenium Bridge, for pedestrians

There is already a foot tunnel in Greenwich but it's closed for refurbishment until March 2011 - as previously reported on road.cc.

The cable car is by no means a certainty yet though. Once the public consultation closes on 2 August, there will be discussions about design, operating hours and pricing. Then the finance will have to be in place, which isn't yet certain - the project will need to be paid for privately and discussions are ongoing.

Assuming all that's covered, a planning application will then be submitted - giving the public another chance to give their feedback. If permission is given, construction would begin in 2011 so the cable car's ready to go in time for the Olympics.

Visit the Transport for London site to find out more - and to give your feedback about the scheme.