Crowdfunding campaign launched for new cycling and walking bridge across Thames from Brentford to Kew

I live locally and I'm not sure a new bridge is needed here. It would be better to improve Kew bridge by putting segregated cycle lanes on it and sorting out the cyclist and pedestrian unfriendly junction at the north end.

<blockquote>The scheme’s founders point out that the stretch of the Thames between Kew Bridge and Richmond Lock Bridge is one of the longest stretches without a bridge</blockquote>

That's mostly because on the south side there is Kew Gardens, a golf course and the Old deer park. Even from Brentford Gate you have to go through the Kew Gardens car park to get to Kew green and onwards. The Thames path west is ok for a while then drops down and becomes super rough (and floods at very high tides).

As others have said improvements to put segregated paths on Kew, Twickenham, and Chiswick bridges as well as better ramps on Richmond lock bridge and Barnes railway bridges. would be a bigger benifit for cyclists. But that doens;t look so cool on a website.

It would be really interesting, if only to see whether a privately funded cyclist/pedestrian bridge was significantly better than most of the similar bridges built by local authorities.

>who would not otherwise travel all the way up to busy Kew Bridge.   

having lived in Brentford I have to disagree, its takes no time at all to get across the bridge.

>help fuel the regeneration that has long been required.  

I think the high street south side regeneration would be 10000% more important than an unnecessary bridge, they have been taking about regenerating Brentford for 30 years!

Not sure I'd agree with you JoeyL, but accept that we should consider pedestrian as well as cycling use. The point at which this propose bridge meets the south bank (actually the east bank at this point) is so close to Kew Bridge I can't believe walkers would be put off by a short additional distance.

Crowdfunding a goddamn bridge?  It's transport!  Why aren't TFL building it if it's so badly needed?

And that goes for the Rotherhithe bridge, and others east of Tower Bridge too for that matter... you'd think that they'd like building things, they last a long time and make the builders famous.

Seems like most the comments above are from people who live north of the River who's concerns are solely cycling amenity related.  The reality is this bridge will also be used in BOTH directions by people on foot who would not otherwise travel all the way up to busy Kew Bridge.   

I live in Brentford and think this would be a great addition to the area and help fuel the regeneration that has long been required.  

I nearly stated the same thing between Hampton and Walton bridges, possibly to align with the bottom of Green Lane to allow easy run from Staines/Sunbury Cross down to river and across to Hersham, but it would be a luxury. Original comment remains.

This is a really dumb idea, its within spitting distance of kew bridge, I cannot think of a single reason to build this.

A much better place would be at sunbury, halfway between hampton and walton bridges.

It’s potentially a lovely idea, and could be a useful addition to the London cycle network (if build to a high standard). The river path from Richmond to Kew is a fabulous if little-known route. Far better to concentrate on improving the surfacing and width of the river path here rather than pursue what is essentially a headline-grabbing vanity project. Interesting that the London Cycling Campaign hasn’t commented on this AFAIA.

Agree that this is entirely the wrong place to invest in such a crossing. The article mentions the heavy traffic on Kew Bridge, but a bit of thought could easily provide cycle path provision on the wide pavements across that bridge. 

This appears to only serve the interests of Kew Gardens.

I cycle the river paths a lot. If one of the reasons here is to facilitate a route across the river and down towards Ricmond then, as per another comment, the state of the path from Kew to Richmond only suits mountain bikes, which I ride, but I wouldn't ride this setion on my road bike.

I honestly can't think of a single point along the length of the Thames as far up as Windsor where a new foot and cycle bridge is worth the investment.

I speak as a cyclist keen on improving facilities, and would would rather see investment in quality cycling lanes to encourage newbies (like my wife, who won't go near a road) and begin to redistribute space from motorised vehicles to foot and cycle use.

LB Richmond had some draft plans to install a cycle bridge between Marble Hill (Twickenham) and Ham. This would seem a much more suiyable option as there are no alternative crossings of the Thames bwteeen Teddington Lock and Richmond Bridge. The towpath, particularly on the Twickenham side is in much better condition that the section by Kew Gardens.

Stepped tracks on Kew Bridge and better connected infrastructure either end would be a better option for te Kew option.

This is fucked up. That's not in the right place at all. Is Kew Gardens funding this? Because that's all there is on the south side. No proper road access, and the Thames Path at that point is a gravel/mud track.

Sorting out cycle provision on and around Kew Bridge would be a much better idea.

Definitely one for local government, not national.

I sympathise, but no, no NO NO NO!! We cannot allow local or national government to opt out of providing infrastructure by expecting other bodies to part-fund it, even if it just providing the architects' plans.

Surely the correct role of the campaign here is to pressure local government into acting, not by doing their job for them.