For those who use the Greenwich Foot Tunnel on their commute

[ianrauk]

This Tuesday, Caroline Pigeon, Chair of the GLA Transport committee is
visiting the Greenwich Foot tunnel with Cllr Chris Maines from
Lewisham, and Cllr Paul Webberwood from Greenwich to familiarise
themselves with the problem.

6-7pm at the Greenwich Foot tunnel.

If you use the tunnel, and dont want to cycle via Rotherhithe Tunnel
or Tower Bridge during the 10 months that the tunnel is planned to be
closed (for refurbishment) , get down to the Greenwich Foot tunnel and
let them know what you think!

 

[Watt-O]

I'll be there!!!

 

[Watt-O]

Went through at 6:45-ish LAST NIGHT and there was a group of people in the tunnel, looked like the local rag was interviewing a councellor, a photographer was there too. I wonder what wacky alternative cycle routes those council muppets will come with, use the Woolwich ferry? Walk your bike through the Rotherhithe Tunnel?

 

[Brains]

There were talking about setting up a cycle ferry service

(Not a joke, I'm serious)

The issue is it means that for the thousands of people that work in South/South East London and work in East London/Canary Wharf, that cycling to work will not be possible for about a year.

The tunnel is used by around 700 cyclists a day, although it's ages since anyone did a proper survey of the actual numbers over say a full 7 day working week in June measuring the the number 24hrs a day

If they are serious about closure, then the only real alternative is a freight carrage in the back of the DLR trains between Greenwich and Mudschute.

Or

If the DLR/freight is not possible, then a proper secure/covered cycle parking facility with lockers/showers at Greenwich station, you could even change a nominal fee and probably get close to break even if it was well run and properly organised

Unfortunatly Greenwich council will simply say "&%$£ the lot of you, it's closed and we don't care" (But we'll pay £10k to a PR company to put a positive spin on it)

It is to be noticed that the Council have sent their rep down during the quietest working week of the summer, just before the August Bank Holiday. A week from now it will be in full operation again

 

[Watt-O]

Looks like I will be taking the 4 mile detour via Tower Bridge. It will mean taking the road bike down the A21 instead of the trusty old MTB along the cycle paths. Not looking forward to long dark nights, and Tower Bridge one-way system.

 

[BigOrangeTwin]

There's a ferry from the Rotherhithe Hilton to Canary Wharf if it comes to that.
BOT

 

[Lizban]

Do you guys not like the woolwich ferry?

I use it sometimes and it's slower than the foot tunnel to get to c.wharf but it's quicker than tower bridge.

 

[Watt-O]

One of the lift operators said that the surveying that started this week will go on for weeks, and that the tunnel may not be closed until December.

 

[Watt-O]

http://The "workers" have been "working" on the tunnel since the summer now. Other than the inane, poorly written public information notices plastered all over the place little progress appears to have been made, and we the public are kept in the dark – as is the norm these days. The tunnel gets shut completely from time to time, sometimes in the morning, other times in the afternoon. If it was closed in the morning I usually phone Greenwich Council to see it has been opened again before heading home, whereupon I am usually greeted by a surly little female voice at the end of the line. Oh, the joy of living and working in London. Last night I got caught out, and I arrived at the north entrance to find it was closed. Instead of returning north up Westferry Road and heading west along the traffic laden Highway over Tower Bridge and then turning east along Jamaica Road, I chose the ferry. There's a small ferry that goes between Canary Wharf Pier and Hilton Docklands Nelson Dock Pier

, which cost me £2.90 on the Oyster Card. It cut the corner off, and I made a pleasant change. Somewhat bizarrely, you disembark into the Hotel Foyer, so you have to carry your bike on your shoulder through the reception area. Luckily, the hotel does not have revolving doors!

 

[handsome joe]

I've mentioned this before there is a ferry service from the Hilton hotel on the south bank of the river Thames. The ferry goes back and forth from Canary Wharf pier (where the clipper service docks). I have used it but not for a while. You can take your bicycle over to Rotheride then cycle up to Greenwich or where ever you need to go. On the other side you have to go through the Hilton but they didn't seem to mind. I might mean another 15-20 mins extra to get to Greenwich but a least it leaves you at the door step of Canary Wharf.

http://www.thamesclippers.com/images/pdf/hilton-ferry-timetable-oct09.pdf