Driverless pods could replace cars on Hammersmith Bridge
A community group is proposing lightweight autonomous electric pods as a public transport alternative for Hammersmith Bridge, which has been closed to motor vehicles since 2019 due to structural cracks. The Barnes and Hammersmith Electric Light Transit (BHELT) group suggests that the pods, called Ohmio AV Shuttles, could provide a safe and green crossing while the bridge remains shut to cars and lorries.
The 138-year-old bridge linking Hammersmith and Barnes requires extensive repairs that would 'essentially require' a new bridge, according to council reports. BHELT chair Charles Campion told Metro that the pods are 'like small trams that run on virtual tracks, fixed routes that the onboard AI is trained on, initially with human assistance.'
How the pods work
The Ohmio AV Shuttle is a driverless vehicle without a steering wheel or footbrake, weighing less than three tonnes. It can carry up to 14 people—eight seated and six standing—with space for a wheelchair accessed via a ramp. The pods travel at a maximum speed of 15mph and use LiDAR technology to navigate safely, avoiding pedestrians and obstacles.
'They are similar to driverless taxis in that they use a LiDAR technology which sends out and receives back laser pulses to an onboard computer to navigate safely,' Campion said. 'They will brake for pedestrians or other vehicles and can manoeuvre around unexpected obstacles without human guidance.' The system also prevents multiple pods from crossing the bridge simultaneously or when they exceed weight limits.
Current testing and future routes
Safety drivers have been testing the pods using a joystick, as current laws require a driver. Test drives earlier this month covered the route from Barnes to Castelnau to train the AI-powered maps. Campion suggested the pods could run from Hammersmith transport interchange to the Barnes side of the bridge and to Barnes railway station.
The shuttle buses were inspired by proposals from the climate charity Possible in 2023 on restoring the bridge. Campion emphasized the need for a 'green' future, stating, 'Unnecessary car travel is choking the city and the people who live in it, and bringing cars back over Hammersmith Bridge, even if it was affordable, would have made that problem worse.'
TfL has no plans for pods
Transport for London (TfL) told Metro that it has no plans to roll out the pods or introduce driverless buses elsewhere on the network. The bridge remains closed to motor vehicles, and the future of the crossing is uncertain.
