Hammersmith and Fulham Council has voted to support Transport for London's (TfL) plans to make the Hammersmith Road section of Cycleway 9 (C9) permanent. The decision, taken by cabinet members this week, advances a project that will create a continuous segregated cycling route linking Kensington Olympia, Hammersmith, Chiswick and Brentford.
Council backs TfL's £20 million scheme
The Hammersmith Road leg was introduced in 2020 using emergency traffic management powers during the pandemic. King Street, another part of the C9 route, was made permanent in 2023. TfL will fund and deliver the Hammersmith Road plans at a cost of £20 million, as recommended by council officers in a Cabinet paper.
A council-led alternative was considered but noted as higher risk and not guaranteeing TfL investment. The designs include three floating bus stops on the road's northern edge and improvements to pedestrian crossings.
Resident raises safety and consultation concerns
David Tarsh, a resident, urged councillors not to support the proposal, citing casualty figures and missing information in the Cabinet report. He claimed data showed accident rates worsened since the interim C9 scheme was introduced in 2021, even accounting for increased rider numbers.
“Anyone who tells you otherwise is either misinformed or, worse, they are deliberately misleading you,” Tarsh said. “Let’s be clear, describing C9 as a ‘safer cycle pathway’ is about as justified as calling cigarettes healthy.”
Tarsh also argued that TfL's 2017 consultation was outdated, referencing a council-commissioned 2020 report showing residents were not in favour. He suggested removing C9 and installing a rush-hour bus route instead, allowing cyclists to use bus lanes during peak times.
Council leader defends safety record
Council Leader Stephen Cowan said there had been “extensive safety reviews” of cycling schemes across London, including C9. He noted that cycle numbers have increased significantly and that segregated cycle lanes are a manifesto commitment.
Cllr Nicole Trehy, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel, addressed Tarsh's reference to two fatalities on the King Street section, stating one death was unrelated to the cycleway. “That was a hooligan on a bike, and I think it's disrespectful to use that politically against this cycleway,” she said.
Cllr Jose Afonso, Leader of the Conservative opposition, asked about safety audits for the floating bus stops. Trehy confirmed regular monitoring and said she would provide further details.
Next steps and other C9 sections
Members voted unanimously to support the plans. Detailed design development will continue, with the scheme subject to TfL's internal governance and funding processes. Other C9 sections already made permanent include Chiswick High Road, which Hounslow Council backed in 2023 despite opposition concerns that it “failed to deliver on every important metric”.
