Plea for alternative river crossing

4.32.04pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Sep 2009

Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, Lewisham councillors Chris Maines and Pete Pattisson and Greenwich councillor Brian Woodcraft joined cyclists campaigning for an alternative

Liberal Democrats from South East London have joined with local cyclists to plead with Greenwich Council and TfL to provide an alternative when the Greenwich Foot Tunnel closes.

It is believed that each day over 400 cyclists will be forced to follow an 8-mile detour to cross the River Thames.

"Clearly cyclists cannot use Blackwall or Rotherhithe Tunnel safely, so they will need to use Tower Bridge or the Woolwich Ferry, which I believe to be an extra 16 miles a day," says Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem Chair of the GLA Transport committee. "Many cyclists commute from South London to Canary Wharf or East London and we must find an affordable alternative."

Both Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels are being closed this autumn for refurbishment and are expected to be closed for up to 18 months.

The Liberal Democrats have written a joint letter to the Leader of Greenwich Council, urging him to work with other agencies to find a practical solution to the problem. Current rules prevent a bicycle being carried on the Docklands Light Railway.

Lewisham Lib Dem councillor Chris Maines says, "Cyclists have chosen to live in South East London knowing they can use this route to work every day. We need to ensure they can continue to cycle and find a solution with DLR or a ferry operator."

Cllr Paul Webbewood, a Lib Dem member of Greenwich Council, says, "We appreciate this work needs to be undertaken but feel the Council must work with others to minimise disruption for the tunnel users."