Deputy editor George Barker speaks to TV star James May about his thoughts on the future of Hammersmith Bridge and the role of active travel in cities like London.
Jumping right into the deep end, James May voices his support for the pedestrianisation of Hammersmith Bridge: ‘I’m all for it. Living in Hammersmith, I’m in that area fairly regularly, but I don’t really miss Hammersmith Bridge. Even though I need to go that way sometimes, I just go around the other way. Also, it the stops all the riffraff from Barnes coming into Hammersmith as well, which is excellent,’ he jokes – Barnes being much more upmarket than good old Hammersmith.
For one thing, Mr May asserts that traffic in the area has been reduced. ‘I think it’s actually quieter. Generally, on the road up to the bridge it’s absolutely silent because you only get bicycles and pedestrians up there.’
He adds that it may also be in the best interest of the bridge to reduce its load. ‘I would have thought [that it will last longer now] because a lot of it is cast iron and it’s cracked. You can’t just weld it up like a steel structure. So if we agree that Hammersmith Bridge is a rather nice thing, then I can’t see that it would last [with continued car use]. They had to close it because it was going to fall down, so the only way to preserve it is to stop heavy stuff using it.’
Speaking of active travel more broadly, however, Mr May doesn’t feel we need further pedestrianisation.
‘I like cycling. I find it a very efficient and enjoyable way to go around town. The problem with it is, I think cycling infrastructure is a bit overdone, like the two-way cycle lane here that goes through Chiswick. I think it still confuses a lot of people because you can be turning right and a bicycle can be coming over your right shoulder, which doesn’t really happen anywhere else. Anywhere else that would be suicidal. One cycle lane on each side of the road would make more sense to me. And to be honest, I’ve been riding bikes for a long time and I was always pretty happy just cycling along the road, but I accept that a lot of people aren’t happy with that.’
Mr May also feels that something he enjoys about cycling may also be preventing its wider adoption.
‘I know for some people, it’s a perceived danger. People see cycling as hazardous, which it can be if you don’t have your wits about you. It’s one of the things I quite like about it; you have to keep your wits about you. You have to ride defensively and be very alert, but I find that has a frisson of excitement for me. I think a lot of people are put off by it being perceived to be hazardous. I know people are put off by the weather in the winter. And obviously, I think a lot of people just can’t be arsed. Bicycle journeys are six or seven miles from where I am to the centre of town and I’d say they’re actually overall quicker on the bike, because it’s a door-to-door solution, you don’t have to park and you don’t get stuck. But I suppose there and back is 12 miles cycling a day and a lot of people would regard that as too much exercise.’
Is the key then to be realistic when promoting cycling and active travel?
‘It’s ridiculous to try and be evangelical about it. They’re not always suitable. They’re not suitable if you’ve got to carry something heavy or if it’s really cold and icy. But a lot of the time, they do make sense. They don’t take up much room. I’ve got a couple of Brompton folders, and that really is door-to-door, because I can wheel it out the door, ride to a poncy restaurant in the West End and usually check it in the cloakroom. That’s fantastic. There’s no other form of transport other than your own legs that offers that.’
Finally, returning back to Hammersmith, Mr May shares his idea for the future of the 137-year-old structure.
‘I went across the other day and I thought it was wide enough to have a little cafe in the middle. It would probably be something cloyingly right-on like an organic vegetable store or something like that, but I think you could have quite a nice little coffee and tea bar with river views. I mean, bloody hell, we’ve got cafes everywhere else in Britain: in airports, shopping centres, all along the high street, they’re just everywhere. So, why not just put one on the bridge as well?’
For full access to all of our viewpoints, comments, features and more, be sure to subscribe to Highways magazine here. Get your first three issues for £3 then 20% off your ongoing subscription when you use promo code HMSP3.
