Designs shortlisted for Nine Elms cycle bridge

Four designs have made the shortlist for a new cycling and walking bridge over the River Thames at Nine Elms, between Chelsea and Vauxhall. The £40m bridge will link to the new development on the south bank of the river, and provide an alternative to the busy road bridges either side. The successful design will be announced this autumn.

Work underway on cycle superhighways

Shovels have hit the ground on London’s flagship north-south cycle superhighway – and the principal opponent of the east-west route has backed down. Canary Wharf Group had aired the prospect of seeking judicial review, but has now confirmed it will not challenge the scheme. 

Work will start on the east-west superhighway on April 27th. Both routes are expected to open next year.

Oxford footbridge to become bike-friendly

A better bike route will be opened up in South Oxford when Network Rail replaces a footbridge across the railway.

The bridge to South Hinksey is currently a steep structure where bikes have to be manhandled up the steps. Network Rail is building a new bridge as part of electrification works, but claimed that the cost to make it bike-friendly would be prohibitive.

Now, according to the Oxford Mail, local councils are teaming up to pay one-third of the £750,000 cost to fit ramps to the bridge. Network Rail will cover the rest.

The rebuilt bridge will make it easier to get between South Hinksey, on the ring road, and New Hinksey.

Re-educating drivers with a card

One Idaho cyclist got so annoyed at being upbraided by motorists that he designed a set of ‘bike law business cards’ telling it how it is. The cards point out that red-light jumping is allowed in Idaho, and that cyclists can ‘take the lane’ with impunity. You can buy them from Zazzle, or perhaps even create your own local equivalent…

Swindon’s first cycling café

The bike café boom has come to Swindon with the opening of @The Hub on Fleet Street. The new café also offers repairs and kids’ bike sales. Co-owner Kerry Richards told the Swindon Advertiser: “This is a place for everyone to hang out, be relaxed, comfortable, where you can watch the Tour De France if you want.” Full marks for the slogan, ‘Give it some beans’.