A new interim cycling scheme is being installed on Hampton Court Road to help improve cycling safety and support the countless residents making the switch to their bikes.

Hampton Court Road has a poor collision and injury record when it comes to cyclists.

As part of the Council's Post-Covid19 Transport Action Plan, TfL funds were won by Richmond Borough to put in place measures to rapidly improve our cycle network.

From 13th September, work will begin on the new scheme between the Palace roundabout and a point just east of Lion Gate where the existing cycle lanes start on the carriageway.

Works will include:

The introduction of a lightly segregated cycle lane on the Palace side of the road to provide a facility around the bend. This lane will be protected by a series of wands/armadillos.

To provide for the above cycle lane, four of the existing resident only parking bays which are currently adjacent to the Palace, will be moved to around the bend and will join on to the existing parking bays adjacent to the Green.

The introduction of a bus stop border with cycle bypass to the rear on the bus stop adjacent to the Green.

All parking bays adjacent to the Green will be moved further into the road to allow for the cycle facility to pass to the rear (floating parking bays)

Once past the floating parking bays, the Kingston bound cycle lane will be marked using cycle logos back to where the existing Kingston bound cycle lane starts, to the east of Chestnut Avenue.

Removal of the centre line between the bend and the traffic island by Chestnut Avenue, this has a proven effect on speed reduction.

The introduction of a lower 20mph speed limit between the Palace roundabout and a point just east of Chestnut Avenue to complement the cycle measures.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of Richmond Council's Transport and Air Quality Committee, said:

"We want to make it as easy and safe as possible for people to travel around the borough by bike. Currently this route is not easy to cycle and the data shows that it is certainly far from safe.

"Longer term, we will continue to seek funding for a shared pedestrian/cyclist facility on the Palace side.

"However, we need significant funding in order to deliver this. Whilst we continue to lobby TfL for this money, these interim measures will make the route that little bit safer and more attractive for our borough's bike users.

"We have also bid for further funding for additional improvements from Chestnut Avenue toward Hampton Wick later in the year."