FAQs

Our Strategic Cycling Analysis has identified Brentford to Syon Park as part of a longer route where improved cycle facilities will help and encourage people to cycle. Our data shows that where we have provided safe facilities cycling across the Capital cycling levels have increased.

Cycling is an increasingly popular way of travelling in London. Latest data indicates a 20% increase in cycling in 2023, compared to 2019. 

Since the Cycleway 9 was installed along Chiswick High Road, we have seen an increase of 23% in numbers of cyclists using the route. If we extend C9 from Alexandra Road to Beech Avenue we expect this rise to continue. 

The measures proposed will increase cyclist safety without having a significant impact on other road users. The most recent 36 months of data has revealed that 27 collisions occurred between Alexandra Road and Beech Avenue with eight resulting in serious injury. Three involved a pedestrian, nine involved a pedal cyclist and eight involved a Motorcyclist.

We have carried out detailed traffic modelling to understand how our proposals might affect journey times for general traffic, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.  Despite the sophistication of our traffic and reassignment models, all traffic modelling is only ever indicative; it is intended to give an idea of where the impacts of changes in journeys are most likely to be felt. It assumes that drivers have perfect knowledge of the network and choose their route accordingly. 

Traffic modelling has been carried out to study the traffic impacts of the scheme at the busiest times of the day, the morning and evening peak hours. We would actively monitor and manage the road network following implementation to ensure impacts were balanced. To understand the impacts, we have assessed how London's roads would operate in 2026, considering population growth, committed developments and other road improvements. We then tested how local roads would operate in 2026 with the changes proposed as part of this scheme. This allows us to isolate the predicted impacts of this proposed scheme from other changes which are not part of this consultation. 

The Scheme

The junctions along the corridor on the A315 between Alexandra Road and Beech Avenue have been designed to operate as efficiently as possible, while accommodating new cycle lanes and pedestrian crossing facilities along the route. 

The modelling shows that scheme proposals cause minimal additional delay to general traffic and some minor improvements to bus journey times.  

General traffic journey times

Modelling has shown that during the morning peak there is a journey time increase of under one minute in both the eastbound and westbound directions. In the evening peak, modelling indicates an increase of less than a minute in the eastbound direction and a decrease of up to one minute in the westbound.  

Bus journey times  

Bus Journey times in the morning peak are predicted to decrease by 2-3 minutes eastbound and by up to one minute in the westbound direction. In the evening peak, a decrease of up to one minute is expected in the eastbound direction and between 1-2 minutes westbound.

The plan remains to extend Cycleway 9 from Brentford to Hounslow town centre.

The section between Brentford and Syon Park is the first phase of the route and we’d like to bring these proposals forward as quickly as possible whilst we develop proposals for the rest of the corridor.

We want to make sure bus journey times and traffic flow are maintained while providing safety and accessibility improvements for cyclists and pedestrians. Work is ongoing to make sure further sections of the route achieve this balance. 

We are confident our design will achieve this for the Brentford – Syon Park section and are consulting with you to get feedback on the proposals which will inform how the scheme develops.

The four parking bays on the south side of the carriageway near Catherine Wheel Road are to be relocated to the north side of the carriageway to the east of Market Place to create space for the cycle lane.

Dedicated loading facilities are also proposed in both directions by Tallow Road.

Will the changes have any impact on local businesses?

Introducing walking and cycling improvements can bring a very positive economic benefit to local shops and the high street with increased retail spend of up to 30%. 

The Brentford – Syon Park proposals will help to encourage walking and cycling in the area by providing better facilities and improving safety. This should help to increase footfall on the high street and promote its commercial nature, as well as establishing the town centre as a pedestrian-friendly zone.

TfL believes nature is our greatest asset and has policies to protect, connect and enhance the green infrastructure on our network.

We are planning to provide new plants to help improve drainage and the look and feel of the area.   We will work with Hounslow Council during the Detailed Design Stage to identify where we can plant new trees and add more green infrastructure.

The designs include the westbound cycle lane being built around the Brent Lea bus stop to protect the nearby trees between the road and the cycle lane.

Protected cycle infrastructure, including bus stop bypasses, is key to reducing the risk of injury to people cycling, and it also enables and encourages more people to give cycling a try. Bus stop bypasses are crucial to reducing the risks posed to cyclists created by mixing with motorised traffic.   

We have published our Bus Stop Bypass review report which concluded that there is a very low risk of a pedestrian being injured by someone cycling at a bus stop bypass in London.  Further details are in our report.  

Cycle routes are planned strategically across London, taking into consideration factors such as proximity to schools and workplaces. We use various criteria, including volume and speed of motor traffic on streets, to decide whether protected cycle routes (e.g. segregated tracks) are needed. Where potential cycle routes run along bus routes, TfL reviews all the route options including parallel streets without buses travelling on them. Where bus routes and cycle routes co-exist, bus stop bypasses are an integral feature of protected cycle networks.   

We introduce protected cycle routes and bus stop bypasses because research shows that when we provide kerb-separated cycle tracks it reduces casualties. Making cycling safer and more comfortable is shown to broad the demographic of cyclists to include more women, children and elderly people, as well as those with disabilities who find cycling improves their mobility. These groups are currently under-represented among London cyclists and they have a stronger preference for protection from motor traffic.

Vision Zero is our aim to eradicate deaths and serious injuries from our roads and make London a safer, healthier and greener place by 2041.  

Major cities around the world are taking a stand to end the toll of deaths and injury seen on their roads and transport networks by committing to Vision Zero. London is at the forefront of this approach and the Mayor's Transport Strategy sets out the goal that, by 2041, all deaths and serious injuries will be eliminated from London's transport network.

Eight people tragically lost their lives while cycling in London in 2023. That is simply unacceptable.

It is neither inevitable nor acceptable that anyone should be killed or seriously injured when travelling in London. When we leave our homes each day, we should feel safe and confident about the journey ahead.

The proposals for a safer walking and cycling route between Brentford and Syon Park are part of the work we are doing towards meeting the Vision Zero.

Once any changes arising from this consultation have been considered, the design will undergo robust safety reviews as is standard practice on all TfL highways projects. Progression to the next stage of the delivery of the scheme will begin within the next year, following this consultation. Detailed traffic management plans will be produced to ensure the construction of the scheme causes the least disruption possible to road users and residents.