Blackfriars Bridge: London Assembly calls for review of speed limit

Blackfriars Bridge currently has a temporary 20 mph speed limit because of the Thameslink-related building works currently taking place in the area but Transport for London intends to reinstate the previous 30 mph limit when the new railway station is completed at the end of this year.

A London Cycling Campaign petition with nearly 1,500 signatures calling for a review of the speed limit of the bridge was received by the London Assembly at City Hall on Wednesday morning.

The Assembly then debated a motion calling on the Mayor to revisit the question of traffic speeds on the bridge.

The motion, originally tabled by the Green Party's Jenny Jones and completely rewritten by Conservative Andrew Boff, attracted the support of Labour and Liberal Democrat Assembly members too.

The motion said: "This Assembly asks that the Mayor instructs TfL to implement a full review investigating the practicalities, advantages and disadvantages of a 20 mph limit on Blackfriars Bridge .

"The review should include previous TfL reports, such as that on 20 mph speed limit on London's Thames bridges and also the effect of such a change on all road users (including pedestrians) north, south or on the bridge itself.

"Meanwhile, TfL should keep under review the decision to revert to a 30 mph speed limit on Blackfriars Bridge. We also urge the Mayor to revisit the plans for the bridge with particular attention to cyclists making right turns when exiting the bridge at either end."

Last Wednesday Mr Johnson clashed with Jenny Jones at Mayor's Question Time when he said that a 20 mph speed limit at Blackfriars "isn't necessary" – although he did promise to continue to work with TfL on improving facilities for cyclists at the bridge.