Greenwich (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A Greenwich Foot Tunnel user has built a web app to help walkers and cyclists share updates on the crossing’s often-broken lifts, boosting commuter awareness.
Since a disastrous makeover by Greenwich Council fourteen years ago, the lifts have been out of commission on a regular basis.
The bridge between Cutty Sark Gardens and Island Gardens is owned by both Tower Hamlets and Greenwich authorities, although Greenwich is in charge of upkeep.
The former London County Council constructed the 113-year-old bridge to facilitate dock workers’ passage across the Thames. The two boroughs, who have had a tense relationship recently, were given control of the tunnel when London-wide governance was disbanded in 1986.
Visitors to The Big Half half-marathon in Greenwich on Sunday are having difficulties since the north lift has been out of commission for two months and there is no estimated timetable for its repair.
Andreas Nikolaou, who commutes through the tunnel with his bike, became so frustrated at the lack of real-time information on the state of the lifts that he decided to create a web app so users can alert each other.
While Greenwich Council’s website has a status page for both the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels, it often takes some time to update, Nikolaou said.
“The council website is great for long-term announcements but it’s not reactive to sudden outages to help users plan their journey,”
he said.
“This is the gap I’m trying to fill with my solution.”
A council spokesperson told The Greenwich Wire:
“The Grade II listed Greenwich Foot Tunnel is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The structure is over 100 years old and requires specialist maintenance.
We’re sorry there have been issues with the lifts, and the disruption this has caused, as lifts age their performance naturally worsens. Because the parts are specially made, ordering them and installing them takes time but we have secured what we need at best value and will be carrying out repairs.”
A question about the timeline for repairs and the progress of discussions for replacements for the lifts at Greenwich and its sister foot tunnel at Woolwich, where one lift has been damaged for three years, went unanswered by the council.
Following years of disputes between the two councils, Greenwich said in June that it was looking to reach an agreement with Tower Hamlets on the imposition of “substantial fines” on cyclists using the tunnel.
How often do users update lift status on the app during weekdays?
Such crowd-sourced status apps typically receive multiple updates daily during peak usage times, especially on weekdays when pedestrian and cyclist traffic is highest. Users likely update lift status several times an hour during morning and evening commute periods as people pass through the tunnel and experience lift functionality.
Between updates, information may be less frequent but still regular enough to provide near real-time lift outage alerts. The app depends on active community participation to stay current, so weekday usage and updates are expected to be consistent, reflecting the steady flow of daily commuters.
Usage patterns for similar crowd-sourced transport status apps suggest users update Greenwich Foot Tunnel lift status multiple times throughout weekdays to help fellow travelers navigate outages effectively.