A non-for-profit group in west London has proposed using driverless cars over the Hammersmith Bridge.
The 139-year-old Grade II listed bridge linking has been closed to vehicular traffic since 2019 when cracks appeared in its pedestals, with only cyclists and pedestrians currently allowed to cross.
Plans to make the bridge safe for motor traffic were shelved earlier this month after a council report found that it would "essentially require a brand-new bridge to be built" due to the extensive repairs required.
Now, the community group Barnes and Hammersmith Electric Light Transit (BHELT) said that autonomous pods could be part of "an inclusive and sustainable transport future" for the area.
According to their website, BHELT was established "to help explore, develop and promote the idea of lightweight autonomous electric pods operating across Hammersmith Bridge".
The pods that BHELT has been testing have eight seats and standing room for around six more people, and are designed for "autonomous driverless operation".
There is also space for a wheelchair, which can be loaded by a ramp which extends from beneath the pod's doors.
Baran Sahan from Ohmio UK, who have designed and manufactured the autonomous pods, said that they operate "a bit like a tram".
Mr Sahan said: "They are slow-moving - currently we operate at a maximum speed of 15 miles an hour."
Hammersmith Bridge is closed to all motor vehiclesGetty ImagesCharles Campion from BHELT told the BBC: "Whatever people's views, there's a consensus that we need to try to fill that gap. We believe the autonomous pods could be the solution."
BHELT is initially proposing that a service could run from Hammersmith transport interchange to the Barnes side of the bridge, and could later be extended to Barnes railway station.
Transport for London (Tf) has said that it currently had no plans to introduce the pods on the river crossing, or for driverless buses more generally on its network.