Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in February 2022. If you like it, please sign up on our Get Involved section – you will be showing your support for our work and you will receive our free monthly bulletins a month before they appear here.
IN THIS ISSUE… +++ Those Highway Code changes +++ Mystery of falls on roundabout explained +++ Plan for new barriers and crossings +++ Police figures for road incidents +++ Deer cull starts a week early +++ Update on court case of Broomfield Hill driver +++ Our meeting with park’s management
ROAD-MANTIC GESTURE
Mark Valentine’s Day in your diary – because that’s when the Government launches its drive to promote the much-discussed changes to the Highway Code. Hopefully, the modest £500,000 advertising campaign will counter the numerous unhelpful misinterpretations (rounded up in Cycling Weekly’s handy myth-buster) and begin the long process of changing driver behaviour.driver behaviour. For a summary of the eight key changes, see here.
The new wording in Rule 66 regarding cycling two abreast, which now explicitly states it is permitted and often safer, mirrors what we had already set out in the cycling Code of Conduct, and as such bolsters our advice to those who ride in groups and pairs in Richmond Park.
To refresh your memory, the proposed rule in the new Highway Code advised:
“Ride in single file when drivers wish to overtake and it is safe to let them do so. When riding in larger groups on narrow lanes, it is sometimes safer to ride two abreast.”
In our joint representation with Cycling UK to the public consultation on the proposed changes to the Highway Code, we asked that Rule 66 should say:
“Cycling in groups no more than two abreast is permitted, safe and often assists drivers in presenting a shorter obstacle to pass than the same group riding single file.”
Which is in line with the final wording:
“You can ride two abreast and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders.”
There are exceptions, but the cyclists not following motorists have the right to decide what is an acceptable level of risk to themselves and to other park visitors in singling out:
“Be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups [...] Be aware of drivers behind you and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when you feel it is safe to let them do so.”
Taken together, the Highway Code changes provide a clear message to motorists driving in Richmond Park: pedestrians and cyclists have priority. They should also expect to encounter cyclists riding two abreast, and only negotiate them in a safe and respectful manner. We’re hopeful that, combined with effective policing, this will bring about positive change to the behaviour of some drivers who habitually close-pass.
SLIDE-LY BAFFLED
Why have so many cyclists fallen off at the roundabout by Roehampton Gate recently? We’ve had reports of more than a dozen incidents at this location, including one rider who broke their collarbone and ribs. There was widespread speculation that a single patch of oil or diesel was the culprit – but now it turns out others have come off at different roundabouts as well.
Adam Curtis, the assistant manager of the park, has investigated the sites and concluded that there has been a build-up of tyre dust, mud, silt and possibly salt – the usual winter grime, in other words – without any rainfall to wash it away.
He adds: “We then get overnight dew where moisture in the air condenses on the colder road surface and combines with the odd spot of water drips from car exhausts. This lubricates the grime, and then in the mornings cyclists on slick tyres ride the corners without understanding the conditions.”
Park manager Simon Richards says they are looking at ways of getting the roundabouts washed. But this is likely to be a hazard on external roads too – indeed, we’ve seen the same telltale dark patches on various routes between Sheen Gate and Upper Richmond Road. So please get your winter tyres on, moderate your speed on corners, brake gradually – and be really careful when light rain finally comes…
DEER WE GO AGAIN
You may have been expecting the six-week deer cull to start next week, as the signs on the gates state that it usually commences on the first Monday in February. In fact, the cull began this week, as the park’s management did not want it to go too far into March. The usual safety restrictions are in force which govern when you can ride your bike through the park. Remember: if you arrive at any of the gates shortly before locking time, you should not enter unless you are absolutely certain you can easily reach your exit before 8pm. See our website for full details.
CONE AWAY
Simon Richards has asked for our views on a plan to replace the temporary plastic barriers and cones with timber gates, posts and fencing. The installations are scheduled to begin next month, around the time the Movement Strategy’s traffic trials come to an end. The new constructions are demountable (enabling the roads to be cleared of road furniture for events such as the London Duathlon), and are subject to approval by The Royal Parks’ board of trustees – so they could be removed altogether. Nevertheless, the fact that these major works are on the horizon is an indication that the traffic trials will be made permanent.
Signage will clearly communicate the restrictions on through movement, which will make it easier for the police to fine motorists who drive on the closed roads, and reflective material will make them visible at night. We liked what we saw, which included permanent cycling slipways at the road edge, measuring at least 1.5 metres wide.
There are a number of other works planned, pending trustees’ approval:
New crossings, marked in red, to support pedestrian priority. We have asked for sinusoidal ramps (the rounded kind, with no edges) and gentler rumble strips which would not discomfort children, the disabled or any other rider who cannot stand out of their saddle or chair. The first crossing favoured for installation could be from Roehampton Gate car park to the main body of the park.
A wide footway on the bridge over Beverley Brook (which is between Roehampton Gate and Sheen Cross) where pedestrians currently have to walk in the road. The remaining roadway will no longer have room for two-way traffic, so movement from Roehampton Gate towards Richmond Gate will have priority. Motorists coming in the other direction will have to stop, but cyclists should be able to filter through. Like the crossing at Roehampton Gate car park, this installation is favoured for prioritisation.
Demarcation of the road between Sheen Cross and Sheen Gate, and lowering the speed limit from 20mph to 10mph. The proposal was for one third of this section of the roadway to be a pedestrian walkway and the rest to become a two-way cycleway. However, after speaking with Tim Lennon of the Richmond Cycling Campaign, we jointly expressed the view to the park management that separate lanes for cyclists would create an unconscious sense of entitlement which would lead to increased speeds. A shared use space, once pedestrians and cyclists are settled in, would be a better solution. We see this in action on the Quietway from Sheen Cross to Ham Cross, which is narrower than this section.
RCC has also helped us with countering TRP’s proposal that motorists entering the car parks at Sheen Gate and Broomfield Hill should have right of way across oncoming pedestrians and cyclists. This is contrary to the prioritisation of the most vulnerable road users in the new Highway Code. As with the established Quietway from Sheen Cross to Ham Cross, the give and take of shared use is the answer.
DRIVING FORWARD
In October, when setting their priorities for the quarter-year, the park’s police agreed to our suggestion of targeting drivers who ignore the no entry signs on the roadway. We are pleased to say they have now enlarged that priority for the forthcoming quarter to include all types of road behaviour. Additionally, we will be writing to Sgt Pete Sturgess about drivers speeding in the park at night to get to gates before they close after one of our subscribers was dangerously close-passed.
Here is a rundown of all the road-related incidents in October, November and December, as presented to the police panel last month:
A total of 273 trade vehicles were issued with fixed penalty notices for illegally driving in the park.
There were 46 drivers fined or warned for excessive speed, 70 for driving around the barriers, two apprehended for driving a vehicle to endanger any person, and three for having no insurance.
As we reported in December’s bulletin, 53-year-old cycling instructor David Williams was driven off Queen’s Road moments after being subjected to a close pass. He warned the driver by banging on the car with his hand. The motorist dropped back and closely passed him again, knocking him off. David, who recorded the incident on his bike camera, was left with a broken collarbone, bruising, and a shattered helmet. The case is pending.
Two drivers collided on Queen’s Road on November 23rd. One of the drivers, who was elderly, became blinded by the low sun and crossed the centre of the road into the path of the oncoming car. On the same road the following month, two other motorists collided. One admitted they were distracted by a deer, and is likely to be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.
On December 20th at Pembroke Lodge car park, a driver hit two parked cars which were shunted into a couple of pedestrians who sustained cuts and bruises.
There were a number of cycling accidents that did not involve another party. One cyclist was left with a shoulder injury and chest pain after hitting a roadside post. Another had a seizure, fell and broke their clavicle. A third fell on Queen’s Road, cracking their helmet and suffering concussion.
A cyclist descending Dark Hill on October 9th crashed into another rider coming in the opposite direction. The oncoming cyclist, who was said to be on the wrong side of the road, suffered a broken collarbone.
On Boxing Day, a motorist slowed down on Queen’s Road to allow geese to cross when a cyclist hit the rear window and went through it. They were bruised and lost teeth.
40 cyclists were warned or apprehended for reaching excessive speeds for the road or traffic conditions.
The police warned 100 cyclists for venturing off track. This is a persistent cause of soil erosion, so please remember to stick to the track and advise others to do so.
Once again, the quarterly figures show that cyclists are open to greater danger in the park, mainly because of interaction with motor traffic – the majority of which is using the park as a shortcut – which adds to risk to life and limb.
BACK FOR SECONDS
Thanks to those of you who came to our second public meeting, and to La Ciclista for hosting again. Apologies to everyone for the short notice of the announcement – it would have been organised sooner had we not taken some time off in December.
The ideas we received from our subscribers were fed into our meeting with Simon Richards, the manager of Richmond Park, which also covered a wide range of other topics. Here is a rundown of what we talked about.
There will be an access audit in the next year, which will look at how the pedestrian gates might be improved to help disabled visitors and those on cargo bikes enter and exit the park. The last one was carried out around 25 years ago.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has written to the park’s management requesting details of the positive impacts that the proposed parking charges could have on the park’s environment. The proposals, which we are backing, cannot be implemented until MPs debate them in Parliament, and the information DCMS has requested could bolster the case for the charges.
Richmond Council is monitoring air quality in the park as part of its borough-wide programme. (We later spotted one of the monitors – a small vessel that looks like a test tube – attached to the signpost for Holly Lodge on Sawyer’s Hill.) This is important, as emissions are likely to be a factor in our aim to rid the park of through traffic.
Campaigners are concerned about recent works on Kew Bridge which have reduced the available footway for walking and cycling. They note that many who head to the park from north of the river cross at the bridge, and that The Royal Parks encourages visitors to use sustainable transport. We asked the park’s management to send a supportive statement to that effect which could aid the community representatives’ aims to improve the bridge for cyclists and pedestrians.
Trialling one through traffic-free day a week – probably a Sunday – could be a possibility, but will not be considered until the traffic trials conclude next month. TRP’s trustees will meet mid-March to decide if the current restrictions are made permanent, although we do not yet know the exact date.
Thank you to Simon for the useful chat. We will let you know when we have fixed a date for the next quarterly meeting, and a public meeting prior to that which you are welcome to attend.
LONG MARCH TO JUSTICE
Remember the cyclist descending Broomfield Hill who ended up with a broken scapula, a fractured shoulder and a bent bike after trying to avoid a car whose driver had ignored the no entry sign at the top because he was allegedly following his sat-nav (and was attempting a U-turn when the rider hit his vehicle)?
We optimistically announced a couple of weeks ago that it was judgement day as the driver was in court and was expected to provide a guilty plea… but instead he pleaded not guilty. That means the case has now been pushed back to March – which is eight long months after the incident took place. The victim, who did not attend the hearing on January 17, is waiting to hear if he will have to go to court next month. We’ll keep you posted on how it turns out.
SEE YOU NEXT MONTH...
Well, that was a busy bulletin! As ever, thank you for allowing us to pop into your inbox, and let us know what you think about anything related to cycling in Richmond Park – we reply personally to every email you send us. If you enjoyed this bulletin, please share it with your cycling friends – and if they like what they read, encourage them to sign up to our mailing list too. The more subscribers we have, the bigger our voice.
All the best,
Richmond Park Cyclists