Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in March 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… +++ Movement Strategy trial ending +++ Police acting on drivers speeding at evenings to reach gates +++ Slippery roads update +++ Road restrictions for deer cull and toad migration +++ RPC mentioned on Road.cc podcast +++
50 SENT
Hello, and welcome to a landmark edition – the 50th Richmond Park Cyclists bulletin! And in a pleasing coincidence, it comes at a watershed moment for the park.
When these monthly missives began in July 2017, the park was a very different place. Motorists could use all of the outer roadway seven days a week, and we were arguing in favour of Intelligent Road Charging to tackle the huge levels of through traffic that had been identified in The Royal Parks’ draft report earlier that year. Those findings led to the Movement Strategy, TRP’s bid to restrict motor vehicle access to the roads in Richmond Park and its seven other green spaces to make them more suited to walking and cycling – and this month sees the conclusion of the resultant traffic trials, which were extended for an additional year.
It seems likely that the current temporary measures will become permanent. The restrictions have removed through traffic from three-fifths of the outer roadway – which would be good progress if they are officially made permanent by TRP’s trustees at a meeting this month (and if the announcement is made before our next bulletin, we will mail out an extra newsletter with the details). But as we have said for some time, the custodians of the park could and should go further by removing through traffic completely – sooner rather than later.
Significantly, there are stakeholders and other interested parties who, privately, share that conviction. Ending shortcut journeys through the park is an achievable goal, and it is the right thing to do. We are confident that the added value to the park would outweigh any harm caused by traffic displaced outside which does not evaporate. Moreover, in the context of the climate emergency and continuing concerns over public health and wellbeing, making a National Nature Reserve available to through traffic by car is perverse. And as the temporary removal of motor vehicles during the first lockdown showed, people who rarely or never cycle will take to the park’s roads if the number of cars within it is dramatically reduced – and they will enjoy a more peaceful atmosphere.
TRP – a publicly funded charity – should seize the initiative and make the change that the public needs. Some of its trustees will get to read this bulletin, and we are also reaching out to them directly.
As we continue to argue for the removal of through traffic, the vision for the park that we set out during the final public consultation to the Movement Strategy will be our guide. The ideas it sets out include a shuttle bus to provide access to various areas of the park, bike docking stations and better public transport options to get there. The full text is now on our website – take a look.
CLOSING SPEED
The police are stopping speeding drivers who were racing to leave after closing time, which is another great move that builds on our feedback.
As mentioned in November’s bulletin, Sgt Sturgess and his officers agreed to target drivers disobeying the road closure signs following our request. That priority for the final three months of last year was extended for the current quarter and enlarged to include all driver behaviour. Then, in mid-January, a subscriber told us they had seen motorists speeding in the evenings to get to their exit before it was locked, which we subsequently asked the police to address – and clearly they are now doing so. Thank you, officers!
We also asked the park’s management to review the process of closing the gates at night so that fewer drivers race to get out – and they have told us they are meeting with their contractors to deal with the situation.
In the meantime, here’s a brief word about closing time on Saturdays and Sundays. Those of you who have happened to be at Roehampton Gate after it has been locked for the night may have witnessed motorists driving around the barriers and heading to Richmond Gate. We saw this a couple of weeks ago and assumed it was simply another case of drivers ignoring the keep out signs. In fact, the police tell stragglers to do this, as it is safer and more expedient to funnel the remaining traffic up Sawyer’s Hill and out of Richmond Gate rather than make drivers do a U-turn at Roehampton Gate, or queue up there and wait for it to be reopened. So please bear this in mind if you’re in the park at chucking out time at the weekend.
SLIDE IMPROVEMENT
The hazard signs warning of slippery roads were still up at the Roehampton Gate roundabout at the time of writing – but they may not be for much longer.
The day after our last bulletin came out, the park’s management scrubbed and hosed down the roads, which they believe experienced a higher than usual build-up of winter grime due to a long run of dry weather. There has also been rain since then – and reports of cyclists slipping off have decreased considerably.
Nevertheless, we aren’t out of the woods yet, so moderate your speed on corners. If you are unlucky enough to come off, please tell the police and give as many details as possible, including photos. Their online portal is quick and easy to use – and if the roads are still slippy, the police can use reports to escalate the issue.
OI – HOPPIT!
A quick word about two wildlife-related road closures that may affect your riding in and around the park.
The gates are still locked between 8pm and 7:30am due to the ongoing deer cull. Because it began on the final Monday in January, rather than the traditional first Monday in February, the process is due to end by Monday, March 14. But the actual date could be sooner or later, as the length of the cull depends on the health of the herd. If we learn of a firmer date, we will announce it on our social media (links at the foot of this email). And remember: if you arrive at any of the gates shortly before they are locked, you should not enter unless you are absolutely certain you can easily reach your exit before 8pm. Our website has full details.
The section of Church Road from the junction with Latchmere Lane to Ham Gate Avenue will be closed to all traffic between Monday, March 7 and Friday, April 1 due to the annual toad migration. Please enter the park via another route to avoid squishing our little green chums.
NOW HEAR THIS
On a final note, here is something for your listening pleasure. Our friend Tim Lennon from the Richmond Cycling Campaign mentioned us on the Road.cc podcast, while discussing the changes to the Highway Code, Richmond Park and a close pass in Ham Common involving his young daughter. Have a listen here (it starts at Tim’s segment of the podcast).
HERE’S TO THE NEXT 50 EDITIONS...
Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to these bulletins, whether you have just joined us or been a subscriber since the first edition almost five years ago. As ever, feel free to 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