Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in December 2023. 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… +++ Our proposal to improve narrow single lane +++ Data on safety of park’s roads +++ Disabled concerns raised in accessibility audit +++ Can you help out an athlete heading to Paralympics? +++ Planning application to be submitted for cafe site +++
Visit our sponsors: Bella Velo, Cycle Exchange, Kingston Wheelers, London Dynamo, Look Mum No Hands!, Pearson Cycles, Richmond Cycles, Evolve e-Bikes
CHANGING LANES
Last week a transport professional kindly spoke to us pro bono about ways to improve the safety and flow of cyclists over the contentious narrow single lane on Beverley Brook Bridge, which continues to be a source of conflict between road users. The discussion produced the idea of creating a new cycle lane going over the bridge towards Roehampton Gate. The roadway would shift to the right (facing Roehampton Gate), as would the existing wand-protected footpath, reducing it to a more conventional width that would still provide a safe space for pedestrians.
We have now written to park manager Paul Richards outlining the proposal and asked whether TRP’s consultants could sketch it out. We believe it would be to The Royal Parks’ credit to now take the lead on an adjustment having listened to extensive visitor feedback. We know TRP wants to encourage, not discourage, active travel right across its estate.
In a separate development, we have also written to Paul confirming that we are, as he requested, working on a proposal for a car-free day in September, and will be seeking the involvement of other community groups. As mentioned in last month’s bulletin, the concept is a family-friendly event enabling all types of cyclists and pedestrians to share the use of the park’s roadways.
DANGEROUS ASSUMPTIONS
We generally feel safer cycling inside the park compared to outside it, and we suspect you do too. As regular subscribers know, we believe there is a misreading of cycling accident statistics in the park which fails to take into account that it has far higher volumes of cyclists than those on typical roads.
We are in the early stages of investigating how much safer it is, and our early dive into data provided by the London Cycling Campaign, highlighting London’s most dangerous junctions measured by reported accidents, appears to confirm our experience. There are no junctions in Richmond Park that feature in London’s top 100 most dangerous for pedestrians or cyclists. The park is especially safe for pedestrians as no junctions in the park feature in Richmond Borough’s 100 most dangerous junctions.
More on this when we have carried out our further research.
SHARING CONCERNS
The accessibility audit, which was announced by The Royal Parks a year ago, is now complete. While we have not yet seen the report itself, a summary of what was done and what was found has been posted on the website of the consultants, Proudlock Associates. You can read it here.
According to the consultants, they were asked to identify negative consequences for disabled people arising from the traffic restrictions imposed as part of the wider Movement Strategy, and how those negative consequences might be eliminated. They looked at pedestrian gates around the perimeter of, and inside the park, car parks, toilets, road crossings, surfaces and the bus service.
Proudlock found that the Movement Strategy could “exacerbate existing issues” though it only mentions two examples, first expressing concern where surfaces are shared by pedestrians and cyclists and, second, suggesting that public toilets could be improved.
There’s little further detail on the website which is disappointing, particularly as the perimeter gates are known to be problematic for disabled people and the issue of shared surfaces was rather left hanging as to what exactly the concerns are and how they might be resolved. So we will reserve judgement and ask for a copy of the full report to understand better the work that has been done.
ROE PROGRESS
A quick note on the gradual progression of plans to reconfigure the Roehampton Gate cafe site which was first mentioned way back in our December 2019 bulletin. Park manager Paul Richards told the park’s stakeholders meeting, which we attended, that The Royal Parks is aiming to seek planning permission in Spring next year to bring the cafe, cycle hire shop and toilets together. We will ask to be consulted once again before the application is submitted.
ROAD TO PARIS
A Team GB wheelchair racer who is training to compete in the 100 metre and 800 metre events in next year’s Paralympics in Paris is looking for cycling chaperones to protect her from traffic. Would you be able to help out?
Fabienne André trains in the park midweek and some Saturdays. The idea is to have a pool of helpers who she would email to seek a single volunteer for a session, which typically lasts one hour. You could be a regular or infrequent escort.
To find out more about Fab’s training schedule and ambitions, please email her at fabmail96@yahoo.co.uk.
PRESENT SENSE
Think of this as a useful little Christmas present for your bike which won’t cost you a penny. After dozens of cyclists turned up to get their bicycles registered on the national security database last month, the police will be returning to Pembroke Lodge on Saturday, December 16 between 11am and 1pm offering the same free service (check our social media channels closer to the event in case the time changes).
Getting your bike marked is a disincentive for thieves and, in the event of theft, greatly increases the chance of your pride and joy being returned to you if it is recovered. So get yourself down there!
NEW YEAR’S RESTITUTION
Want to give back to the park next year? The Royal Parks is looking for volunteers to remove brambles encroaching into the grassland where woodpeckers feed. Volunteers would work from 10am until 1pm, with a possible extension until 3pm, on the following provisional dates: January 18, January 24, February 8 and February 9. Email volunteering@theroyalparks.org.uk, and please copy us in (richmondparkcyclists@gmail.com), if you can help out.
SEE YOU NEXT MONTH...
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