Each month, we are emailing a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is last month's mailout. 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. Have a look at our first bulletin to find out more about how RPC was formed and why we are progressing the idea of reducing traffic in the park by charging for shortcut journeys.
Welcome to our second bulletin - and thank you for the positive reaction to our first monthly missive!
We’ve had so many encouraging messages in response to the concept of charging for shortcut journeys made by motor vehicles through the park. Over the coming months we will have more discussions with stakeholders and other interested parties to explore what is clearly a persuasive and popular idea.
This month, though, we are focusing on the safest and most considerate way of riding on the roads of Richmond Park. In the coming months we will look at off-road cycling and how motorists can make the park a safer place.
THE BEST WAY TO SHARE
In recent years, roads in the park have become busier. As the number of cyclists using them grows and traffic builds, tensions between road users can rise.
So how can cyclists play their role in sharing a sometimes crowded road space? And could riding in a considerate way improve the behaviour of other road users?
Here, we give you an easy list of guidelines and invite you to give us your views.
Obey the Highway Code. In particular, that means overtaking only on the right (unless passing stationary or queuing traffic), negotiating roundabouts correctly and allowing as much space for overtaking a fellow cyclist as you would like a passing motorist to leave for you.
Always look for potential hazards ahead and adjust your riding to reflect the conditions. Slow down if necessary.
Some road users are vulnerable and easily frightened. You may judge your actions to be acceptably safe but others may not. So before making your manoeuvre, ask yourself if it could cause fright or be perceived as discourteous or disrespectful. If so, hold back and rethink.
If you need to stop, make sure you get off the road.
Riding in a group? Stick to around eight people. It makes it easier for cyclists and motorists to safely overtake.
The courtesy crossings are there for pedestrians and horse riders to safely cross. Give way if they are waiting by them. You should also give way to and deer.
Apologise if you are in the wrong, show your appreciation when other users give way and always respect the Royal Parks Police.
Ride a well-maintained bike and carry a spare inner tube, tyre levers and a pump or gas cartridge. If you see a fellow cyclist by the side of the road who may need any of these, you could make his or her day by offering to help!
This is by no means an authoritative list, but we believe that promoting good behaviour will increase cyclists’ good reputation and standing in the the park. [delete when it goes on website>] So please let us know what we may have missed from these guidelines.
Thanks for taking the time to read, and have a great month riding. We’ll have another update for you at the beginning of September.
And if you know any cyclists - or non-cyclists - who you think may be interested in our work, then please forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for further updates at the website below.
All the best,
Richmond Park Cyclists
website: richmondparkcyclists.org
twitter: twitter.com/richmondpkcycle
facebook: facebook.com/richmondparkcyclists