RPC Bulletin #53, June 2022

Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in June 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… +++ Why the Friends of Richmond Park’s stance on through traffic matters +++ Surveys on traffic trials +++ Time trials return +++ Accident round-up +++ Notice on bike thieves +++ 

A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION

Who said this? “No concessions at all must be made to motorists who wish to use the roads of Richmond Park as a throughway.”

This statement, as we revealed on Twitter on Tuesday, was made by the Friends of Richmond Park (FRP) when it was founded in 1961. Today, with the relatively high levels of through traffic seriously affecting many visitors’ enjoyment of the park, it would seem vital for the present leaders of the organisation to have a clear vision for the roadway that is in keeping with their founding principles. So we recently asked them to create a road policy for the park – which, sadly, they have declined to do. In our view, this is a mistake that has ramifications for all sides of the debate on through traffic – whether you choose to ride a bike in Richmond Park or not.

We formally made our request at FRP’s annual general meeting which took place via Zoom last month. Our question was this: 

“Would the Friends formally develop and adopt a visionary, sustainable transport policy that will cover movement within the park, getting to and from the park, through traffic and timescales?”

Our suggestion was read out by one of the people chairing the meeting (none of the attendees who submitted questions could ask them directly or respond to the answers). Trustee Nick Coleman responded. He began by establishing that FRP’s “fundamental starting point” is the “balance” between “protecting the environment of the park” and “public benefit”. What follows is a complete transcript of the rest of Nick’s answer:

“The Friends stands for finding a way of doing both. And on the public benefit half of that, the Friends stands for, as I said, a balance between park users – how they access the park, how they get around the park, no one group dominates. 

“But on the park roads, there’s also the hierarchy I mentioned – wildlife first, then pedestrians, then cyclists, then vehicles – and each of these must not be disadvantaged by the rest. That’s where the Friends stands on this, and as I said, this is very much like The Royal Parks’ policy. And next up, the Friends has always been in favour of reducing through traffic. 

“So there you have a package of existing policies to do with our balance, to do with the hierarchy and to do with through traffic. And we don’t see a need to revise these or package them up or add any more to this package of policies which has stood us well so far. And we, on top of that, don’t think it’s necessary, a good idea to go through any more changes right now when the current road changes – the largest in a generation, if I may say so – have already, have not actually been finalised, let alone settled in, and it would be premature to move beyond those and start thinking about more changes when this lot is still actually going through.” 

This is a plan of inaction, and its justification is undermined by a central contradiction. Because the road hierarchy is not designed to be balanced – in a hierarchy one or more groups are by definition disadvantaged relative to the others. Pedestrians and cyclists are meant to have greater freedom of the roadway than motorists. An eradication of through traffic, which is what we are asking for, would fully achieve this aim.

And the stance of FRP’s leaders on the road hierarchy is not “very much like” The Royal Parks’. TRP’s road hierarchy is the foundation of the Movement Strategy, which produced the ongoing traffic trial. FRP’s current leadership, on the other hand, has never set out a vision for the park’s roads, and will only go as far as “being in favour of reducing through traffic” – which could mean they are perfectly happy to keep the route between Kingston and Richmond gates as a frequently busy, seven-days-a-week shortcut for motorists, as long as the rest of the restrictions remain. In essence, TRP used the road hierarchy to stimulate change; FRP’s leaders appear to see it as the basis for maintaining the status quo.

As for it being “premature” to go beyond the current changes to the roadway, post-pandemic traffic patterns outside the park are now well established, and the trials will have been in force for more than two years when they finally conclude in the autumn. It is encouraging that since its AGM, the Friends have stated in its newsletter: “In our view, the benefits and the public support are sufficient to implement the trials on a permanent basis.” But If FRP’s leaders won’t publicly state now how they would like to see the roadway used in the future, particularly in regard to removing through traffic, will they ever do so?

The unwillingness of FRP’s leadership to clearly outline a policy on traffic and other movement in the park has, we believe, an impact on local democracy. Many people, like us, want to eliminate shortcut journeys; others might want to drive their cars wherever and whenever they like and rid the park of cyclists. But what everyone spanning those two opposites has in common is an instinctive belief that local politicians and stakeholders connected to the park are key to bringing about change. In fact, if you talk to some people with long-standing experience of local civic matters, they will tell you that any change in the park usually has to come with the blessing or involvement of FRP; indeed, one of the first things mentioned at the organisation’s AGM was its continued influence. So FRP could be more influential on the issue of through traffic than elected officials or other stakeholder groups. The public deserves to know where the Friends stand. 

We set out our vision for the park some time ago. Less access to car parks, shuttle buses, hire bike docking stations and, of course, no through traffic are among the key elements. You can read it here. Could those leading the Friends of Richmond Park follow suit – and in doing so, fulfil the remit of their founders?

If the Friends would like to respond, we will happily publish their words in our next newsletter.

BAFFLED BY QUESTIONS

As mentioned in our extra bulletin a couple of weeks ago, The Royal Parks unexpectedly decided to extend the traffic trials in Richmond Park and its other green spaces until the autumn and carry out face-to-face surveys to find out how visitors would like to see the traffic-restricted areas used.

Among a range of questions, respondents were asked if they thought the air was cleaner and the park seemed quieter than it did before the trials. Such questions could only be answered by visitors who had knowledge of what the park was like before the trials.The key question asked how visitors thought the roads which are currently closed to traffic seven days a week or at weekends only might be used in future if the trial restrictions are made permanent.  The questionnaire was generic for all surveys undertaken across the Royal Parks.  

We had earlier learned that Mat Bonomi, TRP’s former Head of Transport who instigated the Movement Strategy, is back on board for a limited time to finalise the trials. Mat knows his stuff, so his involvement is encouraging. Nevertheless, the emergence of the surveys is a baffling twist in the long-running saga of the Movement Strategy. Why did TRP not do these interviews much earlier, given that the trials started in July 2020? Will they generate any useful information? And will the range and number of respondents be a representative sample size? We’re keen to learn more about these factors in the coming months.

ALL-INCLUSIVE DEAL

At the Richmond Park Stakeholders Meeting, where the extension to the trials was announced, TRP revealed it is working on a five-year plan. Tom Jarvis, the Head of Parks, did not give many details, although we were encouraged to see that one of the organisation’s values, listed on a graphic presented to us and the other attendees, was being “inclusive”. This is key to our approach too, as we want everyone to feel they can ride a bike on the park’s roadway, regardless of their level of confidence. In that context, the presence of through traffic is a barrier for many. We hope TRP realises that by having the courage to remove through traffic, the park’s roads would become more inclusive.

TT TIME

They’re back, pals! After a Covid-enforced hiatus of three years, London Dynamo’s two annual time trials are returning to Richmond Park, with the first taking place on Saturday, June 26 and the second on Saturday, July 10. You can still ride on the park’s roads during both 10.4-mile events, which are sanctioned by TRP, but please be aware there will be more cyclists around than you may usually expect to see between 6am and 7:30am. And if you have never time-trialled before, these largely traffic-free events are the perfect introduction – you don’t even need a TT bike to take part (but please note that aero bars and helmets are not permitted in the road bike category, and rims may be no more than 50mm deep). Entries fill up fast, so head over to Rider HQ, pick a category and nab a place for this month’s event. Entries for the second time trial are scheduled to open on Friday, 10 June at 12.30pm. Best of luck!

SUN AND REIGN

With the four-day Jubilee Bank Holiday upon us, it seems likely that the park’s roads will be clogged with cars if the weather is nice. The park’s management has recently increased its supervision of additional traffic, employing contractors to shut car parks after they fill up, closing gates when queues cause disruption and communicating the situation via social media. We would also like them to work with local councils on a plan to minimise the disruption to nearby residents when motorists can no longer enter the park, and when they are leaving in large numbers due to the car parks closing. And to help those who are confronted by nose-to-tail Bank Holiday traffic when they come to the park to ride their bikes, maybe the message on social media should be more direct: do not drive to the park unless you absolutely have no other choice.

ACCIDENT ROUND-UP

Five items of injury-related news – and sadly, one of the victims is in a very serious condition.

• At around 5pm on Friday, May 13, a cyclist was riding across Sheen Cross from Sheen Gate towards the ballet school when a driver heading from Roehampton to Richmond clipped his back wheel, causing him to come off. The cyclist was taken to hospital with a broken leg.

• The following day a pedestrian crossing the road which runs between Pen Ponds and Robin Hood Gate was hit by a cyclist who was heading south. The pedestrian was taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated shoulder.

• On Sunday, May 22, an air ambulance attended the scene of an accident outside the park. Police were called at 8:15am following a collision involving a cyclist and a pedestrian in his early 30s on Priory Lane, at the junction with Clarence Road. The Wandsworth Times reported the victim’s condition as “life-threatening”. Investigations are ongoing. The cyclist had minor grazes on his leg.

• The driver of a BMW who collided with cycling instructor David Williams following a close pass in November was last week convicted for driving without due care and attention. Lavender Hill magistrates fined him £570 and put six points on his licence. You can watch David’s footage of the incident on Queen’s Road here. 

• As reported in last month’s bulletin, the case of the U-turning driver on Broomfield Hill is due to be heard on Friday, June 17 – 11 months after the crash which left the victim with a broken scapula, fractured shoulder and a written-off bike. The hearing has been adjourned three times – the last occasion at the request of the defendant for an unspecified reason.

FLUSH ’EM OUT

The park’s police unit has produced posters warning of bike thieves operating around the toilet block near Roehampton Gate. They are now on display on our noticeboard by the car park. Please note there has NOT been another spate of bike thefts – this is just general advice to be on your guard when popping to the loos. As ever, our tips are to carry a portable lock, or ask a friend to keep an eye on your bike, or take it into the toilet block with you. You can’t be too careful, pals!

A QUIET WORD

On a final note, a brief tip on descending on the Quietway from White Lodge to Sheen Cross. At busy times, vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians can be startled by fast-moving riders, and subscribers have voiced their concerns about this. So please show consideration, moderate your speed and leave a good gap as you pass.

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

RPC Bulletin #52, May 2022

Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in May 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… +++ Traffic restrictions “likely to be made permanent” +++ Camera, action – let’s get more bad driving reported +++ New boss for Richmond Park +++ Park’s police: “The majority of cyclists are considerate and safe and don’t cause us any problems.” 

ONE DOOR CLOSES…

Before this bulletin begins in earnest, a brief mention of two upcoming events. On Monday, May 9, we will be attending The Royal Parks’ spring stakeholder meeting, hosted by Tom Jarvis, the charity’s Head of Parks. An “update [...] on what has been happening in the parks over the last few months” is on the agenda, so please email us with any questions you want us to put to the people who run your park.

Then the traffic trials are finally due to conclude after the local elections following a delay of more than a year. We have been told an announcement will be made in a couple of weeks – and judging by the mood music, the current restrictions, which are hugely beneficial for safer, more enjoyable cycling, are likely to be made permanent. We will send you a brief extra bulletin after the news is revealed and set out what it means for our aim of removing through traffic, which we are convinced is now an achievable goal in the near future.

SIGNS OF CHANGE

Signage in the park is getting a revamp in the coming months. This is an opportunity to reinforce the message that drivers should take greater care as they are sharing a road in a national nature reserve which is used by many cyclists and pedestrians. When we spoke to park manager Simon Richards at our most recent quarterly meeting with him, he welcomed our offer to contribute ideas for the wording on the new signs. (This is in addition to the advice and views we are giving the park’s management on new pedestrian crossings and shared road space, as outlined in February’s bulletin.)

And it’s all-change at the top. We won’t be meeting with Simon again as he is retiring this month, although he will be staying on part time until December by which time his successor Paul Richards (no relation, apparently) has settled into the role.  

We would like to thank Simon for his support, particularly for agreeing to our quarterly meetings which have strengthened the relationship between cyclists and the park’s management. And we look forward to meeting his namesake soon!

PANEL DISCUSSION

Time, now, for our regular look at the figures presented at the park’s Police Panel. For newer subscribers, this data lists all the road-related incidents that officers attended during the past quarter-year.

As usual, the panel agreed on three priorities for the police over the next three months. They are:

• Targeting trade vehicles, which are not permitted unless they are on park business (and, of course, they make the roadway busier). The police’s quarterly figures revealed a total of 198 were issued with fixed penalty notices.

• Wildlife protection, as nesting birds and newborn deer need humans to give them adequate space during spring. 

• Off-track cycling, which leads to soil erosion from rainwater along tyre tracks.

Here is a rundown of all the road-related incidents in January, February and March:

• There were 77 drivers fined or warned for excessive speed, 60 for driving around the barriers, three charged for driving without due care and attention, and 11 for having no insurance.

• A total of 32 motorists were given verbal warnings for driving off road, and another 70 were dealt with under park regulations. There were no reported traffic collisions involving drivers.

• There were a number of cycling accidents which did not involve another party. Only three were reported, and most of the falls were related to the unusually slippery roundabouts caused by a build-up of winter grime without any rainfall to wash it away (as detailed in February’s bulletin). The incidence of spills gradually ended after the park management hosed down the roads. If you suspect a likely diesel spill or conditions similar to those in February, please report it to the police so they can be investigated and resolved promptly.

• The police warned 78 cyclists for venturing off track and three were fined. Three cyclists were stopped for not having lights after dark.

NOT SO FAST

Is Richmond Park a velodrome? Of course not. The park is no more a velodrome than Sawyer’s Hill is like Everest, the golf course is Wentworth or the bridleways are like Ascot. So it was pleasing to hear Sergeant Peter Sturgess from the park’s police unit calmly rebut this alarmist suggestion when it was put to him during an interview with a presenter from Radio Jackie, telling her: “The majority of cyclists are considerate and safe and don’t cause us any problems.” You can hear him here – the discussion about cycling speeds in the park begins at 2min 50sec and lasts just over four minutes.

Intriguingly, the interviewer claimed: “Two cycling clubs in Kingston have stopped using Richmond Park because, in their words, it’s turned into a velodrome.” None of us here at RPC has heard any cyclist refer to the park as a velodrome, and we’ve known quite a few. So the notion that two clubs use this term, and that their members no longer use the park, raised a few eyebrows among us. 

Later this week, we’ll ask Radio Jackie’s reporters on social media if they can reveal their sources. Or maybe some of our subscribers listen to the station and can fill us in. We’d love to find out more!

THE BURDEN OF TOOTH

There was some amusement around a week ago when a driver got their Bentley stuck on one of the wooden posts, known as Thompson’s Teeth, at the top of Broomfield Hill after realising they were not permitted to go down it. But on a more serious note, you should be aware when riding on this closed section of the roadway that other vehicles can still use it when on park-related business.

Sgt Pete told us that officers driving up the hill responding to a recent incident involving a child encountered cyclists descending on the wrong side of the road. So even though this part of the roadway may seem deserted, to keep safe when descending, please keep to the left as normal and do not cross the double white lines.

And just as we were about to send this bulletin, we received news of a nasty collision on Broomfield on Sunday. A cyclist heading up the hill went on the opposite side of the carriageway to avoid a goose. Three cyclists were descending, and two of them hit him. Sgt Pete said: “We had a couple of ambulances attend, with one of the cyclists believed to have broken ribs due to his chest pain. So our message would be simple: don’t go onto the opposite carriageway, especially on hills. Just slow down or stop if there is wildlife in your way.”

He added: “One of the other messages we would like to promote is for cyclists to slow down if there are emergency vehicles in the road. It’s dangerous for the injured persons and emergency workers if cyclists are passing them at speeds where they cannot stop.”

While chatting to Sgt Pete a few days ago, he also asked us to point out that potentially harmful pesticides are being sprayed on trees in busy parts of the park and other areas to deal with the invasive Oak Processionary Moth, so keep your distance if you see people in hazmat suits going about their work.

BAD FRIDAY

As usual, the Easter weekend brought an influx of poor driving as visitors flocked to the park. In the course of an hour and a half on Good Friday, we recorded video footage on a safety camera of three motorists driving inconsiderately – and two of them received Notice of Intended Prosecution forms after we sent the clips to the Met Police. In stark contrast, the Sawyer’s Hill stretch of the roadway was wonderfully sedate, thanks to being closed to motor vehicles as it was a bank holiday. (You can see how peaceful it was around Beverley Brook, and read more details about the drivers caught on camera, on our Instagram.)

We would like to see more incidents like these reported, whenever and wherever they happen in the park. The link to the Met’s online portal is on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook bios, and completing the form only takes ten minutes, including uploading any images you may have. The Met’s turnaround is pretty quick, too – they emailed us a day after we sent the footage.

Motorists’ behaviour overall on Good Friday wasn’t typical, as lots more people drove through the park and visited it in their cars than a usual weekday. But in general, if more incidents of poor driving are reported, a clearer picture will emerge of the dangers cyclists sometimes face in the park – and it will further strengthen the argument for removing through traffic.

DUE IN COURT

Staying on the subject of traffic incidents, some good news regarding cycling instructor David Williams, who was driven off Queen’s Road in November moments after being subjected to a close pass. The police have told David the driver is being charged for driving without due care and attention and is scheduled to appear in court on the 24th of this month.

Meanwhile, Lavender Hill Magistrates have adjourned the much-delayed hearing of the U-turning driver until June 17 – 11 months after the crash on Broomfield Hill which left the victim with a broken scapula, fractured shoulder and a written-off bike. The defendant requested the adjournment – but the park’s police have told the cyclist the reason for granting it has not been listed by the court.

ONGAR GAMES

On a final note, a tip of the hat to those plucky subscribers who are nearing the end of their preparations for the RideLondon-Essex 100 on Sunday 29th. While the route no longer goes through Richmond Park, some of you will undoubtedly have used the capital’s number one free cycling resource as part of your training for this year’s edition. Best of luck to everyone taking part – and enjoy the ride!

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. We’ll send out a brief, bonus newsletter once the traffic trial announcement is made in a few weeks. 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

RPC Bulletin #51, April 2022

Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in April 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… +++ Tell canvassers what YOU think about through traffic +++ Impasse on Kingston Gate traffic +++ Code of Conduct to get update +++ 

BLANK CANVASS

The doormat of the RPC HQ has welcomed many political leaflets in recent weeks. Now comes the next stage: canvassers knocking on the door. But we’re actually looking forward to it – and so should you!

This is YOUR chance to tell those canvassing for the candidates in the forthcoming local elections what YOU think about through traffic in Richmond Park. If you think it should go completely, say so! 

One of us at RPC has worked alongside door-knockers for one of the major parties in the past. In our experience, they can have little or no knowledge of some local issues. So this is the perfect opportunity to inform them that high levels of motor vehicles taking a shortcut through the park make its roadway less hospitable for less confident cyclists and pedestrians, if that is what you think. And remember: there will be plenty of voters who will happily give canvassers a very different view to yours – so make good use of their time on your doorstep.

We’ll keep an ear out for anything candidates say regarding the park and relate it in the next bulletin, which will be the last one before the elections.

HEAD START

We’re having our next regular quarterly meeting with Richmond Park’s management on Wednesday, April 13 – and you can feed ideas you might like us to bring up by coming along to see us at La Ciclista on Sunday, April 10. We’ll be at the cafe from 8am until 9.30am. 

If you can’t make it but would like to chat with us face-to-face sometime, keep a lookout for a distinctive white helmet with the Richmond Park Cyclists logo. We’ve started wearing it in the park, and you may spot it on a table in Ciclista, Colicci or Fika while we refuel. Come say hi if you do!

KING’S DILEMMA

Calling all Kingstonians – and those who cycle through Kingston to get to the park! Our chums at The Friends Of Kingston Gate have told us that attempts to improve the overly busy eastern end of King’s Road, which leads to Kingston Gate, have reached an impasse. 

In April 2019, we reported that a bid to create a one-way system was thwarted. Then, in September of that year, a report by Kingston Council revealed that the road would not be included in an assessment for its Healthy Streets project, which aims to improve cycling in North Kingston, as it was subject to “on-going investigations'' (see p22 of the North Kingston Healthy Street Scheme report). Now, it seems, nothing is getting done. 

The current situation, with long queues of motor traffic and frequent angry confrontations between drivers trying to squeeze through non-existent gaps, is offputting for even the most experienced cyclists, so we hope that the FoKG, other locals and the council can find a solution.

Meanwhile, our pals at Kingston Cycling Campaign have dropped a note about dropping litter. They tell us that they are picking up used wrappers for energy bars and gels every day, so please make sure you tuck them into your pocket. Litter is a nuisance, especially in the park, where rubbish can harm the wildlife.

HERE WE CODE AGAIN

It’s been 13 months since the Code of Conduct for cycling in Richmond Park made its debut on our website – and it’s now due for a refresh, particularly to reflect changes to the Highway Code as well as The Royal Parks’ advice on cycling speeds. We’re drafting changes now, so take a look at the Code and let us know what you think could be improved to make riding in the park more welcoming for every type of cyclist.

WHEELS OF JUSTICE

A quick word on the slow-moving case of the cyclist descending Broomfield last July who ended up with serious injuries after trying to avoid a car whose driver was attempting a U-turn after ignoring the no entry sign at the top of the hill. The driver’s court appearance had been pushed back to March as he pleaded not guilty. Now it has been adjourned again, this time for Covid-related reasons, until April 24. We’ll let you know what happens next… 

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

RPC Bulletin #50, March 2022

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

RPC Bulletin #49, February 2022

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

RPC Bulletin #48, January 2022

Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in January 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.

HAPPY NEW YEAR – AND THANK YOU

We’ve been enjoying some time off over Christmas and New Year – and we hope you have too – but we couldn’t end 2021 without saying thank you to a few people.

🚴‍♀️ Firstly, to YOU. The ever-growing subscriber base for this monthly missive is incredibly important to us. It enables Richmond Park Cyclists to have a seat at the table among the park’s authorities and stakeholders, and create a meaningful dialogue with them. So thanks for subscribing – especially at this crucial time, with the traffic restriction trials coming to a conclusion in three months.

🚴Thank you to Simon Richards, the manager of Richmond Park, for taking the time to have regular quarterly meetings with us, and to his team for maintaining the roads, especially the de-icing of the tarmac on especially cold days recently. Thank you as well to Simon’s colleagues at The Royal Parks for their willingness to communicate and engage with us.

🚴🏾‍♀️Thanks to Sgt Peter Sturgess from the park’s police unit for agreeing to target drivers disobeying the road closure signs following our request. The deployment of unmarked cars with officers monitoring these infringements and unauthorised trade vehicles is much appreciated. And thank you to Sgt Pete’s colleagues from Operation Venice following the spate of attacks on cyclists by machete-wielding thieves on mopeds and scooters – the specialist unit’s high presence in the park has been seemingly successful.

🚴‍♂️We are the beneficiaries of expert knowledge and advice on a range of issues from Tim Lennon of the Richmond Cycling Campaign. Thank you, Tim, for your ongoing help and support in our bid to remove through traffic from the park.

🚴🏾‍♂️Lastly, thank you to our sponsors Cycle Exchange, Richmond Cycles, Bella Velo, Kingston Wheelers and Look Mum No Hands! for their support. Additional thanks to Pearson Performance, Sigma Sport and La Ciclista for stocking our Code of Conduct cards, and thank you to La Ciclista for hosting our first public meeting in the cafe.

Full bulletin service resumes at the beginning of February. In the meantime, hope you have a great year. Onwards and upwards in 2022! 

All the best,

Richmond Park Cyclists

RPC Bulletin #47, December 2021

Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in December 2021. 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… +++ Pollution in the park “dangerously high” +++ Are nearby external roads really as busy as some think? +++ Verbal abuse aimed at visitors to stables +++ Cyclist driven off road, and two motorists collide +++ Gates restricting access for cargo bikes +++ Dip your lights!

EYES ON THE ROADS

It’s our final bulletin of the year – and we would like to say thanks to all of you for subscribing to our monthly updates during 2021. In 2022, and with the Movement Strategy trials due to reach their conclusion in March, we will turn our attention to data covering road usage as we continue to build a case for ending through traffic. One key metric is likely to be pollution, with figures circulating on social media last week suggesting that levels within the park may be dangerously high. The Royal Parks points out that the figures are projections from 2013, not actual measurements of the current situation – to which the sensible response is, please measure the air quality in the park.

In the meantime, we are shooting video footage at random times of the week to explore the belief that the park must remain open to through traffic so it can relieve pressure on the local road network. The first clip, which we ran on social media last week, showed that most of Queen’s Road and Star And Garter Hill down to Ham was deserted on a weekday evening in rush hour. Take a look.

EMISSION STATEMENT

Returning briefly to the subject of pollution, The Royal Parks stated last month that carbon emissions from through traffic in the park have not been included in the measurement of the organisation’s carbon footprint. TRP was responding to questions fielded by Tim Lennon from the Richmond Cycling Campaign after he and ourselves attended the latest biannual stakeholder meeting, chaired by Tom Jarvis, the Director of Parks. 

Here are Tim’s questions and TRP’s replies. 

Will TRP be recruiting a new transport lead to replace Mat Bonomi (who introduced the Movement Strategy and left in April)?

A final decision on this recruitment has yet to be made.

When will a decision be made on the results of the Movement Strategy?

At the start of March 2021, we announced we would keep the measures to reduce cut-through traffic in place for another year until March 2022. We will monitor additional data to ensure a clear picture of the impact of the schemes, before determining whether they should be made permanent.

Will TRP make the trialled closures in Richmond and Bushy Parks permanent, and if not, why not?

As Q2

What is TRP’s plan to deliver on its commitment in the Movement Strategy to end the use of Richmond Park as a through route?

As Q2

Does TRP have a net zero plan? When will this deliver?

We are working on various initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, with a focus on the main sources contributing to our carbon footprint. Some of these projects will require feasibility assessments to identify the most appropriate solutions (e.g. replace the heating source in the Hyde Nursery) and will be medium term projects that are expected to start delivering carbon reductions by 2023/24. Other areas are quicker to achieve, such as specifying battery powered landscape maintenance tools (e.g. hedge trimmers, mowers).

What part does through traffic play in any carbon reduction strategies in Richmond Park? 

The carbon emissions from through traffic have not been included in our carbon footprint. We are currently focusing on the direct emissions from our operations and those from our contractors.

What data, qualitative or quantitative, will you use to make decisions on traffic in the park?  

We are engaging with TFL and LA’s regarding the availability and suitability of data to inform our decision-making process. We are monitoring additional data and information including incident statistics, monitoring how visitors use these new spaces, traffic and car parking management.

During the meeting itself, Tom and Simon Richards, the manager of Richmond Park, referred respectively to “comparing with the current situation” and “undertaking internal monitoring” regarding the usage of roads inside and outside the park during the current restrictions. And in a response to an enquiry on Twitter regarding the possibility of future policies on “reducing traffic dominance” in the park, TRP said it has “aspirations to take things further” than the current trials.

Even though TRP’s tweet did not relate solely to Richmond Park, could it signal a route towards our goal of eradicating through traffic? We’ll be investigating this tantalising prospect in the coming weeks and months.

UN-STABLE BEHAVIOUR

Now for an important clarification. In last month’s bulletin, we stated that drivers with permission to travel through restricted areas of the park have a permit displayed in their vehicle. A subscriber who has a horse at Holly Lodge contacted us to point out that this is not always the case – and she has experienced abuse from some cyclists who wrongly assume she is breaking the rules when she travels to and from the park’s stables.

In her email, she explained that she and many other authorised visitors are permitted to drive there at weekends – but The Royal Parks only issues permits to park staff. She says: “I have been verbally abused on numerous occasions, had cyclists deliberately block my way and punch my car, had someone throw something at my car and been followed on a dark morning to the gates of the yard. It's a truly horrible experience. Please also be aware that a therapy centre is run at Holly Lodge specialising in adults with learning difficulties. Obviously these people will find the abuse they get significantly more difficult.”

Another subscriber from the stables tells us: “Many of the riders – sadly, only the women – have reported abuse from cyclists when driving in.”

As we revealed last month, the park’s police have agreed with our request to prioritise the targeting of genuine rulebreakers who drive around the no-entry signs on roads. So please do not approach any driver, even if you suspect them of flouting the restrictions – and if you see any cyclist abusing a motorist, politely but firmly tell them to stop. Their actions can affect the reputation of us all.

TWO TOO MANY

There were two concerning incidents on the park’s roadway last month – one involving a cyclist. 

• On Thursday, November 11, at around 12.40pm, 53-year-old cycling instructor David Williams was driven off Queen’s Road moments after being subjected to a close pass. He was left with a broken collarbone, bruising, and a shattered helmet. You can read more on Kingston Nub News. If you witnessed the incident or have any information, call the police on 101 and quote the crime reference number TW/01/0000779/21.

• The second incident, in which two cars collided on Tuesday 23, also took place on Queen’s Road. We took footage of the damaged vehicles around 3:45pm. An officer at the scene said one of the drivers had been blinded by low sun. Thankfully, no one was injured – this time, at least.

Queen’s Road is the busiest part of the park’s roadway, and these incidents show, once again, why through traffic should be removed. Cyclists and pedestrians should not have to run the risk of being exposed to such dangers in a National Nature Reserve.

CARGO NO GO

A mum who cycled through the park last month in a cargo bike with three kids in tow tells us that she arrived at Kingston Gate at 4.55pm and found that only the kissing gate was open. This is standard procedure – the contractors who work for The Royal Parks lock the straight-through gates so that the deer do not leave. But as her cargo bike was too big to fit through the kissing gate, she and her kids were stuck in the park. So she called the police – who, thankfully, sent someone to unlock the gate.

Cargo bikes have become a commoner sight in recent years – and thanks to their practicality and usefulness, they are likely to become even more popular. Clearly, the park’s pedestrian gates should be adapted for them so they can be used at any time, just like other types of bike, and the park’s management assure us that they will consider doing this. We will speak to them about this issue in more detail when we have our next quarterly meeting with them in January.

LIGHT RELIEF

Finally, now that the nights are drawing in, here’s a brief request to make sure you don’t dazzle your fellow cyclists. 

A subscriber asked us to point out that unless dipped, your front lights can momentarily blind oncoming riders – and when we rode on the Quietway on a weekday evening last month, it was notable how often this happened in a relatively short space of time. 

Even though there is no street lighting in the park, it’s perfectly safe to use the standard setting and dip the angle, if not already adjusted to face the roadway, when passing riders going in the opposite direction. Your fellow cyclists will appreciate your courtesy.

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH...

All of us at RPC would like to wish you a happy Christmas and brilliant New Year. Everyone who receives these monthly missives is valuable, as without a subscriber base behind us our dialogues with The Royal Parks and stakeholders to improve the park for cycling and walking would be far more challenging. 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.

See you in 2022,

Richmond Park Cyclists

RPC Bulletin #46, November 2021

Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in November 2021. 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… +++ Bike-jacking suspect in custody +++ Police to target drivers ignoring traffic trial restrictions +++ A summary of road incidents over the past three months +++ Speed limits – the police’s final word

ROBBERIES LATEST

The spate of violent bike-jackings in the park carried out by balaclava-wearing thugs has attracted national attention and led to a drop in the number of cyclists. The police investigation is now being run by Operation Venice, the Met unit which has been tackling motorcycle-enabled crime across London since 2012. They have made one arrest, which has hopefully sent a message to the brazen thieves that it is not worth the risk, and the suspect is currently remanded in custody.

There have not been any more thefts in the park since police apprehended the suspect three weeks ago. He is still under investigation, and Sgt Peter Sturgess from the park’s police unit, which is separate to Operation Venice, seemed confident that the ongoing inquiry will lead to a welcome outcome.

Nevertheless, please remain vigilant and follow the police’s key advice:

• Try to cycle in groups if you can.

• Keep a friendly eye out for cyclists riding alone.

• If you hear a motorbike approaching in the distance at speed, dismount rather than risk being rammed off.

• Do not share photos or video footage of assailants on social media. Send them to the police. Visual clues, such as items of clothing, are valuable to detectives, who can use them to link the people on camera to crimes. Distributing images online can alert the criminals and increase the chance of them altering their appearance.

Here is a timeline of the events so far, along with the crime reference numbers. Call 101, quoting the relevant number, if you have any information which could help police with their enquiries or lead to the recovery of the stolen bikes.

Wednesday, October 6: Two males wearing balaclavas and riding electric scooters on Sawyers Hill pushed a cyclist off his bike – a red 2021 Cannondale System Six Ultegra – and stole it. (Crime ref: 0709961/21)

Thursday 7: At around 3pm, four males on two motorbikes pursued and rammed British pro cyclist Alexandar Richardson near Sheen Gate. The Alpecin-Fenix rider held on to his £10,000 Specialized Tarmac SL7 as he was dragged along the ground for 100 metres before one of the gang threatened him with a machete and made off with the bike. Alex posted a photo showing bad cuts to his leg from the attack. (Crime ref: 5103/07Oct)

Friday 8: We happened to be riding past Roehampton Gate at around 1.30pm when two officers who had just driven in stopped their car to warn us that a couple of people wearing balaclavas were spotted heading down Priory Lane on a moped and were believed to be in the park. They were not located and there was no theft this time.

Monday 11: There were two more violent bike-jackings, both at 5pm at separate locations outside the park, with the assailants wielding machetes again. One was on Putney High Street (Crime ref: 5688/11Oct), the other outside Ibstock School on Danebury Avenue near Roehampton Gate. The victim of the former robbery escaped unharmed. The rider involved in the latter was Marc Radville, 37, from Lewisham, who suffered bruising after the assailants rammed him to the ground.

Wednesday 13: Officers from Operation Venice apprehended a male on a motorbike in the park. He was stopped using “tactical contact”, which is the police term for intentionally knocking a suspect off a vehicle. He was taken into custody.

Friday 15: Police state a 16-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of robbery, attempted robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and allowing to be carried in a stolen vehicle. He is under investigation for the offences relating to the robberies in the park and was charged with offences related to a separate investigation. He is currently remanded in custody.

NO BARRIERS TO PROGRESS

At the quarterly police panel meeting which we attended last month, we asked Sgt Peter Sturgess to target motorists who drive around the barriers restricting traffic in the park – and we are pleased to say he has agreed that this will be one of his unit’s four main priorities over the next three months. 

Every meeting of the panel decides what the police will prioritise during the coming quarter-year. The suggested priorities are often carried over at the next meeting, which means targeting motorists breaching the trial restrictions could also be extended beyond January.

Sgt Sturgess’s adoption of our suggestion builds on the police’s decision, mentioned in last month’s bulletin, to report motorists for driving without due care and attention if they are caught going around the barriers – a harsher charge which can result in a fine, penalty points or requirement to go on a driving course.

Many of those who drive around the barriers have permission to do so as they are on park business, and their vehicles will have a relevant permit displayed. But many others are simply trying their luck – and as we previously reported, in July a cyclist was left with a broken scapula, a fractured shoulder and a bent bike after a driver who should not have been at the foot of Broomfield Hill tried to do a U-turn. Now that the police are sending a stronger message to motorists that the restrictions must be obeyed, the chance of such dangers occurring will hopefully be reduced.

REPORT RUNDOWN

Staying on the subject of the Police Panel meeting, here is a summary of road-related incidents in the police report for July, August and September.

• A total of 355 trade vehicles were issued with fixed penalty notices for illegally driving in the park. We believe this figure to be a record. Targeting trade vehicles was one of the police’s priorities for the quarter, and will continue to be so for the next three months.

• The most dramatic cycling-related incident was the crash on Broomfield Hill caused by a U-turning driver, mentioned above and in our August bulletin.

• There were 84 drivers fined for excessive speed, 29 for driving around the trial barriers, three taken to court for driving without due care or attention, and seven for no insurance.  

• No cyclists were issued with fines, but many were given advice at the roadside for riding without due care, or endangering others which sometimes involved inappropriate speed for the traffic conditions.

• There were two altercations involving a cyclist and a driver. The first, which took place in July on Broomfield Hill, resulted in the cyclist coming off his bike, suffering bruising and shallow cuts; the second was a verbal altercation on Queen’s Road in August where the driver braked hard and the rider went into the back of the car, grazing his hands.

• In July, a cyclist travelling uphill on Queen’s Road came off, hitting his head and hurting his hip, after he saw an oncoming driver overtaking cyclists and swerved to avoid him.

• Also in July, a driver waiting to turn right was overtaken by a cyclist as he started his manoeuvre. He hit the cyclist, causing grazes and cuts to his right arm, leg and face.

• There were two incidents of cyclists hitting pedestrians. On White Lodge Road in July, a pedestrian walking uphill was hit by a cyclist and fell to the floor. The pedestrian suffered a fractured cheek, extensive bruising, tooth damage and concussion. The cyclist, who came off the bike, cycled away. (We were previously told by the police that both parties were women and the cyclist said sorry before riding off.) The second incident, which was at Sheen Cross in August, saw a cyclist hitting a child who was crossing the road, resulting in grazes to the child’s hands.

Once again, the quarterly figures show that cyclists are open to greater danger in the park. The elimination of through traffic would reduce incidents that lead to their physical harm as well as free up police time which is currently spent on apprehending and fining drivers.

CULL BACK

It’s November, chums – which means the second of the biannual deer culls has begun. Here’s a quick reminder of the restrictions on cycling in the park at night and early morning while the operation is carried out.

For approximately six weeks, the pedestrian gates will open at 7:30am and close at 8pm, which means you will not be able to ride your bike in the park outside these times. Remember that the restrictions are for your own safety as firearms are used.

The Royal Parks’ team locks the gates in rotation each night. If you arrive at one of them shortly prior to locking time, please do not enter unless you are absolutely certain you can easily reach your exit before 8pm. Ride into the park at, say, 7.59 and you could find your exit is already locked – so you will have to head back to the gate where you entered, which will now be shut as well, then wait for TRP’s team to return on its final sweep and open it for you. Save yourself getting into a pickle by using the roads around the park instead. 

The cull, which TRP has a duty to carry out in order to control the number of deer, could last longer or shorter than the allocated six-week period, depending on the health of the herd. We will let you know via social media if the pedestrian gates reopen before our next monthly bulletin comes out.

SPEEDY RESOLUTION

On a final note, the park’s police and its management met to discuss a way forward after The Royal Parks wrote, in a response to a Freedom of Information request, that the speed limits stated in its regulations “are not deemed to apply to bicycles”.

The police’s response following the meeting clarifies the matter. Here is their statement: 

“It is a criminal offence, under existing Royal Parks regulations, for cyclists or any person in a park to intentionally or recklessly interfere with the safety, comfort or convenience of other visitors. This includes those cycling dangerously or recklessly at speed.  

“We acknowledge that while most visitors who cycle in the park are law-abiding, a small minority are not and their behaviour is an issue of concern for the wider public as well as other cyclists. We work closely with The Royal Parks as we enforce safe cycling across the parks, so all visitors and wildlife can enjoy the parks safely.

“To this end, we recommend that cyclists use the signposted limits as a guide for appropriate speeds.”

At the police panel meeting, which took place the day before the police and management met, it was made clear that the response to the FoI request makes no practical difference to the way the roads are policed. Officers have a range of powers to deal with excessive cycling speeds, and they tend to use them mainly when there is an aggravating factor involved such as, for example, weaving in and out of cars or crowds of people. (It should also be noted that the number of cyclists fined for speeding is incredibly small.)

We are pleased with the police’s statement. The limits of 20mph on the outer roadway and 10mph on the Quietway, which are signposted for cyclists, represent a reasonable speed for their particular environments. Now this distraction has been resolved, we can concentrate fully on our greater goal of eliminating through traffic from the park.

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

RPC Bulletin #44, September 2021

Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in September 2021. 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… +++ Come along to our inaugural public meeting! +++ Update on subscribers writing to Richmond Park’s MP +++ Plans for car-free weekend rejected +++ London Duathlon road closures on Sunday +++ Cycling speed advice changed

COME AND MEET US

We’ve met up in recent weeks with the representatives of the Richmond Cycling Campaign and the Friends of Richmond Park. Now we’re ready for our most important meeting – with YOU! 

Our first public event will take place in La Ciclista cafe in Sheen on Saturday, September 25 at 9.30am.  This get-together enables you to tell us what ideas you would like to be discussed when we meet with the management of Richmond Park on Tuesday 28th, which will be the first of our quarterly meetings with them. Or you can just come along to meet us in person, find out more about Richmond Park Cyclists, or just say hello!

Space is limited, so please reply to this email if you would like to come so we and the good people at Ciclista have some idea of numbers. See you there!

A MISSIVE EFFORT

A huge thank-you to everyone who wrote to Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, after reading last month’s bulletin, particularly those of you who forwarded or copied us in to the eloquently persuasive emails you sent to her. As we said in our previous newsletter, the majority of the correspondence Sarah receives about the park’s roads support their use as a through route, so it is vital that we redress that balance before the Movement Strategy trial ends in March next year.

If you haven’t emailed her, please do so at the address below, and express in your own words why you think there should be no through traffic in the park. You can read the item in last month’s bulletin, titled It’s Time To End Through Traffic, which sets out our approach for the coming months.

In her individual responses to some of the emails from our subscribers, Sarah has told those of you who are not her constituents that she is unable to assist “due to strict parliamentary protocol”. She asks those who live outside her constituency to write to their own MP instead. Please do so, and copy in Sarah as well. We are due to meet Sarah in the near future to discuss how she can take on board the concerns of constituents and non-constituents about cycling in the park.

To give you some inspiration for your emails to Sarah or your local MP, here are a few excerpts of messages other subscribers have sent.

“I am a car driver and cyclist. I have three children of 19, 17 and eight and have cycled with them all in Richmond Park many times as well as on my own. My strong view is that the park should be closed to all through traffic. [...] This would serve to drastically reduce the volume of vehicle traffic in the park along with the commensurate risk of accidents and pollution. There are perfectly adequate routes around the park (which of course seem to be no hardship for people to use at night) which traffic can use.”

“During the Covid pandemic I took up cycling and it really saved my mental health. [...] The cyclists who flock there (including women, children, people with disabilities, elderly people, etc, not just middle-aged men in expensive Lycra!) show just how much it’s enjoyed and could be enjoyed if it were a car-free zone. [...] We need, desperately, ONE safe space to cycle in: for mental health, for physical health, to lower our carbon footprints, to connect in safe, open-air environments with our family and friends.” 

“During lockdown local residents used Richmond Park as an oasis for exercise. Without cars driving through the park, recreational visitors enjoyed cleaner air and lower noise levels. For families with children and less experienced cyclists, it created a safe space where they could try cycling without the presence of cars on the road which many find intimidating. Given the need to reduce carbon emissions and to encourage people to exercise more to reduce the strain on health services through obesity and Type 2 diabetes, surely it would make sense to restrict vehicle through-traffic to support the continued use of the park as a safe space for exercise and cycling.”

“As a long-time resident of Richmond and someone who walks, cycles and (very occasionally) drives, I ask you to help us reclaim Richmond Park as a place to enjoy nature, to recreate and to breathe fresh air. I walk and cycle in Richmond Park, though not during busy times, as it has become just too dangerous, and I am shocked by the behaviour of many motorists who pay no attention to the speed limit, close pass cyclists, line up trying to enter the already expanded car parks, and generally behave as if it is their right to do what they want with no consideration for others – human or animal – in this beautiful natural space. Even those motorists who observe the speed limit and drive safely are contributing to pollution in this place of nature. [...] Future generations will look back and wonder what we were thinking, desecrating Richmond Park and places like it.”

“Leaving a rat run for [motorists], given the pressures of climate change, or the simple fact a park should be blighted by cars, cannot be supported. I would actively support and fund a credible Green candidate who pushed this as one of their core policies at the next election.”

So there you have it – ordinary people like you, expressing their personal experience of the park, and hoping to shape its future.  You can email Sarah at office@saraholney.com. Do it today, chums!

CAR-FREE ROADBLOCK

Our concept of a car-free day in Richmond Park, which appeared in July’s bulletin, has a natural appeal to many in the cycling community – so we were pleased to see other stakeholder groups take up a similar idea independently a couple of weeks ago and approach The Royal Parks to implement it. Less pleasingly, TRP has rebuffed the groups’ proposal to host it this month. Nevertheless, the chance of a car-free day at some point in the future remains a possibility, particularly as TRP itself has floated the idea in the recent past.

Last month’s approach to TRP was spearheaded by local environmental groups, including Richmond and Twickenham Friends of the Earth, the Kingston Environment Forum and Wandsworth Living Streets. We were approached by Andree Frieze, Green Party councillor for Ham and Petersham, to sign their letter, which also included the Wandsworth, Richmond and Kingston branches of the London Cycling Campaign as co-signatories. The Friends of Richmond Park declined to sign the letter, stating that its “overwhelming priority” instead is to encourage TRP to make the current traffic restrictions permanent, and asking that it is given “more time” in future to respond to other initiatives. (It should be noted that FoRP also has a stated position: “In the long-term, through traffic is surely incompatible with a National Nature Reserve. The park should not be a relief valve for the roads outside it.” We agree, although we would prefer if the Friends had added that this should be the case at the end of the trials.)

The plan was to hold the event on the weekend before Wednesday, September 22, which is World Car-Free Day. The letter to Andrew Scattergood, the Chief Executive of TRP, said: “The car-free weekend would be a family- and disability-friendly event, enabling everyone – whatever their ability or age – to use the park’s roadway, regardless of whether they are on foot, mobility aid, horse or bicycle.” Part of our role would have been to ask local cycling clubs to avoid using the park during that particular weekend and help find volunteers.

In turning down the request, Andrew Scattergood referred to the traffic restrictions currently in place and stated: “We will not be considering any further interventions until the trials have concluded.”

We do not consider a car-free day to be so much of an intervention, but more of an opportunity for TRP to show an enlightened attitude towards the growing need for more active travel. Indeed, the possibility of a car-free day appears in The Royal Parks’ Movement Strategy document (scroll down to “Outcome 6” and see for yourself). For this reason, and because so many who come to the park by bike and on foot would like to see it happen, we will continue to pursue our original idea.

DU BACK

After an enforced absence last year, the London Duathlon returns to Richmond Park this Sunday, which means you will not be able to cycle on the roadway as normal while the event is taking place. 

Those of you out for a leisurely cycle will still be able to enter the park through the pedestrian gates and ride along the Tamsin Trail. The park’s management say they do not mind children and less confident cyclists riding on the tarmac path, which runs from Roehampton Gate to Richmond Gate and between Ham Cross and Kingston Gate, although others should not treat it as an alternative route during the duathlon as the pathway is suited to lower speeds and has smaller capacity than the outer road.

Please also note that the interior routes that go to or pass Pen Ponds kiosks from Sheen Cross, Robin Hood Gate and Ham Cross will not be available to cycle on as they are all part of the event route. 

The duathlon is scheduled to finish around 6pm, although cyclists should stay off the road while contractors deconstruct and clear up the site.

Best of luck to everyone taking part – especially to any of our subscribers who are putting on their running shoes. Let us know how you get on!

SPEED OF CHANGE

The Royal Parks has amended the advice on its website concerning safe speeds for cycling. 

Previously, the advice was: “Speed limits do not apply to cyclists within the parks but it is recommended that cyclists keep to appropriate speeds for the environment. Cycling design speeds between eight and 12mph have been found to be more acceptable for park visitors.”

This has now been changed to: “It is recommended that cyclists keep to appropriate speeds for the park environment.”

The original statement, which was general advice for all royal parks, did not reflect the fact that Richmond Park does have sign-posted speed limits for cyclists – 20mph on its outer roadway and 10mph on the quietway and Tamsin Trail, all of which are policed. Moreover, the wording left itself open to the interpretation that those who cycle at more than 12mph on the outer road, as many who respect the speed limit do, are moving at an unacceptable speed – which, of course, they are not. 

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH...

As ever, thank you for allowing us to pop into your inbox. Let us know what you think about anything related to cycling in Richmond Park – we reply personally to every email you send us. Better still, meet the team and join us at Ciclista on Saturday 25th at 9.30am.  

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

RPC Bulletin #43, August 2021

Each month, we email a bulletin to everyone who has signed up on this site. Below is the edition that we sent in August 2021. 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… +++ Why through traffic must end, and why you should tell Richmond Park’s MP what you think +++ Police report on incidents during the last quarter-year +++ Crash on Broomfield Hill +++ Changes to Highway Code... but don’t celebrate just yet +++ Bike parking spaces – should there be more?

MAKE THE WRITE DECISION

Welcome to a special edition of Richmond Park Cyclists’ bulletin. This month, we are setting out our aim to end through traffic in Richmond Park, explaining why it should happen, and encouraging you to help us achieve this goal in the months ahead

Please take a moment to read our ideas below, and if you agree with us, write to Sarah Olney, the member of Parliament for Richmond Park to express your thoughts in your own words. We are told that the majority of the correspondence she receives about the park’s roads support their use as a through route so it is vital that we redress that balance before The Royal Parks’ Movement Strategy trial ends in March next year

You can email Sarah at office@saraholney.com. Do it today, chums!

IT’S TIME TO END THROUGH TRAFFIC

Mega-cities have expanded throughout the world, clogged and choked by motor traffic. By contrast, in London we are fortunate to still have our large, green open spaces such as Richmond Park which can provide respite from the stresses and challenges of daily city life.

But, depending on the time of the week, between 68 and 91 percent of motorists on the roads inside Richmond Park are using it as a shortcut, according to The Royal Parks. Its 2017 draft report also indicated that women, children and disabled riders are put off cycling in the park by motor traffic. 

Richmond Park Cyclists is an ally of Richmond Park. We want what is best for it. And the best outcome of the Movement Strategy will be an end to through traffic, which encroaches on the use of London’s number one free cycling resource as a place for public recreation, health and well-being for all.

Our sedentary lifestyle has caused increasing obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  As a society we should exercise more, but unless we have super-safe places to do that, many simply won’t get on their bikes.  Without through traffic, Richmond Park would be a far better place for children and other less experienced cyclists to gain confidence

Richmond Park, which is a National Nature Reserve, should be a place of tranquility where Londoners can breathe clean air and listen to the natural world around them. Cars, even when driven considerately, are intimidating for many pedestrians and cyclists. The poor air quality motor vehicles create is linked to asthma, strokes and cancers, and traffic noise is linked with rising stress levels and reduced ability to concentrate. Away from the roadway, air quality is relatively good and noise levels are lower.  But this is not the case near its roads. Removing shortcut traffic would improve all visitors’ general health.

Moreover, The Royal Parks is obliged by its charitable objects to protect the natural environment of its green spaces.  Allowing through traffic to continue is contrary to those aims.

Some motorists argue that the rising number of cars on London’s roads justifies using Richmond Park as part of the road network.  But it is increasingly accepted that the only solution to congestion is to reduce car journeys.  Only a shift to more active travel and better public transport will prevent unworkable congestion and reduce pollution which is driving climate change. We need to encourage more cycling and walking, and a Richmond Park free of through traffic will do exactly that. 

Covid has been a miserable experience for many, but it has highlighted the importance of open spaces in our cities.  The complete closure of Richmond Park to motor vehicles in 2020 showed us how significantly the ambience and environment improved without cars.  We want The Royal Parks to show leadership and seize this golden opportunity to keep all through traffic out of the park on a permanent basis.  

Previous generations had the foresight to create the parks. It is our responsibility to enhance and protect them. 

PASSED OVER

As promised last month, we spoke to the park’s police about measuring the incidence of close passes on the park’s roads. We were told that the specialist unit that carries out this type of investigation would not do so as the number of incidents on the roadway that result in hospitalisation of cyclists show that it is relatively safer than roads in London generally.

Well, the park is safe for cycling within that very limited definition. But, as the list below shows, it is not as safe as many would expect a public place of recreation to be. In what is a recurring theme of this edition of the bulletin, the solution in many cases is to end through traffic.

Here are the highlights of the data from the latest quarter-year, presented to the park’s Police Panel last month:

• As in previous reports, the notion that cycling endangers others in the park is belied by the list of injuries. In 11 of the 15 reported incidents, cyclists were hurt with no other party involved. Most of these types of accidents were due to simple mistakes, such as braking too sharply downhill, and the injuries were only cuts and bruises. Two incidents were seemingly caused by weather conditions – in May, one rider fainted in the heat while another was blown off by a gust of wind on Broomfield Hill.

• A cyclist and a driver nearly collided on Richmond Hill in May, and a “verbal altercation” took place as they entered Richmond Park, leading to the rider kicking the car. The motorist retaliated by slapping him across the head, knocking his glasses off.

• In June, a driver turned left into one of the car parks, causing a cyclist to collide with the car and sustain cuts to their knees. Somewhat vaguely, the report gives the location as “Broomfield Hill (possibly Dark Hill)”.

• In May, a cyclist and an off-duty police officer attempted to stop a driver maneuvering around barriers on Broomfield Hill. A “low-impact collision” occurred resulting in “a small cut to the officer’s hand”.

• As we reported in May’s bulletin, a 12-year-old girl had a cut on her forehead after she stepped out into the path of a cyclist riding at a sensible speed on the road in front of the Roehampton Gate car park.

• The number of motorists the police had to deal with far outstrips cyclists. The two commonest types of misdemeanors were trade vehicles passing through the park – 149 in June alone – and parking in unauthorised areas. 

BROOMFIELD HELL

There was an incident – and it’s a pretty dramatic one – that will appear in the next police report. It was not recorded in the latest report as it took place outside its quarterly time frame of April to June.

On the evening of Monday, July 12, a cyclist descending Broomfield Hill came off after trying to avoid a car whose driver was doing a U-turn on the bottom corner. The motorist had driven around the barriers at the top and apparently claimed Google Maps had sent him down the hill.

Amazingly, the cyclist rode the short distance home with a broken scapula, a fractured shoulder and a bent bike rather than wait 90 minutes for an ambulance, which meant police did not attend the scene. But the victim later contacted Sgt Peter Sturgess from the park’s police with details, including the car’s number plate, which officers have used to locate the driver. 

The cyclist, who is on the mend, says the specialist police unit that investigates road traffic accidents have not yet told him what action will be taken against the driver. He asked us to urge caution when riding in the park as drivers sometimes “panic and do stupid stuff”, and hazards ahead can be obscured by a tree and bushes on the bottom corner of Broomfield.

As for the driver apparently claiming he was guided by his sat nav app, that could be true. If it was not updated, the current restrictions might not have shown up – and in theory if enough motorists drive past the barriers, Google changes its maps to show the route is available to drive on. And it is not just Google – earlier this week, the injured cyclist showed us on his phone that Apple Maps gave Broomfield Hill as a drivable route through the park.

But, of course, “my sat nav told me to do it” is no defence; there is a big sign on the hilltop clearly telling drivers that it is a no-go area for cars. 

This incident shows, yet again, that allowing through traffic invites bad driving which can cause serious injury to cyclists. The use of the park as a shortcut route for drivers must end.

HIGH AMBITIONS

A quick word about the Government’s interim announcement a few days ago concerning forthcoming changes to the Highway Code.

The new version will define a "hierarchy of road users" to make it clear that drivers of cars, vans and lorries "have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they may pose to others". It will also ensure cyclists have priority when travelling straight ahead at junctions. To sustain the increase in active travel during the pandemic, an extra £338million will be spent to boost cycling and walking. 

All are welcome developments, but we will wait until the autumn when the Government publishes the new code in full before celebrating. In October, we spoke to Cycling UK and British Cycling about our concerns regarding the proposed alteration of Rule 66, which is likely to have an impact on riding two abreast in the park if it is implemented as written (essentially, the wording obliges cyclists to single out in some situations, which can be less safe, when drivers wish to overtake). We hope the Government listens to concerns on this issue from cycling bodies and cyclists who took part in the public consultation.

HOOPS AND DREAMS

On a final note, here’s a little victory that has led us to ponder a bigger question. 

One of our subscribers was unable to lock her bike’s frame and front wheel at Pen Ponds because the cafe’s electricity generator was pushed up against the parking hoops. We sent photos of the problem to the park’s management, who said the mobile generator was in place while the permanent one was being fixed, and that they would chase up the cafe to get it sorted. Happily, this has now been done.

This got us thinking about bike parking generally. We do not know exactly how many spaces are provided throughout the park, where all of them are or how often they are used. Should The Royal Parks provide a greater number of secure and visible cycle parking spaces to encourage more visitors to leave their cars at home and ride to the park? We are now in the process of looking at all the bike parking areas to answer that question.

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH...

As ever, thank you for allowing us to pop into your inbox – and don’t forget to email Sarah Olney with your thoughts on making Richmond Park free of through traffic (her email address is office@saraholney.com).

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