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Cyclists who train at Regent's Park fighting against planned speed bumps on Outer Circle

Campaigners say measures aimed at cutting vehicle speeds will create hazard for riders

Cyclists using Regent’s Park Outer Circle for training rides are campaigning against proposals by The Royal Parks to introduce speed bumps there, saying they will create a hazard for riders, with many riding there before sunrise.

The loop, which is four miles long, is hugely popular with the capital’s cyclists and has even attracted Sir Bradley Wiggins, most recently when he was in training for the Hour record.

– Sir Bradley Wiggins smashes the UCI Hour Record

It features on the proposed route of Cycle Superhighway 11, which will run from Brent Cross to Central London, reports the Evening Standard.

As part of the plans, some park gates will be closed to motor vehicles until 11am and after 3pm to deter rat-running motorists.

But with an 80 per cent reduction in the number of motor vehicles, Royal Parks is concerned that some drivers may be tempted to use the road as a race track.

Initially, it was seeking 14 speed bumps but that has now been reduced to four following discussions with City Hall.

Many riders and clubs using the park have united themselves under the banner Regent’s Park Cyclists, which  organised a petition which attracted more than 1,500 signatures.

– Video: 5.45 Rouleur – riding in London as you seldom see it

The petition urged the government to “Stop The Royal Parks using TFL cycling funds for anti-cycling infrastructure.”

In an effort to show that most cyclists who use the park are responsible road users, it has also been actively campaigning against anti-social cycling, targeting people who ride through red lights.

In a website update on discussions with The Royal Parks and other parties published in August, the group said: “We have put our hand up to one of the key arguments used against cyclists, that of red light jumping.

“Through active campaigning to raise awareness I am pleased to report that as a response to a massive amount of work by various individuals, we have documented a very significant (more than 80%) reduction in RLJs observed in the park compared to previous data collected.

“This reduction is supported by the Police observations and has, needless to say, been commended.

Justin McKie, chairman of Regent’s Park Cyclists, told the Standard: “There’s been a pretty strong consensus on what needs to happen: close the gates to motor traffic either all day or for extended periods, keep the wonderful smooth tarmac rather than falling for the knee-jerk of speed bumps, and re-sequence the traffic lights to encourage sports cyclists to ride at quieter times of the day.

“The Royal Parks has a unique opportunity to get some cash from the TfL cycling budget here, but anything that makes cycling more difficult or dangerous, such as speed bumps, would be a misuse of that money.”

TfL is expected to open the plans to public consultation next month, with a spokesman for The Royal Parks saying they are “working with Transport for London to create the final proposals.”

Earlier this year, The Royal Parks initially opposed plans for a section of the East-West Cycle Superhighway currently being built to pass in front of Buckingham Palace, although final plans were eventually agreed in August.

- Cycle Superhighway outside Buckingham Palace gets go-ahead

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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7 comments

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hampstead_bandit | 8 years ago
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I'm an experienced road cyclist and when I ride in Regent's Park if I push hard I can hold 45 km/h which equates to 28.13 mph. 60mph is a flat circuit dream I can only achieve coming off the steepest hills in NW London!

I often see cars blasting past me at 2-3 times the speed I am travelling. I see no challenge to these speeding motorists.

I often see vehicles parked on double yellow lines in dangerous locations like corners, and unfortunately these belong to the park authorities

I often see vehicles driving into the cycle box after the traffic lights have gone red, which is a criminal offence. At times, there are even cyclists in the cycle box when these motorists drive into it?

Rather than worrying about some road cyclists (who are generally well behaved i.e. you don't s*t in your own backyard), how about the Police deal with speeding motorists, motorists driving into the ASL on red lights, and educating the park authorities about safe parking of their vehicles?

Regent's Park is a unique space, and could provide huge health and social benefits to all citizens enjoying leisure (walking, running, cycling, football), by reducing the impact of motor vehicles.

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bikebot | 8 years ago
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I just read the comments on the linked Evening Standard...

Apparently it's necessary because the bikes training there do 60mph  24

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oceandweller | 8 years ago
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Or you could welcome speed humps - the more aggressive the better - as an opportunity to practise bunny hops...
As an added bonus, aggressive speed humps damage the exhausts on Porsches (I was reliably informed). So, win-win then!

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ChairRDRF | 8 years ago
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The Police do occasionally use mobile (hand held) speed cameras.

Why not campaign r extending this?

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jasecd | 8 years ago
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Surely they could just install the raised central bumps which would slow motor traffic and allow cyclists to continue unimpeded?

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awjr replied to jasecd | 8 years ago
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jasecd wrote:

Surely they could just install the raised central bumps which would slow motor traffic and allow cyclists to continue unimpeded?

Central bumps cause cars to swerve over the road to avoid them. You'd be better with a sinusoidal approach and speed table.

If they do install speed bumps then sinusoidal shapes are friendlier to bikes.

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Username replied to awjr | 8 years ago
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awjr wrote:
jasecd wrote:

Surely they could just install the raised central bumps which would slow motor traffic and allow cyclists to continue unimpeded?

Central bumps cause cars to swerve over the road to avoid them. You'd be better with a sinusoidal approach and speed table.

If they do install speed bumps then sinusoidal shapes are friendlier to bikes.

I suspect The Royal Parks would against cushions or sinusoidal bumps on 'heritage grounds'. They prefer raised tables of cobble stones. Don't forget this is the park which still has (useless) gas lamps.

Funnily enough they never see a speeding Range Rover, or Transit van, or scaffolding lorry, being a heritage issue.

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