According to Surrey Police, “numerous” cyclists rode through road closures leading up to Box Hill yesterday. Campaigners have repeatedly warned that cycling could be banned if people don’t ride responsibly.
Box Hill has been closed to all traffic, including cyclists, over Easter weekend in bid to halt spread of coronavirus.
The decision was taken by the National Trust, which owns and manages the beauty spot, in partnership with Surrey Police and Surrey County Council.
Last weekend hundreds of people reportedly ignored government guidance on staying at home except for essential reasons and visited Box Hill to sunbathe and hold picnics.
The Times also reported that cyclists had been flouting rules when riding up the climb – although their coverage seemed to hinge on the kind of misleading foreshortened photography that has led to Cycling UK reporting a number of newspapers to the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
In a tweet yesterday, the Mole Valley Policing Team stated that “numerous” cyclists had been ignoring the road closures.
A police spokesperson said: “Surrey Police was called to Box Hill, a popular Surrey beauty spot, after receiving reports of a number of cyclists ignoring road closures and social distancing restrictions. Officers intervened with riders cycling along the Zig Zag Road before re-establishing road closures.
“We would like to remind the public to respect road closures and not to drive or cycle to Box Hill for their daily exercise.”
Superintendent Graham Barnett added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the majority of the public who have been sticking to the Government guidelines by staying local and observing social distancing.
“While Surrey Police understands that the nice weather makes staying indoors difficult, by doing so you are helping to slow the spread of coronavirus, ensuring the National Health Service maintains its capacity to treat the most vulnerable people in our communities, and ultimately save lives.”
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32 comments
My guess - having seen the Police mount similar road closure exercises elsewhere - is that the PCs were there when the signs went out, and stayed just long enough for the photo opportunity, before clearing off to do other tasks, leaving the road sign to do all of the policing and enforcement for itself.
I suspect that this was a mix of selfish gits, but also riders who are used to a "road closed" sign meaning nothing more than "road closed to motor vehicles"; most of us have encountered such signs when out on a ride, and discovered that the road concerned remained completely navigable by bike.
One of the "vehicles - including bikes - prohibited" signs would have been clearer, but I'm unsure as to the legislative requirements for its use.
Seconded. No way any police force would leave three officers standing in the road like that.
Especially on a road owned by the National Trust and which isn't even a public right of way...
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