Cyclists riding “at excessive speeds” and causing crashes prompt Royal Parks to review cycling policy, as charity cancels time trial events because “they directly encourage cyclists to go faster than speed limit”

The Royal Parks has confirmed it is currently reviewing its policy on cycling in the wake of what the charity calls “several” incidents “linked to a minority of people cycling at excessive speeds”, a day after it was announced that the annual Richmond Park time trial events have been cancelled due to fears that the races encourage cyclists to ride faster than the park’s 20mph speed limit for motorists.

Yesterday, we reported that the popular time trials in Richmond Park, organised by the London Dynamo cycling club and previously scheduled to take place on 23 June and 7 July this year, have been cancelled by the Royal Parks on safety grounds related to the speeds achieved by participants during the races, along with the apparent threat posed to the cyclists by the park’s deer population.

Starting at 6am, an hour before the gates for motorists open in the south-west London park, the time trials have long been lauded for their inclusivity and for providing a gateway into the sport for young people and beginners, nervous at the prospect of riding alongside fast-moving traffic, but able to race on largely traffic-free roads.

However, yesterday the events’ organisers and local cyclists speculated that the cancellation of the only time trials permitted in London’s royal parks owed much to the media coverage and anti-cycling sentiment surrounding the recent inquest into the tragic death of an elderly pedestrian following a collision with a cyclist in Regent’s Park in June 2022 – a theory since confirmed by the Royal Parks itself in a statement to road.cc this morning.

> Royal Parks cancels Richmond Park time trials over fears cyclists will break 20mph speed limit, after inquest into pedestrian fatality in “speeding” cyclist collision “brought this activity to people’s attention”

Last month, a coroner’s inquest heard that cyclist Brian Fitzgerald, while riding as part of a group in Regent’s Park’s Outer Circle travelling at between 25-29mph, hit an 81-year-old pedestrian, causing her to suffer several broken bones and bleeding on the brain, injuries she died from in hospital two months later.

Fitzgerald was not prosecuted, however, for his role in her death, with the Metropolitan Police concluding that there was “insufficient evidence for a real prospect of conviction”.

Following the inquest, the Royal Parks – the charity which manages eight of London’s royal parks including Richmond Park and Regent’s Park – contacted Strava to request that the park’s Outer Circle segment be deleted, believing that this may deter cyclists from riding the route at high speeds, and prompting the ride-sharing app to remind its users and the public that “hazardous” segments can already be flagged and urging cyclists to “prioritise everyone’s safety”.

> Strava urges cyclists to "prioritise everyone's safety" following pedestrian fatality on popular segment, states "hazardous" segments can be flagged

And this morning, Richmond Park’s manager Paul Richards confirmed to road.cc that the charity is now undertaking a general review of its policies surrounding cycling and cycling events, along with the parks’ infrastructure, in the wake of “several” high-profile incidents involving a “minority” of cyclists riding at speed.

“The Royal Parks charity takes the safety of all park visitors and road users extremely seriously,” Richards told road.cc.

“Following several cycling-related incidents within the Royal Parks, linked to a minority of people cycling at excessive speeds, it is our duty to take action to minimise the risk of accidents and our priority to ensure the safety of all cyclists together with other visitors.

“We strive to create a relaxing and welcoming environment for the cycling community. We have reduced cut-through motor traffic and invested in safety measures to protect cyclists, pedestrians, and other road users, including the equine community.”

> "Disgraceful that vulnerable road users have to put up with this": Renewed call from cyclists for drivers to be banned from using popular park as rat-run

He continued: “We continue to review and explore our current cycling events, our cycling policy, and the infrastructure across the Royal Parks.

“During this period of review, we have taken the decision to not permit the time trial events on 23 June and 7 July, as they directly encourage cyclists to go faster than the speed limit of the road.

“Enforcement of the law and park regulations is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police.”

> “If we want to promote cycling, we have got to be responsible”: Cyclist calls for hit-and-run “MAMIL” to be “named and shamed” following head-on collision which left him unconscious

Speaking to road.cc on Thursday evening, the organiser of the Richmond Park Time Trials, London Dynamo chairperson Andy Taylor, expressed his disappointment at the decision to cancel the events, pointing out that he believes the charity was placed “under a lot of pressure” to take action due to the anti-cycling sentiment generated by the recent coroner’s inquest into the 81-year-old’s pedestrian’s death.

“We’ve had a very longstanding, good relationship with the Royal Parks,” Taylor told road.cc. “While we’re very disappointed and upset with the decision, we understand where they’re coming from – but I still disagree with it.

“I think they’ve come under a lot of pressure following that media storm around the coroner’s inquest. There was a lot of anti-cycling sentiment around it, so I can see why they did it.

“We offered to meet them and collaborate with them. We did a very detailed risk assessment – every bump and corner in the park was assessed, we have lots of marshals.

“And there’s barely any traffic – most of the time we’re out before the gates have even opened for car traffic. So it’s very frustrating that they didn’t really engage with us and just decided to cancel it. I think they didn’t want to see themselves associated with an event linked to excessive speed in the park.”

> Cyclists blast proposals to introduce 10mph speed limit on Richmond Park hill

Taylor said he first “caught wind” that the Royal Parks were raising concerns about the time trials last month, when the media coverage around the coroner’s inquest was at its height, leading to London Dynamo – along with the Richmond Park Cyclists group – moving to lobby the charity to ensure the races could go ahead.

However, despite a prolonged exchange over email, Taylor claims the Parks’ board of directors declined the opportunity to meet face-to-face to discuss the issue.

The cycling club chair notes that one email he received from the Royal Parks claimed that the time trials were “promoting” cyclists riding faster than the 20mph speed limit for motorists and that the park’s deer “posed a danger” to those taking part.

“The deer can be a hazard, but that’s something all the riders are warned about,” he says. “It’s not a new thing, everyone knows the deer are there.

“Neither of these things are new – the 20mph speed limit has been there for quite some time. So you have to question the timing of the decision. They didn’t mention the Regent’s Park incident to us at all, but the two are clearly closely linked.”

Pending the outcome of the Royal Parks’ current review, Taylor says he is now focused on securing another venue for the annual time trial events.

“I asked the Royal Park if this was all just a temporary reaction to current events, but they said it was likely to be permanent,” he says.

“We’re just thinking about what we do next. We’d like to keep a time trial event on our calendar, but it’s unlikely to be in Richmond Park. We’ll have to look elsewhere for another venue.”