Forum Topic

The return of cycling to Richmond Park

Great news: from Tuesday 2 June, cycling for all will return to Richmond Park. Full details here:https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-park-news/the-return-of-cycling-to-richmond-parkThere are restrictions at first: it's allowed only on the made-up roads, on weekdays, before 10 am and after 4 pm , and the road between Roehampton and Kingston Gates is closed (to provide a safe space for children and families), but this is a real improvement. (It is, of course, churlish to point out that cycling is permitted in all the other Royal Parks, and that it's taken a long time for TRP to move, but let's enjoy what we are allowed by the mighty panjandrums of Richmond Park).

Richard Carter ● 2202d15 Comments

Related to this,  I used the new (ish) Roehampton high street contraflow with my family the other day.  It's not great,  a car width wide due to the parking, so no where to escape if a car cones up the hill. Not suitable for children in my view. Also Danbury avenue is quite busy and narrow.It is tricky going west from Putney for the less confident.  The path through Queen Mary's hospital is good,  but closing at 5 can catch us out! But then Clarence lane is busy, narrow and steep. Highcliffe drive is steep and narrow.  The South circular is bad for kids. Particularly the Roehampton lane junction. Paths past Barnes station - not sure if cycling is allowed? Barn Elms and the towpath are family friendly in the north. Wimbledon common round to Stag Lodge is lovely, but quite a long way round. I guess the challenge is the lack of east-west routes generally, the railway limiting north-south navigation,  and the Roehampton club being a large chunk of land to navigate round.Does the Alton Estate regeneration have plans for cycle routes through to Richmond Park?

Alan Sherman ● 2197d

Is his dog called Fenton?

Ed Robinson ● 2197d

"the idiot dog walkers allowing their dogs off the lead in the breeding grounds, ignoring the signs asking for dogs to be kept on a lead in that area."Actually, it's more than that: dogs must be kept on a lead *everywhere* in the Park until July because it's the deer birthing season. Most people seem to be keeping to that, though I heard one woman berating a warden over this: "I've been walking my dog in the Park for 40 years - F..O..R..T..Y [shouting, in case we hadn't taken it in the first time] years and I've never had to keep my dog on a a lead." Really, some people are a bit overprivileged.

Richard Carter ● 2197d

The skylark area on Wimbledon Common is half of the meadow opposite the Windmill's old log pile. There are a few skylarks there too. Or there were a month or so ago. I tend to avoid that area of the common during breeding time. Good luck in your skylark spotting.

Denzil Darby ● 2197d

Thanks Denzil.  I’ll roam a little further next time.  Supposed to be some skylarks up on Wimbledon Common too. Haven’t seen them either, so far.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2198d

I am pleased to report that there are several breeding pairs of skylarks in the park. This is despite the idiot dog walkers allowing their dogs off the lead in the breeding grounds, ignoring the signs asking for dogs to be kept on a lead in that area. The two areas to see the skylarks are in the field on the other side of the rugby fields across the (now dry) stream. And the other area is up past two storms wood in the grass area between the wood and Sheen common gate.  Their song of an evening is definitely one of life's little pleasures.All the best,Denzil

Denzil Darby ● 2198d

I was there this afternoon. Bikes OK after 4pm but no cars - though there was a queue of them at Roe Gate trying and failing to get in. The park was busier than in your pics with a number of picnic groups as well as quite a few more cyclists. But it was absolutely delightful and still very quiet once you got away from the entrance.  I went up past White Lodge to see if I could see or hear any skylarks. Sadly not a single one - too many people, dogs, predatory birds and the like, I suspect.  I did see a kestrel doing what kestrels do - hovering then diving down for a snack. I avoided Priory Lane coming back.  Too many cars doing 35 or more.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2198d

I had my first ride in Richmond Park today, the day it re-opened for cycling. It wasn't especially busy. There were some cyclists of course but lots of walkers and joggers, but on the whole it was pretty quiet. The only conflict I encountered was when an indignant dog walker complained to one of the wardens about not being allowed to let her dog off its lead, despite it being the birthing season. Not surprisingly, she got short shrift.

Richard Carter ● 2198d

Here's the map; there are quite a few things that are not really clear: for example, cycling is banned between Sheen Gate and Sheen Cross, but can you walk in at Sheen Gate (as you can now) and push your bike to Sheen Cross and then ride? Can you do a similar thing at Ladderstile Gate? It's all a bit half-worked out so far — and as for enforcing the rule, who knows?
But besides that, it's good that TRP have, finally, moved on this, since cycling in the other Royal Parks has been allowed right from the beginning of the lockdown.

Richard Carter ● 2201d

Richmond Park will limit cycling on parts of the main roads including the stretch from Roe Gate to Kingston Gate and the link road from Sheen Gate. But cyclists can use the paved roadways through the centre. There’s a map on their website. The idea may be to stop the peletons of cycling club enthusiasts doing training circuits but allow cyclist commuters through routes.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2201d

I spotted the limited re-opening but was unclear whether one could cycle around the cycle/ walking track around the edge of the park,  from what you say Richard it sounds like this will not be allowed for now.  Could you clarify - will cycling be only on designated roads, or is all path cycling now allowed again together with designated roads?I’d look forward to a change from the Wimbledon common routes

Mike Warman ● 2201d

Agreed, Bill. The only thing I'd add would be a regular, sustainable transport option - a shuttle bus - to enable people to get around the Park more easily.

Richard Carter ● 2201d

ely the answer is to ban cars from using the Park as a short-cut, limit badged cars to specific 'in and out' access to car parks, and limit cyclists to the tarmac and maybe one gravel trail. It has been heaven there during the Lockdown.

Bill Christie ● 2201d

Well, the Tamsin Trail was funded from a bequest that specified it should be for cycles only. Sadly or otherwise, this stipulation was rather high-handedly abandoned without any consultation by the Royal Parks when the trail was built: some time in the 1970s, I think. Rather misleadingly, the Park website says it's "a shared path with cyclists and runners," when the majority of users are actually people walking.

Richard Carter ● 2201d

Somebody, somewhere on social media suggested making dedicated cycle paths in Richmond Park.  I know it would cost a lot of money, but I think it's an excellent idea and should be looked into.

Bunny Payne ● 2202d