Forum Topic

This is long overdue in all parks

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/royal-parks-london-speed-limit-cyclists-accidents-b1188932.html

Emma Blackwell ● 67d16 Comments

Kensington & Chelsea is inner London!Look at the Santander cycle coverage map - it's tiny!

Ed Robinson ● 61d

On a rare  recent trip above ground to  Kensington & Chelsea  (infamous for controversially pulling out its cycle lanes) I noticed a row of Santander bikes.

Philippa Bond ● 61d

Calling out bad behaviour by cyclist is pro not anti cycling.The lack of enforcement and regulation has hampered cycling in the UK not helped it.Countries with better regulation and enforcement have higher cycling rates and better infrastructure.Perhaps we should mention guns every time we talk about knife crime??Perhaps vote for a Mayor who will spend time visiting California's public cycle hire schemes rather than taxpayers expenses going up in smoke on visiting cannabis shops!Another barrier against getting people cycling is a lack of affordable cycle hire. Necessary due to the high bicycle theft rates.There is no London wide public cycle hire scheme and no plans to expand the inadequate Santander scheme that mainly covers a tiny part of mainly inner London.

Ed Robinson ● 65d

"It would be great for all of us to share the roads without the aggression that seems to be so apparent lately."Agreed wholeheartedly!

Richard Carter ● 65d

Hello Richard and Emma,I agree with Emma, many cyclists - not all I hasten to add - believe that Richmond Park is their racing track.  Sadly, they give cyclists a bad name.My husband no longer cycles in Richmond Park at the weekends because so many cyclists are so aggressive! No regard towards other cyclists, forget about children and pedestrians.Speeding in Richmond Park is unacceptable, be it a car or a bicycle.  It would be great for all of us to share the roads without the aggression that seems to be so apparent lately.

Ivonne Holliday ● 65d

Hey RichardI am a commuter cyclist :)I really hope that this happens in the parks, not at all because I’m anti cycling but because they seem to ignore the rules and see parks s race tracks without regard for the families/people or animals thereThat really is all I’m bothered aboutI commute through Richmond park and saw this dailyBut it also annoys me when cars speed there and work vans drive through…..

Emma Blackwell ● 65d

Slightly off topic, and I'll declare I'm not a cyclist these days as I can't face the traffic in London.  I  was interested that travelling recently in Italy, France and Switzerland electrically assisted bikes and scooters are allowed to be carried on their trains and, in Italy, the latest trains even have charging sockets in the racks for electric bikes. I wondered why in the UK we have a problem with these modes of transport. Is it a failure in our regulations to ensure the quality of the bike and scooter products that are sold? I also note that pedestrians, bikes and scooters seem to coexist reasonably well, particularly in areas where motor vehicles are restricted. 

Michael Ixer ● 65d

Before this descends into a general anti-cycling rant and in the hope of adding a little context, here's a question: If I say that 48 pedestrians will die each year in London by being knocked down by a motor vehicle,* nobody panics, because it's sad but just part of the price that we pay for the convenience of the car. But when I say that one person died after being hit by a bicycle, well then, everyone loses their minds.*https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-road-deaths-record-low-pedestrians-cyclists-killed-b1184319.html

Richard Carter ● 65d

I voted for remain but given how close the vote was a Norway type deal would have been a good compromise.Sadly hard-line Remainers and Brexiteer not to mention bad faith actors, resulted in a poor outcome for the UK.The same hard-line Remainers are still blind to the EU's faults today. The Brexiteers still has no idea what they are doing.On the plus side the EU has a US first policy. And the UK also have a US first policy so both should be happy!Anyway how is the strawberry outfit?Does it get much use in Spain?

Ed Robinson ● 66d

I guess Ed just means he thinks of Spain as being even more laissez-faire (what's the equivalent?) but FAR MORE people are killed by speeding cars.  I haven't yet noticed a pedal bike with a speedometer but there are plenty of souped up bikes who are certainly going faster than cars and shouldn't even be able to.  Surely it's an anomaly of law that has been able to be taken advantage of by speeding cyclists and the Royal Parks is a good place to start with making pedestrian space much safer - but let's hope it doesn't stop there!

Philippa Bond ● 66d

You had me at "the UK slipping behind internationally" - odd to see a Brexiteer admit it though ;)

Matt Palmer ● 66d

"um, something against Spain?"Just acknowledging the UK slipping behind internationally not just its transport but also associated laws.Not much difference between walking in London and parts of Asia as far as the danger from two wheels.

Ed Robinson ● 67d

"When Spain has better laws concerning cycling and scooting it's time to worry"um, something against Spain?

Matt Palmer ● 67d

Thank you Emma for the article.About time too!  The excesses of some cyclists really is jaw dropping.I love the last paragraph of  the article:"The charity (Royal Parks) imposed a 20mph speed limit across all its parks in September 2020."Yes, they did, but then a cycling organization maintained that speed limits do not apply to cyclists.....  I wholeheartedly hope this will change!

Ivonne Holliday ● 67d

"But back to the parks - I've lost count at the number of times cyclists have past me at speed on the 10 mph pedestrian priority shared path in Richmond Park."I'm jealous. A motorscooter accelerated past me on the pavement in Kennington Park Road this morning. (I was on foot).

David Ainsworth ● 67d

Roads too - where there is a 20 mph limit or less!Speedometers cost as little as £5 a fraction of a bicycle & accessories cost. Not much of an argument not to have one if you intend to go above 20mph. Simple law change would require all adult road bikes to have one when sold.When Spain has better laws concerning cycling and scooting it's time to worry.But back to the parks - I've lost count at the number of times cyclists have past me at speed on the 10 mph pedestrian priority shared path in Richmond Park.

Ed Robinson ● 67d