Lift the harsh cycling restrictions in Regent's Park

Caroline Pidgeon is calling for a review to be undertaken of the cycling restrictions that exist across London's Royal Parks.

At present cycling is severely restricted in most of London's Royal Parks (see the extensive restrictions here) - especially in Regent's Park, where cycling is only permitted on the northern section of the Broad Walk, between Chester Road and Outer Circle. Incredibly, such restrictions exist despite the provision in the park of docking stations for the Transport for London's bike hire scheme!

Commenting on the current situation, Caroline said:

"Pedestrians should always have first priority when it comes to pavements, and it is absolutely vital we curb the menace of the small minority of cyclists that ride on pavements on London's streets. However parks are a totally different matter!

"In large parts of London's parks it is possible for both pedestrians and cyclists to safely share many public spaces. It really is time that the prohibition of cycling in huge parts of London's Royal Parks was reviewed, especially in Regent's Park.

"Londoners and tourists should be able to enjoy far more of London's Royal Parks on two wheels."

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, has also take up the issue of the severe restrictions on cycling that exist across Royal Parks. As they are a responsibility of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport he asked a written parliamentary question to the relevant Government minister. Sadly the Conservative Minister's reply was rather evasive and appeared to show a poor understanding of the severe cycling restrictions that exist in Royal Parks such as Regent's Park:

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has any plans to review the prohibition of cycling in parts of London's Royal Parks.

John Penrose: The Royal Parks provides designated areas across its estate for cycling and continues to do all it can to support considerate cycling. In providing facilities it seeks to balance the wishes of cyclists with those of pedestrians and other park users.

A later written question from Tom Brake also received the disappointing reply from John Penrose that: "There are no current plans to review the designated cycling facilities in the Royal Parks".

The Mayor has now indicated his backing for a loosening of the restrictions - as the Evening Standard reports in its main article here and in Ross Lydall's blog here.

The road.cc cycling website also covers the story here.

And Greenwich's 853 blog reports on another example - this time in Greenwich Park - of the restrictive policies that the Royal Parks are adopting towards cyclists.