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@Greenbank
Exactly, the law for speeding relates specifically to "motor vehicles", that's why bicycles are not covered by normal speed limits.
It's got nothing to do with the fact that bicycles don't have speedometers fitted.
And, as far as I know, no-one has ever actually been prosecuted of the "furious cycling" offence that exists (basically the "cycling like a twat" offence).
The law (it's not really a by-law but a full law) that enforces the speed limit in the Royal Parks (such as Richmond Park) is the The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1997/19971639.htm
This gives a speed limit for "vehicles", not just "motor vehicles" which is why it does apply to bicycles.
"
PART II
Regulation 4(28)
Speeds at which vehicles may be driven or ridden on a Park road
"
It was then amended to 20mph for Richmond Park in the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) Regulations 2004.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/20041308.htm
"
(5) In Part 2 of Schedule 2, for paragraph 1, substitute the following paragraph -
" On the Park roads in Bushy Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park (except for the Serpentine Road), The Regent's Park, and St James's and The Green Parks, at a speed not exceeding 30 mph, and on the Park roads in Richmond Park, at a speed not exceeding 20 mph."
"
Again, bicycles not having a speedometer has got sod all to do with it. If you go over 20mph then you risk being pulled over and could be fined, especially if you fail the attitude test and give the cops some shit.
Ignorance of your speed (or the law) is not a valid defence.
If you want to avoid the possibility of getting done you can just slow down. If you're really worried about it then fit a cycle computer. Most people who can do over 20mph will have an idea of what 20mph is. Again, ignorance of your speed isn't a valid defence.
In reality my experience of the Police in the park is that they don't go after people who just roll down the hill (Sawyer's or Broomfield) freewheeling even though they maybe going a few mph over 20. They will pull over the people who are obviously pushing it hard to go faster and getting closer to 40mph.
I haven't had a problem with the Police when I did see them with the speed gun, I was descending Sawyer's Hill on fixed at 25mph (so it woulnd't have looked like I was freewheeling but I wasn't putting any power in) amongst other cyclists and cars.
Still, just because it's not illegal to, doing 40mph down a hill past a primary school at 8.50am which is in a 20mph limit (for motor vehicles) is still a twatish thing to do.