The Richmond Park 3-Lap Challenge

Cars should be allowed to get from the gates to the car parks and back. they should be banned from the circuit.

they shouldn't be allowed in the park at all, where else can you ride without traffic lights, peds stepping into the road and potholes?

better idea - there should be a sepperate inner circuit just for cyclists and tunnels for cars:)

Or, bikes anti clockwise, cars clockwise - except then they would be overtaking all the time into the cycle lane.

So it's okay when you get the occasional cars going over the limit, but bicycle a big no-no?

fair point, bicycles are a vehicles, but 20mph were set for a reason for drivers using motorised vehicles whom cause far greater harm than a mere bicyclists at the same speed.

I think we're all missing the point: what actually happens when a cyclist gets done for speeding?

Nice riding a bike that actually works for a change :)

Saw that in LMNHs a couple of weeks back. Was drooling over it!
Might have to give braking your record a try.

Cyclists on the other hand being limited to 20 takes the whole point of using the park for serious training away. How are you going to be able to better yourself if you can't push yourself to the limit, and where else would they have us go to do [relatively safe] circuit training other than Richmond or Regents Park?

It's a multiuse space. Be considerate. The speed limit applies to all road users. Your desire for circuit training does not tower above other people's desire for a nice green leafy space within 20 minutes of London.
I agree, less cars through there would be good. But. You sound like a tit.

I think there should be more zebra crossings. Pedestrians should be able to get across the track more easily and safely. There is no more effective way of ruining a park that slicing it up with busy impassable roads.

HÏnáta, if you don't like the speed limit or the cars, go at night or at dawn. I dont go and do my lengths at the pool when I know its filled with kids, I take the same attitude to richmond. Obviously it would be great to have no cars, and while Im dreaming I'd also have a velodrome on my roof terrace, please

What I'm trying to say... there are going to be cars in Richmond Park. That's unavoidable, BUT drivers breaking the speed limit should be the ones cracked down on. At the same time I don't think it would be unreasonable to up the cycling limit to 30 say.

Combine that with far more active enforcement of cars speed limit and I think you'd have a lot more happy people.

Also a shame (and most likely something that won't change) is the number of drivers/motorcyclists who no doubt are using RP as a rat-run, and I would hazard a guess are the same twats who tear through there on their commute.

Also a shame (and most likely something that won't change) is the number of drivers/motorcyclists who no doubt are using RP as a rat-run, and I would hazard a guess are the same twats who tear through there on their commute.

THIS. Close the circuit to through traffic.

more zebra crossings? depends where
i wouldn't want one lets say down the sawyers hill when coming clockwise
there's almost always someone waiting to cross the road there,
having the crossing would mean that pedestrians would feel safe to cross the road anytime and would expect everyone to stop and give them way
now imagine performing emergency stop there when coming downhill at high speed...
i say no to that, maybe some foot bridges

foot bridges = more tarmac paths, digging up, ugly engineering

But I see your point about the zebras, you dont want kiddies ambling out without looking. Officially though, traffic is only required to stop if it is safe to do so. Peds should wait until they know they are seen and it is safe, though I know many dont.

yes, officialy
you should read "Should children be used as human shields?" thread but i'm sure you know it from real life anyway
richmond park wouldn't be different
no zebras mean that (most) people take extra care when crossing

to be honest peds and cars don't bother me that much in RP, it's still far better than cycling on busy roads
and there's almost always police there so drivers are more careful

So it's probably fine as it is then. Glad we came to a decision on this, I felt it was a constructive and inclusive debate. I will pop in to the RCC (Richmond Civic Centre) on Monday and let them know.

The issue is, going down pryors hill and the finishing straight is the only time you're burning at over 20mph, and it's a lot more difficult to control that speed. The police do sit in the car park by Roehampton gate with a speed gun, I think for this reason. A car has full control and awareness of the speed and has a higher propensity to kill someone.

Some People on Bikeradar lap in the mid forties so they must be riding like top sausages at points in their laps. I don't think the same can be said for the pootlers on this here forum! :P

RP was much better when there was a 30 mph speed limit. The reduction of that to 20 mph is the route of most of the problems, the rest are caused by people slowing down to gawp at deer.

What was the justification used to drop the limit 33% Andy?

all royal parks are 20mph afaik.

i did one lap in 63 minutes today.

eat my dust bitches.

63 min running?

63 min running?

Regents Park is still 30mph

Why not start an epetition asking for cars to be banned in there at all times? I find it odd that they're allowed in at all, frankly.

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/new

Would they keep the road maintained with no motorised traffic?

Might just let it lapse into a track if it's only the odd park vehicle using it.

Yes, I think they would. These are tourist attractions and they couldn't just let them crumble.

To me it's strange that people are complaining about cyclists in there. Sure, some of them (unfortunately not me) are racing through at 30mph, but they're silent and non-polluting and I've never found it difficult to stop and look both ways before crossing the road.

Personally I'd be more annoyed by the noisy, smelly and visually obtrusive cars running through the park, ruining the countryside vibe.

The frustrating thing (one of the many, many...) about London is that we're all crammed in here together, trying to do what we enjoy, and mostly winding each other up.

The park is a tourist attraction for sure- I'd struggle to say that the roads are though?

Would look nicer for the tourists if they are remade as gravel tracks for Park vehicles to use- cheaper to maintain, blend into the landscape far better- won't crack in the winter frosts etc.

Dunno, they might keep the roads up to a high standard purely for London Dynamo to rip round of course.

Like I asked somewhere earlier in this thread, what would actually happen if you were caught? If you get clocked at 25mph on a bike, can you get points on your licence? What if you don't have a licence? A fine? If your bike doesn't have a speedo, can they still impose a fine? Anyone know the legality? I seriously doubt anyone has ever been done for this before, or will be anytime soon.

Special rules for the Royal Parks I believe, the info is on LFGSS somewhere