"No Cycling" signs on Thames Path between Lambeth Bridge and Westminster Bridge

In a reply to a freedom of information request, Lambeth Council have confirmed that

-The twenty or so "No Cycling - Pedestrian Area" signs that have recently been installed carry no legal force - they're 'advisory'.

• Police officers and Police community support officers “can request any member of the public to dismount their bicycle and advise them/ask them to dismount. However they are unable to force them to do so.” Should a cyclist refuse to dismount, they would not be committing an offense.

• The signs cost £2,600 to install. This does not include the additional costs to the Police of monitoring and enforcement.

The Council actually opposes a ban but is under pressure from local MPs and Councillors and St Thomas's Hospital, who support a ban.

I'd be very interested to hear of the experience of anyone who rides along this stretch of the Thames Path and declines the invitation of a police officer or PCSO to dismount.

More...

Good to know Jack, thanks.

Real pity there are moves afoot to stop cycling on the Southbank in general.
I used to ride along there practically every day for six years, excellent traffic-free route into the city with great views of London.

Was blogged about here I do believe

Thanks for letting us know JackT.

I thought cycling was meant to be less stressful then driving (red lights, bus lanes, cctv fines etc..) or using public transport...

Sounds like a pointless exercise by Southwark council...

C'mon Ma3k, we ARE traffic.

I was in wagamama at RFH the other day, saw a rider bombing down the SB, and I though 'what a cnut!' If people who ride on shared use paths can't act sensibly, then cyclists ought to be banned.

WHen i ride on their it's at 5-10 mph tops, and not when busy

Of course we are traffic, and yes I agree about idiots exceeding speeds on public paths, but still don't believe that we are a curse or problem like motorists, van man, taxis etc...

Skully, should we ban cycling because there of the poor behaviour of a small minority? One might ban a rather large number of things because of such reasoning.

They should be stopped and asked to slow down, innit. No need for silly signs.

C'mon Ma3k, we ARE traffic.

I was in wagamama at RFH the other day, saw a rider bombing down the SB, and I though 'what a cnut!' If people who ride on shared use paths can't act sensibly, then cyclists ought to be banned.

hate to says it plus one, we're a vehicles after all.

I suppose it's one of those thing that's a swing and roundabout.

Mak said 'traffic free' which is why I said 'we are traffic'.

Pavement riding is for kids.

I'd really like to know what the justification is, how many documented cases of dangerous cycling/pedestrian injuries resulting..

That is one of the nicest places in London to cycle when it isn't busy.

Ma3k, AFAIK, there's only 2 people who got killed by a cyclists, that's all.

one of them were a cunt who shouted at the girl to move away despite riding illegally.

That is one of the nicest places in London to cycle** when it isn't busy.**

The fact you says 'when it isn't busy' give me the implication that it's not quite easy to cycle on.

We're vehicles after all.

Not sure I agree that 'vehicular cycling' has got us very far. Long but searing blog post by Freewheeler yesterday is worth a read on this:

http://crapwalthamforest.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-wont-bring-about-mass-cycling-5.html

The case is that local businesses / the hospital etc complained and the council put up those pathetic signs to appease them, I believe. I'm not sure if they have evidence, just the usual "old people are getting knocked off by cyclists" type stuff. The irony is that there is a road within the hospital they could open up to cyclists as part of an off path route, but that won't happen.

Mak said 'traffic free' which is why I said 'we are traffic'.

Pavement riding is for kids.

Only they're banned from cycling on the Thames Path too of course, as are the disabled.
http://kenningtonpob.blogspot.com/search/label/Thames%20Path
Of course there should be enforcement against reckless cycling and cyclists should dismount when it's heaving with pedestrians. But, as you'll see if you trawl back through the posts and photos on my blog, using the link above, there's normally loads of room for cyclists and pedestrians to coexist where the signs have been up.

If you think that a policy of 'Pedestrian priority; considerate cycling permitted' should be enforced rather than a blanked 'No Cycling' ban imposed please send an email to this effect to cycling@lambeth.gov.uk . You may also wish to copy in the local MP, particularly if you live in the Vauxhall constituency hoeyk@parliament.uk

JackT - that it a good post, thanks for the link.

Ma3k, AFAIK, there's only 2 people who got killed by a cyclists, that's all.

one of them were a cunt who shouted at the girl to move away despite riding illegally.

The fact you says 'when it isn't busy' give me the implication that it's not quite easy to cycle on.

The info I'd like would be specific to the Southbank.

The only place that ever gets really busy is in between County Hall(East of Westminster) and the Hungerford Bridge on weekends between 11 and 5.

No way so its only advisory? I got told to dismount just by juice kiosk/trailer at lambeth bridge end last week by those community gossip cops. I was pootling along very slowly to meet bro and his missus on the South Bank and it was really quiet. I said I thought it was the Thames Path and that it was OK to cycle along it. One of the 2 cops said that it was recent decision made in the last 2 months and that it was because of a series of accidents. Having said I not heard of any such accidents I asked him for details to which he looked all flustered and said he did'nt have any exact details. Anyway I was not in the mood for an argument about it so dismounted and walked round to road and headed on my way. I live near there so will try this again and see what happens.

This is bollocks - it's either legal or it's not. And I'm pretty sure bicycles aren't traffic - Oliver S has corrected me on this before, I'm surprised he's not intervened here. I'm also pretty sure this isn't a pavement, it's a shared use path. There is clearly a need for responsible cycling on a shared path, but that shouldn't be a problem.

The problem is these signs are totally counterproductive, as they make pedestrians think that cyclists aren't allowed to cycle along this stretch, when they are.

blue fleet if you do it again tell them it's not legally enforceable and while they are within their rights to ask you to dismount, you aren't going to.

Disgustingly PCSOs ordered a disabled lady off her trike the other day:
http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=2181

Anyone fancy a ride to reassert our right to ride along there?

Divert critical mass along there!

Good idea, although I wonder if a specific 'protest ride' would be more effective.

Mak said 'traffic free' which is why I said 'we are traffic'.

Pavement riding is for kids.

I pretty much agree with you, that riding on the pavements is a nuisance.

Yet in case of Southbank, I'd be against enforcing pedestrian only traffic. There's enough space for both.
Strange move when at the same time there's a motion to open again one way roads to cyclists traveling in both directions .

All feels a bit knee-jerk to me, this attitude that we must be allowed to ride anywhere we have in the past, even though, for whatever reason, a shared-use path may be under review. We should remember that, as privileged users of the most efficient and enjoyable form of transport, it is worth being tolerant if those less fortunate than us like peds and let them ban us, if they feel the need, with good grace.

I hope you can accept this comment in the manner in which it's intended: as lucifer's lawyer. You absolutely certain that riding on this particular bit of river is worth fighting for? Why? Shouldn't we be on the road? What's wrong with dismounting your bicycle and walking once in a while?

Blue Fleet, maybe you could contact St Thomas's Med School cycling club if there still is one? They might like to get involved.