CS11 Plans - Regents Park

While you come across like some myopic cycling version of Jeremy Clarkson

From the outer ring of the M25 to Piccadilly circus in the center of this city state of London cyclists have only two places that I know of that we can train/ride at a decent pace and in relative safety, those are Regent's and Richmond and still some people still want to hobble us.

Srs? There's velodromes, two crit tracks, a forest, a network of lanes & bridalways all within the M25. If you meant the north+south circular then ya I get ya.

Some tables make little/no difference to cycle speed, but there's no indication yet of how the tables will look. I think cycling might ironically benefit from the low clearance of some RP residents' cars.

I see the point you're making about other cycling venues - but the circuits at least, aren't necessarily (1) free (2) always open to public (3) convenient (4) any better for not being passed by a chain gang (+corners).

Of course, if RP is changed for the worse, there's no other option and we will have to make do.

From the outer ring of the M25 to Piccadilly circus in the center of this city state of London cyclists have only two places that I know of that we can train/ride at a decent pace and in relative safety, those are Regent's and Richmond and still some people still want to hobble us.

One of which, assuming you have a normal idea of "a decent pace" you'd already be braking the law whilst riding around. Its a public park, for public use. Not your own private velodrome. Frankly I think I'd probably welcome a 15mph limit in Richmond Park, would stop it (maybe) being a rat run and make it more enjoyable for the majority of other users

There's no law for speeding on a push bike.

Can you show me proof of that

(not a srs request, more just to point out that that reading of the law is up for interpretation, again, FWIW in that specific instance I would be quite happy for it to be applied to push bikes)

I think this would be terrible. RP is the only free place in central London to ride where there uis relatively light traffic and few lights. Where else can you go for 2KM-ish without a traffic light? The RLJs really annoy me, as there are only 3 sets of lights, and instead of just calling them out now, I'm going to pursue them and take the argument to them. I don't want cycling in RP to stop.

Can you show me proof of that

Simply that no one want to challenge the poo poo for abusing their authorities.

It's not really that challenging to ride around Regents. Easy to avoid the wobbly slow people and to not get in the way of faster groups. Mostly they're well behaved but there will always be idiots. And most groups visibly or loudly call out the RLJers IME.

They do need to do something about the high speeds that a large proportion of the motor vehicle traffic get around the park at. Primarily Range Rovers, Audi SUV things, Porsche Panameras, big mercs etc. That is a constant danger in the park - for all the users of the shared road space.

My concern with wobbly Boris Bike riders going at 4 mph has nothing to do with me overtaking them; it's when they overtake me that I become very worried.

There was a traffic survey published a bit back. Highest speed recorded around the park in a 24 hour period was 93mph I think

It's laughable to think that anyone, planners, non-cyclist lobby groups, councillors or residents etc etc are going to notice a slight decrease in riders skipping reds, let alone change their minds / include sport riders in their planning.

I'm all for big groups of riders being thoughtful and attentive to road laws and other park users, but to think 'not breaking the law' is going to score us any points is absolutely hilarious.

I agree absolutely, however I don't think that that means we shouldn't do it.

The monotonous regularity of people cycling into the back of vans doesn't help our cause I don't think.

Yep - below are some of the survey results - it showed the average vehicle speeds at a lot of the checkpoints were above the speed limit.

They want to take some cars out (maybe by closing gates to eliminate some through traffic) and are worried that will only increase these speeds.

@Mechamorgan - I think you're right - a few less riders jumping reds won't make any difference. Some people always will RLJ, and they will be the focus. Unfortunately the prejudice against cycling is already there (i.e. perceptions of RLJing bikes vs motorists speeding). The speed survey already shows the average vehicle speeds are breaking the law but I've heard much more about RLJing, which is vastly less frequent.

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or u-turned upon by the muslims

And then shot at with their muslamic rayguns.

And don't forget about the Asians!

Well that data pretty much sums it up. Is anyone staying close to 20MPH? You'd think in restricted space that would be the natural limit anyway. Some of those numbers are nuts but it does confirm my thinking.

Last week, I was coming out of Chester road while a driver in a compact SUV turned in from the outer circle so hard that he had tyre squeal and would have taken out any oncoming traffic or peds/cyclist. Any Police around? Nope. A few of those guys with the Heckler & Koch assault rifles or whatever they use would have, I'm sure, been able to persuade him to slow down.

The limit is 30, but I think RP has the only roads in the borough of Camden that aren't under a 20 limit. You can certainly see drivers looking to make up time using RP as a through route.
I've seen police out with radar guns twice this year, pulling over quite a few cars and motorbikes. One time they even towed away a car (probably insurance, rather than exclusively speed related).

Look at the maximum speed recorded column and tell me this table is anything other than complete bollocks. The machine's obviously getting confused and any figure that comes out of it should be ignored.

Not sure if serious?

I've definitely seen people doing 60+ in RP, and I know I could have easily done 90-100 in RP quite a few times if I'd wanted to

The values seem plausible when you consider the sensors were recording non-stop for a whole week. 1 vehicle hit 90+, 3 hit 80+. Sometimes you'll see motorbikes at these kind of speeds on less-open roads than the outer circle.

I don't care to dispute or validate the figures, but they are a part of the consultation for the changes in RP for CS11. I'd imagine there would be all kinds of legal issues for TfL/DfT if they were relying on inaccurate speed surveys and/or crap equipment to justify their road plans.

As @NurseHolliday said - not sure if serious.

Serious. I just cannot believe those max figures. Is it really that bad? 78mph at 5pm and at 11am?

Both believable to me.

If the vehicle can do it, someone will have used that.

Unfortunately, yes. A powerful bike/car and 0.5mi straight strip of road with good visibility made it believable for me. They have the option of doing 20 behind a bus on Albany street, or nailing it down the outer circle.

It could, of course, of been an emergency vehicle on an empty road. But more likely an idiot.