Cyclists are being asked not to exceed the 20mph speed limit for vehicles in London’s royal parks as part of a “considerate cycling” campaign.
The initiative follows several incidents in the parks, which include Regent’s Park, Hyde Park and Richmond Park.
However it is not clear how the new rules will be enforced, especially as they come only weeks after the Metropolitan police decided to axe its Royal Parks police units to save cash.
The Royal Parks charity, which oversees the eight royal parks, has published a code of conduct for cyclists in the wake of the incidents, which it has not specified.
These are thought to include the death of a pedestrian, Hilda Griffiths, in 2022, two months after she collided with a cyclist, Brian Fitzgerald, as she tried to cross the road in Regent’s Park.
The code of conduct states: “Always be mindful of your speed, specifically noting the speed limits in force on park roads and trails.
“Do not ride in excess of 20mph in any circumstance and do not use the park roads for unauthorised competitive cycling of any kind. Reducing speed helps maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors.”
The code of conduct also makes clear that “pedestrians take priority over cyclists within the parks” and tells cyclists: “Slow down when approaching pedestrians and be patient and courteous.”
It adds: “When passing pedestrians, slow down and use hand or voice signals to indicate your intentions – when turning, slowing down or stopping.
“Do not shout at other park visitors. Be aware that some pedestrians may have visual or hearing impairments and might not see or hear you.”
Ms Griffiths, an 81-year-old retired nursery teacher, had been walking her dog. Mr Fitzgerald had been doing laps of the park with his cycling club, with the group’s speeds averaging 25mph.
He told an inquest that he had “zero reaction time” when Ms Griffiths stepped out from a traffic island.
Her death was recorded as "accidental" by the coroner. Mr Fitzgerald did not face prosecution.
According to a survey commissioned of 2,000 Londoners by the Royal Parks, 86 per cent of respondents supported the idea of a 20mph speed limit for cyclists – though the question did not relate specifically to cyclists riding within the royal parks.
The survey also found that 72 per cent of respondents had witnessed or experienced a near miss or collision with a cyclist, though not specifically in a royal park.
The same number of respondents stated that people “cycling without due care and attention” was their main concern as a pedestrian.
As the law currently stands, the road speed limit for vehicles does not apply to cyclists.
Most cyclists typically travel at around 12mph, while e-bikes are capped at 15.5mph.
However many conventional bikes have been fitted with illegally adapted battery-powered motors, enabling them to travel well in excess of 30mph. These are frequently used by fast-food couriers.
The outer circle in Regent’s Park is frequently used by keen amateur road cyclists, particularly in the early morning. Riders can often reach speeds in excess of 20mph.
Richmond Park is also popular with amateur road cyclists.
More recently, the biggest issue facing cyclists in Regent's Park has been a spate of violent bike muggings.
The campaign comes as the Government announced plans to introduce a new law on dangerous cycling.
These proposals will be brought forward as part of the Crime and Policing Bill.
The Royal Parks campaign will run throughout the summer. The Royal Parks charity said that, with an increasing number of people riding bikes in parks, it was crucial to “adhere to posted speed limits and exercise caution”.
Darren Share, director of parks at The Royal Parks charity, said: “These wonderful urban green spaces are incredibly important to so many people, but we all need to remember that they are shared spaces meant for everyone, and we must all play our part.
“Cyclists must understand the impact their speed can have on others, which is why it is crucial that they comply with the park regulations, and we are asking people to stay within the vehicle speed limits in the parks.
“The safety of all visitors is our top priority. By encouraging cyclists to slow down, respect the park environment and be considerate of others, we hope to foster a culture of respect and a safer, more enjoyable experience for all park visitors whether on two feet or two wheels.”
Tom Fyans, chief executive of the London Cycling Campaign, told the BBC: "While cyclists riding too fast are annoying and can undeniably be dangerous, the biggest cause of road danger to anyone inside a Royal Park remains drivers."
He added: "Paying attention to your speed when cycling is sensible and shows respect to others around you.
"Everyone needs to be sensible, everyone needs to behave better, everyone should be safe - and The Royal Parks needs to keep the focus on reducing road danger for everyone."
A Royal Parks spokeswoman told The Standard that the code of conduct was intended as “guidance on how to cycle safely in the parks, rather than something which is legally enforceable”.
However, park visitors, whatever their mode of transport, must comply with The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997, and by law must not interfere with the safety, comfort, and convenience of others.
Dangerous cycling is also an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The only authority with powers to enforce the Royal Parks Regulations is the Met police.
The spokeswoman said the Royal Parks charity would like to set a 20mph speed limit for all cyclists within the parks.
This would require an amendment to the park regulations (The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997) as the speed limit currently only applies to motor vehicles.
The spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we wrote to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2024 to request a change to the regulations which govern The Royal Parks.
“We have asked that the regulations are amended to ensure the current maximum speed limit of 20mph for motor vehicles in the parks is also applicable to cyclists.
“Whilst we recognise there are challenges associated with this request, most notably on enforcement, we believe it is a change that would ensure clarity for all our road users and improve safety within the parks for both cyclists and other park users.”
