Regent's Park Cyclists
Aug 5, 2015 15:55:03 GMT
David Joss Buckley, LibbyGordon, and 4 more like this
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2015 15:55:03 GMT
The Regent's Park Cyclists group is now online with a new website at regentsparkcyclists.com/ and a facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/regentsparkcycling/?fref=ts.
The group's aims are to keep the park the unique place it is for all cyclists, a place to ride your bike whether it is for training, commuting or bimbling.
Currently there are plans for the new CS11 cycle superhighway which will run around western and southern parts of the Outer Circle, with a consultation due to start in the Autumn led by TfL. As things stand, this will probably include extending the periods that the gates to the Park are closed - probably good for cyclists - but also plans for a 20mph zone and speed humps or raised tables at junctions on the Outer Circle. These plans would almost certainly be bad news for club cyclists using the park to train, and will probably have unintended negative consequences for commuting cyclists as well - drivers driving erratically, cylists not seeing the speed humps in low light, etc.
Whether well-founded or not, some of the arguments in favour of traffic calming measures are put forward by parties with a negative view of cyclists. We are jumping red lights, speeding, and riding recklessly in the park etc. etc... In fact, RLJs are decreasing in the park (we have the data to prove it). Speeding in a 30mph zone is not something many of us can legitimately claim to be able to do. As for reckless riding, it is more complicated, but barring an accident this week involving a cyclist and an older lady pedestrian (which was not the cyclist's fault but is nevertheless very unfortunate) there are no recent reported incidents of cyclists hitting or injuring pedestrians in the Outer Circle.
We can all do more, however, to uphold good riding standards and show the public and the parties involved in the plans for CS11 that cyclists are serious about safe and respectful riding and thereby do our bit to keep the park open to cyclists of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels. The Regent's Park Cyclists campaign group and website is aiming to do this not just now in relation to the CS11 proposal but for the future.
What can we do?
- If you use the park for training, just carry on doing so responsibly and safely.
- The website has a photos section, so I am looking for anyone can contribute some snaps of Paragon riders in the Park. Paragonettes, I'm thinking of your regular chaingangs??
- **Controversy alert** If you are so minded, consider talking to RLJers or reckless riders about how their behaviour might impact others. **End of controversy alert**
- There are chat laps at 6am every Friday morning, for riders of any club to get to know other RP cyclists, discuss the issues, and network. Wacky kit encouraged.
- Join the facebook group, and post up about the "Stop means stop" campaign: Attachment Deleted.
- Jess Letters and I did some flyering in the Outer Circle week before last, and some data collection to help measure cyclists' use of the Outer Circle. That data is being taken to the next pre-consultation meeting. We might need to continue this work and also look for ways to extend the physical campaign so might be looking for volunteers soon.
Thanks to those who have already volunteered to help. Several people expressed an interest in contributing to the consultation but we really hope that by the time the proposals are announced formally, at the start of the consultation, the plans will be toned down to take the views of all cyclists into account.
Mo
The group's aims are to keep the park the unique place it is for all cyclists, a place to ride your bike whether it is for training, commuting or bimbling.
Currently there are plans for the new CS11 cycle superhighway which will run around western and southern parts of the Outer Circle, with a consultation due to start in the Autumn led by TfL. As things stand, this will probably include extending the periods that the gates to the Park are closed - probably good for cyclists - but also plans for a 20mph zone and speed humps or raised tables at junctions on the Outer Circle. These plans would almost certainly be bad news for club cyclists using the park to train, and will probably have unintended negative consequences for commuting cyclists as well - drivers driving erratically, cylists not seeing the speed humps in low light, etc.
Whether well-founded or not, some of the arguments in favour of traffic calming measures are put forward by parties with a negative view of cyclists. We are jumping red lights, speeding, and riding recklessly in the park etc. etc... In fact, RLJs are decreasing in the park (we have the data to prove it). Speeding in a 30mph zone is not something many of us can legitimately claim to be able to do. As for reckless riding, it is more complicated, but barring an accident this week involving a cyclist and an older lady pedestrian (which was not the cyclist's fault but is nevertheless very unfortunate) there are no recent reported incidents of cyclists hitting or injuring pedestrians in the Outer Circle.
We can all do more, however, to uphold good riding standards and show the public and the parties involved in the plans for CS11 that cyclists are serious about safe and respectful riding and thereby do our bit to keep the park open to cyclists of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels. The Regent's Park Cyclists campaign group and website is aiming to do this not just now in relation to the CS11 proposal but for the future.
What can we do?
- If you use the park for training, just carry on doing so responsibly and safely.
- The website has a photos section, so I am looking for anyone can contribute some snaps of Paragon riders in the Park. Paragonettes, I'm thinking of your regular chaingangs??
- **Controversy alert** If you are so minded, consider talking to RLJers or reckless riders about how their behaviour might impact others. **End of controversy alert**
- There are chat laps at 6am every Friday morning, for riders of any club to get to know other RP cyclists, discuss the issues, and network. Wacky kit encouraged.
- Join the facebook group, and post up about the "Stop means stop" campaign: Attachment Deleted.
- Jess Letters and I did some flyering in the Outer Circle week before last, and some data collection to help measure cyclists' use of the Outer Circle. That data is being taken to the next pre-consultation meeting. We might need to continue this work and also look for ways to extend the physical campaign so might be looking for volunteers soon.
Thanks to those who have already volunteered to help. Several people expressed an interest in contributing to the consultation but we really hope that by the time the proposals are announced formally, at the start of the consultation, the plans will be toned down to take the views of all cyclists into account.
Mo
