The following text was Richmond Park Cyclists’ formal response to the third and final public consultation on The Royal Parks’ Movement Strategy in November 2020. It sets out what we would like the park to look like in the future.
WHEN Richmond Park unexpectedly became a car-free environment as a result of The Royal Parks’ Covid measures, all types of visitors welcomed the quiet, peacefulness and calm that emerged. There was an increase in the number of cyclists and diversity in terms of age, gender and fitness levels, with the vast majority sharing the newly available road space with each other. It felt safe because it was safe – and since then, more people have continued to cycle in the park, seeking a boost to their well-being.
Following the reintroduction of motor vehicles as part of the trial, we have received camera footage and written accounts of poor and dangerous driving, much of it gathered from experienced cyclists. It has become clear that those who have been riding in the park for years are now less willing to tolerate close passes and similarly inconsiderate driver behaviour. And if experienced cyclists feel threatened, then some less confident riders, such as parents riding with their children, will certainly be deterred from riding in the park. These kinds of cyclists – the very people who we all want to enjoy the health and well-being benefits of a leisurely ride in Richmond Park – will effectively be excluded from the full use of the park’s roads unless through traffic is eliminated.
Those few weeks of the temporary car ban gave us all a brief glimpse of a future without cut-through traffic blighting the park’s roads. The Movement Strategy has provided a golden opportunity to turn that experience into a permanent reality – and that chance is unlikely to come around again for a very long time. Residents in surrounding areas are able to adjust their lifestyles to bring about this much-wanted change, and displaced motor traffic will be less of an issue as commuter journeys continue to become less frequent due to the increase of opportunities to work from home.
The Royal Parks began the Movement Strategy by focussing on reducing cut-through car journeys in the park. It can now show leadership by delivering huge gains for the public’s well-being and the environment by eradicating cut-through motor traffic completely.
Here, we set out our proposals for change.
Immediate Actions:
No cut-through motor traffic 24 hours, seven days a week
Cars only have access to the nearest car park
Richmond Gate to Pembroke Lodge Car Park
Sheen Gate to Sheen Gate Car Park
Roehampton Gate to Roehampton Car Park
Kingston Gate to Kingston Gate Car Park
Ham Gate open to blue badge holders accessing Isabella Car Park only
Close any gate to incoming cars when its linked car park is full
Future Actions:
Create a sense of shared space on the roads next to gates, car parks and junctions, calming traffic flows and allowing easier crossing for pedestrians.
Shuttle buses to provide public and especially blue badge access to different parts of the park including Isabella Plantation and Pen Ponds
Repurpose Pen Ponds, Broomfield and Robin Hood Gate car parks as shuttle stops with cycle hire/docking hubs, and substantially reduce their footprint to offset additional facilities for parking and access below
Santander Cycles to provide docking stations around the park to include ebikes
Work with local councils to support better public transport and more active travel options for arriving at the park
Enlarge four remaining car parks
Widen the popular but narrow shared use Quietway section from Pen Ponds to its junction with the Isabella Car Park access road to improve flow and reduce stress, in particular for pedestrians and family groups