Free Wheeling - Cycling into the future with The Royal Parks

Freewheeling for the future

With cycling becoming increasingly popular, The Royal Parks is working hard to improve facilities for cyclists. This includes looking at more cycle parking, better signage and the introduction of additional cycling routes within the greenspace of the Parks. The Royal Parks, Transport for London and Local Authorities are upgrading cycle routes and facilities as part of the London Cycle Network programme (LCN+ and the Cycling on Greenways programme funded by Transport for London).

The Pathway Code of Conduct was successfully launched at London Freewheel as part of the Considerate Cycling Campaign. On the day a cyclists signed up to the Code every 3 minutes and lots of goodies were won as cyclists, young and old, had a go at the Royal Parks' quizzes!

Hyde Park

The new cycle racks at The Lido Café, Dell Café, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Speaker's Corner Kiosk, Triangle Car Park, and Bowls and Tennis Centre are proving to be popular. Major works are close to completion at the junction of South Carriage Drive and West Carriage Drive which should provide safer crossings for cyclists and pedestrians. The lighting on the Broad Walk has been converted back to electricity with the additional 8 columns to provide more reliable consistent light. Signage and road markings have been rationalised and improved across the Park.

Albert Gate improvements are being planned for 2008/2009.

The Regent's Park

Following the three-month trial shared-use cycle route, shared with pedestrians, along the Broad Walk (July to September 2007) an extended trial is going to be announced soon. The route will run from the Outer Circle, near the entrance to London Zoo, to Chester Road to the south.

Thank you to everyone who commented in the 2007 summer consultation on the shared-use route on The Regent's Park Broad Walk. Further consultation is being carried out as part of the extended trial along with testing critical success factors.*

The Hub sports centre and the Pavilion Tennis Centre in The Regent's Park has cycle racks outside. Locations for additional cycle racks have been identified and will be installed when funding is available.*

Kensington Gardens

Cycle parking has been introduced in several locations in the Park - at the Diana, Princess of Wales Playground, Queen's Gate, Serpentine Gallery and the Broad Walk.

The North Walk Shared-Use Cycle route reports are to be published on the website in the near future.

Bushy Park

The long distance route that goes through the Park has been sign-posted to help navigation. 50 Cycle stands have been installed throughout the park.

Richmond Park

The Tamsin Trail upgrade project was successfully completed this Spring. The cycle parking around the Park particularly at Pembroke Lodge is being well used.

An additional path is proposed associated with the Golf Course redevelopment.*

Greenwich Park

Cycle parking locations have been identified and some have been installed in key locations throughout the Park.

There will be a complete review of the cycle provision in Greenwich Park with the hope to make improvements in the future. The Royal Parks are keen to have comments as part of the consultation process.

The Green Park and St James's Park

Improvements to the cycle routes in the parks along Constitution Hill, behind Canada Gate and along The Mall north horseride form part of the LCN+ (routes 38 and 44) have been completed. The junction improvements at Marlborough Gate should be completed this year to make the crossing safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

The Royal Parks are consulting on all the future cycling projects mentioned above. Please email cycle@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk or write to: The Royal Parks, The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London W2 2UH with your comments.

* Planned works are shown in italics. Implementation may be subject to successful funding bids, or health and safety assessments, or planning permission for example; where no date is specified, timescales are not yet firm.