A broken collar bone is suspected after a near fatal crash. The incident occurred around lunch time in Richmond Park when a group of cyclists, riding together, came into near contact with a car. 


It is probable that the car was surpassing the speed limit in an attempt to overtake and did not see the four cyclists. Although there was apparently no contact with the car, it is certain that the cyclists, riding in a compact group, were suddenly forced to break. Due to the suddenness, the fourth cyclist could not break in time and he clipped the cyclist in front causing him to hit a “Thompson tooth” (the many wooden stakes that are found around the Royal Parks) and be thrown off his bike. The cyclist was then rushed to hospital to treat a broken collar bone. 

 

This incident comes a month before a major consultation by the Royal Parks council on the future of vehicle access to Richmond Park and the movement strategy (a strategy to get more people exercising). 


During much of the lockdown period, cars were not allowed to travel through the park. However, recently the park has fully opened up its gates to cars with just one stretch, the 2.8 Kilometres between Roehampton and Richmond gate regularly shut. This has caused much criticism from the public as not only fewer people are using the park for exercise but also, there is significant hazard in the circumstance of overtaking. The speed limit for cars is 20 miles per hour and it is subsequently stated that cars should only overtake when “safe”. Yet this rule is often not obeyed by drivers resulting in the opposite traffic having to suddenly brake. There has been an angry and frustrated outcry on Twitter with @pufffling stating that during the “car-free summer it felt safe cycling in Richmond Park. Not any more” or  @CycleSystemsAc stating “let's get cars out of parks”. 

 

Your correspondent cycling around the park for over ninety minutes, a day after the incident, observed over a dozen close passes and dangerous overtakes of cyclists by vehicles. 


While the cyclist is wished a good recovery, it is certain that this incident will not aid cyclists’ perspective of cars and certainly adds fuel to the fire of the Royal Parks consultation.