Hyde Park rumble strip update - they're spreading

[LOGAN 5]

oh no!

These dreadful strips are being laid right up Rotton Row cycle lane in Hyde Park! Can't believe it. If they don't want cyclist to use the cycle path then just close it!

Best route over these strips is to "swerve erratically, unpredictably and inevitably around peds/cyclists" to ride over them on the pedestrian side as they're more like cobbles than the rough speed bump they are on the cycle lane. No solution I know. Or just ride on the road around the park instead.

Groan

 

[BentMikey]

Except you can't use the Serpentine Road for the next few months, because it's closed off with that blasted fun fair.

 

[gaz]

hmmm is it just at places where peds meet with cyclists? such as the first instance where they criss cross and cyclists should give way.

 

[chap]

They just don't get it.

Silly goats, it is obvious that London is perfect for cycling, yet all these obstacles! Even pre-Crawford (Car free cities) I could see that London was good for walking in, and cycling too (OK I thought that was crazy) but it is crazy that such a packed city should expect people to go around in cars, which are highly inefficient, poor at manoeuvring, and ineffective.

Sometimes you feel like slapping some of these transportation people.

 

[hackbike 666]

Im not exactly sure what a rumble strip is but when cyclists meet with pedestrians I usually find that the cyclist is cycling irresponsibly and too fast in ped/cycle areas.

Possibly the reason for the rumble strip.

 

[jonny jeez]

Except you can't use the Serpentine Road for the next few months, because it's closed off with that blasted fun fair.

Don't you mean the wonderful "winter wonderland"


bah humbug...

 

[XmisterIS]

What are these rumble strips? Are they like they have on rural nat. speed limit A-roads sometimes, particularly when approaching a roundabout? personally, I don't find them much of a problem, I'll happily whizz over them at 35+ mph!

I've never heard of them on a cycle path; and I can see no good reason for putting them there!

Mind you, we do have our own natural rumble strips on some of the bike paths round here; they're called "cowpats" Bumpy in the summer ... but in winter ... eurgh!!

 

[gaz]

It's 3 or 4 rows of cobbled stones slightly raised out of the normal path. small gap in between each row.

not really comfortable to do any more than 10mph over

 

[XmisterIS]

That's not a rumble-strip, that's an obstruction!

There's something similar on the way into my local sainsbury's - it shoots me up when I ride over it on my motorbike because if I hit it wrong, it sends the back wheel skidding all over the place ... which is not fun when you're sitting on 200kg of motorbike!

 

[LOGAN 5]

Riding in Hyde Park this morning I noticed many cyclists riding over the less severe cobbles on the pedestrian side of the rumble strip to avoid the jarring bumps on the cycle path. Did Westminster Council not realise riders would avoid the hump by going over to the ped side and back?

If they wanted to reduce cycling in the cycle lane then they've succeeded because I'm not using this path anymore and will be on the Carriage Drive instead. Westminster Council - well done.

 

[Lurker]

Westminster Council - well done.

Royal Parks, surely?

http://www.royalparks.org.uk/about/cycling.cfm

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Cycling to the FNRttC I went over one of these famed strips and wasn't ready for it as the darkness meant I didn't see it. I was, however, going slowly because I was in the park and I always tend to go carefully through it.

They hurt my back with the juddering, my rear wheel slipped around all over the place and I was not at all impressed.

Let's just say the lady bits didn't do too well either, I dread to think what it would have felt like without padded undershorts.

 

[u9ge]

I have had an ongoing conversation with Ruth Holmes of the Royal Parks about facilities in Hyde Park. Please contact her with any concerns.

RHolmes@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk

 

[redjedi]

Can someone post a pic of these rumble strips? I looked at some of the other thread, but can't get my head around them.

 

[LOGAN 5]

I've just sent a letter to Ruth Holmes at Hyde Park:

Dear Ms Holmes

I am writing with serious concerns over the creation of the awful rumble strips sprouting up in Rotten Row in Hyde Park. I cycle along the path daily and although there are a lot of cyclists during peak hours have generally found the path safe to use with minimum conflict with other users and pedestrians. However, riding over these really bumpy strips is very uncomfortable and when it rains they’ll also be slippery and dangerous. If a rider encounters one in low light and is unaware of its approach then it’s quite possible that the rider could be thrown off.

These strips are so high and rough that if they are ridden over with thinner lightweight cycle rims they’re likely to be damaged

What’s been happing is that cyclists are now going over to the pedestrian side of the shared path to ride over the far less bumpy cobbled section of the rumble strip then returning to the cycle path.

There will be accidents down this lane with riders crossing over to the pedestrian side and sudden breaking to negotiate the humps. They will be particularly challenging when it rains and the sand that runs off on to the path from the bridle track covers the strips – a really slippery combination.

If the Royal Parks want to stop cyclists using the cycle lane then just close it.

If your intention was to reduce cycle usage on the path then you have succeeded as I don’t want to damage my wheels on these strips or have such an uncomfortable ride over them so will now be using South Carriage Drive.

Your comments would be welcome.