This is the reply from the Royal Parks re the humps. I suggested having cobbles over the whole width at least we could ride over them more safely than the enormous humps. Cyclists are riding into the ped side to avoid them. Another one has sprouted on the section opposite Kensington Park approaching the bridge from the Rotten Row end.
Thank you for your email and thank you for your patience in awaiting a reply while we carried out necessary investigations.
This project is being managed for us by an outside Engineering Consultancy. We became aware of some problems with the type and quality of sett laying as soon as the contractors opened up the work to the public. The issues are largely to do with quality of implementation and not design or original specification. Consequently we have asked for a Site Engineer’s report, upon receipt of which we can look to making improvements or reworking.
The works are ongoing and additional surfacing works carried out recently will mitigate some problems being experienced by cyclists. We have also asked the contractors to add some extra warning signage during the construction period.
Notwithstanding these issues, the cycle lane improvements were designed by Highway Engineers following a stage 1 & 2 Safety Audit of the route. The Royal Park Cycle Group which includes representatives of LCC (London Cycle Campaign) , CTC (Cycle Touring Club), Sustrans and the Met Police were consulted on the designs, as were Park Management.
The setts have been laid at junctions and to delineate where the pathway changes from segregated pedestrian and cyclist use to shared-use areas. New markings and asphalt surfaces are also part of this scheme to mark out the shared use/ crossing areas.
The setts themselves are a tactile aid to those unfamiliar with white line markings and vulnerable pedestrian users such as the visually impaired, elderly and very young, many of whom struggle to perceive the cycle route.
The use of granite setts to delineate junctions and changes in use is a standard detail that has been used successfully elsewhere in Hyde Park and in other Royal Parks including Regent’s and Greenwich.
Thank you again for your email. I hope this response has gone some way to resolving your concerns.
