Ningi wrote:

I was going to ask about this. The 20mph speed limit in Richmond Park
has bee introduced, and when cars stick to it, it makes it dangerous for
some cyclists as they're now needing to overtake cars on a regular
basis. A copper informed a friend of mine that the speed limit DID
apply to cyclists and they would start to enforce it.

Anybody have and less anecdotal information?


The copper is right.

The roads in the Royal Parks are not public highways but Park Roads. The use
of the Park is covered by the Royal Park and Other Open Spaces Regulations
1997. Section 4(28) says written permission is required to:

(28) drive or ride any vehicle on a Park road in excess of the speed specified
in relation to that road in Part II of Schedule 2 to these Regulations;

Schedule 2 says:

Speeds at which vehicles may be driven or ridden on a Park road

1. On the Park roads in Bushy Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park (except for
the Serpentine Road), The Regent's Park, Richmond Park and St. James's and The
Green Parks, at a speed not exceeding 30 m.p.h.

2. On the Serpentine Road in Hyde Park, and on the Park road from
Kingston Gate leading to the Home Park Golf Club in Hampton Court Park, at a
speed not exceeding 15 m.p.h.

3. On any Park road (other than one mentioned in paragraphs 1 or 2 above)
at a speed not exceeding 10 m.p.h.

For Richmond Park the speed limit was reduced from 30mph to 20mph from 10 May
2004 by the Royal Park and Open Spaces (Amendment) Regulations 2004

It is legally enforcable by the Royal Parks Constabulary (who are separate
from the Metropolitan Police and report to the Royal Parks Agency, not the
Home Office)

Tony