Forum Topic

Rude people towards cyclists in lammas park

A friend of mine was cycling today in Lammas park. Not fast, just leisurely and enjoying the views.He encountered so many rude people who told him to ride on the road or get on the grass or told him to get lost.Why are there so many angry people around?What is the law regarding cycling in parks? If it is allowed, then why are people so blatantly rude. It seems we live in a society where tolerance of any kind is at an extreme low.What can we as citizens of Ealing do to make people more polite towards one another. Remember the park is for everyone but there are some people who think it is solely for their own use.

Asha Smith ● 4538d12 Comments

that is great clarification Anne.There is some parks in London you are not allowed to cycle in, however it's well signed that cycling is now allowed at every gate! I know some of the Central London ones and Royal Parks forbid it in either the entire park or just areas of it. In some of them police will cycle up to you and ask you to dismount or get a fine!If there is no sign at the gate to say that, then it must be allowed and people are just being rude

Daniel John ● 4533d

Thank goodness for our beautiful parks, How would children learn their cycling skills safely. Playing on their bikes in the park is essential before they are let onto the road.

Kim Rugg ● 4535d

When I was a lad growing up in a far off distant land (Lincolnshire) to cycle through a park was to risk being literally chased by a park keeper.I therefore grew up with the notion that it was illegal per se to ride bicycles in parks but as has been noted elsewhere in this thread it is a matter of what the local bylaws have to say on the matter that counts.I suspect that I am not alone by any means in this formative experience.I also suspect that, like me until recently, many remain unaware of the recent (2006) change in the bylaws to allow cycling in Ealing's parks.  Hence the irritation that they may be inclined to show towards those that are.Curiously, despite my strong objections to cyclists riding on pavements I do not recall ever having been annoyed by anybody cycling in the Ealing parks even though I always imagined that it was "illegal".  Perhaps one gets a better class of cyclist in the parks.  :-)

Tony Colliver ● 4535d

A full council meeting in 2006 rescinded the bye laws in Ealing that stopped cyclists from cycling in parks. The bye law concerned the open spaces in Ealing. This meant that since then it has not been illegal under the Ealing Council bye laws to cycle in parks, on allotments, and sports grounds. These all are covered by the term open space.The removal of this bye law does not affect national laws created by government that make pavement cycling illegal.

Anne Reddy ● 4537d

"Why are there so many angry people around?"I agree with the comments about Eastenders and also think newspapers like the Daily Mail foster discourtesy and inappropriate judgement of others.The Mail, in my opinion, picks on a topic, isolates the most salacious aspects of it and pontificates from its high horse.  Articles are short on detail and long on opinion, appealing to those looking for black and white clarity on issues, whether or not this exists.A few years ago, my aunt, an avid Mail reader, was shocked to learn that the paper had apparently paid a dentist £50,000 directly.  This was for a couple of pictures of him and his wife and was used to accompany a diatribe about how awful it was that he was from a different country and his spoken English was poor.  She applauded the content of the article but was appalled he had, effectively, been paid for it.  She was angry with the Mail and the dentist!

Phil Kay ● 4538d

I've not cycled around Lammas park but frequently do around Gunnersbury for fitness. I've had the odd run in with dog walkers but in general I try to be courteous and civil to them and receive the same in response. If your friend encountered "so many rude people" I'm forced to deduce they weren't cycling with due care for other users.I had to laugh, Asha. In the same post you say why can't people be more tolerant, less rude and less angry. What came to my mind are horrendous TV programmes such as Eastenders. I haven't watched it for years but whenever I see trailers or happen to flick onto it scanning channels there's ALWAYS someone slagging someone else off or shouting or threatening. In my view its dire programmes such as this that are contributing factors to the awful attitude in this country.  Then I saw your second post about Eastenders! Just seems funny that on the one hand you're complaining about poor attitudes whilst on the other you're clearly an avid viewer of one of the most depressing programmes ever created.

Chris Bennett ● 4538d

We've lived between Lammas Park and Walpole Park for many decades and we use both parks frequently(almost every day). We've never heard of or witnessed squabbles between walkers and cyclists. Cyclists are usually well behaved and considerate.

Gerry Tan ● 4538d

In more than 5 years of walking through Lammas Park I've never seen or heard any cyclists in Lammas Park being told to cycle elsewhere, or rude people, so I'm personally a bit dubious about the account given by a "friend".

Chris Martin ● 4538d

The law is that cyclists are not allowed to cycle on a footpath alongside a road, unless indicated otherwise. Chelsea embankment for instance has a shared cyclist/pedestrian footpath.Cyclist are allowed to cycle on paths not alongside a road unless indicated otherwise by no cycling signs or bylaws.

Paul James ● 4538d

"Why are there so many angry people around?"Maybe they've been reading too many of Tony Purton's posts on this forum. I agree with you, more politeness, empathy and thoughtfulness towards others are what we need.

Emily Heath ● 4538d

If cyclists are using the paths in parks with no inconvenience to other users of the park,  I don't see any problem.

Nigel Brooks ● 4538d

I was told that you can ride in a park as long as there are no signs telling you not to.

Margaret Wittich ● 4538d