Greenwich Park - new gates

Pangur Ban

I commute by bicycle from Charlton to central London several times a week and ride through Greenwich Park from Blackheath to Greenwich to avoid the busy local roads and steep hills, using the Vanburgh Hill access gate.

Last evening the Vanbrugh Hill gate was closed and this morning I discover the reason – new gates, clearly designed to enforce cyclists to dismount as they are required to. I recognise that the old barrier did not enforce this requirement and in the past witnessed a number of uncomfortable encounters between cyclists and pedestrians so I accept there was a need to replace the old barrier with a more effective deterrent, though it's another case of the majority of sensible users being incovenienced by a minority of thoughtless ones.

However, the Park have now created a problem by putting in place a gate that is too short to actually easily get a bicycle around it. This morning some cyclists were lifting their bikes over the gate but I cannot do this due to back problems and this is hardly a safe option if the bike should be dropped. When I wheeled my bike into the space provided and tried to pull the gate across, there was insufficient room. I ended up having to lift the front wheel of the bike upright, which again was not exactly good for my back, nor my bike and not safe if the bike had fallen.

I've emailed 'cycle@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk' to request they re-site the gates to allow bikes to be wheeled through more easily - can I suggest others do the same if you agree with me. I've also emailed Greenwich Cyclists.

Many thanks
Pangur Ban

saveswalking

Hi Pangur Ban

I encountered green metal gates at the top of Maze Hill entrance this morning where over the last few years there has been a random police presense. They would stop cyclists cycling the 22ish yards to the cycle lane in the park but of course most people ignored the 'Cyclists Dismount' sign if the police weren't there. The design of the 'gates' ( a sort of syphon) appears deliberately chosen to make if difficult/impossible to get your bike through. Spiteful ?
I ended up going down Maze Hill (with speed humps) to get into Greenwich and will now have to consider alternative routes. I like that park (why only 2 days ago I was fixing a puncture under the bandstand in the pouring rain ).
I will contact Royal Parks (but they are a law unto themselves) and Greenwich Cyclists have a rep on the 'Friends of Greenwich Park' society.
As I didn't go through the park this morning I'm not aware of the state of the other entrances/exits - will check this evening.

sw

sc999cs

How do the gates affect disabled people? If a wheel chair couldn't be easily manoeuvred through the gate then it could be possible to complain about the gate design on those grounds.

Steve C

saveswalking

sc999cs wrote:

How do the gates affect disabled people? If a wheel chair couldn't be easily manoeuvred through the gate then it could be possible to complain about the gate design on those grounds.

Steve C

Thats a very good point.
A wheelchair user would have the same problem as the metal gate has been hung so as to swing shut so you need at least one hand to hold the gate open enough to pass/weave through. I came through the park this evening to exit here and I ended up lifting the bike over the fence part which I reckon is 4 foot high.
Someone deserves a medal for thinking up this spiteful piece of 'engineering' - well done! :twisted:
Its a shame the concrete is set now cos it needs ripping out. I'll get some pics tomorrow which may describe this better.

sw

Pangur Ban

The design is appalling - I also think it will cause problems for lots of other park users too, such as those with pushchairs (significant users of any park). At busy times there will also be a queue of people coming in and leaving the park.

SW - they are the gates I am referring to, don't know about other exits. I'll let you know when (if) I hear from the Royal Parks.

Pangur Ban.

Pangur Ban

Interestingly, this morning there were three Met Police officers observing the usage of the gates, predominantly by cyclists. Talking to them, it seems that there has been a large negative response to the gate design which is causing problems for many users of the Park, not only cyclists. Whilst I was there a chap from a local group was saying how difficult the gates are for wheelchair users.

There was certainly sympathy from the police officers there about the poor design of the gates, though why it needed three of them I really don't know.

I've also had a reply from the Royal Parks, pretty vague but my comments have at least been recognised.

Pangur Ban

saveswalking

Yes - this morning 3 police officers ( max I've seen is 5 but then it was a nicer day weather wise :roll: )
Yesterday morning there was a lady from Greenwich Cyclists observing. I spoke to her and she said they'd had a lot of comments regarding this problem.
We wait and see ....

That section of the cycle path 'network' in the Park could well become redundant if the entrance/exit puts people off.

sw

attica

Is this the same park that I departed from when taking part in the British Cyclosportive last year?

A lovely park and very cycle friendly when I was there, how sad that councils feel the need to do this.

Pangur Ban

Good news - they have already changed the gates! The simple removal of an unnecessary barrier has significantly enhanced the usability of the gates and you no longer have to carry or lift your bike over them.

We have our cycle route back!