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Broken bike (CC licensed image by garryknight, www.flickr.com)Cyclist tells of “guilt” after Richmond Park crash that claimed rider’s life last weekend
A London cyclist has spoken of his “guilt” at not reporting the presence of gravel on a corner in Richmond Park where he came off his bike last month, and where another rider died after a similar crash last weekend.
A 40-year-old man died in the Royal London Hospital after being taken there by air ambulance following a crash in the park last week, when he is believed to have lost control on his bike after skidding on the gravel while descending. He has not yet been officially named.
No other cyclists or vehicles were involved in the incident, but another cyclist, 40-year-old Rene Taylor from Raynes Park, has now come forward to speak of a similar crash he was involved in five weeks ago, reports the Richmond & Twickenham Times.
He told the newspaper: "I was going to meet someone at the Richmond Gate and I went down and everything was fine and at the bottom where it bends, there is gravel which meant I wouldn’t be able to brake.
"I landed on the grass verge and the bike went behind me. Fortunately I was OK but I have been racked with guilt thinking I should have reported the gravel.
"That is the steepest hill in Richmond Park and as the bend goes round, you do pick up speed.
"I just think the roads could do with being cleared up a bit and the gravel taken away."
Tim Lennon from the Richmond Cycling Campaign said that the Royal Parks, which manages Richmond Park, a popular destination for cyclists, needed to examine the road surface in places where people ride.
He said the group was "deeply saddened to hear of the death of a cyclist in Richmond Park and our thoughts are with the victim's family.
"We do regularly hear about incidents in Richmond Park, whether involving cars, bicycles, or pedestrians, and we're keen to work with the Royal Parks to understand the circumstances, and whether this has lessons to be learned for how we all use the park and its facilities,” he went on.
"In particular, it may be that the Royal Parks need to look at the state of the road surface at the edge, where more cyclists tend to be," he added.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Parks commented: "At the moment this is still a police matter so we have nothing further to add."
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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12 comments
first of all I'll say +1to "are you actually correcting someone's grammar on a thread about a fatality"
now I'm not a sign enthusiast - used to live on the edge of the Peak District National Park and always put "take down signs" on the feedback but sometimes signs can be helpful and in the more urban setting don't add clutter
- live in Aus' and one of the local council here uses these signs
when the cycle path switches from paved to gravel - Its a bit like "retain the packaging" but I guess for riders that aren't used to gravel it does try to say think about it
I'm not familiar with Richmond Park but if the gravel is collecting on the bends on a tarmac road then regular sweeping should be carried out. (full stop)
condolences
What is all this negative energy being directed at the Royal Parks for? I cycle down that hill every working day and have done for the past 2 and a half years. a) there is no gravel problem and b) there is no road surface problem - anywhere in the park. Can we not direct our negative energy at more suitable targets?! Our freedom to use the park at all times (except during the deer cull), to ride in large packs and to have cars limited to 20mph is something we should be grateful for. Talk about biting the and that feeds you!
It's a really sad case, and I can understand feeling bad about it for this particular person. But is it realistic to think that gravel on every corner of every bit of road should be expected to be removed? I think that's unrealistic and we should take it as an inherent hazard of cycling. That's my personal view, anyway.
THIS.
I understand the obligation councils and landowners have to keep public road surfaces 'in good repair'. That said, every single time it rains here in our small corner of Hampshire another ton or so of fine gravel, flint and mud is washed onto the roads. There is simply no way on earth councils can hope to remove it.
I organised a sportive in May and Basingstoke Council offered to sweep a notorious stretch of country lane for us. The following week it was back to a skittery mess. Ironically the roads with the most & heaviest traffic are the cleanest, but we don't want to ride on them, do we?
Autumn's here, and about a Bajillion tons of slippery, dark-coloured leaves are about to descend on our roads - particularly the ones through leafy parks.
Edster99 is spot on - slippery surfaces are a fact of life, all we can do is anticipate and ride accordingly. If losing traction on the public highway is going to put you under a bus, over a median barrier or cliff edge or through an intersection then FFS *slow down*. Save the racing for the immaculately-swept, car/cliff/intersection-free crit circuit. Not that I'm saying the deceased was 'racing'. Not at all. You get my point.
* disclaimer: I probably rely too much on tyre robustness / absence of diesel, in search of the thrill. Note to self: you have kids. Slow down.
Dear Royal Parks, get someone down there with a broom and shovel. It's not rocket science. A days work? Community Service people? This isn't an expensive job. And sadly someones lost there life over it.
It's 'their' life you numpty. Understanding the difference between there, their and they're isn't 'rocket science' either.
Are you actually correcting someone's grammar on a thread about a fatality?
Just... wow.
He really should not feel bad. There has been gravel on that corner for many years and Royal Parks would, I hope, be aware. I have never come down there in many years without there being a strip of gravel on the outside of the bend. I have one friend who broke his collarbone there, despite knowing the road very well, this year.
That said, Royal Parks (or whoever is relevant) should consider if they are doing enough to maintain a safe road surface for ALL users.
People come off every day - we all know the risks. No guilt required.
If any guilt is due it's for whoever is responsible for maintaining the road surface.
People come off every day - we all know the risks. No guilt required.
If any guilt is due it's for whoever is responsible for maintaining the road surface.
Eurgh, get the fellow some councilling for survivors' guilt. Doesn't help anyone mate, really.
He shouldn't feel any guilt, many people would have cycled down that road and known of the danger. I know I have seen a pot hole and not reported it.
But it should be a lesson to us all, see a defect or hazzard on the road report it. I have removed bricks and the like before and reported several road faults.