To: Westminster Council
Ban e-bikes along the Serpentine path in Hyde Park
Concerned pedestrians, visitors to Hyde Park and the London skating community call on Westminster Council / Royal Parks to ban e-bikes along the Serpentine path in Hyde Park and designate this area a 'red area' to be used solely by pedestrians, skaters, and non-electric bicycles.
Why is this important?
The Serpentine path in Hyde park is enjoyed by pedestrians, tourtists, and visitors to the festivals and events. It is also an important hub for the London roller skate community, who have come out to their express creativity, community and the joy of skating, every weekend for over 50 years. This is an important grassroots community, of all ages and backgrounds, who are famous worldwide and delight tourists with their tricks and roller dancing.
Lime bikes, Forest Bikes and other rented electric e-bikes are currently completely unregulated. They can be ridden by anyone regardless of cycling ability - they go at speeds of 15 miles an hour (much faster than regular bikes), can be hard to control and are extremely heavy. When ridden along pathways, particularly in London's parks, they are a danger to both skaters and pedestrians.
E-bike riders often speed down the Serpentine path in huge groups, with no regard for pedestrians or skaters, and have become a menace. Several skaters have recently been directly crashed into by these e-bikes and injured. Whilst cycling is an important part of London's transport network, many of these e-bike riders clearly do not have any experience riding a bike, are intoxicated, or riding carelessly or too fast.
From a commuting/transport perspective, there is also no need for e-bikes to use this path, as there is a cycleway directly parallel to the path along South Carriage Drive. This is a road clearly designated for bikes and much safer than them riding along the Serpentine where children and families are walking.
We call on Westminster Council / London Royal Parks to ban these dangerous e-bikes along the Serpentine path, making it a 'red zone' so they can't be ridden or their speed is restricted - and restoring the path as a place of enjoyment and community where pedestrians can walk in safety and skaters can continue to enjoy the community and health benefits of skating without fear of being injured. Many London parks restrict the use of e-bikes along pathways and we urge Westminster Council / Royal Parks to do the same.
Lime bikes, Forest Bikes and other rented electric e-bikes are currently completely unregulated. They can be ridden by anyone regardless of cycling ability - they go at speeds of 15 miles an hour (much faster than regular bikes), can be hard to control and are extremely heavy. When ridden along pathways, particularly in London's parks, they are a danger to both skaters and pedestrians.
E-bike riders often speed down the Serpentine path in huge groups, with no regard for pedestrians or skaters, and have become a menace. Several skaters have recently been directly crashed into by these e-bikes and injured. Whilst cycling is an important part of London's transport network, many of these e-bike riders clearly do not have any experience riding a bike, are intoxicated, or riding carelessly or too fast.
From a commuting/transport perspective, there is also no need for e-bikes to use this path, as there is a cycleway directly parallel to the path along South Carriage Drive. This is a road clearly designated for bikes and much safer than them riding along the Serpentine where children and families are walking.
We call on Westminster Council / London Royal Parks to ban these dangerous e-bikes along the Serpentine path, making it a 'red zone' so they can't be ridden or their speed is restricted - and restoring the path as a place of enjoyment and community where pedestrians can walk in safety and skaters can continue to enjoy the community and health benefits of skating without fear of being injured. Many London parks restrict the use of e-bikes along pathways and we urge Westminster Council / Royal Parks to do the same.
