Cyclists will face three new sets of traffic lights on the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park in a bid to improve safety, The Royal Parks charity announced yesterday.
Royal Parks said work has already begun to install the three pedestrian crossings on the road, which is one of London’s most popular cycling routes. Work is due to be completed by the spring.
The new crossing will be at three locations on the 2.7-mile road: Monkey Hill Gate, Chester Gate and Kent Passage.
Cyclists who are caught jumping the traffic lights will face a £50 on-the-spot fine.
The project is jointly funded by the Royal Parks and the Crown Estate Paving Commission (CEPC). It is part of a set of measures to reduce the risk of collisions between pedestrians and other road users, following a series of crashes and incidents.
In June 2022, Hilda Griffiths, 81, died two months after being hit by a cyclist while crossing the Outer Circle with her dog. The cyclist was not prosecuted.
Another dog walker was injured in May 2024.
The Royal Parks launched a ‘considerate cycling’ campaign in April 2025, following several incidents in the eight London green spaces it manages. The campaign revealed that 72 per cent of London pedestrians had witnessed or experienced a near miss with a cyclist. 86 per cent thought the 20mph vehicle speed limit should apply to bicycles, which are currently exempt.
Darren Share, The Royal Parks director of Parks, says it is “vital” green urban spaces such as Regent’s Park “remain safe and welcoming for everyone”.
“The installation of new, signalised pedestrian crossings on the Outer Circle is an important step in improving safety and helping people move around the park with greater confidence,” says Share.
“The Royal parks are shared spaces, and we all have a role to play. By encouraging road users to slow down, respect speed limits and be considerate of others, alongside making practical improvements like these crossings, we hope to foster a culture of mutual respect and create a safer, more enjoyable experience for all visitors.”
The Royal Parks previously asked Strava to remove segments from Regent’s Park. When asked by BikeRadar if it intends to do this, Strava declined to comment.
Ahead of the crossings being installed, the CEPC said it had engaged with local authorities, residents, community groups, members of the public and Transport for London.
Nick Packard, director of the CEPC, says: “This project forms part of the CEPC’s key strategic priority to improve pedestrian safety on the Outer Circle and aims to respond directly to concerns raised by CEPC ratepayers.
“By investing in high-quality, well-designed infrastructure and subsequently monitoring its impact, we are supporting safer movement through the wider Regent’s Park estate. We are grateful for the collaboration of The Royal Parks in facilitating these changes to the Outer Circle.”
Sarah McMonagle, director of external affairs at Cycling UK, says additional measures to make public spaces safer are welcome, but that the greatest danger to pedestrians comes from people driving.
“Our parks and green spaces are for everyone to enjoy safely, regardless of whether we’re riding a bike or on foot. While we need to continue to encourage greater respect and consideration towards each other on our roads, the focus needs to shift to reducing car incidents. That’s where we can have the greatest impact in terms of increasing safety,” McMonagle says.
Transport for London’s most recent casualty statistics revealed that 110 people were killed on London’s roads in 2024.
“Cars continued to be involved in most collisions that killed or seriously injured someone else in 2024. Excess speed remains one of the biggest risks to road users, with around half of the 2024 fatal collisions in London reporting speed as a contributory factor,” TfL said.
