The Royal Parks have called for a Regent’s Park cycling route to be removed from sports apps after an 81-year-old woman was killed by a speeding cyclist.
The organisation, which runs some of London’s most loved spaces, has written to GPS app companies requesting the Outer Circle be removed from their tracking devices.
Cyclists often use the apps to record training sessions or time trials over certain distances or routes.
The Royal Parks has also reached out to cycling clubs to remind them they must respect speed limits set for vehicles in the park, the Telegraph reported.
It comes after Hilda Griffiths was killed when she was hit by Brian Fitzgerald, a director at Credit Suisse, cycling at 29mph in the 20mph zone in June 2022.
He was completing timed laps using a Garmin device.
From the collision, the retired nursery teacher suffered bleeding in her brain, vomited blood and sustained several fractures. She died 59 days later.
Police were unable to prosecute the banker because speed limits do not apply to pedal bikes, an inquest heard.
Mrs Griffith’s son Gerard, 52, told the Telegraph more than 35 cycling clubs use Regent’s Park as a “velodrome,” with some cyclists exceeding the 20mph speed limit as they race around.
A Royal Parks spokesman told the newspaper it had launched a review to see how they can keep pedestrians safe and encourage less dangerous cycling in Regent’s Park.
Speed bump crossings that would force cyclists to slow down is one option being considered by charity bosses.
A Royal Parks spokesman said: “We were extremely sorry to hear of the incident which resulted in the death of Hilda Griffiths
“We take visitor safety extremely seriously. The speed limit for motor vehicles in Regent’s Park is 20mph and this is clearly signposted on both the Outer and Inner Circles.
“We are working closely with the police and other partners, notably the Crown Estate Paving Commission, to review if there are any additional measures we can put in place to encourage safe cycling in the park, as we have done in Richmond Park where we have introduced raised crossing points, improved signage and other road infrastructure.”
