REGENT’S PARK RIDE ETIQUETTE
Islington Cycling Club is a friendly and diverse North London cycling club offering fun and social riding for all. Our regular RP club rides are fun and intended to offer something for everyone, whether it's social laps before a coffee and a bun, or training laps for those with training or racing goals. You can find more about our club values here and our club rides here.
Regent’s Park is a busy environment used by pedestrians and cyclists as well as cyclists. Cycling in Regent’s Park is a privilege, and we should respect all park users – particularly pedestrians whose safety is our collective responsibility. These additions to our regular Ride Etiquette are designed to make sure that everyone can safely enjoy our favourite London park on two wheels and that we can set an example of good cycling to other riders.
Please pay particular attention to these key points, which are enlarged on below:
Groups should be no larger than 12 riding two abreast. For chain gangs we recommend a maximum of 8 and for pacelines a maximum of 6.
NEVER run red lights.
Be vigilant around frequent crossing points at traffic islands – NEVER cycle on the wrong side of the traffic island as pedestrians will not be expecting this and may step out.
Judge the situation in terms of speed, other riders, cars and pedestrians. On a sunny weekend afternoon, you cannot cycle like it’s 6am!
Always pass safely. When overtaking other cyclists, leave enough space and don’t “box them in” with your own group.
Ride at a speed which is safe to the conditions. Do not take part in organised races, time trials or other activities which encourage riding faster than might be safe.
Lead by example and call out bad behaviour – for both ICC and non-ICC riders.
Specific Regent’s Park considerations
We aim to have a pre-ride briefing on Saturdays and with larger groups to welcome new members, give safety reminders and help organise groups by pace: fastest to the right, slowest to the left (viewing the zoo from the road). We may also use this to make club announcements. Please help us ensure that everyone pays attention.
Within each group have a brief discussion to agree:
Planned pace and maximum group size
If training laps (drop) or chat laps (non-drop)
Coffee timing and destination
If training laps, agree a structure to the ride (chain gang / paceline), including warmup lap. If a chain gang or paceline formation is to be used, confirm whether anyone in the group is new to this type of riding, as well as their general group riding experience.
All riders in the group are responsible for ensuring good cycling and that Ride Etiquette is observed. This includes making sure the group does not go above maximum size and feeding back on examples of both good and poor riding. Consider formally nominating a ride leader for beginner laps, or less experienced riders doing training laps.
If several groups are starting at the same time slower groups should let faster groups start first. This will help to avoid congestion.
If a rider is late to the meeting point at the zoo, they should only join a group that is less than the recommended maximum size and check in with other group members if it is OK to join.
On Saturday mornings or other busy times, consider going clockwise: 90% of cyclists go around Regent’s Park counter-clockwise so if you want a less congested ride this is a great option!
Wearing club kit is encouraged so it is clear to others that we are an ICC group riding together
Consider detouring to the inner circle to shake off non-ICC hangers on. If necessary stop your group if it becomes too large.
Consider a post-ride debrief, either in person or over WhatsApp, to discuss what went well and what could be improved.
Traffic lights
• It is not ok to jump a red light, ever. When in a group, riders on the front must bear in mind that they may have up to 6 other riders behind them. Therefore, when approaching traffic lights, groups should observe the Highway Code. AMBER means ‘Stop’ at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident". Call out early and clearly your intention to stop.
• When stopping at traffic lights, riders should remain in formation, whether that is 2-up, chain-gang or pace-line and not bunch up round other riders and groups.
Overtaking
• Be mindful that you are over-taking in a group and not by yourself. Bear in mind that in groups of 6 and up you are about the size and speed of a car and think about what effect that may have on someone you are passing.
• Do not weave in and out of traffic or other cyclists, wait patiently for a safe opportunity to pass and do so steadily and calmly.
• Do not over-take turning left at physician’s corner or where traffic stops on the right to turn into Baker Street.
• Avoid over-taking at the pinch points where traffic islands narrow the road.
• When passing other cyclists, whether they are in a group or on their own, riders on the front should:
1. Call clearly their intention to overtake - important for both the overtaking and overtaken group.
2. Give them enough room – make sure to call the side that you are passing on before doing so and then pass with enough of a gap between you that they don’t feel crowded.
3. Stay out wide for at least 3 bike lengths once you have passed them to allow for the riders behind you to continue passing with enough space between them and the cyclist or group of cyclists you are passing. Those behind should do the same. Make sure to check over your shoulder before moving in. (Remember, not everyone cycling round the park will be as experienced or confident on their bike as you. It may be some riders’ first time at the park and their first experience of cyclists in large groups, so be kind.)
4. Overtake at a speed at least 2-3kph faster than the cyclists you are overtaking, and continue at this speed until you are completely clear of the passed group.
• If you are not going to overtake a group in front sit back so the groups do not merge.
Group Size
• For safety and to make it easier for other groups and motorists to pass, groups should not be more than six riders in a line or more than 2 abreast.
• 2-up groups should be restricted to a maximum of 12 riders.
• Chain gangs should be restricted to groups of a maximum of 8 riders. o Remember to call out “last rider” when you move from the left-hand line to the right-hand line of riders - this lets the rider in front know when they need to start moving over (helping them save energy), but also makes it harder for non-club riders to join your group.
o Remember to call “clear” when changing over on the front only when the rider's wheel is clear of your own and so that they know that it is safe.
o If you’re unable to maintain the pace, please let the group know and drop off. You’ll have got a good training session in either way and this significantly reduces the risk that you will disrupt the pace on the front so much that you make it dangerous for other riders and yourself (through surging and sudden breaking).
o Please make sure that group is aware if you have never ridden in chain gang formation before.
• Pacelines should be restricted to groups of a maximum of 6 riders. o Riders should communicate clearly, before the paceline starts, which side riders should peel off on and whether a normal or reverse paceline is being used.
o If you’re unable to maintain the pace, please let the group know and drop off. You’ll have got a good training session in either way and this significantly reduces the risk that you will disrupt the pace on the front so much that you make it dangerous for other riders and yourself (through surging and sudden breaking).
o As above and again, please make sure that the group is aware if you have never ridden a paceline formation before.
• Latecomers should check in with the group and only join if it has not reached maximum numbers.
• Group members should politely ask newcomers to drop off if the group has reached maximum numbers or if they are not club members.
General
• All members of the group are responsible for following Ride Etiquette,
• Group riding signals still apply in Regents Park - see our Group Riding Guide for a refresher.
• Be mindful of other road users - when riding two-up keep the two lines as close together as is safe to avoid blocking the road for other users.
• Finally, whether you are riding 2-up, chain-gang or paceline, please ride within your limits. Fatigue is most often the cause of crashes in groups of cyclists and can result in a clip of wheels, a missed pot-hole or a loss of concentration that could cause significant harm to yourself and other riders in your group.