Alan Bennett on the Broad Walk

Anne Boston interviewed Alan Bennett and produced the following press release.

ALAN BENNETT

‘There’s plenty of room for everybody on the Broad Walk,’ said Alan Bennett. The elusive writer, Camden cyclist and National Treasure exceptionally joined Camden Cycling Campaign (CCC) on Regent’s Park Broad Walk where a Cycle and Pedestrian Shared-Use scheme is on trial for eighteen months. An earlier three-month trial was deemed inconclusive because not enough cyclists had used the route. Regent’s Park is the latest of London’s royal parks to permit cycling.

Mr Bennett, who has expressed the modest ambition to see cyclists allowed to pedal through Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park in his lifetime, welcomed cycling access to the Broad Walk which he uses on the way to the BBC in Portland Place. ‘I’m a very gentle cyclist anyway, so speed limits don’t apply to me. I hope they’ll do the last bit through Marylebone Green’ (which would allow cyclists to continue through the park as far as Marylebone Road).

He has cycled in London for forty years ever since he commuted by bike to perform in the smash hit revue Beyond the Fringe with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Jonathan Miller. These days he always wears a helmet and admits to finding city cycling more dangerous.

‘It seems to me the cars are getting faster,’ he told CCC. ‘Even the traffic on the Outer Circle round Regent’s Park is often speeding.’ There are no speed traps on the Outer Circle. Yet a friend of his who cycled across the empty park at 7.30 a.m. had been stopped and fined. ‘It’s monstrous and inequitable,’ he said.

He would like to see a ‘less grudging, more imaginative attitude’ from London transport authorities towards cyclists, especially since his recent visit to Sweden where he was amazed by ‘the primacy given to pedestrians and cyclists’. Cycling in Regent’s Park has had ministerial approval and Government policy is to encourage cycling through the parks, but stringent trial criteria must still be met before Alan Bennett and fellow cyclists are entitled to ride on the Broad Walk on a permanent basis.

Photo to accompany press release

Lionel Shapiro made arrangements for the photo below which was taken by Robert Workman Robert Walkman website

Evening Standard, 24th October 2008

The Evening Standard published an article using our photograph as part of their Safer Cycling Campaign.

See Evening Standard website

Playwright makes plea on cycle paths Rashid Razaq 24.10.08

ALAN Bennett is backing a campaign to extend cycle paths through all London's Royal Parks after his friend was fined for cycling illegally.

The award-winning playwright criticised the parks' restrictions on cyclists as "monstrous and inequitable" and backed calls for Regent's Park and neighbouring Primrose Hill to be fully opened up.

The 74-year-old cycles through Regent's Park going from his Camden home to BBC Broadcasting House in Marylebone. He said cyclists should be able to take the pedestrian paths for safety reasons as cars often speed on the road cicrling the park.

"I've cycled in London for 40 years and I'd like to be able to cycle through Primrose Hill and Regent's Park without the threat of prosecution within my lifetime.

"It seems to me the cars are getting faster. The traffic on the Outer Circle is often speeding and there are no speed traps.

"But a friend of mine who was cycling across the empty park recently at 7.30am was stopped and fined. It's monstrous and inequitable," he said.

The History Boys writer revealed he has cycled through the capital since the early Sixties, when he would commute by bike to the West End to perform in Beyond the Fringe with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, however he is finding the task increasingly hazardous.

"I've recently been in Sweden where there is a much more imaginative attitude. The primacy given to pedestrians and cyclists, without the grudging, was amazing."

Bennett spoke out to support the Camden Cycling Campaign, which is appealing for the current shared-use cycle trial of the Broad Walk (the main north to south path through Regent's Park) to be made permanent and for other paths to also be opened up to create more direct routes for bikes.

An 18-month Broad Walk cycle trial was launched in August and runs until 2010. It comes after a three-month trial last year proved inconclusive, partly because too few cyclists used the route.

Bennett said: "There's plenty of room for everybody on the Broad Walk. I'm a very gentle cyclist anyway so speed limits don't apply. I hope they'll do the last bit through Marylebone Green" (the south-east path leading to York Gate).

Anne Boston, of Camden Cycling Campaign, said: "We need to raise awareness that the Broad Walk is now open to cyclists.

"It would be great to see it remain open on a permanent basis, but more of the park could be opened up. It would be much quicker and safer for cyclists if we could cut across.

"We understand walkers need their peace and quiet so we're not asking for all the paths to be made accessible to cyclists, but the Royal Parks should be open to all users."

The Royal Parks Regent's Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, St James's Park, Greenwich Park, Bushy Park and Richmond Park have been permitting greater cyclist usage in recent years, except Primrose Hill, which is part of Regent's Park.

A Royal Parks spokeswoman said: "We are keen to promote cycling within green spaces as it is both healthy and sustainable. If the results of the trial are positive then the Broad Walk will become a shared-use route on a permanent basis."

She added that opening other routes would be considered after the Broad Walk trial's results were published in February 2010.

Ham and High 30th October 2008

The Ham and High carried a full page news item and big picture of Alan Bennett based on Anne Boston's press release (page 33).

Have a look at Ham High website

RENOWNED author and lifelong cyclist Alan Bennett wants cycling in Regent's Park to be made safer and permanent.

He has joined the Camden Cycling Campaign, which is pedalling a head with a crusade to get bikes permitted on a small number of routes in the park.

The group also wants changes made to the outer circle in a bid to improve safety for cyclists and walkers - including pedestrianising the area outside the zoo.

Royal Parks is currently running an 18-month pilot cyclist-pedestrian shared-use scheme on the Broad Walk, which runs through the middle of the park.

"There's plenty of room for everybody on the Broad Walk," said Camden Town resident Mr Bennett, who has cycled in London for 40 years ever since he commuted by bike to perform in the smash hit Beyond The Fringe.

"I'm a very gentle cyclist anyway, so speed limits don't apply to me. I hope they'll do the last bit through Marylebone Green, which would allow cyclists to continue through the park as far as Marylebone Road.

"It seems to me the cars are getting faster. Even the traffic on the outer circle around Regent's Park is often speeding."

There ar e no speed traps on the outer circle, but a friend of Mr Bennett's who cycled across the empty park at 7.30am was stopped and fined. "It's monstrous and inequitable," he said.

In addition to the Broad Walk, the campaigners want more paths in the park made accessible to bikes.

Mr Bennett, known for works such as Untold Stories and The History Boys, wants to be allowed to pedal through Primrose Hill and Regent's Park without the threat of prosecution.

He has welcomed the pilot scheme, which he now uses on the way to the BBC in Portland Place, but wants "a less grudging, more imaginative attitude" from the capital's transport authorities towards cyclists.

But not everyone is content with the new scheme and there are fears it could lead to increased danger for pedestrians and dogs. Chairman of the Friends of Regent's Park, Malcolm Kafetz, said: "The place cyclists are allowed at the moment on the trial does not lead anywhere - it is not worth it.

"There were four dog deaths in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, which I feel shows you cannot trust the cyclists.

"I think it is an unnecessary risk mixing dangerous cyclists with children and the elderly. We have a perfectly good inner and outer circle that the cyclists can easily use.

"I do not want belligerent cyclists who seem to think it is fine riding close to people - I do not like it. Many of them seem to think they own the earth. The whole thing is pointless."

Royal Parks conducted a three-month trial earlier this year on the Broad Walk that proved inconclusive because not enough cyclists used the route.

It launched another 18-month trial in August - at the end of which a decision will be made about making cycling in Regent's Park permanent.

Ruth Holmes, landscape development and design manager for The Royal Parks, said: "We aim to balance the needs of all our visitors so have selected a shared-use cycle and pedestrian pat hway for the trial.

"We hope the route will provide a safe and green environment for cyclists and an ideal place for learner cyclists to practise.

Camden New Journal

On 23 October, published an article based on Anne's press release and using the above photo and entitled: Author's Anger as Cyclists are driven beyond the fringe.

He is one of Britain's leading playwrights and a 74-yearold man of letters who stll cycles every day across Regents Park on his way to the BBC, writes Simon Wroe.

Now Alan Bennett writer of the award-winning History Boys, is fighting to stay on his bike in the Park - the last of London's Royal parks to allow cycling apart from Primrose Hill.

The reclusive writer. who lives in camden town, has given vocal support to camden Cycling campaign (CCC), which insists that cyclists should be allowed to cycle on the Broad walk.

Mr Bennett said he would like to see a "less grudging, more imaginitive" attitude from transport bosses.

"There's plenty of room for everybody on the Broad Walk. I'ma very gentle cyclist anyway, so speed limits don't apply to me", he added.

A shared-use shem for pedestrians and cyclists is currently on trial in the tree-lined avenue.

Park chiefs will decide if the cycleway will be made permanant after 18 months.

Mr Bennett began commuting by bike 40 years ago when he was performing Beyond the Fringe with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Jonathan Miller.

Cars in London had got faster over the years, he said, adding that the traffic in Regent's Park Outer Circle was "monstrous and inequitable".

Anne and Lionel were angry with the title of the article and it's impression that Alan Bennet was angry, when in fact, he was pleased with the trial.

Their letters were published in CNJ on 30th October 2008 under the heading: "Carry on Cycling".

Dear Editor

I think it is wonderful that Alan Bennett can at last cycle lawfully in Regents Park's Broad Walk. It is great that the Royal Parks have agreed to the extended second trial of cycling there, as it is a really charming place to cycle, with no problems sharing the wide space with pedestrians.

Although your article seemed to say that the Royal Parks oppose this sort of thing, in fact they are very pleased to permit it. In fact, they want more and more cyclists to continue riding there in order to justify their decision: if not enough cyclists use the space, the Parks people may decide to shut it down.

So cyclists, please use the Broad Walk! It's a calming joyful space! Children will find it especially good as it is just hilly enough to give some free-wheeling, but not too hard to go back up.

I congratulate the Royal Parks and Camden Cycling Campaign for the co-operative way in which they have negotiated this trial.

Lionel Shapiro

Dear Editor

It was good to see that you ran the picture of Alan Bennett looking delighted to be pedalling on Regent’s Park Broad Walk, but it didn’t match the words (‘Author’s Anger As Cyclists Are Driven Beyond the Fringe’, 23.10.08).

Far from being ‘angry’ with the situation Mr Bennett kindly agreed to be photographed beside The Royal Parks’ poster welcoming the Cycling/Pedestrian Shared Use scheme on the Broad Walk during an eighteen-month trial.

A previous short trial was deemed inconclusive because not enough cyclists had used the route. Mr Bennett, who has expressed the modest wish to be able to cycle through Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill without threat of prosecution during his lifetime, accepted Camden Cycling Campaign’s request to help publicize safe and considerate cycling on the Broad Walk during the trial.

Anne Boston