Investigation Reveals Widespread Red-Light Violations by Cyclists in Regent's Park
A shocking investigation by the Daily Mail has found that more than two-thirds of cyclists are ignoring red signals at newly installed traffic lights in Regent's Park, Westminster. This location is where 81-year-old former nurse Hilda Griffiths tragically lost her life while crossing the road with her dog Oscar.
Alarming Statistics from Morning Observation
The newspaper monitored one of three new red-light crossings on the Outer Circle, a nearly perfect 2.7-mile circular road, at 8am on a Wednesday. Of the 75 cyclists who encountered a red light in the Royal Parks during the hour-long study, only 25 obeyed the rules and stopped.
Fifty riders—equivalent to 66.7 percent—disregarded the stop signal by either weaving through crossing pedestrians or waiting for gaps to squeeze through. The investigation also noted that many cyclists, including club riders in full lycra, appeared to be traveling at dangerous speeds exceeding the 20mph limit and repeatedly reoffended as they circled the park.
Tragic Background and Safety Measures
The safety concerns at this location gained prominence after Hilda Griffiths was struck and killed by cyclist Brian Fitzgerald, who was traveling at approximately 29mph in the 20mph zone. Mrs. Griffiths was crossing from Hanover Terrace to the park at 7am on a Saturday morning with her dog Oscar.
Following this incident and ongoing worries that the road was being used by club cyclists competing for fastest lap times using fitness tracking apps like Strava, the Royal Parks introduced three new signal-controlled crossings to improve pedestrian safety.
Enforcement Challenges and Public Outcry
During the Mail's analysis at Kent Passage, no police officers were present, and consequently no fines were issued. Cyclists and motorists face identical on-the-spot penalties of £50 for running red lights, but enforcement appears inconsistent.
Gerard Griffiths, son of the deceased nurse, expressed his frustration, stating that cyclists treat the circular road "like a racetrack." The 53-year-old caretaker emphasized that his mother had every intention of returning home that morning, with her breakfast already laid out on the table.
Additional Incidents and Witness Accounts
Mother-of-three Paola Des Santos, 53, was struck in the exact same location by a peloton cyclist in May 2024, sustaining multiple fractures to her eye socket, jawbone, and cheekbone. The cyclist, Matthew Thornley, was fined £500 and ordered to pay £2,500 in compensation after admitting to reckless riding.
Local residents shared their concerns with investigators. Diana Arnuti, 42, who was carrying her nine-month-old daughter Victoria, reported feeling threatened by cyclists who "do not respect pedestrians" and frequently yell at people to move out of the way.
David Viana, 62, a retired financial services professional who frequently walks in the park, observed that cyclists "repeatedly ignore the red lights" while "going at outrageous speeds." He expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the new crossings, noting that he has crossed on red lights only to have cyclists speed past him.
Cycling Culture and Park Management Response
The investigation documented several instances of reckless behavior, including cyclists running red lights while distracted by phones, cutting off motorists, and speeding through signals when their view of pedestrians was obstructed. Club cyclists often rode in clusters of two to five, keeping their heads down for aerodynamic advantage to improve their lap times.
A Royal Parks spokesperson expressed disappointment at the findings, stating: "We are disappointed to see that many cyclists on the Outer Circle are riding at speed and are breaking the law by cycling straight through red lights. We understand that people like to cycle for exercise, but this is a park environment which is enjoyed by pedestrians as well as road users."
Broader Context and Data
A Freedom of Information request in 2025 revealed that cyclists were more likely to hit and injure pedestrians than motorists in London's eight Royal Parks. Between January 2024 and April 2025, nine pedestrians were struck by cyclists across the parks, while no pedestrians were hit by cars and only two near misses involving vehicles were reported.
The Royal Parks introduced a code of conduct for cyclists in April of the previous year, asking riders to "respect all park visitors" and "control their speed." The charity had also requested that Strava remove the Outer Circle from its app, but the US-based company refused.
Gerard Griffiths concluded that while the Royal Parks have done "everything they can do" to improve safety through infrastructure changes, the responsibility now lies with public authorities to enforce regulations and with cyclists to change their attitudes toward the activity in this shared public space.
