§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many accidents caused by cyclists there have been on the Hyde Park cycle way since it was opened. [131998]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthResponsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, William Weston. I have asked them to arrange for a reply to be given.
598WLetter from William Weston to Mr. Bernard Jenkin, dated 25 July 2000:
I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of accidents caused by cyclists on the Hyde Park cycle way since it was opened.I am afraid I am unable to give you the information you have asked for. We keep a record of accidents involving injury to park users that are reported to the park manager or the Royal Parks Constabulary. The police do not investigate the cause of an accident on the cycle way unless there is evidence (or an accusation) that the cyclist was riding recklessly or dangerously, in which case the police would consider reporting the cyclist for prosecution.The original cycle route in Hyde Park was opened in 1975 and records are no longer available for earlier years. We have no record of anyone being reported for prosecution for dangerous cycling as a result of an accident since the Royal Parks Agency came into existence in 1993.