The Royal Parks: Review of the Regent’s Park Broad Walk Shared Use Route

We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with The Royal Parks as this built on similar work we had done previously with Transport for London, on Cycling on Greenways, and with City of London Corporation, on pathways on Hampstead Heath.

The previously pedestrianised Broad Walk in Regent’s Park will now be open to shared use with cyclists and wheelchair users on a trial basis for 18 months. The trial is part of the Cycling on Greenways programme and forms part of Transport for London’s Cycling, Walking and Accessibility initiative. The aim of the programme is to improve conditions for cyclists and other park users, encouraging more people to access and enjoy London’s green spaces.

Equality Works was commissioned by the Royal Parks to carry out consultation on the shared use trial. Our understanding of the project was that the consultation process required a qualitative piece of work – almost ‘action research’ – rather than simply a sample of those who might be affected. The starting point for recruitment was existing stakeholder groups, such as voluntary organisations, local schools or sports groups. However, we recognised that this might not deliver a suitable reference group as some vulnerable users are not, almost by definition, in touch with organised groups, or well represented by them. Royal Parks were keen to ensure they consulted with as diverse a group as possible so this became an essential part of our remit.

Recruiting for our reference group took place over a three month period from October 2008 to January 2009 and involved the following activities:

• We worked closely with staff at The Regents Park and, through conducting desk research, we have been able to identify and contact over 40 different organisations through which to distribute information and invite participation;
• We spent three days in the park and local area distributing information directly about the consultation exercise to park users and other local organisations;
• We put up information flyers at several locations around the park; and
• We used the Broad Walk awareness day on 11 October to directly engage with interested users.

As a result of this outreach we were able to assemble a consultation group of 32 park users, 12 of whom attended the first focus group meeting in January. There were a number of useful points raised during the discussions at this meeting and we will be trying to build on this by encouraging as many as possible of the 32 to attend at the next meetings in March and May. The final outcome of the consultation process will feed into the decision making around the success of the Broad Walk trial and help determine how shared use routes can be implemented in the future. Our ability to facilitate consultation across diverse groups not only supports this project but helps implement TfL’s strategic aim of ensuring equitable transport provision for all who live and work in London.