By ISABELLA MACHIN, TRAINEE REPORTER
More than two thirds of cyclists are running a red signal at newly installed traffic lights where an elderly nurse died.
The Daily Mail investigated one of three new red-light crossings on Regent's Park's Outer Circle, a near perfect 2.7-mile-long circular road in Westminster, at 8am on a Wednesday.
Of the 75 cyclists who were faced with a red light in the Royal Parks, only 25 of them abided by the rules and stopped during the hour of the study.
Fifty of the riders - equivalent to 66.7 per cent - ignored the stop sign by weaving through crossing pedestrians or waiting for a gap to appear for them to squeeze through.
This spot is where 81-year-old Hilda Griffiths was killed as she was crossing the road with her dog Oscar.
During the Mail's investigation, many of the cyclists, who included club cyclists in full lycra, travelled at a dangerous speed seemingly over the 20mph limit and repeatedly reoffended as they looped around the park.
Three new crossings were introduced by the Royal Parks in attempts to improve pedestrian safety following concerns the road was being used by club cyclists to compete for the fastest lap times, using fitness tracking apps such as Strava.
Cyclists and motorists face the same on-the-spot fine of £50 by police if they are caught running a red light.
Former nurse Hilda Griffiths, 81, (pictured) died after she was hit by cyclist Brian Fitzgerald in Regent's Park while walking her dog Oscar
Mrs Griffiths son, Gerard, pictured with his mum outside of her church in Battersea, said the road is being treated like a 'racetrack'
Of the 75 cyclists who were faced with a red light in the Royal Parks, 50 of them went through a red light
No police were present during the paper's analysis at Kent Passage and therefore no fines were given.
One motorist ignored the red light and drove through it.
The safety of civilians in the park was brought to the fore after former nurse Hilda Griffiths, 81, died after Brian Fitzgerald struck her at around 29mph in the 20mph zone.
Mrs Griffiths was crossing the road from Hanover Terrace to the park at 7am on a Saturday with her dog Oscar.
Mr Fitzgerald, a Credit Suisse director and member of the Muswell Hill Peloton cycling club, could not be prosecuted by police as 'there were no criminal Acts' that could be applied to cyclists who speed.
Mrs Griffiths's son, Gerard, told the Daily Mail cyclists are treating the circular road where his mother was hit like a 'racetrack'.
The 53-year-old caretaker said: 'The cyclists are treating it like a racetrack. It is not a racetrack or a playground, the playground is inside the park and that is for children.
'How would they feel if it was a member of their family crossing and they were being shouted at to 'get out of the way'. My mother had every intention to come home. When I went to fetch the dog after she was hit, her breakfast was laid out on the table. She was ready to come back.'
Mr Griffiths believes the Royal Parks have done 'everything they can do' to improve the safety of pedestrians by introducing the traffic lights, and the onus now lies with public authorities to enforce the fines and cyclists to change their 'attitude' to the hobby.
Resident and mother Diana Arnuti, 42, pictured with her nine-month-old daughter Victoria, told the Mail she feels threatened by the cyclists as they 'do not respect pedestrians'
The paper witnessed several occasions of reckless riding, as some cyclists rode through red lights while distracted by their phones
Club cyclists kept to a cluster of around two to five and frequently kept their heads down for aerodynamic purposes in efforts to improve their times
He said: 'In any other tragedy or subject, one death is always one too many. Whereas from the cycling side of things, they use an analogy like more people get struck by lightening or killed by cows. It cheapens people's lives.
'My mother wasn't just killed by a cyclist. She was killed by the culture of cycling around Regent's Park.'
Mother-of-three Paola Des Santos, 53, was hit in the exact same spot as Mr Griffiths by a peloton cyclist, leaving her with multiple fractures to her eye socket, jawbone and cheekbone.
Matthew Thornley, 45, was lapping the park as a member of Club Peloton as he went to overtake a car and hit Ms Des Santos in May 2024.
Thornley, from Camden, London, was fined £500 and ordered to pay £2,500 in compensation after admitting to reckless riding.
The director of an architecture company denied speeding and argued he was forced to take an 'evasive manoeuvre'.
The paper witnessed several occasions of reckless riding, as some cyclists rode through red lights while distracted by their phones; cut motorists up by slipping in front of them; or sped through a red light while motorists obstructed their views of potential crossing pedestrians.
Club cyclists kept to a cluster of around two to five and frequently kept their heads down for aerodynamic purposes in efforts to improve their times.
Resident and mother Diana Arnuti, 42, told the Mail she feels threatened by the cyclists as they 'do not respect pedestrians'.
Standing with her nine-month-old daughter Victoria strapped to her front, she said: 'I am scared of carrying my baby as I cross the road. Cyclists yell 'move' and 'go', I face a lot of trouble when crossing the road.'
David Viana, 62, (pictured) frequently walks in the park and told the Mail 'cyclists repeatedly ignore the red lights' while 'going at outrageous speeds'
Only 25 of the cyclists out of 75 abided by the rules and stopped during the hour of the study
Fifty of the riders - equivalent to 66.7 per cent - ignored the stop sign by weaving through pedestrians or speeding past those waiting to cross
Mrs Griffiths died while walking her dog Oscar, who, at the age of 14, is still alive and looked after by her son Gerard
This sentiment is shared by David Viana, 62, who frequently walks in the park.
Mr Viana, who is retired from a role in financial services, told the Mail 'cyclists repeatedly ignore the red lights' while 'going at outrageous speeds'.
He is doubtful of the impact the new crossings may have, saying: 'The extent I have walked around the park here, I don't see that the crossings have made any great difference.
'I have crossed the road on a red light and cyclists speed past me.'
The Royal Parks introduced a code of conduct for cyclists in April last year, asking riders to 'respect all park visitors' and 'control their speed'.
The charity had asked Strava to remove the Outer Circle from its app but the US-based company refused.
The popularity of the stretch has led to cyclists treating the road as 'a sprint', a resident who wished to remain anonymous told the Mail.
He said: 'The police infrequently come so why would the cyclists abide by the speed limit. I have nearly been hit because cyclists go too fast and run through red light.
'The cyclists treat this like their sprint and it is so upsetting that this was the cause of Hilda's death.'
A Freedom of Information request in 2025 revealed cyclists were more likely to hit and injure pedestrians than motorists in London's eight Royal Parks.
Nine pedestrians were struck by cyclists across the parks between January 2024 and April 2025, according to The Daily Telegraph.
No pedestrians were hit by cars while only two near misses involving vehicles were reported, according to accident logs held by the Royal Parks.
The other two signal-controlled crossings will be located at Chester Gate and Monkey Hill Gate.
A spokesperson for The Royal Parks said: '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 and we are trying to create a safe and inclusive environment that respects the interests of everyone using the park.'
