Forum Topic

Chiswick house

Just a question are the green and white hire bikes allowed to speed through Chiswick house I was walking along the drive and me and my dog were nearly rode into at quite a speed.

Debbie Harewood ● 16d19 Comments

As you age you can become less agile ie not as fast or able to jump aside when threatened with being mown down/knocked over by speeding bikes or jumping dogs. As well as needing others to be more careful and considerate we also need to be more careful ourselves by keeping active:Hounslow were showcasing a new initiative recently at the Fountains Leisure Centre:https://beta.hounslow.gov.uk/support-live-independently/preventing-falling

Philippa Bond ● 9h

Thank you Diane Brown.Actually, I wrote "Obviously weed needs to be managed, if not removed".Your next sentence begins "Similarly", which perhaps alludes to more ambiguity, as you write that you are "unaware of any changes in the rules".  Please read carefully the other comments, to help you understand this discussion about safety.Also, perhaps check any facts you base your comments in/on.  It should help you to start to make sense.

Roland Bolowski ● 19h

You say 'obviously' weeds need to be removed but, as someone who visits at least twice a week, I am not aware of a particular problem with weeds in the gardens.Similarly, I am unaware of any changes in the rules of use over the last few decades that have made it less safe to visit.

Diane Brown ● 1d

Sadly, the trust we put in governance at Chiswick House is letting us all down. Its laziness.Obviously weed needs to be managed, if not removed. Chiswick House used to have rules that made it safer for all to enjoy.Now...we are being let down.

Roland Bolowski ● 2d

Okay, so to all intents and purposes the only cycling you can do through the gardens is along Dukes Avenue from the gate by the A4 through to path that leads up to the front of the house?

Mark Evans ● 3d

Apparently the wording is " keep to our tarmac paths at the edge of the Gardens", so not on gravel paths.

Alan Green ● 5d

I finally got round to checking one of the notice boards (Park Rd entrance) yesterday and can confirm that the wording regarding cycling is the same as on the website.

Bruce Hammal ● 5d

From their website: "We have bike racks at park entrances and close to the House and Café. Cyclists are welcome in the grounds but please keep to our tarmac paths at the edge of the Gardens and don’t cycle on the grass and walking paths within the Gardens."But equally dogs are allowed off leash, so I personally would cycle but very slowly for your safely and theirshttps://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/plan-your-visit/getting-to-chiswick-house/

Ceinwen Mailvagnam ● 5d

I have to admit to using it a short cut but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the nature and tranquillity while doing so.From what you say cycling is allowed on tarmac paths AND edge of gardens which leads me to believe that this includes the gravel track between the fountain and the Burlington Lane gate.As for the apparent change of policy, perhaps some of their funding was made dependent on providing encouragement for active travel in enabling safe cycling routes.

Mark Evans ● 6d

As a cyclist myself, (who was knocked off my bike yesterday by a delivery bike that did not stop) I would only cycle down the main entrance road, which is what used to be shown on a map of the park as the only allowable place to cycle. The entrance boards of that time said something like, "no cycling on grass or paths", so quite clear. Then a few years ago the wording was altered to whatever it is now, about "tarmac paths and edge of gardens", not actually that clear an instruction. When that changed, I emailed the trust to ask why they had made the change as it only encouraged people to use the park as a short cut, not to come and enjoy the nature and tranquility of the park. Could not understand why they did that, but never got a reply.

Alan Green ● 8d

My dog is never on a short lead when I am in Chiswick House Gardens (apart from the areas where it is required). The whole point of a visit is to let him run free. However, if I am on a bike in the gardens I assume pedestrian priority and doubly so for dogs who can be unpredictable even when well trained.As nobody has contradicted the notion that cycling is restricted to tarmac, my occasional use of the gardens as a cut through by bike no longer is viable so I will stop using it. Shame as it avoided cycling on busy roads.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 9d

My dog is always on a short lead next to me the bike was going extremely fast

Debbie Harewood ● 9d

The path on the eastern side of the park from the fountain to the gate nearest Staveley Road is gravel. I've always understood that it is acceptable to cycle on this section but if tarmac is specified, then clearly it isn't.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 12d

"Please keep to our tarmac paths at the edge of the Gardens."I take this to mean the same as cycling being allowed "on the paths around the periphery of the park." The outer paths are tarmac. Am I missing something? As I recall there is wording relating to cycling on the boards at the entrances. I'll have a look next time I'm in.

Bruce Hammal ● 15d

I'd always assume that cycling was allowed on the paths around the periphery of the park but the rule you quote suggest this is incorrect. Is there any other tarmacked section other than the one from the gates of the A4 down to the gate in front of the house on Burlington Lane?

Mark Evans ● 15d

According to Chiswick House:"Cyclists are welcome in the grounds but please keep to our tarmac paths at the edge of the Gardens and don’t cycle on the grass and walking paths within the Gardens.""Not everyone loves dogs, so please keep your furry pals close by you, and ensure they are under control at all times. Crucially, do not let your dog chase or disturb any wildlife by the lake."Rules is rules - and pretty universally ignored these days.

Bruce Hammal ● 15d

The grounds including the drive have a 5mph limit if that applies to bicycles, it is open to debate. The park has rules on dogs and places where dogs must be kept on a short lead. I would imagine both of the above are broken every day. And how to enforce the above is impossible. Reminds me of the guy who fell off his bike crossing Acton Green and successfully sued the dog owner in court for not keeping her dog under control. In all, I think you break the rules but have to be mindful of what you are doing and possible consequences should something happen given no real way of enforcing the above other than a small chat in the ear if caught by an employee

Julian Pavey ● 16d

No. But some people should be.

Claire Moran ● 16d

Just a question aren't dog walkers supposed to keep their dogs until control? I was walking thru Chiswick house and a couple of dogs wouldn't stop harassing me. Time to enforce an all-dogs-on-short-leads-all-the-time rule?

Simon Pedley ● 16d