Recent findings by The Daily Mail reveal that numerous cyclists are blatantly disregarding the 12mph speed limit in a well-known London park, with some riding as fast as 7mph over the limit.

In one instance, a cyclist was fined £50 for speeding in Tooting Common, located in southwest London, after being clocked at 16mph in the designated 12mph zone. However, the fine was overturned when the individual contested the charge with Wandsworth Council.

During a two-hour observation with a speed gun at the park, more than 20 cyclists were caught exceeding the speed limit, with the fastest reaching 19mph—nearly 60% over the limit.

In response, the Friends of Tooting Common have initiated an e-petition calling for increased police presence to address and manage speeding cyclists.

Susan Edkins, who has lived in Tooting for 29 years, supports the initiative.

“Cyclists turn into lunatics when they come into this place,” she remarked.

During her years raising her children and walking her dog around the park, she said she had seen mothers ‘getting bashed into by cyclists’ as they left the playground.

‘One drove into my husband and just swore at him,’ she added.

The fastest speed the Daily Mail recorded at the park was 19mph – 60per cent faster than the speed limit in the park

‘A lot do go fast and people use it as a cut through on longer journeys rather than going out for a walk or a relax’, local resident Dee Kelly said

‘I walk here with my mother who’s nearly 100 every day and it can be dangerous and scary for her’, said  resident Margaret Kowalik 

12mph signs have been put up by Wandsworth Council who have fined a man £50 for cycling 16mph in the area

The shared pedestrian and cyclist path in the park has been fitted with a 12mph sign, and police have been patrolling the area looking for speeding cyclists.

The most dangerous pathway in the park is the north-south path running adjacent to Culverden Road and Byrne Road towards to Tooting Triangle Playground, according to Friends of Tooting Common.

Here, the Daily Mail clocked several cyclist speeding cyclists speeding, with the fastest going about 19 mph

On whether she agreed with the issuing of the controversial £50 fine, Mrs Edkin said: ‘I’m afraid I do. The path coming off of this one should have absolutely no cycling.’ 

 Adding: ‘Motorised bikes are supposed to have speed governors on that limit them to 20mph – but they don’t.’

Another local, Rob, who did not give his last name, echoed Mrs Edkin: ‘A fine sounds reasonable if you’re riding dangerously’

‘Some of these kids are going like crazy and riding around with no hands on the handlebars – they’re not going to be able to stop.’ 

He added: ‘From what I see, most of the bicycles coming through here are relatively aware but then you’ve got a few young ragamuffin looking guys with dark glasses on even though its getting dark and wearing balaclavas like they’re going to war.

Tooting local Rob said ‘Some of these kids are going like crazy and riding around with no hands on the handlebars – they’re not going to be able to stop’

‘There is a particular problem with delivery riders on e-bikes or e-scooters’ Friends of Tooting Common said in their open letter to Wandsworth Council 

‘What’s all that about?’ 

His friend Morgan also agreed that there was a problem with the narrow paths being shared by cyclists and pedestrians alike.

She said: ‘We’re just losing out boundaries and parks were safe places for people not in a vehicle to come.

‘The pavements are supposed to be protected from vehicles but they’re not anymore because we’ve got electric scooters and bikes and that’s going to get worse.’ 

All three of these people remember when there was once a painted line down the middle of the path separating bike and pedestrian traffic, but this has now been scraped off.

Rob said: ‘As long as you make it very clear which side is for cyclists and pedestrians then that’s not such a bad idea but they seem to have taken it out.

‘At least you’d know not to get in the way of the bike, but then that could encourage bikes to go much faster and not be aware that a pedestrian could kick a ball or a child could run into the other lane.

‘You still have to be careful.’

Margaret Kowalik walks the route every day with her 97-year-old grandmother and also considers the cyclists a problem.

Margaret Kowalik walks the route every day with her 97-year-old grandmother and says it can be dangerous 

There had once been a line painted down the middle of the path to divide pedestrian and cycle traffic but this has since been scraped off

She said: ‘They should make another cycle path because its dangerous. I walk here with my mother who’s nearly 100 every day and it can be dangerous and scary for her.’

‘My son is going to call Wandsworth Council about the bikes because it can be really very dangerous’

Despite this, Ms Kowalik thought the fine may be a step too far in enforcing it. She said: ‘I think it’s not a good idea with it being so expensive. It’s people who are uneducated who are the problem.’

While Margaret walks with her elderly mother in the park, local dad Prash, who did not give his last name, walked through with his new-born in the pram.

He said: ‘You feel different once you’ve had a kid.

‘Previously I wouldn’t necessarily be thinking about other people with families, and I’d take a common sense approach, but not everyone does, I guess.’

He added that the ‘recent uptick in E-scooters and E-bikes’ have mad walking in the park ‘more dangerous’.

However, some residents didn’t seem to see a problem with speeding cyclists.

‘We’re just losing out boundaries and parks were safe places for people not in a vehicle to come’

Local café worker Larissa said: ‘They don’t speed at all. It seems just normal to me. It’s more like family based cycling – going out for the day together and that sort of thing’.

Another dog walker Dee Kelly was also more moderate in her criticism of cyclists going too quickly, She saying she ‘probably would do it as well so I don’t feel that sorry about it.’

However, she did mention the worrying ‘advent of electric bikes which has made it worse,’ saying ‘You kind of just think, if it did go over your dog, it’s going to go splat – they do more damage.’

Though other problems were more important to her as a park user. She said: ‘Littering and things like that peeve me a lot more.’

Antisocial behaviour was the most common crime report with 240 reports in the area from November 2024 to October 2025.

Wandsworth Council said: ‘We want everyone to enjoy our award-winning green spaces, safely and confidently.

‘Too many park users have told us they feel unsafe around speeding delivery riders, illegally modified e-bikes and dangerous or inconsiderate cyclists.

‘Our Parks Police are taking action to protect many people, including considerate cyclists, who use our parks responsibly.

‘Officers follow an educational-first approach, offering information and advice about the importance of slowing down and using designated cycling routes, and only as a last resort will they issue Fixed Penalty Notices for dangerous speeding and unauthorised cycling.

‘This is about responding to residents’ concerns and keeping our parks, commons and open spaces safe for everyone.’