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Plans to build a cycle superhighway in Regent’s Park could ruin its status as a training circuit for amateur road racers and professional riders such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, it was claimed today.

Transport for London wants to put the CS11 superhighway linking Brent Cross and the West End on the Outer Circle, the four-mile road that is used by up to 3,000 riders each week.

The plans involve closing the park gates for most of the day to prevent drivers from using it as a “rat run”, and installing road humps to cut speeds.

But cyclists fear the humps, or “raised platforms”, will make the Outer Circle treacherous, especially in poor light. Many riders arrive before sunrise to train in the park.

Wiggins used it to prepare for his successful attempt on the hour world record this summer.

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition calling on the Royal Parks not to install “anti-cycling infrastructure”. Fourteen road humps were initially proposed but this has been cut to four after lobbying by City Hall.

Justin McKie, chairman of Regent’s Park Cyclists, said it was strongly in favour of the cycle superhighway and closing the park gates to vehicles, but called for speed cameras rather than road humps.

Mr McKie said: “There’s been a pretty strong consensus on what needs to happen: close the gates to motor traffic either all day or for extended periods, keep the wonderful smooth tarmac rather than falling for the knee-jerk of speed bumps, and re-sequence the traffic lights to encourage sports cyclists to ride at quieter times of the day.”

Mr McKie will attempt to raise £10,000 for the Royal Parks’ cherry tree appeal by completing 113 laps of the Outer Circle — 500km —on Saturday.

He said: “The Royal Parks has a unique opportunity to get some cash from the TfL cycling budget here, but anything that makes cycling more difficult or dangerous, such as speed bumps, would be a misuse of that money.”

The Royal Parks want the humps because it fears the Outer Circle would become a “race track” if it were used by up to 80 per cent fewer vehicles.

The gates at Avenue Road and Park Crescent are the most likely to be closed but other access points would remain open. Formal consultation on the plans is due to begin in November.

A Royal Parks spokesman said they “were working with Transport for London to create the final proposals”.