"Numerous" cyclists ignoring Box Hill road closure, according to police

Near where I live is a public footpath, part of which runs through a small campsite (which is obviously presently closed). The owner of the campsite has put up homemade 'footpath closed' signs at both access/exit points. I'm sure that this has no legal standing, however, during the present global pandemic, I'm respecting the landowners wishes and not using it.

My point is that the situation at Box Hill and Zig Zag Hill would appear to be the same. The National Trust may own the land and road, but they can't just close a public right of way. I think that they could if they applied to the local council first. Also a police officer (in uniform) can stop and turn back pedestrians and vehicles (inc. pedal cycles) with a lawful reason. A global pandemic is reason enough for me.

I would have respected the road closed sign, lawful or not.

10 idiots give rest of us a bad name. What is wrong with these people??? Great rides...

Have to agree, that signage could have been more explicit for cyclists. There would have been many who would not have seen the media on this and just though there were roadworks that could easily be ridden past.
I recently rode in France where the road closed signs even had addendum's in English stating "even for bicycles" Can't get any clearer than that.

if box hill is owned by the NT and not a public right of way (is. private land) then shouldn't private security be enforcing it rather than the police?

The local and cycling press has provided plenty of notice that zig zag road would closed.

Anyway, the tossers were considerate enough to log their ride on Strava

At the risk of being thought pedantic I'll chip in my two-penn'orth.
Square or rectangular traffic signs generally give advice or directions to places; they do not give orders or instructions and by ignoring them you have broken no law. Most mandatory signs are circular or octagonal and I see neither in the photo. The police may think you are a pillock, and they may breathalyse you on principle, possibly using the waiting time to check your tyres and lights, but that's the limit of their options.

So Leith Hill isn't closed then?

If that's the signage they're using, I do think they could have given half a minute's thought to it and put up something that specifically says 'no cycling'. I think a lot of cyclists are used to finding 'Road closed' signs on their route when the road is not passable by car but perfectly navigable by bike, and so tend to think 'I'll chance it, and dismount if necessary', even if technically they shouldn't. Given that they know that it's a popular route for cycling, it would have been sensible to be a bit more explicit.

How many photographers have also congregated at Box Hill to photograph them for tomorrow's papers? Or have they moved on to other targets, like this irresponsible idiot seen doing a park run in close proximity with at least a dozen other joggers...

...although from another angle things look a bit different..

That said, earlier the same day he did risk a hospital admission from being squashed by a 10-tonne boulder, when government advice is to stick to boulders of 3 tonnes or less, so he's no angel.

Selfish c*nts.

No respect for anyone; no fucks given for anyone other than themselves.
C*nts like these embody everything that everyone else like to hate about us.

How are they managing to get past the three burly constables?