Live blog: Bike cop PC Di collars texting scooter rider, Elephant Bike curling, helmet cammer, 13, records scary close pass + more
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Wed, Feb 21, 2018 14:40
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Jack is group editor across road.cc, off.road.cc and ebiketips, overseeing all three sites in the F-At Digital group to make sure everything’s up to scratch. He’s been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of road.cc including tech, news and video, and also contributed to ebiketips before being named editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town, and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it’s a long story).
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Latest Comments
chrisonabike 15 minutes ago
Looks like what was a 2 mile drive is now minimum 15 miles, around half an hour. So no doubt "frustrating" - because it *used to be* just there. OTOH cycling that trip instead is now highly competitive! Even walking is not too far behind albeit a stretch for some at over 30 mins. For neighbouring places in the countryside the usual mantra is "don't bother making active travel provision, nobody walks / cycles". But that is self-fulfilling. If there is good provision - and particularly if that is more direct than the motor route, a significant fraction of people will. (IIRC there's some data about people's acceptance of journey times - 15 minutes or less is ideal, which is the case here). Maybe it could stay that way? 😉 Given "humans" I'm going to go with at best "wilful ignorance" when people say "but the diversion isn't clear..."
jackcycles 53 minutes ago
I think it's important to see this from both sides. According to one local resident (per Facebook): "A real shame that there are no proper diversion signs or any advised diversion routes. The locations of warning signs and the few diversion signs are appalling and misleading." So it sounds like drivers might genuinely not know where they are meant to be going and simply see the path alongside and assume that's the diversion. By the way, that photo in the article exemplifies why segregated shared use paths are an absolutely crap idea. Imagine I'm riding there, doing 20mph. Am I meant to use the path with people spewed haphazardly all over it? Or the road where drivers get upset by cyclists ignoring the expensive new infrastructure they've paid for? Lose lose. Sure it's nice for people to have a jolly with their kids at the weekend, but let's be honest it would make far more sense just to widen the existing road for pedestrians and cyclists as an integrated solution, and families can go to the upgraded local park with the money saved.
eburtthebike 54 minutes ago
@Rome73 "He knows not what he is saying and he is a liar." Whilst I entirely agree with your sentiment, I'm not sure that you can both not know what you're saying and lie at the same time. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's saying, which is anything that he thinks will get him votes, but he knows that it isn't true.
chrisonabike 3 hours ago
@Malv173 the cynic might say there isn't a bollard because it *wouldn't* be a PITA for vulnerable road users, just for motor access. Meanwhile much narrower spots seem to be favourites for making completely inaccessible on dubious grounds ("keep out yoof on motorbikes" - only many clearly don't). The "gold standard" is not to have obstructions that people can crash into on cycle paths, but that can only happen when motoring has been reduced and people have been retrained.
chrisonabike 3 hours ago
@Fursty Ferret good, but that may not be good general advice. It's possible you're just dealing with dozy drivers, but them being there could be evidence they don't give a stuff about more than just road law. There are a number of cases of motorists exiting their vehicles and battering people in public for less. All the usual advisories apply eg. get off bike, get it between you and any threat, be prepared to sacrifice it. Plus the response from the police and especially the courts may be less than rapid or vigorous.
Matt Page 4 hours ago
@theslowcyclistxx It depends on what you consider technical and what you compare it to. For example, compared to the Gralloch, it is smoother and wider, but the pea gravel makes the biggest difference, even after recent rain makes it easier. There were a few downhills with some rough sections, where line choice was key, and the ability to hop over ruts, and lots of hairpins. I don't think any good mountain biker would class it as technical, but lots of people I spoke to during and after thought it was.
Matt Page 4 hours ago
@agp The XCadey has been fine until this, and when testing against others, it has been accurate and reliable, but the biggest reason is that there are few others that offer fitment for Praxis cranks and a 5-arm 110 bcd. For fluid, it was borderline, but worked out OK. I am small and light, and the weather was mild, so I was not sweating. Everyone is different, and it can take a lot of training and racing to know individual needs.
theslowcyclistxx 4 hours ago
Interesting to hear about real world race choices! On TV it didn’t look like a very technical course. Was it? And was 50mm over 45mm an advantage seen in hindsight?
Rendel Harris 5 hours ago
@Fursty Ferret Not uniquely, I'd be more than happy to do a spot of Gandalfing if it was in my area, as I have done on numerous occasions in different circumstances, e.g. stopping car drivers from ignoring no entry signs into LTNs.
Rendel Harris 5 hours ago
@Malv173 Even the widest, off-road type e-trikes, Jorviks for example, are only about half the width of the average car, and even bariatric power wheelchairs are narrower still. Closing the gap enough to prevent car access wouldn't limit access for the users you mention.
18 thoughts on “Live blog: Bike cop PC Di collars texting scooter rider, Elephant Bike curling, helmet cammer, 13, records scary close pass + more”
Lib Dem councillor in
Lib Dem councillor in desperate attempt to retain seat in a conservative dominated area???
It’s a pity these things can
It’s a pity these things can’t really be recorded in the book of karma and consequences.
I’ve been unfortunate enough to visit The Christie hospital in Manchester and it’s amazing; the research, kit and current survival rates in a large part funded by events such as these.
Maybe these types of people shouldn’t be allowed access!
The story about the Lake
The story about the Lake District zip wire represents a fantastic piece of news for those that love the outdoors and our countryside, which I would hope includes most cyclists.
The promise of the cycling development was really just a sweetener for the main application for a huge zip wire coming off the side of Helvellyn (recently voted Britain’s favourite walk).
The back of Thirlmere lake is already a wonderful place for cycling – several miles of well maintained road with virtually no traffic.
Those who love the Lake District – whether enjoyed on two wheels or two feet – will be delighted that this unwanted commercial development has now been put on the shelf.
The driver in this close pass
The driver in this close pass really should be reported and removed from the road. Effectively saying that their journey is more important than someone else’s life. Anyone who overtakes like that is clearly not competent to operate heavy dangerous machinery in public places.
burtthebike wrote:
It really was a dreadful manoeuvre on what looks a quiet road. I hope the police will take some action (due to public pressure?).
No criticism of the cyclist but she should learn to ride a little further out from the verge.
Duncann wrote:
she’s 13, you need a helluva lot of self confidence to rider further out from the verge on roads like that, and passes like that only push it down more.
Awavey wrote:
I know, and sometimes I don’t have enough self confidence even at several times her age. But if it’s the right thing to do, and she’s competent to be on the road alone, why wouldn’t you encourage it?
I’d be surprised if the
I’d be surprised if the oncoming driver hasn’t reported the murderous pillock. He was almost into the trees!
Shame his number plate seems to be offset and therefore illegible. (Alfa Romeo?) Too much trouble to trace as a witness by Plod, I expect.
One does wonder though if he might have anticipated such a crazy manouevre (Cyclist approaching with stupidly fast car behind.) and slowed down or even stopped. I often slow as cyclists approach, knowing how likely it is that the car behind will try on something like this. I’d like to think I would have done so in this situation.
pockstone wrote:
I reckon the plate of the close passing Vauxhall is GY64 VBJ. It ties in with the DVLA check.
[/quote]
I reckon the plate of the close passing Vauxhall is GY64 VBJ. It ties in with the DVLA check.
[/quote]
I reckon so too.
I’m talking about the oncoming car, whose driver would make an excellent witness (if they could be identified and traced).
Double post, sorry.
pockstone wrote:
I sometimes move over to the centre line in my car; this deters drivers from over taking as they can see there is no room to squeeze through.
hirsute wrote:
Yeah, must admit to doing that myself sometimes. Save everyone the trouble of a stupid pass by not making it possible.
hirsute wrote:
A tactic I’d use with caution. I think in this instance the offending driver might just have taken his car straight through the cyclist. He clearly didn’t give a toss!
pockstone wrote:
I do the complete opposite, I deliberately move to the centre line so that oncoming motorists can see even more clearly that they can’t overtake, 25 years and it works every time, backing off just allows the morons to think that all motorists will do the same and then you have an even worse situation created because well meaning types have caused confusion.
Stick with not ceding, it might be counter intuative but as with most things on the road the more you cede the more people take the piss and it spirals ever downward as we see every day.
The same thing happened with creating a death by careless and look how that’s given motorists and even bigger out and lowered the threshold yet again for prosecution.
Nice Relive jersey, they need
Nice Relive jersey, they need a revenue stream, but one off jerseys don’t last long. Strava tried it with their challenge kits, but people get bored; it is not a long term earner. Their best bet is to get bought be Strava.
Nice Wiggins kit; now where can I buy it without the ‘Wiggins’ on it?
One day one of those close passes is going to result in a head on crash. Lets hope the cyclist passes serenely through and we get to see the video.
Leviathan wrote:
Hang on you’re wishing an innocent party is involved in a head on crash ?
I don’t wish that on anyone. Whatever their mode of transport. What if it was your parents driving the innocent car ?
fenix wrote:
Nice Relive jersey, they need a revenue stream, but one off jerseys don’t last long. Strava tried it with their challenge kits, but people get bored; it is not a long term earner. Their best bet is to get bought be Strava.
Nice Wiggins kit; now where can I buy it without the ‘Wiggins’ on it?
One day one of those close passes is going to result in a head on crash. Lets hope the cyclist passes serenely through and we get to see the video.
— fenix Hang on you’re wishing an innocent party is involved in a head on crash ? I don’t wish that on anyone. Whatever their mode of transport. What if it was your parents driving the innocent car ?— Leviathan
Hey, I didn’t say ‘wish,’ I said ‘one day.’ It is inevitable the way some people drive.