“Cycle paths aren’t for every journey”: Phone driver blasts cyclist for riding on road instead of “million-pound bike lane” deemed “useless”; Reform’s Lee Anderson vs “flashers on bikes”; Does the Tour de France care about nature? + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“Riders do not block roads, or move slowly, or cause damage, or lock on to things, or climb things, or leave mess behind. It is a non-aggressive, lawful, campaign”
A few weeks on Colchester’s ‘pervert puncher’ being spared jail, the row over the future of the World Naked Bike Ride continues to rumble on, while proving that even an interview in the Daily Mail won’t make people want to sign your petition…
> Child safety campaigner demands Naked Bike Ride ban and claims it “allows perverts to be seen”, but World Naked Bike Ride London insists nude events “a lawful public protest for positive change”
“In Italy, I could be arrested for that”: Matteo Jorgenson offends an entire nation… by having gnocchi, eggs, and kimchi for lunch
It’s not quite pouring red sauce all over his spaghetti, or requesting pineapple for his pizza (Mathieu van der Poel, I’m looking at you, both times), but Matteo Jorgenson is certainly doing his best to ensure he won’t be picked by Visma-Lease a Bike for next year’s Giro d’Italia.
Or if he is, he’ll have to ride very quickly to escape the baying mob of fuming Italian foodies in every town:
In the immortal words of Elisa Longo Borghini, “After that, I don’t know what there is. Probably only death.”
But at least Jorgenson did apologise to the tifosi, before tucking into his “ridiculous” lunch anyway…
Here’s another reason why cyclists don’t – or can’t – use cycle lanes all the time…
Courtesy of Dom Cycling on BlueSky and Manchester’s Stretford and Talbot roads:
And, naturally…
Wout can Aert: Belgian star evokes the spirit of rival Van der Poo-el… by perching himself on a toilet in bizarre estate agent advertisement
Wout van Aert here, adding his name to that illustrious list of professional cyclists who neatly set their dignity to one side in pursuit of that lucrative advertising dollar:
Or maybe Van Aert, and his estate agent partners Heylen Vastgoed, are simply paying homage to the Belgian’s lifelong rival Mathieu van der Poel and his famous emergency trip to a Scottish couple’s bathroom during the 2023 world road race championships?
So does that mean, after years of battling MVDP on the road and the cyclocross field, Van Aert’s finally settling for number two?
I’ll get my coat…
Drunk mayor knocked cyclist off bike after “four or five pints of Stella” at party
A 20-month driving ban and a £3,000 fine for Clun’s Stella-swigging, cyclist-hitting mayor – and a timely reminder that lights and hi-vis aren’t the silver bullet for cycling safety some drivers would make them out to be:
> Drunk mayor knocked cyclist off bike after “four or five pints of Stella” at party
Fernando Gaviria rides on! Mercurial Colombian sprinter handed career lifeline by Caja Rural after Movistar exit
In big news for anyone who loves futile, long-range sprints and eventual third places, Fernando Gaviria will still be in the peloton next season, after it was announced this morning that the Colombian has signed a deal with second-tier Spanish squad Caja Rural-Seguros RGA.
After turning pro with Quick-Step in 2015, Gaviria established himself as one of the most successful sprinters in the world during the second half of the last decade, winning five Giro d’Italia stages, the points classification at the 2017 Giro, and two Tour de France stages, as well as spending a day in the yellow jersey at the 2018 Tour.
[ LaPresse – D’Alberto – Ferrari – Paolone – Spada]
However, since joining Movistar from UAE Team Emirates at the start of 2023, Gaviria has struggled to regain his old form, winning just three times, with his last victory coming in February 2024 on home roads at the Tour Colombia.
Meanwhile, Movistar’s decision to sign Cian Uijtdebroeks for 2026, along with extending fellow Colombian veteran Nairo Quintana’s contract, meant there was no more room at the Spanish squad for the 31-year-old next season.
And with the prospect of an early retirement looming, Gaviria’s place in the peloton has been saved by ProTeam Caja-Rural, the owners of some of the best kits in the sport and where the Colombian’s penchant for speculative, long-distance efforts is practically a team trademark.
[Pauline Ballet]
According to a press release issued by Caja-Rural on Tuesday, Gaviria will aim to reboot his career by sharing sprinting duties with the team’s Portuguese fast man Iúri Leitão, while also utilising his experience to guide his new, young squad, which has also been bolstered by the arrival of Italian Stefano Oldani from Cofidis.
“What motivated me most to join Caja Rural–Seguros RGA was the conversation I had with them, in which I sensed their great enthusiasm for my arrival. It seemed like a very interesting opportunity, and I’m confident I can give it my all,” Gaviria said in a statement.
“Looking ahead to next season, my goal is to work hard, help the team in any way I can, and try to achieve victories. Competing in a Grand Tour would be special, and in the case of the Vuelta a España, being able to fight for a hat trick of Grand Tour victories would be truly exciting.”
‘How to save watts at the supermarket’
The latest marginal gains advice we never knew we needed – aero shopping:
I must admit, I’ve definitely used that trolley TT tuck before…
“There’s no doubt that London is fast becoming a cycling city”
TfL’s latest cycling numbers are in – and they’re pretty impressive, to say the least:
> “London’s cycling boom shows no sign of slowing”: Daily bicycle journeys up 43% on pre-Covid levels as Transport for London hails the impact of high-quality cycle lanes
“It’s changed my life without question, but I think in some ways it’s improved my life”: Sir Chris Hoy says cancer diagnosis has “changed my outlook on a lot of things” and that he tries to focus on “enjoying the moment”
Sir Chris Hoy has admitted that his cancer diagnosis has, “in some ways”, improved his life by changing his outlook and allowing him to focus on “making the most of today”.
The 11-time world champion announced last February that he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, before later revealing that his diagnosis was terminal and that he’d been given two to four years to live.
Since that announcement, Hoy has still been a constant presence on the BBC’s track cycling coverage, appearing as a studio pundit at the recent world championships, while his star-studded Tour de 4 sportive raised over £2 million for cancer charities in September.
“It’s changed my life without question, but I think in some ways it’s improved my life,” the six-time Olympic gold medallist told the BBC this week, reflecting on the impact of his diagnosis.
“It’s changed my outlook on a lot of things. I’m not as bothered by small things. I think I try and focus on the here and the now, enjoying the moment, making the most of today, and trying to find something positive in any situation.
“And even at the very least, trying just to reject negativity, because it brings you down. If you can just, in any situation, look for the positives and surround yourself with people that are the same.
“I’m doing well. I’m able to keep doing all the things that I enjoy, spend a lot of time with my family, and I hope to be around for a lot longer yet.”
“Cycling today is very inhumane”: Newly retired Ineos rider Omar Fraile believes long careers will become a thing of the past due to “mental and physical fatigue” of increasingly demanding sport
It’s fair to say we’re currently deep into men’s cycling’s ‘wonderkid’ era.
Wave after wave of prodigious young talents, led first by Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, later Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas, have proved, against decades of conventional wisdom, that you can hit the ground running as a professional and immediately challenge the sport’s biggest names.
In doing so, and aided by the growing democratisation of sports science and professionalisation of the junior ranks, they’ve shifted pro cycling’s long-established age parameters, to the extent that turning pro – and winning – while still in your teens is now the norm.
However, with the figurehead of this new generation of spotty-faced young guns, Pogačar, having just turned 27 two months ago, one questions remains unanswered. What knock-on effect will this de-aging of the peloton have on the riders leading it?
Well, we’ve started to see the first data points of cycling’s youth project in recent weeks, with Cofidis rider Hugo Toumire, 24, and Lotto’s Jonas Gregaard, 29, both hanging up their wheels citing physical and mental burnout.
And one of the riders who did manage to secure a long career, Omar Fraile, believes these early retirements will become commonplace over the next few years, thanks to the sport’s increasing demands on young riders.
[ LaPresse – D’Alberto – Ferrari – Paolone – Spada]
35-year-old Fraile is retiring from the sport this winter after 14 years in the peloton. He turned pro in 2012 for Conti team Orbea before joining Caja Rural the following year and going on to ride for Dimension Data, Astana, and eventually Ineos, winning a stage at both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, as well as two King of the Mountains titles at the Vuelta, along the way.
And, speaking to Marca, Fraile became the latest member of the old guard to reflect on how much cycling has changed during his career.
“I see it from the point of view of having started 15 years ago,” he said. “I have seen three forms of cycling and, as I have said on other occasions, cycling today is very inhumane and very demanding.
“This is going to make it very difficult for a cyclist to have a 15-year sports career, because it generates a lot of mental and physical fatigue.”
Reflecting on his own decision to retire, the former Spanish champion continued: “”t the moment, I haven’t had much time to visualize myself as a retired cyclist. I’ve been enjoying the family.
“It seems very strange to me. I should be starting to train by now, it’s very strange for me not to do it. It keeps itching me, I’ve even started running and I’m still riding a bit on my bike.”
[Zac Williams/SWpix.com]
Asked about his future plans, the 35-year-old Basque climber said: “At the moment I want tranquillity, to enjoy my family and have a little free time, I want to do things that I have not been able to do.
“I think that rushing to decide what to do in the future would be a mistake. After so many years doing just the same thing, I need to see where I want to be and, above all, have time.”
“We have agonised over the decision to release this kit for almost a year… We’re not comfortable making a profit from this”
> Pro Kit Club to sell Israel-Premier Tech kit and donate proceeds to UN Gaza programme
Pippa York and David Walsh’s ‘The Escape’ becomes the fifth cycling book to win the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2025
Pippa York and David Walsh’s ‘The Escape’, part-memoir of York’s life, career as a pro cyclist, and transition, part-Tour de France travelogue, has scooped up this year’s William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, becoming the fifth cycling book to nab the prestigious accolade.
‘The Escape’ beat ‘Ultra Women’ by endurance athletes Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson, ‘States of Play’ (on sportswashing in football) by journalist Miguel Delaney, and ‘The Last Bell’ by two-time winner Donald McRae to the prize.
York and Walsh also follow Andy McGrath’s Tom Simpson book ‘Bird on the Wire’, Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle’s ‘The Secret Race’, a certain book by Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins, and Walsh’s old mate Paul Kimmage’s ‘A Rough Ride’ as the fifth cycling winners of the William Hill-sponsored award, which was first handed out in 1989.
“I’m quite surprised to win the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, but very pleased. I have to thank David [Walsh] for his insight into my life, my situation and for his understanding,” York said in a statement.
“It was good to spend time with David over those summers at the Tour de France. Writing this book was emotional and at times difficult.”
Walsh added: “It feels amazing to win the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. This is an important book because it shows that people in Pippa’s situation are human beings. And of all the human beings I travelled with on the Tour de France, she was maybe the single most wonderful.
“The book was a labour of love in a way, because we had such a good time together. For the book to be awarded the greatest prize in the world of sports writing, it’s overwhelming.”
And if you want to find out more about this year’s William Hill winner, luckily we’ve got just the podcast episode for you:
Does the Tour de France care about nature? Environmentalist’s Col de Sarenne petition divides cycling fans
When the bigwigs at ASO get around the table every autumn to design the following year’s Tour de France route, where do you think ‘protecting the natural environment through which the race passes’ lands on their list of priorities?
Well, according to Alps-based environmentalist Matthieu Stelvio, not very high at all.
As we reported yesterday, Stelvio (who, let’s be honest, sounds like a plant by the Giro organisers to stir up trouble for their grand tour rivals) has launched a petition calling on ASO to scrap the 2026 Tour Hommes’ planned ascent of the Col de Sarenne.
The Sarenne, essentially the back road to the much more famous Alpe d’Huez, will pose the last major test of next year’s race, acting as the climax to the race’s ‘queen stage’ and part two of its much-discussed Alpe d’Huez double bill.
The peloton climbs the Col de Sarenne, during the 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné (ASO/Alex Broadway)
However, Stelvio reckons turning the wild, little-used, and largely barrier-less road, previously used primarily as a descent during the 2013 Tour, into “the world’s largest stadium” will have serious consequences for the area’s flora and fauna.
And his petition calling for the Sarenne to be binned from next year’s Tour, which is nearing the 6,500 mark this morning, has certainly divided cycling fans on the internet.
“I agree with the activists, it shouldn’t be there,” Kay wrote on BlueSky. “I don’t understand why ASO would try to do this in the first place. It’s a bad look, and I hope it’s changed.”
“Unless things have changed, the road is not in very good shape either, this is not the first time it’s been an issue,” added Nancy.
And down in the road.cc comments section, SecretSam occurred: “Having ridden it, the road between Sarenne and the vile Huez ski village is a mess. But it’s beautiful up there.”
However, not everyone was convinced that the Tour’s visit to the Sarenne would have the environmental impact Stelvio claims.
“Sounds like evidence free emotive bullshit to me,” wrote Secret_squirrel. “Given the Tour has visited multiple times and given any minor impacts on the wildlife time to recover.”
And Kingleo said: “Even if some flowers are accidentally flattened, they will probably soon grow again. In other words, allowing spectators on the mountain road for a short period of time will make about zero difference to the land on either side of the road. A lot more of the Alpine flowers are destroyed by the native animals than by spectators and vehicles.”
Nevertheless, HarrogateSpa concluded that “it would be better not to take the chance. ASO should leave the area to the marmots and race somewhere else.”
This one looks set to rumble on – though considering ASO didn’t even take the time to write a faux-sincere letter when Stelvio amassed 12,000 signatures back in 2013, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting on any developments…
“That van driver should have been on a motorway!” Do drivers really think that cyclists “go out of our way to piss them off”?
There’s been plenty of reaction to today’s main ‘bike lane or no bike lane’ story – here’s what you had to say in the comments:
Wildoo: “Looking at the camera angle that shot is not taken through by a dash cam so driver was most likely using phone whilst driving. Whatever reason the cyclist had for using the road rather than the cycle path is irrelevant when compared with a driver who using a phone whilst driving!”
Mctrials23: “The thing that always cracks me up with drivers is that they genuinely think that cyclists go out of our way to piss them off. That if we banned cars from all roads beyond the motorways that cyclists would have to go and ride on the motorways just to annoy them.
“They never quite engage their brains enough to think ‘I wonder why they aren’t using that’. I bet if you asked them why they are driving the back roads to somewhere instead of taking the main A roads or M roads they would explain that its quicker, or more fun or whatever else yet it never occurs to them that cyclists might not be using cycle paths because they are shit and make our lives harder.”
Clem Fandango: “Also the quaint assumption that any non-car focused infra is a ‘waste of money’ if not occupied nose to tail 24/7, because that’s what driving is like. Railways? Not nose to tail trains, with more trains parked up in inconvenient places? Waste of money!
“What I find most amusing is the assertion that if you ride a bike you are somehow getting something free that they are not (and in fact you are robbing them personally because they pay for the roads). The fact that they possess the exact same rights as you to exploit the system in this way, but choose not to do so, is neither here nor there – one simply has to drive. Everywhere. Because.”
Meanwhile, Stephen on Facebook neatly summed the whole debate up, writing: “That van driver should have been on a motorway!”
In other news, road.cc reader Mdavidford is now on comments probation for this ghastly remark in support of Matteo Jorgenson’s fusion-inspired lunch: “Sounds spot on. Wouldn’t say no to some pineapple with it, either…”
Pineapple?! You’re on your last warning, okay?
Police can’t ignore “flashers on bikes”, says Reform MP Lee Anderson, who claims “our streets have become a freak show” following petition to ban World Naked Bike Ride
Dan alluded to this earlier today in his story on the World Naked Bike Ride petition, but I thought it was worth sharing in more detail.
As part of their coverage of campaigner Emma Jane Taylor’s petition, calling for the government to ban the nude cycling events, the Daily Mail got in touch with Lee Anderson (who else?) to enquire whether he was willing to back Ms Taylor’s so-far underwhelming (and AI-assisted) campaign.
And former Labour councillor, ex-Conservative Party deputy chairman, and current Reform MP Anderson was more than happy to take a break from his current caterwauling about the cancellation of the word ‘Christmas’ to offer up the following pearls of wisdom.
“Nothing surprises me anymore in this country,” he said, telling the Mail that the police could not simply ignore people cycling in the nude.
“Our streets are already riddled with crime, illegal migrants, anti-social behaviour and now we have these flashers on bikes. Our streets have become a freak show.”
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time that Anderson has brought up cycling in recent weeks.
At the end of October, he posted a lengthy rant on Twitter, criticising his old Tory mates in Nottinghamshire County Council, who have opposed attempts by Reform to install 64 permanent union flags on lamp posts around the county, citing the cost of such a plan.
“These are the same councillors who spent £500,000 on a cycle lane in Ashfield that no one has ever used,” Anderson tweeted.
Classic anti-cycling rhetoric from Reform, you might think. Until, that is, the ‘Reform Party UK Exposed’ account dug up an old tweet from 2020 which demonstrated that Anderson wasn’t quite so anti-cycling back in his own Tory days.
In the tweet, posted in November 2020, Anderson praised a £2m boost to cycling funding in Nottinghamshire, describing it as “welcome news as it will means less cars on the road”.
“This increased spending will help us get fitter and allow us to see much more of this brilliant area by making use of cycle lanes and our country trails,” he wrote.
“Time to get my bike out.”
What happened Lee? Anyway, happy Christmas…
“Million-pound bike lane and the cyclist still uses the road!” Phone-using van driver blasts cyclist for holding up traffic and ‘ignoring’ cycle path – which locals say is “not fit for purpose” due to loose stones
Right, I reckon next month, instead of Christmas cards, we start sending out copies of our ‘Why don’t cyclists use the cycle lanes?’ guide by post.
Because some people clearly aren’t getting the message. Goodness, this must be what evangelists feel like at this time of year. Anyway…
It’s currently all kicking off on the ‘Spotted: Quedgeley, Kingsway, Hardwicke’ Facebook group (what do you mean, you aren’t a member?), where a relatively new cycle lane in Gloucestershire has attracted hundreds of comments and sparked quite the debate – after a van driver took a snap of a cyclist riding on the road beside it.
“Million-pound plus bike lane in Staverton and the cyclist still uses the road,” the van driver posted on the group (hopefully not from behind the wheel, shortly after he took the photo).
For some context, the protected bike lane in question was completed in January 2023, as part of Gloucestershire County Council’s ‘Gloucester to Cheltenham Cycle Improvements Scheme’, funded by the government’s Active Travel Fund. The Staverton section marked the fourth of the project’s five phases, with the final section, at Pirton Lane, still to be completed.
According to the local authority, the six-mile-long cycleway “will help cyclists of all ages and abilities to travel safely, encouraging people to choose cycling and walking over using their cars for work, school or leisure, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting public health.”
And it’s fair to say the usual driving suspects weren’t happy with one cyclist ignoring the big, green slab of cycling infrastructure.
“You can’t hold up traffic if you use the cycle path!” wrote Ian Miller in the comments, while Mark Cox urged the driver to “put the bumper on his back wheel”. Oh, he’s hard.
Meanwhile, Kutsal wrote: “Cyclists are the god of the roads… either you will worship or be an atheist while on the road… I prefer to be the atheist one when I am on the road…” Whatever that means.
“If a cycle path is available, it should be law [that] it MUST be used by said cyclist,” added Dean Chew.
Though – surprisingly, since this is Facebook we’re talking about – not everyone was fully on board with Dean’s suggestion.
For instance, Mark Llewellyn said: “As a cyclist, 100 per cent agree with this, and likewise the same law should apply for any motorist who parks their car in a cycle path or who straddles a pedestrian walkway with their car.”
“Thing is under the same logic cars shouldn’t be allowed to go and rat run back streets and they should be restricted to more main roads as it disrupts neighbourhoods with more traffic,” added Bryce Elwine.
“But motorists hate low traffic neighbourhoods and being told they can’t drive anywhere they desire. It’s broken logic.”
> Why don’t cyclists use cycle lanes?
Some cyclists also pointed out that not all cycle lanes are, in fact, created equal.
“The thing with bike lanes, when they cross junctions you can’t see what’s approaching half the time as there are hedges etc in way, so using the road is a lot easier,” said Jason Brown.
“They’re coming up to a junction here,” noted Bex Mountford. “They could well be on the road because they want to turn right and it’s a lot quicker to join the road than have to wait at the crossing possibly for two sets of lights if it’s not crossable in one.
“I’d join the road if I was on my own but use the path if I was with my kids. Cycle paths aren’t for every journey same with driving and motorways.”
“Is it fit for purpose?” asked Paul Stephens. “Most are not in this country.”
According to local cyclist Jamie Smallman, Staverton’s cycle lane fits the latter bill, thanks to its odd “gravel top layer”.
“You know they laid the wrong type of surface?” Smallman asked a driver in the comments. “If you have a hybrid or road bike it’s useless.
“It’s designed for kids’ mountain bikes. The surface is loose stones, it’ll shred a road bike tyre. No cyclist was consulted when they chose the surface type.”
And finally, a few other cyclists took to the comments to point out that there was only one road user breaking the law in that photo.
“So you decide to use your phone whilst driving to take the photo,” noted Chris Barber.
And finally, Mark Flower asked the driver: “Do you want some cheese with that whine?” Enough said…
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Latest Comments
LLMs are indeed an enormous bag of words, but they are also a clever bag of words as when they pick the next most probable word, they are using a multi-dimensional mappings or relations between words and so they appear to communicate like a human, but they are only simulacrums and have no understanding or intelligence.
The article does say that the parrot lived in Scarponi's son's warehouse. It is sad that Franky reportedly died in the factory fire, but apparrotly he had been warned several times about smoking near to packaging materials. Although the parrot (a blue and yellow macaw) is native to Central and South America, it could probably survive in the wild in Europe, as long as winters weren't too harsh. But this article proves beyond all doubt that parrots are polycyclic.
Clever is not a synonym for enormous ;-)
Try Specsavers
Personally, I think the belkin one was a vast improvement over pretty much all the rabobank offerings - blue and orange - bleuch! Although the blanco kit was much better than either of them (or the subsequent visma ones).
Why do these medical professionals never mention shit driving or infrastructure? And why do they never say anything about all the other activities that helmets might also help with e.g. Driving or being a pedestrian.
I have the current generation of 4iiii heart-rate monitor. It's very good . Will I , when the current one eventually fails , buy this new 4iiii , no. Why you may ask . Well it looks like a proprietary fastener . We all know about proprietary standards and the absolute hassle of sourcing replacements and the associated costs.
I like castorama and Astana kits pictured here.
Much as I agree with your comment and opinion, I don't think he's actually having a go at you, rather the article author, given that you didn't say anything about the Grenadier and the author did. If we could have back the previous reply facility, where it was obvious if somebody was making a standalone comment or replying to someone else, it would eliminate these misunderstandings.
Do you work for INEOS by any chance? Each to their own but the INEOS kit has been widely derided, on cycling forums opinion is 90% against at least. No idea why you think Steve's kit in the profile picture is so bad, it's a perfectly neutral black and grey top with a yellow band, you could say it was boring but that's about it. The Grenadier is a foul machine that shouldn't be allowed on sale for numerous reasons, including its disgraceful fuel consumption (15-20 mpg for the petrol version) and its extreme size and weight that puts other road users, particularly cyclists, in danger. Oh and it is totally a Land Rover wannabe, when Jaguar Land Rover announced that they were ceasing production of Land Rovers at their Solihull plant Jim Ratcliffe asked if he could buy the tooling and carry on producing them, when he was told to get lost he started planning to build his own, so that comment is perfectly justifiable.
57 thoughts on ““Cycle paths aren’t for every journey”: Phone driver blasts cyclist for riding on road instead of “million-pound bike lane” deemed “useless”; Reform’s Lee Anderson vs “flashers on bikes”; Does the Tour de France care about nature? + more on the live blog”
Given that the fence line of
Given that the fence line of that house ahead is about to significantly reduce the room available, I’d be willing to bet that the cycle track is about to either become shared space or dump you back out on the road anyway.
The cyclist may also want to be on the road as an easier way of navigating the roundabout coming up than having to stop and wait to cross at each arm.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mjkH4FaCtpB96U4w7
As far as ‘holding up traffic
As far as ‘holding up traffic’ goes – those four vehicles in front seem to have got past just fine, and everyone’s going to have to slow in a few seconds as they approach the junction anyway, so who exactly is being held up?
If there’s a motorway
If there’s a motorway anywhere nearby then the motorists should use it and stop clogging up local roads.
The ‘old’ infra there
The ‘old’ infra there certainly dumps you back onto the road. To be fair, the plans (drawing 124) look like they were ditching the multi-mini-roundabout set up and putting a segregated cycle lane right throught the junction, but (a) who knows whether it’s done yet / any good; (b) still not mandatory.
And not much help if you
And not much help if you happen to want to turn right – a 90 degree turn into a ‘holding pen’, and then you have to chance your arm across the width of the junction.
Or left, to be honest, given that it expects you to negotiate your way through pedestrians trying to cross, and then merge with motor traffic approaching from behind you.
OK this is a section of the
OK this is a section of the cycle path that I use 2 or 3 times a month. Just ahead is a traffic light controlled junction with no priority given to cyclists as far as I can tell. If the cyclist is going right at the junction then its 2 waits to make the turn and you get put out onto the road anyway so using the road would save time. If the cyclist is going straight on or left then it’s only one wait which could take the same length of time as if you are on the road depending on the phase you hit. Left you are put back on the road anyway, straight on and it’s still on the cycle path.
Personally I use the cycle path here as I am going straight on but I’m beginning to think the person who comments on the surface has a point about tyre wear. I’ve just replaced my rear Schwalbe Delta Cruiser after only a year as it had worn through to the red puncture protection strip. This isn’t the only section of the Bishops Cleeve to Gloucester cycle path I use as I use the section from the racecourse into Cheltenham 2 or 3 times a week but the surface is the same.
I use the cycle path so drivers can see it’s being used but I may reconsider in the light of this new information. It’s quicker and smoother on the road and I suspect my tyre wear will be reduced substantially.
One other piece of information. The section from the racecourse into town is closed when the races are on forcing you onto the road anyway.
Good local knowledge – sounds
Good local knowledge – sounds decidedly ‘less than perfect’, as suspected.
The usual issue with UK infra
The usual issue with UK infra.
1. Its only as good as the worst point – if the lane disappears into a narrow shared use with blind driveway entrances, or crossings designed for high speed traffic approaching a rider from behind just out of view (See Walton Bridge and the lovely setback crossing for Walton Lane, just far enough that the fencing means peds/cyclists crossing can’t see (or be seen by) cars turning left), then the entire stretch becomes unusable.
2. We have no idea how good it will be in 200m, let alone 1km due to lack of enforced standards. Just because this stretch is good doesn’t mean the next bit won’t require cyclocross and a machete (clear enough of the overgrowth to bootpack the bike through) as a minimum. So until you have explored the route you don’t know if its actually usable. Often you don’t even have a clean way to know if you can bail out.
3. Per article, the cycle lane still isn’t finished several years down the line. I have seen far too many examples of really bad/no signage for incomplete sections that you aren’t supposed to be using (doesn’t help that people will move barriers, they often don’t clearly sign the end of works and abuse from drivers about not using a cycle lane despite the ‘closed’ sign being closer than signs saying ‘cycle path’…)
Speaking about Walton, what
Speaking about Walton, what about the shared use path on Terrace road going into town that just stops after a few hundred metres. Or the studs put in the pavement on the other side and ta da a cycle path, except that there are loads of hidden drives to negotiate. Surrey County Council are a bunch of useless idiots when it comes to cycling.
If I’m going through Walton
If I’m going through Walton or across the bridge the only bit of cycling infrastructure I ever use is if I’m coming along Walton Lane from Weybridge and want to continue through the town – there I will go under the bridge and up towards town on that bit of cycle lane. But when I turn up Bridge Street I use the road, because the cycle lane is terrible unless you’re pootling at walking pace.
Thorn badges being flailed
Thorn badges being flailed twice a year and debris left on the cycle path, resulting in hedgehog lookalike tyres.
See B5569 cycle path between Bowdon and Tabley.
*hedges?
*hedges?
Personally, I’m in for
Personally, I’m in for Jorgenson’s lunch – sounds spot on.
Wouldn’t say no to some pineapple with it, either…
The big danger for me on
The big danger for me on cycle paths is the traffic turning across the path, also having to stop at every road junction to see if anything is coming – if I were on the road, I would not have to stop.
Looking at the camera angle
Looking at the camera angle that shot is not taken through by a dash cam so driver was most likely using phone whilst driving. Whatever reason the cyclist had for using the road rather than the cycle path is irrelevant when compared with a driver who using a phone whislt driving!
The thing that always cracks
The thing that always cracks me up with drivers is that they genuinely think that cyclists go out of our way to piss them off. That if we banned cars from all roads beyong the motorways that cyclists would have to go and ride on the motorways just to annoy them.
They never quite engage their brains enough to think “I wonder why they aren’t using that”. I bet if you asked them why they are driving the back roads to somewhere instead of taking the main A roads or M roads they would explain that its quicker, or more fun or whatever else yet it never occurs to them that cyclists might not be using cycle paths because they are shit and make our lives harder.
Also the quaint assumption
Also the quaint assumption that any non car focused infra is a “waste of money” if not occupied nose to tail 24/7 – because that’s what driving is like. Railways? not nose to tail trains, with more trains parked up in inconvenient places? Waste of money!
What I find most amusing is the assertion that if you ride a bike you are somehow getting something free that they are not (& in fact you are robbing them personally because they pay for the roads). The fact that they posess the exact same rights as you to exploit the system in this way, but choose not to do so, is neither here nor there – one simply has to drive. Everywhere. Because.
Ah but I’ve been out on the
Ah but I’ve been out on the road outside my home early in the morning a few times and there wasn’t a vehicle to be seen so maybe that makes a case for it being closed?
Car drivers are also
Car drivers are also taxpayers. They should join force with the cycling community and demand authorities that cycling infrastructures be built within budget, delivered on time, fit for purpose and safe for all raod users.
If I’m not mistaken, there is
If I’m not mistaken, there is also a completely empty lane to the right of the van….if only the driver could think of a good use for it…?
But he’s too busy using his
But he’s too busy using his phone, if he was paying attention to the road he would have been past the cyclist.
Could this be the first thing
Could this be the first thing this Labour government has done that I’m actually in favour of?!
https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/breaking-premium-car-brands-removed-in-huge-motability-scheme-shake-up/320372
Although the sterotypical Audi/BMW driver will be harder to spot if they’re driving another brand of vehicle ?.
There may be other… ahem,
There may be other… ahem, indicators.
4 years ago, myu partner
4 years ago, my partner suffereed a life changing event. She is now registered disabled and has a blue badge. Due to her illness I looked at new cars that were suitable for her to be able to get in and out of. Guess what? small family hatchbacks are not really suitable for her. I bought an Audi Q5 since the cars we had at the time were far too low and small to be able to get in and out of on her own. These were a Fiesta 5 door and a Jaguar XE.
Now the fact that many disabled people has mobility issues a larger car is all they can realistically use. The cars avaialbe on motorbility were more often than not brands like Audi, VW, BMW. Thats changed and a lot of the cars there are not suitable.
If she had to rely on Motorbility to purchase a car they isnt many that would be suitable that are not complete piles of shit. Just cos she has a disability doesnt mean she has to drive a shite car. Disabled people should still be allowed to buy these brands but pay more themselves towards it if its a question of the subsidy. To remove Audi, BMW etc completely is discriminatory.
I’m not sure that any cars
I’m not sure that any cars available in the UK are “complete piles of shit” as you suggest but I do agree that premium models should still be available at a comparative price, the problem seems to be that the manufacturers offer them at excessively low prices knowing they will likely get them back as low mileage fully serviced cars that they can easily sell second hand and anyone who looks at the motability price list will think that the government is subsidising this.
I found the limitations to the use of the car to be more of a problem, meaning that although we got a cheap reliable car for my wife I still needed a car of my own for journeys that could not be classed as for her benefit (taking my bike to races etc) I would rather they said that once you qualified for the car you could use it as the family car for whatever use.
Don’t be daft. There are
Don’t be daft. There are plenty of good SUV options, including ones made in Britain, that would do the job.
Nothing is stopping a disabled person buying an imported luxury car, that is still possible, it’s just the taxpayer will not be assisting in that purchase.
The problem here is one of
The problem here is one of system abuse, and there is plenty of it going on around motobility vehicles.
It’s amazing how many people who qualify for a motobility vehicle also happen to suffer from, or subsequently develop things like vertigo or similar suitably grey medical challenges that make getting in and out of normal cars difficult. The only possible answer is to have a larger SUV type vehicle, that miraculously resolves their problems.
This is happening with such regularity, that the loop hole is clearly being shared between claimants, and I’m sure is part of the reason for this update to the programme.
As mentioned, who suffers in all this (in addition to the tax payer) are the genuine people in need.
[Citation needed]
[Citation needed]
Agree, but people finding
Agree, but people finding loopholes and helping themselves to things that aren’t “for” them is hardly a shock. I’m recalling eg. the extremely expensive vehicles registered as taxis etc. when the London congestion charge first came in…
Oh, I don’t doubt that some
Oh, I don’t doubt that some people are doing so (the big lie, of course, is anyone knows how to design the system so that it’s not possible, particularly without causing more harm than benefits) – it was the suggestion that it’s widespread and endemic that needs at least some sort of justification as a claim.
Are we currently experiencing
Are we currently experiencing Schrodinger’s Cyclist?
“Improving cycle infrastructure and public transport has little impact on car use”
https://road.cc/content/news/review-reducing-car-driving-316971
and
“There seems to be a virtuous circle. Segregated bike lanes increase safety, which leads to more riders, which in turn makes cycling even safer.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly02lljdero
“Our streets have become a
“Our streets have become a freak show.” Coppers would know nothing about that since they stay indoors behind their desks with a warm cuppa fighting to relentlessly against the online hate crimes.
? Merry Christmas ?
MaxiMinimalist wrote:
Top tip: avoid any trouble from online cops simply by not making threats or being very unpleasant online.
Peace and goodwill to all… ?
The Belgian ad is playing on
The Belgian ad is playing on them selling houses fast, like Wout is fast. In the ad Wout says “Eh, it’s already sold”.
Bizarre bizarre ad indeed. 😉
“Cyclists are the god of the
“Cyclists are the god of the roads… either you will worship or be an atheist while on the road… I prefer to be the atheist one when I am on the road”
What in the sardines on toast is this hatstandery?
I am local to that cycle path
I am local to that cycle path and think that the surface is fine and there is very little contention with pedestrians. The only real issue is that there are a few areas where it does not drain very well. The road has been narrowed a lot to put in the path so I can understand that drivers get frustrated with cyclists choosing to use the road but the levels of ignorance in the comments are staggering and scary. There are demands to fine cyclists for not using it. Drivers travelling between Gloucester and Cheltenham have a big dual carriageway that they can use instead.
Re Lee Anderson.
Re Lee Anderson.
Can you imagine (heaven forbid) a Reform govt with Lee as perhaps foreign secretary? A man who is shocked that the world has progressed beyond 1971. He is constantly appalled and bewildered by modern society “Diversity? Equality? Bloody ‘Eck!”
Great to see him embrace cycling, but not surprising to see him suggesting that it takes place well away from places where motorists might be affected.
We ve progressed. Really ?
We ve progressed. Really ?
I use all the cycle lanes.
I use all the cycle lanes. Why would you not ??
Coolkitty wrote:
Well, for starters, a lot of them are in places I don’t want to go.
Alarm bells…
Alarm bells…
Coolkitty wrote:
Give me a moment! I’m still trying to use all the roads too because otherwise “but nobody cycles…”
But also: why would I use cycle *lanes* * just because they’re cycle lanes?
Many of the places where cycle infra would be most useful are exactly where it isn’t (20m wide streets “too narrow” etc.) (thanks mdavidford).
Many are uncomfortably narrow (and almost all too narrow for side-by-side social cycling). Or suddenly end in a kerb, turn into bus stops or disappear, are full of parked cars or signs or other stuff people want to store, are poorly maintained etc. Many of those flaws are much more likely with cycle lanes rather than *separated cycle paths*.
I would (and do) happily use infra that is suitable. In Edinburgh we’re fortunate to have a few separated cycle *paths* and a part of one of those (CCWEL west of Haymarket) is actually in the “good enough for 8-80 cycling” range – though not up to Dutch standard.
* Compare: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2020/08/12/cycle-lanes-in-the-netherlands/
Coolkitty wrote:
A lot of them are really badly designed and cede priority at every single side road. Stopping and then starting again on a bike massively increases the energy used, so it makes far more sense to use the road which then means that you have priority over those same side roads.
I’ve also seen a lot of cycle lanes that end in inappropriate places which means that you then have to cross multiple lanes of traffic to get to certain destinations – it’s safer to ignore those and just use the roads.
There’s many other reasons why cyclists may choose to use the road instead of a cycle lane. The intelligent way to address the issues is to ask why experienced cyclists choose the road instead and then to address those issues, whereas in this country there’s so much anti-cyclist sentiment whipped up by the MSM that instead people think that the cyclists don’t know what they’re doing.
Also, trees in the way: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LckFQsPLhnzWmKei7
Be fair – they’ve put a
Be fair – they’ve put a protective black pole there to stop you riding in to the tree.
mdavidford wrote:
Another favourite of mine is the A370/M5 roundabout with a very helpful cycle lane that abandons you on the inside of a roundabout with no crossings and three lanes of busy traffic to try to negotiate. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qj8dTNFPb6qVU7Ak9
Even before you get to the
Even before you get to the abandonment issues, I can’t fathom how you would join that lane in the first place. The ‘rejoin carriageway’ sign suggests that to access this they expect you to have approached via a slim pavement / grass verge around the inside of a motorway roundabout.
Oh yes, that’s exactly what
Oh yes, that’s exactly what they expect.
In fairness, though, if you
In fairness, though, if you’ve already braved the lengthy section up the inside of the dual carriageway to get to that point, the stretch round the roundabout probably isn’t going to faze you much.
The stretch alongside the off
The stretch alongside the off-slip looks, er, exciting, too.
Yes, spotted that! But if you
Yes, spotted that! But if you persevere, you’re eventually rewarded with this.
mdavidford wrote:
I cycle along that route (A370) all the time and just use the road. It’s fairly busy, but I’m fairly comfortable in traffic. I used to use the cycle path on the off-slip road, but it was annoying how it dumps you out onto the road. Since it’s got a bit more overgrown, I just ignore it and hope to not annoy drivers too much for that section (being a downhill slope helps with the speed).
It’s fairly busy, but I’m
It’s fairly busy, but I’m fairly comfortable in traffic
So are most of us because we have to be. When we get hit from behind by e.g the Mayor of Clun over twice the limit for blood alcohol, and he leaves the scene ‘hit and run’, not very much happens to him because you’re a cyclist, and quite a lot might happen to you. It’s OK when you aren’t hit by a driver, pretty bad when you are and it’s a lottery whenever you go out.
This just keeps on giving. It
This just keeps on giving. It looks like the only way to access the hairy cycle route up the inside of a dual carriageway is to first use one of two dual carriageways that doesn’t have a cycle route.
And they couldn’t even be
And they couldn’t even be bothered to paint give way lines and triangle on that…
I don’t know what you mean by
I don’t know what you mean by abandonment anyway. Isn’t this kind of grade separated infra what we all want to see more of?
hawkinspeter wrote:
To be fair they couldn’t have realised that trees would grow there so quickly (practically overnight!) when they built a wonderful dedicated cycle path…
Reckon I’ve found the real
Reckon I’ve found the real culprits behind all those flooded cycle lanes we keep seeing: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cvgje1xzg2go