“Bet the principal drives an Audi”: School bans e-bikes from grounds in “nonsense” move, leaving parents “fuming”; “When’s it going to end?” Anger as two student cyclists killed by driver in US; Tour of Britain Women updates + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“Bet the principal drives an Audi”: School bans e-bikes from grounds in “nonsense” move, leaving parents “fuming”
It turns out police officers, Daily Mail editors, and Panorama presenters aren’t the only types of people confused about what constitutes an e-bike. School principals aren’t too sure, either.
Or at least one principal in Ireland isn’t, after allegedly banning both e-scooters and e-bikes from their school’s grounds ahead of the new term, in an email sent out to parents.
So, does that mean the e-cargo bike used by wee John, Penny, and their mum to ride to school every morning is outlawed? Or just high-speed, illegal models? Who does the principal work for, West Midlands Police?
“Email from son’s school today to say that e-scooters will be banned from school grounds from September (understandably) but also e-bikes!” Alan Dunne posted on BlueSky.
“E-bikes, which dozens of kids and families in that school rely on for their commute. Citing a single incident with an unspecified root cause. I am fuming.”
And other cyclists on the social media platform weren’t too happy about the ban, either.
“It’s complete horseshit driven by people who will see parents in oversized cars parked dangerously/illegally all over the place outside the school at pickup time, but would consider it rude to do anything about it,” wrote Dave.
“It’s utter nonsense,” agreed Alan. “I am mainly fuming about the fact that now I have to waste time writing and talking to them about this stupidity.”
I feel your pain, Alan. How do you think I feel when it’s my turn on the live blog?
“Ask them for a copy of the other version of the email. The one banning e-cars from the school grounds,” I Bike Dublin chipped in.
“Wouldn’t be surprised if some school staff used e-bikes to commute,” noted Alan.
And finally, Peter added: “Bet the principal drives an Audi.”
Audi school ban, anyone?
“When’s it going to end? It’s so sad that we live in a world where we can’t just ride our bikes in peace”: Two US university cyclists killed by driver and seven others injured in horror crash, as motorist charged with vehicular homicide
The US cycling community is in mourning today following the shocking news that two members of a university cycling team were killed by a driver and seven others injured in a horror crash in Tennessee.
11 members of the Milligan University team were on a morning training ride in Hampton, Tennessee on Wednesday when they were struck by motorist John Benfield.
In a video message, the university’s president Stephen Waers confirmed that Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers were killed in the collision. Seven other members of the team were treated in hospital for their injuries, with four currently in critical condition.
Benfield, a 69-year-old from North Carolina, was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle. Local police say the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
In May, Milligan won the men’s team time trial at the US collegiate national road championships in Wisconsin.
In a statement, the university said: “We are profoundly shocked and saddened to share that members of our cycling team were in an accident involving a vehicle this morning while cycling in Hampton, TN.
“There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss. Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy. Please keep the Milligan community in your prayers.”
As the news broke, Ama Nsek, a multiple collegiate national champion and former student at Milligan took to social media to voice his anger and sadness at another fatal collision involving a driver.
“Shed a good amount of tears this morning. Kids were killed and we’re just supposed to chalk it up to another distracted or angry driver?” he wrote.
In an emotional video message, Nsek asked: “When’s it going to end? Two cyclists killed. Two kids killed, and five in the hospital.
“It’s so sad that we live in a world where we can’t just ride our bikes in peace. I’ve seen so many cyclists get killed or heavily injured by negligent drivers, and it’s just really sad. It’s really frustrating.”
Tour of Britain stage two livestream
And we’re live!
I’ll keep this towards the top all day, to save you scrolling through the blog or having to fire up YouTube yourself (the horror). Never say I’m not good to you…
Tour of Britain stage start delayed due to “blockage” on race route
It turns out that we’ll get to watch the vast majority of today’s Tour of Britain stage after all, after the start in wet and rainy Clitheroe was delayed to 12pm due to what the organisers have described as a “blockage in the road on the route”.
Not the best news for the organisers after yesterday’s complaints. But at least we’re underway now, with the YouTube livestream also up and running. Let’s just hope the weather perks up by the time we reach Blackpool…
Pleasure Beach, here we come! Blackpool beckons on stage two of the Tour of Britain Women – but will Lorena Wiebes dominate proceedings on the promenade?
Get your stick of rock, fish and chips, and ballroom dancing shoes at the ready, because the Tour of Britain is heading to Blackpool!
Today’s 110km second stage of the women’s race takes the riders out of the Ribble Valley for a lumpy, attack-friendly loop around the start town of Clitheroe, featuring Waddington Fell and the iconic Nick o’ Pendle, before a long descent down to the seaside.
Yesterday’s stage winner Lorena Wiebes will have been rubbing her hands in glee this morning at the prospect of a long, promenade finish under Blackpool’s famous tower (not sure how it’ll compare to her victory in Paris at the Tour Femmes, however). But, you never know, someone could spring a surprise – maybe Lara Gillespie could be extra inspired by the sight of the Irish Sea and upset cycling’s most dominant sprinter?
The stage got underway at 11.30, though the live YouTube stream is set to start at 12.10, so we should get over two hours of racing action.
“Considering the recent devastating events in our cycling community, it’s scary to see situations like this, when we know that this can have horrific consequences, especially so soon after suffering such a tragedy”
Some worrying news from the Tour of Britain Women this morning, where one rider claimed she was almost hit by a member of the public who drove onto the course during yesterday’s stage around Cockermouth:
At the end of what has been a harrowing, painful week for professional cycling, this is the last thing we needed to hear.
Coming soon to a bike path near you?
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Speaking of e-bike confusion…
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It might get a couple of sponsor names out there, but I can't see how it makes things any more exciting for the viewer when you know it's doomed from the start. 30 riders might be technically a 'bunch', but it's hardly *the peloton* settling for a bunch sprint. And that was only the end result, after multiple splittings apart and comings back together. You might as well argue that rider pay and coverage should be slashed for Milan-San Remo, because all the action only happens in the last 30km.
Reply to Zermattjohn. I disagree. Sport is a branch of the entertainment industry. And it is possible to have more going on, without being too gladiatoral. After all, there are only 5 stages.
Well, it's the school principal (is that the Irish term) so can't they just say "because I told you not to"?
What about getting riders up the road? Nothing wrong with breaks that fail. It is part of getting sponsors names noticed. And isn't thirty riders a bit of a bunch sprint?
So it's the equivalent of things like that motorised sofa?
The school's Instagram post claims that the ban is per 'recent legislation' (while helpfully failing to mention what legislation they're referring to. https://www.instagram.com/p/DcL2Xq5l1fH/ While under 18s are no longer allowed to use escooters, there doesn't appear to be any relevant law changes on ebikes, so one suspects they've hallucinated it.
"School bans e-bikes from grounds in “nonsense” move" So what? I cant imagine many children are on e-bikes themselves. As for parents on e-cargo bikes, do they need to go onto the school grounds? surely they drop their kids off at the gate - where the schools jurisdiction ends.
@andystow I've often considered the varying pros and cons of cycling during rush hour/gridlock and emptier roads. In the past the benefit of gridlock was almost no chance of a serious impact but the con was more pollution. Now, there is less pollution with EVs but with much wider vehicles our progress can be slower during rush hour.
I bought this last June after having discovered red patches on my very verylight-coloured skin on my chest after cycling 7 hours in Var and Alpes-Maritimes in south of France during the 2nd heatwave (out of 5...), where the sun is mean. I have the long-sleeve version and used it to finalize my training for this year's Etape du Tour and on D-Day. I had absolutely no complaints regarding sun damage (no re-occurrence of the red spots), and as the review mentions the breathability is surprising. Putting some water on the arms actually provided some proper cooling for a few minutes. I still have a few complaints: sizing is off... Everything indicated for a M, but I exchanged for L that is now good. Apparently that's a common thing with Castelli. On first wash the colour went a bit on my white socks... I had never had the issue with synthetic clothes before so never bothered sorting that laundry, but well, I guess now my socks are lightly matched to my jersey. I find the colour glorious, and I'm just happy to put less sunscreen than before (there's proper neck coverage too), but I guess that's a niche market :D
@snooks And your explanation why is? oh right, there isn't one. Guess you're just another empty head who has no opinion other than to dismiss others without anything of intellect to offer. So ill take your comment as another piece of total nonsense from a total nobody.
3 thoughts on ““Bet the principal drives an Audi”: School bans e-bikes from grounds in “nonsense” move, leaving parents “fuming”; “When’s it going to end?” Anger as two student cyclists killed by driver in US; Tour of Britain Women updates + more on the live blog”
“School bans e-bikes from grounds in “nonsense” move”
So what? I cant imagine many children are on e-bikes themselves. As for parents on e-cargo bikes, do they need to go onto the school grounds? surely they drop their kids off at the gate – where the schools jurisdiction ends.
The school’s Instagram post claims that the ban is per ‘recent legislation’ (while helpfully failing to mention what legislation they’re referring to.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DcL2Xq5l1fH/
While under 18s are no longer allowed to use escooters, there doesn’t appear to be any relevant law changes on ebikes, so one suspects they’ve hallucinated it.
Well, it’s the school principal (is that the Irish term) so can’t they just say “because I told you not to”?