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Live blog: Computer scientists use Strava data to identify pot hole hotspots, Lewisham investigating falling tree incident that almost felled cyclist, warning over scam Hövding airbag helmet website, appeal after Wiltshire hit and run + more

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They may have looked, but did they see?
Ds2025: where they are going wrong is that they are crushing the motorbike rather than the person sat on top of it. If they did the latter this issue would be solved in less than 24 hours.
I came this way today with the car boot sale in operation. There was a marshal at the entrance, who stopped a car turning right across the cycleway as I was approaching. So that certainly works. I think it necessary for the marshal to be there, I couldn't say if the driver would have turned if he hadn't been there but you always have to suspect the worst. Unfortunately there is no marshal at the exit, and there was certainly a car stopped across the cycleway as I was approaching it. But he pulled onto the road before I reached it, and the following car stayed off the cycleway as I went through. Ideally there should have been a marshal there too. On the whole, though, it's a really high standard piece of infrastructure. Just a pity it doesn't extend a bit further.
“absolute carnage” So right! Just look at the bodies piled up, blood running in the gutters and injured people limping away. It's a bit of a problem with a road, delaying some people for minutes at a time: it isn't carnage, let alone 'absolute carnage'. Anyone who exaggerates so ridiculously really shouldn't be allowed to comment in public, unless they want to demonstrate their idiocy to all and sundry.
I'm criticising them for not riding in secondary position, not primary. At least 60cms (2 feet) from the edge of the road as the HC explicitly recommends. Leaving aside the small minority of riders who find mounting and dismounting a bike difficult - which sounds suspiciously similar to the motorists "but, but what about disabled drivers?" when talking about LTNs - what's wrong with able bodied riders walking the few metres over that narrow, Victorian bridge? Sure, if there's clearly no-one on it I wouldn't condemn anyone for riding it slowly, but if it's not clear forcing pedestrians to stop and squeeze to the side is, frankly, a rather entitled opinion. Plus it's easy to hold a road bike a little ahead of you and hold the saddle - normally no need to hold the bars if it's straight - so you're really not taking up much more room at all. There's a railway underpass near me that links to a shared then segregated path. It's narrow, and the path approaches at an angle so you can't see if it's clear, but many riders still choose to pedal through despite the clear 'no cycling' signage. Why?? Personally I don't go that way, except on foot, preferring the surrounding roads.
I think you're giving drivers too much credit. Many would not think twice about blocking the road if it makes their life easier, such as when turning right onto a busy road.
They might have to, but they won't. What they will do is pull out over the cycle path while they wait for a gap in motor traffic.
"We have enough regulation." I agree with the exception being legally allowed to sell something which is virtually illegal to use. How many purchasers own a suitably large piece of private land?
@jackcycles I'm not sure my grandchildren got that memo. Cycling should not be just for hardened road warriors.
Chrisonabike There are a number of police forces in England and Wales that are using portable testing equipment already... How effective it is another matter, I haven't looked into the results of failing (I would hope they just seize and crush the motorbike without any faff but I am sure there are appeal processes, promises not to use them on public roads etc).
3 thoughts on “Live blog: Computer scientists use Strava data to identify pot hole hotspots, Lewisham investigating falling tree incident that almost felled cyclist, warning over scam Hövding airbag helmet website, appeal after Wiltshire hit and run + more”
I hope that this gent makes a
I hope that this gent makes a speedy and full recovery and that the police are successful in pursuing and prosecuting the offenders.
Given the poor standard by some drivers around here I am only surprised that this hasn’t happened before. Although I don’t know exactly where the collision occurred I have an idea given the police appeal. Many of the roads around Common Platt – particularly from/to Purton – are rat-runs with corners, slight hills in places and surfaces that are broken up and pot-holed. There’s lots of inappropriate overtaking – be a great place to have a close pass operation. Perhaps a close pass operation should be mandatory in any location a collision has occurred after a failed overtake, as this collision seems to be.
In any event, I am glad for the cyclist that it did not turn out any worse (bad as it was), as it so easily could have been worse. But isn’t that the thing – the difference between a close pass and a collision is luck.
I shall be keeping a good look out for, “a heavily-modified silver three-door Vauxhall Corsa with tinted windows and aftermarket wheels.”
Mirror that was knocked off
Mirror that was knocked off looks like the sort that would be put on a 3 series BMW… like the old ‘M’ style mirror.
So keep an eye out for any chavvy cars basically with a missing nearside mirror.
Those pothologists should
Those pothologists should also record sound to identify from the number of people who shout “Jesus Fucking Christ!” whenever they fail to spot a pothole.