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Live blog: The end of cars parked in cycle lanes? Government dismisses mandatory helmet/hi-viz and compulsory cycle insurance suggestions; Cav’s unique Thanksgiving message, South African cyclist survives knife to the head + more
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Thu, Nov 22, 2018 15:12
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Latest Comments
hotspanners 29 minutes ago
@DS2025 I literally just found out it was done by the CX league, which explains why Jo had seen so much slop, and why I wasn’t aware of it until it was too late. I think the article needs to be amended - Jo’s issue is with the CX league, not the clubs. This article makes us look rubbish!
Manchestercyclist 48 minutes ago
This was my children's headteacher and I had spoken to him just weeks before, he was a terrific fella. To put this in context, I regularly cycle down the same route as this incident, it is too narrow with many impatient commuters on it. There is no cycle provision, the surface is terrible on the whole and little obvious effort is made to reduce the speed of motorists. There is a car in my road right now with no front number plate (read into that what you will), GMP say it's not their job, the council say it's not their job either, the DVLA are my last opportunity. I have no faith I. Then to act. The pavement on both sides of my road is impossible to walk down, the local pcso said he won't act, and the local councillor visited and then also did nothing. I regularly cycle with my son (18 years old) but I wouldn't let him go out on his own because I have suspect too many of the local motorists have lite care for the safety of others a the regulation is nil.
DS2025 57 minutes ago
@hotspanners Who created it? A member or a complete random person? If it was a randomer then I guess it could be made clear in the article. If it was a member then what record is to correct? I don't think Jo was unfairly criticising your group, just a general grumble. I must say, as far as AI slop goes, I didn't mind the Kingston Wheelers one too much.
Borisface 1 hour ago
That's hilarious. The thick end of £6.5k for an aluminium frame on a bike that weighs almost 8.5kg. They're having a larf. The hardest of hard no's from me.
Geoff H 3 hours ago
@MoralHazard From what little I have read of Richardson, his life was pretty much 'ruined' in the first place.
Accessibility for all 4 hours ago
@whosatthewheel "Reducing the speeds wouldn’t have helped in this case" Yes, it would, because knowing the junction layout very well (I live nearby) the driver approached it at high speed, likely did a quick check to his right (from where Mr Mullins approached), and continued on at high speed. Making it a T-junction would have forced him to slow down to a crawl before turning - else he'd have gone through the hedge opposite.
This Wreckage 4 hours ago
@andystow That is, or at least used to be, the notorious cost/benefit analysis applied to roads by the Department for Transport.
This Wreckage 4 hours ago
There are parts of the UK that are not yet called 'London', surprising as that might appear to readers of this story and similar ones in the national media.
smallbeer 4 hours ago
@mdavidford Ah. Thank you.
This Wreckage 4 hours ago
@kil0ran Look, you are arguing against higher profits for car manufacturers obtained through changing to SUVs and 'trucks'. To argue thusly is a heinous offence under capitalism. If it is not already unlawful we can expect that to change soon, given the seriousness with which holding a sign declaring support for Palestine Action is taken by the police, media and criminal justice system.
15 thoughts on “Live blog: The end of cars parked in cycle lanes? Government dismisses mandatory helmet/hi-viz and compulsory cycle insurance suggestions; Cav’s unique Thanksgiving message, South African cyclist survives knife to the head + more”
Interesting and welcome
Interesting and welcome approach. Typically BikeAbility training is free for kids, wonder how much it would be for adults? Needs to be priced right. Doubt that the DfT will fund it, needs an innovative approach from insurance companies/other providers.
kil0ran wrote:
How would passing a bikeability course reduce the risk ? bear in mind this is talking about people that have already been trained and passed the government approved driving test, so these people should already be aware of the dangers on the roads, and of how to safely pass other road users.
I can see people simply turning up for the course to get a discount and it making not a blind bit of difference to their driving. It’s not about people being unaware of the risks in many cases, it’s people who don’t care. Those who would be interested in taking the course to improve their driving are probably the last people that need to be on it as they already consider others.
StuInNorway wrote:
Might work if the course includes repeatedly scaring them sh:tless by being close passed by an HGV at 40mph.
StuInNorway wrote:
Like people who choose to do a speed advisory course when they’ve been caught speeding? (apparently, people do sometimes still get caught for speeding! Who would have thought?!)
kil0ran wrote:
Not sure they hand out Bikeability badges at the end of it, but my local council (Trafford) offers FREE one-to-one cycle training to adults.
There are also commercial outfits out there that offer Bikebility training to adults, suspect prices vary.
How is that going to work for
How is that going to work for those of us who cycle regularly but didn’t take the Bikeability course? Hoop jumping?
Luca Patrono wrote:
My daughter (just 12) said to me that she’d been offered Bikeability L3 at school, but that she really didn’t want to do it. I said that was fine, that I’d never even done Cycling Proficiency BITD, and that she’d pretty much pick up the skills taught by – you know – just riding.
(That said, I think that some sort of cycle training or cycling experience should definitely be mandatory for anyone planning to get an HGV/PSV licence).
Luca Patrono wrote:
Depends on what your insurance premium is and the discount offered. Might be worth taking it – should be an easy hoop to jump through…
Lets say it costs £50~£100 to take the course, and you get a 5 to 10% discount for passing
£500 insurance premium –
£2000 insurance premium –
So it may pay for itself or at least recover most of the cost at your next insurance renewal. And don’t forget to multiply the discount by the number of years you expect to continue driving 😀
CygnusX1 wrote:
Depends on what your insurance premium is and the discount offered. Might be worth taking it – should be an easy hoop to jump through…
Lets say it costs £50~£100 to take the course, and you get a 5 to 10% discount for passing
£500 insurance premium –
£2000 insurance premium –
So it may pay for itself or at least recover most of the cost at your next insurance renewal. And don’t forget to multiply the discount by the number of years you expect to continue driving 😀 — Luca Patrono
Fully comp for my Passat was £220, it’d need a fair few years to break even even if the insurers offer it. Those that offer discounts for advanced driving, camera fitted etc IME are more expensive at the base price so negates any ‘saving’.
I foresee quite an industry
I foresee quite an industry developing in fake insurance reduction claims either through dodgy training courses, downloadable fake training certificates or people just brazenly claiming to have taken the course.
Now if it was a new classification on the driving licence that required you to pass a cycling test it could be more robust and easier to verify on the roadside.
billymansell wrote:
It’d be in the insurance industries interests to make sure that the training courses are effective. They’re not going to be happy with fake training certificates if the underwriters have to pay out claims with reduced premiums.
Ouch! that photo of the SA
Ouch! that photo of the SA guy looks gruesome. Cue comments about how he should have worn a helmet…
Dooring a cyclist does matter
Dooring a cyclist does matter, so I can’t understand the “Near-dooring of a tandem” story. The tandem riders should be ashamed they didn’t try to educate the offending driver. The driver will just continue their bad behavior until another cyclist(s) gets hurt. They took the time to tell other cyclists with a video as documentation, which amounts to basically preaching to the choir about the drivers poor choices.
Wait, did the government just
Wait, did the government just make a rational decision based on facts and reasoning?
What is happening and can we have some more?
Canyon48 wrote:
All the big name politicians are tied up with Brexit shenanigans, so they can’t impart their usual wisdom over small issues like this.
Don’t worry, normal service will be resumed shortly.