What does Tier 4 mean? British Cycling updates Covid-19 guidance; Bikes on the pavement vs 4×4 crashing into a playground; Danny MaCaskill in Rhyl; Cyclist (wisely) stops at green light; More inconsiderate parking + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
More inconsiderate parking
Bad parking was a theme on yesterday’s live blog.
Here’s a particularly impressive example.
Bunny hop?
3 miles from the ocean. I decided that someone just hit a really good wave. pic.twitter.com/qmYcUuda8T
— Phil Gaimon (@philgaimon) December 21, 2020
Cyclist (very wisely) stops at green light
This cyclist riding along Burdett Road in London this morning defied all the clichés about cyclists running red lights by stopping at a green on.
Can’t say we blame him.
Burdett Road at Mile End Road pic.twitter.com/0CuuNMrov1
— trafficgifs (@trafficgifs) December 22, 2020
Without wishing to excuse the drivers, could the phasing of this set of lights perhaps also be tweaked a touch?
That van's back in the former Kensington High Street cycle lane again
If you don’t know, the background to this is that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea removed a segregated cycle lane because it was supposedly causing congestion, but all that’s really happened is that now people are parking there.
This van is such a frequent presence it now has its own Twitter account.
YES! pic.twitter.com/nc6bG2Mbym
— Is the van in the RBKC cycle lane still there? (@KensingtonVan) December 22, 2020
A look at the new bike hub next to Kingston Station
Before recent restrictions, @RBKingston gave us a tour of the HUGE new bike storage hub nearing completion next to Kingston Station 🚆 It’s been built as part of the Borough’s #MiniHolland (or #GoCycle) programme funded by @TfL 🚲🅿️🚲🅿️🚲🅿️ pic.twitter.com/jmFrWoq2vA
— Kingston Cycling Campaign (@KingstonCycling) December 22, 2020
You also get a great view of the new cycle and pedestrian bridge being finished off which will improve walking and cycling from the station to the Thames (& towards Ham). Both hub & bridge are in their final stages and due to open by end of January 🌉🚲🌳 #GoCycle #MiniHolland pic.twitter.com/NLGvXvIeOp
— Kingston Cycling Campaign (@KingstonCycling) December 22, 2020
Video: Danny MacAskill and Duncan Shaw take a trip the seaside
Feels like it’s been a while since we had a Danny MacAskill video.
This latest one features a couple of other riders from his Drop and Roll live shows, which have obviously not been happening this year.
The video was shot over two days on Rhyl seafront.
MPCC unhappy with cycling's progress on corticosteroids and ketones
The MPCC – the Movement for Credible Cycling – has criticised the UCI’s slow progress on banning corticosteroids.
Often used to treat asthma and allergies, corticosteroids may be used in competition in nasal spray form, subject to thresholds, while tablets and intra-muscular injections are banned in competition unless a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) has been obtained.
Substances falling under the heading include triamcinolone, which Sir Bradley Wiggins was able to use under TUEs ahead of key races including the 2012 Tour de France, which he won.
In March 2019, UCI president David Lappartient said he was ‘hopeful’ a ban on corticosteroids would be introduced from the start of the season just gone.
This did not happen and there is still no certainty it will be introduced.
A spokesperson for the MPCC – members of which pledge not to use corticosteroids – commented: “For thirteen years now, the members of the movement have been annoyed to see that they have been on their own when it comes to committing to strict and transparent rules on cortisol levels.
“WADA’s Executive Committee recently decided to prohibit any injectable form of glucocorticosteroids usage starting 1st January 2022. This is a real step ahead, praised by MPCC on its whole. The movement will nevertheless keep on carrying cortisol tests in 2021 during the wait.”
The group has also spoken out about the use of ketones.
The group said: “The concerns of the members of the MPCC Board about the misuse of corticosteroids are as strong as the concerns about the usage, in clear sight, of ketones. On this subject, we can only observe baby steps ahead.
“UCI, through the voice of its Medical Director, confirmed to our movement that it advised not to use ketones: this is a good start.”
Ketones are not part of the UCI list of prohibited substances and methods, but MPCC members have committed to not using them, arguing, “ketones can enhance performance but can also damage the health of the riders because of the potential side effects.”
road.cc journo (and his dog) papped by London's Walking & Cycling Commissioner
That fella there – that’s Simon MacMichael, that is.
Lovely to see the new Cycleway 9 in Chiswick being well used pic.twitter.com/68RgqyxRTl
— Will Norman (@willnorman) December 21, 2020
Better signage needed on Cycleway 9?
It’s clearly not an isolated example either … https://t.co/9g65Jos0VO pic.twitter.com/HVUWfam9kU
— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) December 22, 2020
What does Tier 4 mean? British Cycling updates Covid-19 guidance
Amongst other things, British Cycling has suspended all sanctioned activities in Tier 4 areas in England, with the exception of outdoor activities for under-18s and disabled people.
However, those living in Tier 4 areas can continue to cycle. They must either do this alone, with members of their household/bubble or with one person from outside their household/bubble.
We’ve updated our #Covid19 FAQs following the introduction of Tier 4 restrictions in England.
For more information on what this means for cycling events and activities, visit our website with the link below.
FAQs ➡ https://t.co/YwqN6mZ6SN pic.twitter.com/KnqNrWN7Zc
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) December 22, 2020
Fake Chris Hoy news
Oops, I did it again https://t.co/UFywDDqNWU
— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) December 22, 2020
Endorsed by Sir Chris himself.
"Those are the REAL problems": London transport policy officer not sold on 'dangers' of bikes on pavements compared to crashed 4x4s
Just your everyday road violence…a 4×4 just crashed into a kids playground in Hackney. But let’s keep arguing about parking and bikes on pavements yeh? Those are the REAL problems pic.twitter.com/wQuJon5XFG
— Will Bradley (@W_Bradley) December 22, 2020
Will Bradley, whose role involves the promotion of active travel to support London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport and its Cycling and Walking commissioner, made the comments after posting a photo of a smashed 4×4 outside a school in Hackney. Plenty of others were quick to point out that the image serves as a reminder to tell us what the real dangers are on the roads.
We passed by that today. Absolutely shocking! What the hell kinda speed must they’ve been driving at!? Should never be allowed behind the wheel again.
— FB (@fraserb) December 22, 2020
We just came across it too. We were at the other end of BG. A car like that has no place on London’s roads let alone our playgrounds.
— Ben Addy (@BenjaminAddy) December 22, 2020
The comments seem particularly pertinent following our coverage of Lord Blencathra’s comments on yesterday’s live blog. The Conservative life peer suggested that cyclists who block the pavement should face up to six months in prison or fines of up to £5,000. His brainwave was swiftly rebuked by the DFT’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Baroness Vere, who answered: “Her Majesty’s Government have no current plans to consult on raising the penalties for cyclists and delivery drivers using heavyweight electric bicycles who ride on the pavement, or leave their bikes blocking the pavement.”
22 December 2020, 09:16
Bit of a surprise development, this one
Go Dutch to help prevent air pollution deaths, urges Sunday Times
Newspaper’s appeal follows year in which it has published a succession of anti-cycling articles
22 December 2020, 09:16
One pound in every five spent on bicycles between January and October was spent on e-bikes
E-bike sales have more than doubled during Covid-19 pandemic
One pound in every five spent on bicycles during the pandemic was spent on e-bikes
22 December 2020, 09:16
22 December 2020, 09:16
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Latest Comments
The anticyclist exaggerates the disadvantages of cycle lanes beyond belief; it's like they imagine the worst-case scenario and then make it even worse. The Netherlands and Belgium have no problem with cycle paths.
@DrG82 just wait 'till you hear about the "blanket" 30mph limits it was replacing, or those "NSL" signs that just got stuck up everywhere else by default...
@Clem Fandango from that last observation I conclude that the only way to protect drivers from delays by being forced to stop and argue the toss with cyclists, or even being falsely accused by cyclists of various driving offenses is: - traffic lights at regular intervals along all roads, which should turn red whenever a cyclist approaches, alerting drivers there is a (RLJ) cyclist in front. - lights at every junction which default to all-ways red, unless they are briefly reset to green by a cyclist passing (and obviously riding through on red).
Um, yes, that's how evidence works. Perhaps you meant they're not *proof*, which would be true. But they are the best evidence we have.
These stats aren't evidence, they show correlation. Without isolating the variables they don't actually say that much about the impact of the change. Speed limits are an ineffective tool when the problem is drivers not driving in an appropriate manner for the conditions and environment. Those drivers weren't following the speed limit and/or paying sufficient attention anyway! If that is the problem and you don't deal with it, but you want to keep reducing injuries/fatalities, you have to keep dropping speed limits until you prohibit road use entirely. The solution is driving standards improvement (education) and enforcement. In wider terms but more importantly it's better city and road design, and reducing commuting distances by reforming the housing market (to an easily exchanged basic human need - shelter, not primarily an asset with massive financial inertia to change) But that's expensive, in £, time, administration, politics.
@OnYerBike I also find Zwift is a best bet if you want a very easy recovery ride on a windy day. A lot of my cycling is on the fens, where wind is a huge factor, making it difficult to keep power at a low level. An indoor ride on a flat course like Tempus Fugit or similar is perfect - as long as I ride to my power level and don't try to catch other riders.
Bet that Patrick Stewart was a menace - running red(shift) lights at warp speed, and then appearing out of nowhere...
@DrG82 - on the other hand not doing it would merely have been a waste of life.
@Rapha Nadal I believe there other platforms such as TrainerRoad that would let you do that, although you'd need both the (standard) Zwift subscription and a subscription to TrainerRoad on top, which comes to a higher total. I know Zwift does now let you sync with Garmin etc. so it does "know" about your outside bike rides, although it's unclear how thoroughly integrated this is (e.g. if you manually recreate the recommended workout outside, is that recognized as being equivalent training?) That said, whilst in general I much prefer riding outside, indoor training does have distinct advantages for structured training - you can just focus on hitting the target power and not have to worry about traffic/traffic lights/potholes/hills etc.
17 thoughts on “What does Tier 4 mean? British Cycling updates Covid-19 guidance; Bikes on the pavement vs 4×4 crashing into a playground; Danny MaCaskill in Rhyl; Cyclist (wisely) stops at green light; More inconsiderate parking + more on the live blog”
Thank christ the rider had
Thank gods the rider had their wits about them, cos the professionally trained LGV drivers certainly f*ckin’ didn’t… This is what I believe is what really happens in the majority of cases that “the cyclist was trying to undertake when they were tragically killed”
Tipper wagons ! Close Convoy
Tipper wagons ! Close Convoy ! what could possibly go wrong ?
Though I do wonder if the footage has been doctored, one of the wagons seems to merge with the transit van turning right into the same junction just as the clip ends
It seems like it’s been sped
It seems like it’s been sped up – the indicators on the lorries are flashing very fast, and the van accelerates at an unusual rate. It looks like the road is just about wide enough for both vehicles to turn into initially, but one of them would then have to concede the road once they reach the kerbed cycle lane a little way on.
The title is traffic gifs
The title is traffic gifs which normally takes a few frames per second to fit into the gif (or in this case removes the stop motion part of the traffic cam).
I would like to see another
I would like to see another few seconds – did the HGV actually hit the silver van?
I figured it was likely
I figured it was likely something to do with the conversion from the feed to a gif. I suspect if it was running at normal speed it would look less like the two have collided and merged, and more like the van has just barged its way in to the convoy.
It looks like there are two
It looks like there are two lanes and the van seeing 3 more lorrries all turning decided to enter the right one as the lorries would have been in the left. Silly driving there and another good reason that the cyclist stopped as if one of the lorries had allowed him through, the van probably would have taken him out.
EK Spinner wrote:
Really interesting point – there does seem to be space for 2 vehicles in the funnel, as long as one gives way. I know what you mean about the video though on a second look.
Here is a view from Mile End. The red arrow shows the path of the tippers the blue shows the van. I think the van is masked by the tipper, but one will have to let the other go as they approach the bridge
But we digress, my original point still stands. Riders undertaking, my arse….
Captain Badger wrote:
Vast majority, I’d say. In fact I’ve seen cases where witnesses testified to this but the driver still got off because ‘cyclists’
EddyBerckx wrote:
Agreed.
I’m not aware of the road
I’m not aware of the road rules in the U.K. but in Australia, heavy vehicles indicating to turn have right of way, with signs on the back stating that fact and can use more than one lane to execute the maneuvre; all vehicles going straight ahead, including cyclists in bike lanes, have to give way.
Note; in Australia, overtake means passing on either side of a vehicle travelling in the same direction.. the word undertake is not used.
https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/202007-0849-vsb12-national-code-of-practice-rear-marking-plates.pdf
Re: Van in the Cycle lane.
Re: Van in the Cycle lane.
On that picture and several others in the history of that account, Diplomatic Protection Vans are parked in that lane a lot. I wonder if they just congregate in a cafe there until one of the local Embassies deign they need protection / escorted travel. Of course as it is four wheels and not two, we don’t get unrepentent drunk actors moaning.
They have parking at the
They have parking at the station just round the back of these shops – maybe they’re worried about getting blocked in?
Rose have pulled the plug on
Rose have pulled the plug [edit: not just bikes] on UK orders due to Brexit – report on Bike Radar.
I thought they’d stopped UK
I thought they’d stopped UK orders a while ago, due to our preference for brake levers not wired the continental way.
They had previously stopped
They had previously stopped selling complete bikes, but until now you could have bought parts/components/accessories through them still.
Typo in the first story. That
Typo in the first story. That is not a 4X4, it is a Mercedes ML SUV. Purely a status symbol for selfish inconsiderate people. Put an ML on a lawn, it’ll get stuck.