The ‘why cyclists don’t use cycle lanes’ cycle lane; Sir Dave Brailsford welcomes All Blacks to Ineos empire; Cyclists unconvinced by “empty words” on active travel; Roglic storms to gold; Dutch curse broken; LEJOG record attempt + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"Dutch curse" lifted as Annemiek van Vleuten wins time trial gold
The so-called “Dutch curse” in cycling at the Tokyo Olympics has been lifted with Annemiek van Vleuten winning the women’s individual time trial. Marlen Reusser of Switzerland nearly a minute back in second place and a second rider from the Netherlands, Anna van der Breggen, finishing third. Team GB’s Anna Shackley was 18th, four minutes down on the winner. All credit must go to road.cc’s news editor Simon for the early start too – the real hero of the morning’s action.
Annemiek van Vleuten wins...cue the memes
“Was there someone in front of me?” 🙊 pic.twitter.com/nWjfFSHb8R
— F Λ B R I Z I O (@fabrizioviani) July 28, 2021
Primoz Roglic storms to stunning TT gold winning by more than a minute as Tom Dumoulin takes silver ahead of Rohan Dennis in third
Primoz Roglic of Slovenia has put his Tour de France disappointment behind him to take a convincing victory in the men’s individual time trial at Tokyo 2020 today. Behind, there was the tightest of battles for Olympic silver and gold, Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands runner-up for the second Games in a row and Rohan Dennis of Australia third.
The fastest time from the second of the three groups of riders out on the road came from Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran, beating the previous best time set by Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel by 2.58 seconds, as he came home in a time of 57:18:69.
By then, the final group containing the main favourites were heading out onto the course, which covered two laps of the Fuji Speedway Circuit, and six riders were within a quarter of a minute of each other after crossing the finishing line for the first time, with the fastest time posted by Roglic.
It was former world champion Dumoulin who set the benchmark time for those aiming for the podium to beat, the Dutch rider going 1 minute 13 second faster than Uran, but that was smashed by more than a minute by Roglic shortly afterwards as the rider, whose Tour de France hopes were wrecked due to an early crash, rode to gold.
The Slovenian put in a storming second lap to take a convincing victory, his time of 55:04.19 just over a minute faster than his closest rider. Team GB’s Geraint Thomas and Tao Geoghegan Hart both finished well down the field, in 12th and 29th place respectively.
"No one can stop Roglic. Not even the finish line"
No one can’t stop Roglic. Not even the finish line. pic.twitter.com/M0UAlVQp3z
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) July 28, 2021
Cyclists unconvinced by "empty words" commitment to active travel as bike lane to be ripped out
What was the explanation?
We love cycling but not on our direct routes because CARS! 🥴 https://t.co/0xx3s6wiAQ
— Thomas O. Cornwallis (@UrbanistTOC) July 28, 2021
Yesterday we brought you the news that Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for climate emergency, transport and environment has announced a protected cycle lane on the city’s West Derby Road will be ripped out. The reason? It had been installed without consultation and was apparently causing congestion. Last night, Cllr Daniel Barrington appeared in a short PR-friendly clip on the council’s social media accounts to reassure cyclists, “We’re still committed to active travel and cycling”.
Said vid was not received well…Jennifer James asked: “How does this square with the public health efforts in Liverpool? Cycle lanes offer the opportunity to be physically active and provokes positive cardiovascular and metabolic effects which are beneficial to health? Confused by this decision.”
Others asked why the decision had been taken so suddenly? And suggested a genuine commitment to active travel would have seen the lane kept in place until alternative safe routes were provided…
An utterly feeble decision, spineless and in the face of evidence… 100,000 trips in its first year.
— Mounsey. (@rosemeyer1939) July 27, 2021
Shot a video on a dual carriageway and justified the decision to rice the bike lane with there not being enough space for cars. OK champ.
— Sam Clifford (@samclifford) July 28, 2021
If you were actually committed to active travel you would have waited until the alternative route was in place before removing this one. What do the 5000+ people a day using it do now, get in their cars? How is that going to help traffic, the environment, or health?
— Richard Chambers (@dukeofted) July 28, 2021
“We’re still committed to active travel and cycling.” As long as you drive somewhere else to do it.
— Vicky M Andrews (@PlanetVicster) July 27, 2021
Comment of the week
In reference to the rather unusual LoreOne shoes that will cost you a princely £1,378, we’d expect nothing less from a reader named RoubaixCube. Chapeau!
Christina Mackenzie on the road in pursuit of Land's End to John O'Groats record
Leaving the South Door of the Land’s End hotel – sounds windy! pic.twitter.com/3wHVg17eoz
— Mr Broadwith (@24HourMaths) July 28, 2021
Here we go. Christina Mackenzie is off on her LEJOG record attempt. 52 hours and 45 minutes is the time to beat, a record which has stood unbeaten since 2002. At the first checkpoint at Cornwall Services, Christina was nine minutes faster. Only 800+ miles to go. Up, up, up…
New individual pursuit world record...but not at the Olympics: Zoe Backstedt sets new best junior time
The records are falling and the track cycling events at the Olympic Games haven’t even started yet. Zoe Backstedt set a new British record and world record this morning at the HSBC National Youth and Junior Championships in Glasgow with a time a full second faster than the old best time set by Ellesse Andrews. Impressive.
Sir Dave Brailsford welcomes New Zealand's All Blacks to the Ineos sporting empire
Welcome @AllBlacks! 🏉
It’s fantastic to see you join the @INEOS sporting family 🤝 pic.twitter.com/VQ3YdP3HHu
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) July 27, 2021
The historically dominant force in world rugby has joined the 2010s dominant force in F1 and pro cycling as part of the growing Ineos sporting empire. Sir Dave Brailsford welcomed the New Zealand rugby team with a recorded message from the Tour de France in Paris…”A warmest welcome, when asked who are the best in the world, the reference point has got to be the All Blacks. We couldn’t be more excited.”
The Ineos Grenadiers team boss appeared in the clip with seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff and other faces from across the group’s extensive sporting empire. The Ineos Group already counts Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup challengers, French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice and Eliud Kipchoge’s sub-two hour marathon record amongst its interests, but this is its first venture into rugby.
At a quick glance you probably wouldn’t assume cyclists and rugby players have too much overlap…Perhaps Filippo Ganna could do a job in the pack, or sneaky Richie Carapaz at scrum-half…However, you can be sure Dave B will be off searching for some more marginal gains off the Kiwis to strengthen the team’s Tour de France chances in the coming years.
The 'why cyclists don't use cycle lanes' cycle lane
This is marked on the map as the A12 cycleway, between Capel St Mary and Stratford St Mary. Go on, complain to me about how “cyclists” don’t use those perfectly good bike lanes built for them. pic.twitter.com/wai8ImAniI
— Georgina Wilcox (@GeorginaWilcox) July 27, 2021
Georgina Wilcox’s exasperated “really?” on seeing the next stretch of the A12 ‘cycle lane’ in Suffolk sums this one up. Off the road and onto a narrow, overgrown stretch, she decides “it’s not too bad”, how bad must the previous bit have been?
Then out onto the luxuriously wide surface running right next to the A12, facing oncoming traffic. The cracks in the path add…character? And then the final stretch where the overgrown bushes make it only just wide enough for one rider to squeeze through…At least there’s the welcome sight of a petrol station forecourt and all the carbs in the world at the end…
The worst thing about this is probably the incoming comments from you lot up and down the country who have a lane like this or something similar in your area. In fairness, it’s probably not that bad if you’ve got wide tyres, don’t need/want to be anywhere in a hurry, like road noise, and don’t meet anyone coming the other way…
Everyone hates pavement cycling, until you paint a little bike on the pavement and then it’s “why aren’t you in the ‘bike lane’”
— Istvan (@De_Raild) July 28, 2021
Tom Dumoulin: I have decided to continue racing
Moments after returning to the top of the sport, winning his second Olympic medal, Tom Dumoulin confirmed he has decided to make his comeback permanent. The Dutch rider walked away from pro cycling in January, taking a break, but returned with the Games TT as his big goal for the season. Afterwards, Dumoulin told reporters he is keen to continue.
“I will continue cycling. That is what I have decided in recent weeks,” the 30-year-old told NOS. “I really like it this way. I still think cycling is a very cool sport. I will continue cycling, I have decided that.”
The Jumbo-Visma rider said the World Championships in Belgium will likely be his next big goal. For now, he can bask in the glory of a second silver medal to go with the one he won five years ago in Rio.
“Gosh, proud. I’m happy. What this means?” he continued. “This was my goal, to get a medal today. I didn’t know for the past few months if it would be possible. I also tried to wonder as little as possible. I wanted to enjoy the process here. And it actually worked out really well. I’ve had a few really nice months preparations behind us. To end it like this is fantastic. For me, this is silver with a gold edge.”
Former US senator Mike Enzi killed in cycling crash
His family expresses their deep appreciation for all of the prayers, support and concern. They now ask for privacy and continued prayers during this difficult time.
The family is planning to hold a celebration of a life well-lived, with details to be shared later. https://t.co/vn0wxDWrgS
— Mike Enzi (@SenatorEnzi) July 27, 2021
Retired Republican politician US Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming has died aged 77 after suffering major injuries in a cycling crash. Police say nobody else was involved in the incident near Gillette, Wyoming. Enzi was airlifted to UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies with a broken neck and ribs after the accident on Friday, but passed on Monday having failed to recover consciousness.
I know a guy...
Only one man in history has won the Tour de France and Olympic Time Trial in the same year, can you guess who it is?! @Eurosport_UK @discoveryplusUK @SirWiggo pic.twitter.com/JcybcQfCJ4
— Orla Chennaoui (@SportsOrla) July 28, 2021
Meanwhile, in the land of Pog…
This is @TamauPogi right this moment. I think he’s not joining @SirWiggo’s club this year. 😂 pic.twitter.com/nasTY4NVx1
— Urška Žigart (@urskazigart) July 28, 2021
As predicted...You've all been sending us your favourite rubbish cycle routes
Why don’t cyclists use cycle lanes? Take a spin down the A12 bike path in Suffolk with its charming cracked surface, obstacles and oncoming traffic https://t.co/CnTI1qvMzT #cycling pic.twitter.com/aqoUpB9Z98
— road.cc (@roadcc) July 28, 2021
I said this would happen. And, to be fair, the rubbish we’ve had sent in makes the A12 look like an Olympic velodrome…
For starters, this back alley swimming route Sally Smith submitted is something else…
Tried out the new commute today. To avoid getting killed by a lorry opted for the blue signed cycle network route home. What a shitty country we live in for cycling infrastructure. A long video but watch to end for the grand finale of shite. pic.twitter.com/FZzthcT2qa
— Sally Smith (@Sporty_sal) May 6, 2021
Or how about this hard shoulder-looking ‘cycle lane’ that is apparently Cheshire’s finest…Yeah, I think I’ll stay on the road thanks…
And from Yorkshire…It’s nice of the authorities to think of those training for cyclo-cross season when picking cycle paths. Just make sure you stick to the right side of that white line…
West Yorkshire cycle way near Leeds Grammar School. Believe me it gets worse pic.twitter.com/KqHKnHJV5t
— Ian Myers (@TweekySenior) July 28, 2021
28 July 2021, 07:54
28 July 2021, 07:54
28 July 2021, 07:54
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Latest Comments
Yet another case of planning agreements made but never fulfilled, nor checked by the LA. Developers can do what they want, it seems
Yes let's see action. The draft CWIS3 was unambitious, and I don't expect the final version to be much better. The funding for active travel is disappointing, and there is little or no political will for meaningful change. I'm in favour of making cycling to school safe by building proper cycle facilities in towns and cities for everyone - not by putting in a few metres of cycle track to a school entrance then giving up.
I personally don’t see any reason in not going straight to Byrton if you are not a Garmin or Wahoo fan, or you want a value alternative to the big two. I currently run a Bryton 420 and in 4 years of owning and using it has been fab, if I had some cash or needed to replace then I now would not hesitate to buy a Bryton again.
@Didsbury Which, of course, means we secretly want to be French.
It's unclear what is being proposed - just 20mph and traffic calming, or modal filters too?
All good and I agree with the drift but how does this actually work in an effective way? Phone use is *endemic* - because so many people simply don't see the issue with "just looked at my phone for a second" and we are all being *actively trained* to do this by the app sellers! In theory app, phone and vehicle purveyors could work together to help dissuade this, but the current system suits all and everyone can say "but we put a warning on our product and certainly don't force anyone to do anything illegal..." and point at the others. How do we change behaviour? It seems unlikely we can catch enough drivers with phones in their hands to do that (not because it's hard to spot, just having enough people to collect and process the evidence). If we sort that out we then have another constraint - making it stick. If a small fraction of those say "wasn't me, see you in court", as others note ATM the process is slow AND very expensive. Also given costs and limitations of road policing currently how would driving bans help? They're also minimally policed, and with little effective punishment?
@chrisonabike Moustache, please, we are in the UK after all!
@chrisonabike Tramway used to run to the top of Whiteladies then all the way along to Westbury
There really should be more crackdowns on phone use as the danger is well established by now. The six points and £200 fine for drivers who are caught should be effective but I think an instant one month ban as well as those would be a good thing as it would show drivers what they stand to lose.
Wow - some warm words and enthusiastic goals from the government about active travel https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/11/ministers-pupils-england-active-travel-school-cycing-walking-heidi-alexander Now, let's see some ACTION!
24 thoughts on “The ‘why cyclists don’t use cycle lanes’ cycle lane; Sir Dave Brailsford welcomes All Blacks to Ineos empire; Cyclists unconvinced by “empty words” on active travel; Roglic storms to gold; Dutch curse broken; LEJOG record attempt + more on the live blog”
Absolutely storming stuff
Absolutely storming stuff from Van Vleuten and Roglic – felt a bit sorry for Kung, who must be wondering what he needs to do to win a big race (other than go faster, obviously…)
So many people want LTN type
So many people want LTN type arrangements, just not where they live or where they drive.
So many people are committed to active travel and cycle lanes, just not where they get in the way of ‘normal’ motor traffic.
“Some of my best friends are cyclists…”
So many want a 20mph speed
So many want a 20mph speed limit outside their house, but speed through all the others.
True.
True.
My village FB group has regular comments along the line of people speeding through the village and Something Should Be Done.
(Funny thing is, nobody really drives through my village – its a loop off the main road, so the only people driving in the village live there, or have business there – which means that the vast majority of those speeding motorists about whom they were complaining, are villagers themselves).
Anyhoo – you should have heard people’s heads exploding when the council suggested a 20mph speed limit… 😉
I love my bike wrote:
Will be interesting to see how this works out.
https://gov.wales/20mph-frequently-asked-questions#section-74849
could be interesting to see
could be interesting to see how this works out,Im not aware cameras have been used on 20mph limits before, assuming they arent just the smiley/frowny face ones https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/traffic/speed-cameras-for-west-end-in-costessey-8186926
But sadly those Norfolk
But sadly those Norfolk cameras will not be used for prosecution, just education. Presumably educating people who have trouble with a big 2 followed by a big 0 meaning twenty.
One of my favourite things when I have to drive is doing an indicated 20 mph in a 20 zone, and then glancing in my mirror to see the queue behind me.
though I think these could be
though I think these could be the new ANPR cameras that are on trial in the region, the education part is the registered keeper gets a warning letter, abit like close pass warning letters I guess that comes from the council/police, get two letters in 12months and the police contact the driver directly for a chat.
so be interesting to see if it has any impact, there have been complaints about the NDR rat runs & speeding ever since the thing opened.
I know of only one actual
I know of only one actual speed camera in a 20mph limit – on the road into Usk (Wales). It’s a fantastic honey-trap for drivers. I’ve probably (definitely not deliberately, of course not) got at least 5 drivers a fine because it’s a flat road and I ride at ~20mph on a flat road. Any non-local driver just MGIF overtakes straight past the speed camera.
I suspect in lots of suburban settings people will argue that the cameras are ‘unfair’ because it’s “really hard” to drive at 20 cos you’ve “got” to overtake cyclists doing 18.
I can’t see the councillor’s
I can’t see the councillor’s video, still waiting for my appeal with twitter for calling Cristos a cretin, but the comments were explanation enough. What is clear is that he doesn’t understand his brief, of climate emegency, transport or the environment; if he did, there is no possible way he could have taken out that cycle lane.
Recalling another road.cc story https://road.cc/content/news/department-transport-tell-councils-give-ltns-time-285133 it is hard to believe that the councillor doesn’t have some hidden agenda, as no-one with his responsibilities would have taken out that lane and risked joining the other three councils involved in legal action for doing the same. Perhaps he was doing it before the DfT guidance on leaving the lanes in long enough for their effects to be robustly analysed is issued, not just criticised by petrolheads, thus justifying their instant removal.
“We’re still committed to active travel and cycling.” I know they speak funny up there in Liverpool, but do they have different meanings for words? Maybe he could explain how “committed” means ripping out things for cyclists.
I’ll leave this here
I’ll leave this here
eburtthebike wrote:
Maybe he thought they meant cyclists should be committed (in the sense of “committed under section xx of the Act)?
The reason it’s being taken
The reason it’s being taken out: “It had been installed without consultation and was apparently causing congestion“. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Driving a car for local journeys should not be the easiest or best option. Anything that makes active travel or using public transport more attractive is a good thing.
iandusud wrote:
If there weren’t so many cars, there wouldn’t be any congestion.
Is there one of Georgina’s
Is there one of Georgina’s cycleways on each side of that main road, or are cyclists and pedestrians (travelling in both directions) just supposed to share that thing?
There’s only one. I guess if
There’s only one. I guess if you encouter somebody coming from the other direction you’ll have to flip a coin to decide who’s stepping off the kerb…
That A12 cycle track, if it
That A12 cycle track, if it can be dignified with such a name, is both a disgrace and a danger to anyone who uses it. You can just imagine the faces of the councillors and highway planners when a cyclist is killed using it, and the expressions of sorrow and disclaimers of any knowledge “If only we’d been told.” etc, etc.
I drive along that stretch on
I drove along that stretch on Sunday. It is alarming to read that there is a contra flow cycle lane there.
The more I think about it,
The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that section isn’t.
That section of path between Capel St Mary to the garage has nothing in the way of cycling signs directing you that way or signs on the path to suggest you can ride it.
Now it sits in the middle of two sections of similar style path alongside the A12, which are signposted.
So have online maps simply mistakenly joined the whole thing up ?
At least there were no posts
At least there were no posts in the middle of the “path” for holding up exclusively motorist signs.
They like doing that near me.
HAHAHAHA — I made comment of
HAHAHAHA — I made comment of the week.
what a nice surprise
More on that A12 video. The
More on that A12 video. The BBC have the context behind it, which – for the BBC – is flabbergasting.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-suffolk-58077620
Sriracha wrote:
Highways England’s response is something else – they’ll cut back the vegetation, but nothing about the path dumping you in the wrong side of a dual carriageway.
Well I’m still not convinced
Well I’m still not convinced regardless of online maps,that’s a proper cycle path.
And it’s wrong to claim its the only cycle route connecting those villages along that part of the A12. You can follow national cycle routes out from Stratford St Mary & then follow some very quiet and picturesque country roads through to the Wenhams and you are back in Capel St Mary, and it doesn’t take you out of the way in mileage terms.
If you need to get across the A12, there is a crossing point, gap in armco,where I think this “cycle path” actually stops before Capel, at Pound Lane. But you’d just need to follow South Suffolk route B signs from Capel to get to Bentley or East Bergholt, you don’t need to cycle along that side of the A12.
It doesn’t matter anyway, they are planning to build 519 new homes there and that segment of path just disappears in the plan renders. https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/can-capel-cope-with-expansion-8192124