Driver slams police’s “disgusting” failure to prosecute cyclist who collided with her car – and broke his leg; Annemiek van Vleuten’s Sonic the Hedgehog bottle missing tribute at the Vuelta; Cycle to Vote day + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Annemiek van Vleuten misses three bottles then almost rides into Jayco AlUla soigneur in Sonic the Hedgehog tribute at the Vuelta Femenina
World champion Annemiek van Vleuten hasn’t looked her dazzling best in the rainbow bands this year so far, I think it’s fair to say.
The 40-year-old Dutch superstar, rather staggeringly given her dominance in recent years, is yet to win a bike race in 2023 and, during yesterday’s wind-ravaged third stage of the newly expanded Vuelta Femenina (won by another icon of the sport, Marianne Vos), continued to look decidedly uncomfortable as the peloton split into echelons.
Not that the brutally effective Van Vleuten has ever troubled the style charts even when at her best, of course.
But yesterday’s four (four!) attempts to grab a bottle from the side of the road – which, finally, saw her nearly grind to a halt to secure one before almost immediately weaving into a startled Jayco swanny in the process – were definitely ragged, to say the least, resembling a particularly frustrating game of Sonic or Mario Kart. Yes, someone was playing the Nintendo over the weekend…
💥💥💥✅
Annemiek van Vleuten was having a 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙚 with these water bottles! 😅@AvVleuten | #LaVueltaFemenina pic.twitter.com/kNTXLoqBJE
— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 3, 2023
But, remember, this is Annemiek van Vleuten. And, despite the awkwardness of her bottle grabbing, the Movistar leader still had the strength to solo back up to the group, during the hectic closing stages of the fastest ever road race in the history of the Women’s WorldTour.
And, as we learned to stunning effect at last year’s Tour de France, never write Van Vleuten off after a few shaky opening days at a stage race…
Bikes at Polling Stations
Local elections are taking place in England today. 🗳️Are you pedalling to the polling station? We’d love you to share your photos in the comments to encourage others to choose cycling for local journeys. 📸👇#LocalElection2023 #BikesAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/AaTQHPItAa
— Cycling UK (@WeAreCyclingUK) May 4, 2023
It’s local election day in England, which means one thing in the road.cc offices (no, not a new list of inept, anti-cycling councillors to provide us with an endless supply of news – though that is part of it, I suppose) – it’s time to ride your bike to the polling station!
And quite a few have already been getting in on the Cycle to Vote action, judging by social media this morning:
Don’t forget to vote today
Polling stations are located within walking or cycling distance so there’s no need to drive #bikesatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/9gyRxl5xHK— Andy (@Lets_getcycling) May 4, 2023
The lovely lady from @coventrycc kept an eye on my Brompton while I went in to vote. Get out and vote people. #bikesatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/xCi6BDVePw
— Tamsin Slater (@tamsin_slater) May 4, 2023
Polling stations are open.#bikesAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/talGymMaf8
— 📗Matthew Snedker (@MatthewSnedker) May 4, 2023
Done my bit….. #bikesatpollingstations #votebybike pic.twitter.com/pIpJdfii0P
— Mark On A Bike (@MTonaBike) May 4, 2023
Are you riding your bike to the polling station today? Let us know in the comments! And, before you ask, the elections in Northern Ireland aren’t for another two weeks (lagging behind as usual…).
You know the Giro’s just around the corner when…
You know the Giro’s just around the corner when images start to appear of passes on the route buried beneath metres of snow https://t.co/Oo2SE4Qo01
— Peter Cossins (@petercossins) May 4, 2023
Is any bike race more synonymous with the snow than the Giro? The Gavia, Hampsten, Kruijswijk – I could go on.
Though, as someone who got caught in a wild thunderstorm in Barcelona at the weekend, I have a degree of sympathy for any riders who prefer the balmier temperatures of the Tour or Vuelta’s showpiece climbs.
Anyway, just two days to go now…
Bikes on a Train: What’s your experience?
Fancy hearing your thoughts read out, perhaps even by my dulcet tones, on an upcoming episode of the road.cc Podcast? Well, here’s your chance…
As part of our planned discussion about an old live blog favourite, the ups and downs of taking your bike on a train (particularly in the UK, but not limited to it), we would love to hear your experiences.
Do you have any horror stories? Or have you always had a great experience? Either way, let us know in the comments, and we may just feature your hot take on the pod.
In the meantime, cast your mind back to editor Jack’s rather mixed experience on a Great Western Railway train back in 2019:
> Taking a bike on a Great Western Railway train: a live blog experience
Guess who’s back, back again?
After what must have felt like the longest Wednesday in history for those involved, Wiggle and Chain Reaction’s sites are finally back in action… with controversial rebrands still intact:
It’s alive! It’s alive!
> Wiggle and Chain Reaction down… days after much-criticised rebrand
Covid-19 strikes again, as Gino Mäder latest rider to be ruled out of the Giro
🇮🇹 #Giro
🏥 Due to a positive Covid 19 result @maedergino will not be riding the @giroditalia and will be replaced by @YukiyaArashiro
Get well soon gino! pic.twitter.com/RamA8JAV6y
— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) May 4, 2023
We’re scribbling all over grand tour start lists like it’s 2021 this week, as Bahrain-Victorious’ Swiss hope Gino Mäder became the latest rider to be ruled out of the Giro d’Italia following a positive Covid test.
The 26-year-old, who won a stage of the 2021 Giro before going on to finish fifth at that year’s Vuelta, will be replaced in the Bahrain line-up – headed by GC hopefuls Damiano Caruso and Jack Haig – by Japanese veteran Yukiya Arashiro.
Most likely not going to announce my goals next year. Let‘s see if covid still manages to ruin my hopes then.
For now I‘ll rest and enjoy home.@YukiyaArashiro hope you enjoy the last minute three weeks Italy all inclusive trip.— Gino Mäder (@maedergino) May 4, 2023
Mäder, who finished fifth at Paris-Nice in March, is the fourth rider to fall victim to the Covid curse before the Giro has even started, after home favourite Giulio Ciccone and Jumbo-Visma duo Tobias Foss and Robert Gesink were ruled out after positive tests.
Somebody, quick, wrap Remco and Primož in cotton wool please…
Pidcock and Ferrand-Prevot spotted on prototype Pinarello mountain bikes
Covid klaxon! Jumbo-Visma forced into yet another Giro change
And the list of positive Covid cases goes on, as the Dutch team – which heads into the Giro aiming for pink with Primož Roglič – announced at lunchtime their third enforced line-up change of the week, with Jos van Emden making way for Sam Oomen:
🇮🇹 #Giro
Another covid case, another change… Sam Oomen will replace Jos van Emden in the Giro d’Italia. pic.twitter.com/SihyEV5XIq
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) May 4, 2023
At this rate, if you have nothing else on over the next three weeks, turn up in Italy with your bike and you may just be handed a spot in Jumbo’s Giro team…
Petition claims new 20mph speed limits will “increase danger” – by encouraging children to play on the road
As regular readers of the live blog will know, from September blanket 20mph zones will be introduced in Wales on residential areas and streets busy with pedestrians, and where street lights are fewer than 200 yards apart.
However, Ceredigion, a county in the west of Wales, where the council will be required to conduct a formal consultation on the new arrangements, residents have created a petition to stop one rural hamlet from being subject to the proposed 20mph limit.
Nation Cymru reports that on Tuesday Ceredigion County Council received a petition calling for the 30mph zone to remain in Stag’s Head, between Llangeitho and Tregaron, on safety and pollution grounds.
“We, the undersigned, object to the above proposal on the following grounds: the proposal is not necessary because the roads involved have a very low accident rate, the roads have a very low volume of traffic,” the petition reads.
The angry residents claim that by lowering the speed limit, motorists will be too busy watching the needle on their dashboard to see children, emboldened by the measures, playing in the middle of the road.
I wish I was making this up.
“The proposed 20mph limit is not desirable because: it will greatly increase noise and air pollution as the vehicles will be in a low gear especially ascending the three gradients to Stags Head crossroads; drivers will pay more attention to the finer detail of their speedometers at the expense of paying attention to the road ahead; the very slow pace of vehicles could actually encourage children to play in the road,” it says.
“The 20mph limit proposals across the country are a gross waste of public money which should be spent maintaining the road surfaces properly, keeping road drains clear and clearing debris from the sides of the highway.
“All these are essential to primary road safety but are deliberately ignored by Ceredigion Highways Department in the ongoing negligence.”
Organisers call time on Australian Bay Crits series
The organisers of the Bay Crits, the cycling season’s annual curtain raiser (sit down, Paris-Nice purists), have called time on the 34-year-old races, citing the financial and logistical issues affecting events all over the world as the reasons behind their demise.
The Bay Crits, based in Geelong, took place right at the start of January, marking the start of an Australian summer of elite racing that also includes the national championships, the Tour Down Under, and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean road race.
The races have boasted an impressive list of winners, including Caleb Ewan, Robbie McEwen, and Chloe Hosking, and were won in 2023 by Brenton Jones and Ruby Roseman-Gannon.
Zac Williams/ZWP/SWpix.com
However, those races will prove the last for an event founded in 1989, according to a statement issued by organisers John Trevorrow and Karin Jones.
“It is with a heavy heart we are announcing the famous ‘Bay Crits’ have taken their last pedal stroke, with event organisers making the tough call that the much-loved event will not be continuing into 2024,” the organisers said.
“For the best part of 30 years, and despite some very trying times, we have collectively found a way to make this wonderful event happen, an event cherished by riders, fans, and stakeholders alike and one that has enjoyed a significant place in the Australian cycling calendar.
“The financial and logistics issues we have absorbed now over an extended period of time have become simply too prohibitive to continue, with a significant increase in costs again this year. The packed January cycling calendar has also impacted on the event with it regularly having to start on New Year’s Day. This has made it challenging for many riders and fans, especially those coming from interstate, to participate.
“These factors have increased to such an extent that it is completely uneconomic and unrealistic to get to the start line next year.
“It’s been quite a ride, but all good things must come to an end, and today it is the famous ‘Bay Crits’ that have crossed the line for the final time.”
The story of Brooks England, the resurgent British bike saddle specialists
> The story of Brooks England, the resurgent British bike saddle specialists
Red jersey Marianne Vos sprints to second Vuelta stage win
Vos got an armchair ride to the finish as the GC favourites battled each other and chased down Dygert for her!
2 wins in 2 days for Marianne Vos and Jumbo-Visma’s 3rd win in 4 days#LaVueltaFemenina pic.twitter.com/y6xlBbw49X
— Mathew Mitchell (@MatMitchell30) May 4, 2023
Cycling, as Gary Lineker never said, is a simple game. 150 riders take on a grippy, complicated 133km in the middle of a week-long stage race, the best in the world launch attack after attack in the closing kilometres, and in the end, Marianne Vos wins.
The greatest cyclist who’s ever lived wrote yet another line in her illustrious, and now weighty, tome, this afternoon in Guadalajara, easily following the pace on the series of climbs that defined the fourth stage of this year’s Vuelta Femenina, before keeping a low profile as the likes of Demi Vollering, Liane Lippert, and Chloe Dygert launched attacks on the fast run-in.
Vos, wearing the red jersey, then timed her sprint to perfection to comfortably beat Emma Norsgaard and Marlen Reusser for her second stage in a row, extending her lead over Dygert to 25 seconds in the process.
𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 be with you 🌃✨@marianne_vos seals her second stage win at La Vuelta Femenina!@JumboVismaWomen | #LaVueltaFemenina pic.twitter.com/BrT0QGT8xd
— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 4, 2023
With the first summit finish of the Vuelta coming at the 4.6km, 7.2 percent average Mirador de Penas Llanas tomorrow, the Jumbo-Visma star may be set to finally relinquish her iron grip on the red jersey.
But then again, this is Marianne Vos we’re talking about…
Pro cyclist Imogen Cotter launches road safety campaign, says “drivers see cyclists as an object that interferes with their journey”
What’s this? A road safety campaign by a pro cyclist focusing on driver behaviour and without one mention of helmets or lights?
Tadej Pogačar, take note…
The good, the bad, and the faffing about: Your experience taking bikes on trains
We asked for your experiences taking bikes on trains, and you duly delivered (albeit without much storage space on the journey).
Here are some of your thoughts on taking bikes on trains in the UK:
Yes. Just go onto National Rail Enquiries and look up how much train fares cost. Plenty of horror stories there, unless you’re lucky and find a good deal. And that’s even before trying to get the bike on a train. Good luck tandems, trikes, other types of cycles or group travel…
— steve abraham 💙 (@steve_abraham74) May 4, 2023
Awavey was one of our more positive readers, concluding that “Greater Anglia is always pretty good, only know a few times when reserved spaces meant friends had to wait for the next train. I’ve still not tried with any of the new trains so don’t know what they’re like yet, (or seen any cyclists on board them either) though I suspect the Dunwich Dynamo riders would disagree.”
Avanti is always great IMO. You can book your cycle reservation at the same time as your ticket in the app and it’s secure cycle storage in the guard carriage and a dedicated reserved seat for cyclists even on fully booked trains 👍
— Sam 🚴🌱🍻Ⓥ (@SustainablySam) May 4, 2023
Global Nomad said they “occasionally had to use trains to return into London after mechanicals out in the countryside – never had a problem when out of rush hour. Buy ticket, take bike on local train.
“Only problem was when the trains were cancelled and the replacement bus service refused to let me on the bus. Ended up struggling to another station on a different line.”
99% no issues. Though once couldn’t get off at my station because the train was too long for the platform, doors in the carriage with the bike storage didn’t open, my bike was too wide to go through doors to the next carriage. Long story short, got home very late after much faff.
— Just Another Cyclist (@justacwab) May 4, 2023
Secret_squirrel, meanwhile, reckoned editor Jack’s attempt to store his bike was a “bit naff”.
They continued: “Absolutely no problem getting that bike hung properly. Are they a bit crap and sub-optimal, absolutely, but not for someone whose fit enough to ride a decent graveller. Those tyres are narrow enough to fit as well. Just laziness IMO.”
However, Dnnnnn replied: “Pretty sure you couldn’t hang that bike on the new(ish) GWR or LNER Hitachi trains. The rims are far too deep for the silly hooks.
“There’s also the issue of expecting smaller and less strong people to lift relatively heavy and cumbersome objects off the ground and manoeuvre them in tight spaces. I regularly encounter people who struggle with this, not helped by LNER (not GWR) leaving of the two doors to the compartment locked.”
Plus a couple of times someone has got on having booked a bike space only to find the bike locker full of luggage, and the attitude of the guard is that it’s first come first served, booking or no booking the suitcases were there first.
— Stew Elliott (@StewCElliott) May 4, 2023
And finally, David9694 added: “It’s easiest if you can stick to commuter/ local type trains. Problems arise these days because on long distance/express trains, like on the GWR main line, the guard’s van has disappeared and not been replaced.
“No issue on GWR local trains (Portsmouth-Cardiff) or South West or Southern. In practice, there is no-one around to give you a hard time.”
“I wonder why she hasn’t availed herself of this excellent service and chosen to go whining to the newspapers instead?”
On the subject of this morning’s local newspaper botherer:
Meanwhile, road.cc reader HoldingOn made an astute observation concerning the driver’s criticism of the injured cyclist for not wearing a helmet:
Good point.
And no, I’m not acknowledging the Star Wars references in the comments, no matter what day it is…
Driver complains to local paper over police’s “disgusting” failure to prosecute cyclist who collided with her car – and broke his leg
Since it’s my first live blog shift in over a week (it’s great to be back…), I thought I’d start the morning by flicking through the latest cycling (or anti-cycling?) stories filling up the pages of this week’s local newspapers, and this complaint to the Swindon Advertiser certainly caught my attention…
The story centres around a collision between a motorist and a cyclist on a busy major roundabout, which left the rider with a broken leg. Why do we know this? Because just under four months after the collision, the motorist has contacted the Advertiser to complain about the police’s “shocking” failure to prosecute the cyclist for damaging her car.
According to the driver, the collision happened on the Wiltshire town’s Gablecross roundabout on 9 January, when she claims the cyclist hit the side of her vehicle.
“I heard the most horrendous noise and felt a bang on the passenger side of my car and I was horrified at the time,” she told the Advertiser.
“I was breathalysed and it showed nothing, but the police didn’t take a statement off of me at all and purely went from the dash cam footage.
“It is disgusting as the cyclist was riding illegally with no lights on at all.”
Wiltshire Police, who did not take action against either party, also confirmed that the 19-year-old cyclist involved in the crash suffered a serious leg injury.
Our source doesn’t come across as entirely sympathetic with regards to the cyclist’s injuries, telling the Advertiser that she had to fork out £700 to pay for the damage to her car, in order to protect her insurance policy’s no claims bonus.
“I want awareness to be put out there that this sort of thing can occur,” she added.
“I’m concerned that the people who use bikes for work don’t spend money on protective clothing and lights. He wasn’t even wearing a helmet, dark clothing, it is reckless.
“I’m upset and I’m more wary of driving now and it’s something that could have been totally avoided.
“The police response is absolutely shocking and no prosecution has happened, and instead, I’ve had to fork out for my own car’s insurance. I have found the whole experience harrowing.”
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Latest Comments
This has nothing to do with the type of bike - it's the type of behaviour that's the problem. Banning the sale of such bikes will not curtail the behaviour. They'll just find another type of vehicle and continue to drive dangerously as there's such a lack of enforcement. I'd sooner see them ban the bally. But really, all that's required is an improvement to roads policing.
The EAPC Bill is welcome, but full of holes. What's to stop an overpowered but temporarily limited e-bike being sold and subsequently delimited? This is often a trivial process.
@KiwiMike Yeah, in my over four decades of riding all over Europe I've never 'been for a ride in the countryside'. That must be it. Or, and I know this is a wild concept, you just accept that I just voiced my personal experiences and never missed a kickstand, like I wrote. Anyway, what's the big horror of laying your bike on its side for the very few occasions where there is nothing to lean your bike against?
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.
75 thoughts on “Driver slams police’s “disgusting” failure to prosecute cyclist who collided with her car – and broke his leg; Annemiek van Vleuten’s Sonic the Hedgehog bottle missing tribute at the Vuelta; Cycle to Vote day + more on the live blog”
Let me guess, her car is one
Let me guess, her car is one of the 7 shades of tarmac that all cars are now sold in?
For balance, it’s been
For balance, it’s been alleged that the cyclist did not have lights, and the incident was January 9th, so likely dark.
Reasonable logic, except for
Reasonable logic, except for the LED lighting. Seems to be a traffic light controlled RAB, so maybe both equally at fault, leading to a £700 repair for her car & a broken leg for him? Well, and cost of emergency services.
For even more balance that is
For even more balance that is only if the incident occurred before 08:04 and after 16:11. So there was a whole 8 hrs in which the sun was up on 9th January.
jaymack wrote:
the slowest crash in history, lasted more than 8 hours
Nah, the slowest car crash
Nah, the slowest car crash has been the last 13 years of Conservative Gov’t. Oh, sorry you we’re referring to the article…
Thanks for your detailed
Thanks for your detailed astronomical research. The news report indicates it happened “after work” so unless we also want to speculate on whether the individual in the car works night shifts, the probability is that it was dark.
FWIW, I’ve been knocked off my bike before in broad daylight while running a 160 lumen front strobe, I personally wouldn’t take my chances out on the road without lights at any time of the day or night.
I’d certainly not venture out
I’d certainly not venture out in the winter without them irrespective of the time of day
Lights worked for you then…
Lights worked for you then……LOL
Krd51 wrote:
On that one particular occasion, they didn’t but with just a single driver-assisted non-elective dismount in nearly 40000km of riding, I’ll take my chances with the lights.
I put my helmet on my head,
I put my helmet on my head, not on my leg.
As no details of what
As no details of what actually happened are given we have no idea who is at fault for the accident. But in general damaging other peoples property is frowned upon.
She may have pulled out in front of the cyclist, in which case it is her own stupidity to blame. But we don’t know.
I’m sure if a driver had damaged an expensive road bike belonging to someone else, but hurt themselves in the process there would be outpourings of sympathy for the driver.
Given the police reviewed the
Given the police reviewed the dash cam, then there was no evidence of fault.
Vehicular crashes happen all the time and the police rarely get involved.
I wonder if she mentioned the crash to her insurers?
Police don’t determine fault,
Police don’t determine fault, courts and insurance companies do that, but you would be correct in saying that the police reviewing the dash cam footage cannot have seen any evidence of an offence committed with a reasonable chance of a successful prosecution. If the footage showed the collision then you would presume any offence of no lights would have been obvious so make of that what you will. The driver may need to take legal action against the cyclist or their insurance to recover the cost of the damage. That shouldn’t be too difficult, after all they have dash cam footage that shows a clear cut case, at least it does if you believe the car driver’s story.
The driver is quite at
The driver is quite at liberty to instigate a civil action against the cyclist for the return of her £700; in the couple of times that I have had to take small claims court action I’ve found that the judges are extremely good at clearly and fairly assessing the evidence and awarding damages to the wronged party. I wonder why she hasn’t availed herself of this excellent service and chosen to go whining to the newspapers instead?
It’s almost as if the driver
It’s almost as if the driver shoulders some responsibility themselves …
Nah … couldn’t be *that* …
As they have spent 700quid to avoid the loss of NCD, I wonder if they have reported it to their insurers…
I believe anybody would want
I believe anybody would want to be compensated if someone damaged them, even if the perpetrator had harmed himself. But going to the press and nagging about helmets means probably that she has a thing with cyclists.
Re crash with car
Re crash with car
“Cyclists are like Stormtroopers… They rarely hit anything
#StarWarsDay”
Hirsute wrote:
This is the Way.
This is the Way
This is the Way
Quote:
Are we in a state where every road traffic collision results in a prosecution? I was not aware of this, I understood this was normally a civil matter and dealt with by insurance.
Back to the incident, the cyclist collided with the passenger side of the car, three ways a collision can occur at a roundabout
1) vehicle enters roundabout and collides with the side of another vehicle already on the roundabout (passenger side impact)
2) vehicle pulls out onto the roundabout in front of a vehicle on the roundabout (driver side impact)
3) vehicle tries to leave the roundabout cutting across another vehicle on their left, passenger side impact.
Given that there was no mention of anyone going through a red light on this traffic light controlled roundabout, I wonder if the driver actually left hooked the cyclist, hence resulting in her being breathalised.
The alternative of the cyclist riding into the side of her vehicle as he was joining the roundabout seems unlikely, we don’t tent to ride into objects in front of us. Unless she went through a red light.
But if the dashcam footage indicated one of the two parties went through a red light I would expect a prosecution.
Agree, but there seems to be
Agree, but there seems to be an inability for people to understand how roundabouts work these days. Whether cycling or driving I never assume that someone isn’t going to blindy pull onto a roundabout. I have seen both cars and bikes not given a single look before pulling onto roundabouts from the left.
Luckily the only time this resulted in an incident it was my partner in our car so no injury. The insurance was clearcut despite no dashcam (this was what made us get one!) the damage was to the rear passenger side, so we were clearly on the roundabout and they pulled onto the roundabout and into us. The amusing part was when a year later they clearly had been conctaced by ambulance chasing solicitors and tried to take us to court, it didn’t even make it to court for them. LOL.
Were the vehicles self
Were the vehicles self-driving/autonomous?
No. Use http://rc-rg.com
ie
1) cyclist enters roundabout and collides with driver already on the roundabout (passenger side impact)
2) cyclist pulls out onto the roundabout in front of a driver on the roundabout (driver side impact)
3) cyclist tries to leave the roundabout cutting across another driver on their left, passenger side impact.
“Door mirror!”
“Door mirror!”
If the cycle hit her car then
If the cycle hit her car then, lights clothing and helmet are completely irrelevant.
Unless she pulled across the
Unless she pulled across the path of the cyclist and he was left with no choice but to hit the car.
This would add a question over her manner of driving and she may not be as innocent as first stated.
Just because there is no police prosecution, does not mean that she wasn’t at fault.
I wonder how her insurance would judge it?
Most urban environments are
Most urban environments are well lit and therefore I suspect the lack of lights did not mean that he didn’t see her. It’s most likely that she hit him and victim blamed that on his lack of lights. The police probably considered that versus her driving and decided it was 50:50.
Not the collectives favourite
Not the collectives favourite youtuber but I thought Ashley Neals latest cycling video was very good https://youtu.be/c0LIAh9cVxI
Very good by his standards
Very good by his standards
Bikes on trains: Never had
Bikes on trains: Never had any problems with Southeastern, Southern or Thameslink. No need to book, bike areas are reasonable, no travelling with bikes during peak hours.
It’s easiest if you can stick
It’s easiest if you can stick to commuter/ local type trains – problems arise these days because on long distance / express trains, like on the GWR main line, the guard’s van has diseappeared and not been replaced.
No issue on GWR local trains (Portsmouth-Cardiff) or South West or Southern.
In practice, there is no-one around to give you a hard time.
That Bike on Train pic is a
That Bike on Train pic is a bit naff. Absolutely no problem gettting that bike hung properly.
Are they a bit crap and sub-optimal absolutely but not for someone whose fit enough to ride a decent graveller. Those tyres are narrow enough to fit as well.
Just laziness IMO.
I dont think I’d be hanging
I dont think I’d be hanging my bike up by it’s carbon rims either!
Pretty sure you couldn’t hang
Pretty sure you couldn’t hang that bike on the new(ish) GWR or LNER Hitachi trains. The rims are far too deep for the silly hooks.
There’s also the issue of expecting smaller and less strong people to lift relatively heavy and cumbersome objects off the ground and manoeuvre them in tight spaces. I regularly encounter people who struggle with this, not helped by LNER (not GWR) leaving one of the two doors to the compartment locked.
Pretty sure the hook was so
Pretty sure the hook was so thick I couldn’t have got the wheel through – and in any case it was an Enve rim so no way was I hanging it on that thing!
Would I be wrong to presume
Would I be wrong to presume that if it had been the drivers fault, the police may have instigated prosecution for causing injury by careless driving – (the driver who knocked me of my bike was prosecuted) . Similarly the cyclist would make a claim on the drivers insurance for the injury/damage.
The driver could have made an insurance claim but chose not too, but also chose to rant to newspaper.
If it’s any comfort to her,
If it’s any comfort to her, the police didn’t prosecute either the driver that knocked me off at a roundabout in 2007. I pursued and won a claim off her insurance.
Strangely enough, the pack of lies she told the police about it was that I had run into the side of her car.
This news story will of course feed into the driver victimhood narrative a treat.
re train travel –
re train travel – occasionally had to use trains to return into London after mechanicals out in the countryside – never had a problem when out of rush hour..buy ticket take bike on local train.
Only problem was when the trains were cancelled and the replacement bus service refused to let me on the bus. Ended up struggling to another station on a different line.
Global Nomad wrote:
So, not exactly replacing the train service…
Not normally an issue with
Not normally an issue with coaches. If it’s a bus, then I believe the rail company have to provide an alternative.
However, if it’s planned engineering work & a bus, you’re on your own.
They always use coaches on GA
They always use coaches on GA for the near permanent engineering works at weekends somewhere on the route, and there’s a whole other story about the competence of those drivers they contract in, they never accept bikes, it’s probably why I’ve not sampled the new trains yet
I wonder if they have
I wonder if they have declared their accident to their insurance company? I appreciate she has paid for repairs out of her own pocket, but as far as I am aware, she still needs to declare this ‘non-fault’ accident.
It would be a shame for her insurance to become null and void and liable for increased policy payments.
lllnorrislll wrote:
All incidents like this should be declared to the insurer.
The difference is that if you make a claim, you might lose a chunk of NCD and likely also see your headline premium increase, whereas if you pay for the damage yourself without making a claim you will just see the premium go up.
However, if the driver was genuinely not at fault as the article claims, then the insurance company has recourse to claim the costs from the cyclist, via their home insurance (if they have it) or in court if not. If they recover their costs that way then the NCD would normally be restored … but it is likely that the premium will still go up.
I don’t think you can blame
I don’t think you can blame van Vleuten for dropping those bottles, they way they were being held almost guaranteed that result.
Agreed I’ve thought that for
Agreed I’ve thought that for a while, SD Worx were demonstrating the same bad technique during the spring classics and managed 3 drops in a row too.
I think they should hold them out vertically or angled away from the team helpers body because the riders are worried about hitting the team helpers arm hand, who is just standing there basically holding them in the most comfortable position for them, not the rider.
Then again I remember a marathon with a table of paper cups of water and it descended into near It’s A Knockout farce any runner trying to grab a cup with any water in it.
I was taught to hold them at
I was taught to hold them at the top, lightly with the fingers, outstretched arm, so that the rider is not having to force them out of your hand and potentially crashing.
I didnt realise Covid was
I didnt realise Covid was still a thing
NickSprink wrote:
Who knows? When the government stopped issuing figures just over a month ago (March 17) there had been 619 deaths registered in the previous week in the UK as involving Covid; the estimated infection rate for the population in that week was 2.5%, or roughly 1,600,000 people in the UK infected. Obviously everyone’s thoroughly sick of Covid (no pun intended) by now, but it does seem extraordinary that with figures that high the government should just suddenly decide to stop issuing them.
Yes. I live with someone
Yes. I live with someone extremely vulnerable in physical health terms to whom Covid poses a serious risk so need to keep tabs on the figures. I’ve been going by the Worldometer log and it was disturbing to have the UK instituting radio silence on the stats (along with North Korea). UK data started being updated more regularly again on the 18th April. As of 1st May there had been 14938 more deaths (not infections -deaths) recorded since 17th March, which seems to indicate it’s still a very serious problem in the UK.
Wow. So 340-odd deaths a day,
Wow. So 340-odd deaths a day, almost sounds as if it didn’t “stop being a thing ages ago”. Best of luck to the person you mentioned, I know of a couple of friends of friends who are still effectively quarantined (not “cowering in their basement”, staying home on medical advice) due to underlying conditions; these people really have been forgotten by the powers that be.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-and-what-to-do/
Current guidance. I realise everyone got bored with it and I don’t particularly want to get into a Covid debate, but the guidance is still that you should reduce contacts if unwell / test positive.
That would also be good advice for all respiratory virus infections.
Not sure I would want to try a Grand tour with a respiratory infection
Sniffer wrote:
Especially not one associated with significantly increased risks of myocarditis. Fortunately the teams and the organisers have rather more care for their riders than certain idiots telling people to “man up” and put themselves and others at risk.
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Great to see you back, Rendy, and back to your old ways of telling off anyone who has a different opinion to yours.
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We’ve deffo. missed your utter certainty about everything.
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As confused as ever.
As confused as ever.
I got it in march at the
I got it in march at the village quiz.
Lacking energy for the first 2 weeks and a horrible cough.
Improved with the weather.
I caught it for (AFAIK –
I caught it for (AFAIK – certainly the first time I tested positive on a LFT) the first time last month. Felt like the worst flu I’d ever had for about ten days, then felt much better. Except that I still tire much more easily, and I am still dry coughing (a month later…).
Yes it still is ,but rather
Yes it still is ,but rather like the flu it’s something that we have to live with, a cycling buddy and his wife both had it recently and he assured me that when he did, the very last thing he felt able to do was hop aboard his bike and join us for a ride !
Bikes on trains, Greater
Bikes on trains, Greater Anglia always pretty good, only know a few times when reserved spaces meant friends had to wait for the next train. I’ve still not tried with any of the new trains so don’t know what they’re like yet, (or seen any cyclists on board them either) though I suspect the Dunwich Dynamo riders would disagree.
Ceredigion – May the farce be
Ceredigion – May the farce be with you….
Quote:
It does make you wonder how fast they normally choose to approach the crossroads?
No sympathy for the driver
No sympathy for the driver unless there was an accompanying sadface photo pointing at the damage to their car. I only hope that the cyclist is fully recovered and had sufficient means to support themselves during their healing time.
In the Advertiser story, the
In the Advertiser story, the driver did confess ” I’m more wary of driving now.” Isn’t that a good thing? Wouldn’t the world be a better place if all drivers were more wary? Maybe what it is needed is more foolish teenagers colliding with cars!
cmedred wrote:
Translation, before the crash I wasn’t very wary when driving, but this obviously did not contribute to the collision in any way.
DoNt SeE KIdS PlAYInG iN ThE
DoNt SeE KIdS PlAYInG iN ThE StReeT aNyMoRE nOt LiKe WhEn WEre YoUnG …
Re: 20mph: why would drivers
Re: 20mph: why would drivers have to pay any more attention to their speedo to stick to 20mph than they already do to observe any of the other posted speed limits? Most don’t seem particularly bothered now about whether they’re doing e.g. 30 or 35.
Meanwhile…Vos won today’s
Meanwhile…Vos won today’s stage in La Vuelta Femenina , Lizzie Deignan was up in 6th, no change in GC, van Vleuten & Vollering matching each other hovering around the top 10, now the race starts to go uphill.
Sounds like our “my car was
Sounds like our “my car was damaged” lady doesn’t know that criminal prosecutions are nothing to do with any civil claim she may or may not have. In other words, her paying for the repairs herself has absolutely nothing to do with the police not prosecuting anyone.
She’s talking bollocks.
Regarding these 20mph limits
Regarding these 20mph limits and the claims they increase pollution because vehicles have to use low gears – am I just lucky in having the only two cars (yes but there’s a good reason why and it’s MrsT you’d need to argue with) on the market that can do a steady 20mph in 5th without any problem? Or are people just talking shite?
The biggest emissions issue
The biggest emissions issue is that people can’t think far ahead and adjust their speed taking their foot off the throttle, and spend their time accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake. To be fair though I see cyclists behaving the same way.
Karlt wrote:
What cars are those then? My run of the mill diesel is doing 1000rpm in 3rd at 20mph. It certainly couldn’t be driven in 5th at that speed.
bikeman01 wrote:
What cars are those then? My run of the mill diesel is doing 1000rpm in 3rd at 20mph. It certainly couldn’t be driven in 5th at that speed.— Karlt
Hyundai i10 and Skoda Octavia.
Regarding trains I’m another
Regarding trains I’m another who uses southeastern and Thameslink, I’ve never had an issue off peak. The issue though is southeastern have screwed their peak timetable such that some services its difficult to even get on with a Brompton, particularly the Woolwich line as so many use it to get to abbey wood and pick up the Elizabeth line.
Regarding bikes on trains. A
Regarding bikes on trains. A month or so ago I received an email from Eurostar (I’m a regular user) joyfully telling me that bikes were permitted again on Eurostar following Covid. So I stopped by the Despatch at St Pancras International and asked if I could book a TERN onto a train to Paris. Can you put it in a bag the lady asked. No, not really but it’s fine I take responsibility for any scratches. No, she continued, it has to be in a bag or we can’t take it. But there is not a bag for this type of bike why can’t I just put it in the designated carriage – as we used to – and take it out in Paris and cycle it home. And then those dreaded words of doom came. ‘Because of brexit, you can’t do that any more’ she said. ‘?’ I mumbled. She didn’t know and it wasn’t her fault. They are trying to work things out, she continued, but after brexit bikes aren’t free to move as before – unless they are in a box or bag and a certain size or type.
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
don’t tell the ferries
Cycling without lights is
Cycling without lights is something I see quite often , if that made any contribution to the accident (seems unlikely) then some action was required , although a telling off at least was needed , was the cyclist breathalysed ?
She should take out a claim in court though .