MP urges candidates to “be brave and take cycling out of the culture wars” during election; Cyclists slam Telegraph’s quiet correction to story falsely claiming “death trap” cyclists hit “52mph” chasing London Strava segments; Giro + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"Too late, damage already done": Cyclists slam Telegraph's quiet correction to story falsely claiming "death trap" cyclists hit "52mph" chasing London Strava segments... despite that being faster than Tour de France sprinters
If you missed it yesterday evening (apparently something was happening in Westminster) The Daily Telegraph amended its story claiming “death trap” cyclists are riding at 52mph in pursuit of London Strava segments, removing the dodgy GPS data ‘evidence’ that the newspaper now admits was “erroneous”.
Curiously, the Telegraph claimed (in its very quietly corrected story with statement added at the bottom) that Strava data “cannot be checked or independently verified”, somewhat ironic given the story was in part the work of a journalist who is a former BBC fact checker. Apparently, a quick internet search to realise not even peak Sir Chris Hoy could ride at 84km/h (indoors in a velodrome with perfect conditions while motor paced by a derny), was beyond its staff’s fact-checking capabilities.
Which is how we ended up with one of the UK’s largest newspapers putting this on its front page on Friday.
As many pointed out last night, the quiet correction and change of the online headline will do nothing to address the thousands of people who read it in print or saw it online before the amendment.
“Oops, too late. Damage already done,” one road.cc reader said on social media.
Matt Jackson: “You can bet this change in detail won’t be widely published unlike the original ‘attention-grabbing’ headline…”
Duncan Mackay: “It appears to be one of those ‘Sorry if you’re offended…’ apologies. Their ‘correction’ is worded in such a way as to imply that Strava are deleting rides, to cover up dangerous cycling. Rather than them just admitting that their ‘journalist’ hasn’t actually done their job properly, because he/she was too busy trying to provoke outrage.”
eburtthebike: “Telegraph: ‘We are happy to clarify this point and correct the record.’
“No, they aren’t. They’re happy to publish a correction that almost nobody who read the original pile of excrement will read, and most people who read it will still believe it.”
AidanR suggested the people on social media saying they would report the piece to IPSO (the Independent Press Standards Organisation that regulates many of the UK’s newspapers and magazines) might have contributed to the correction.
“What I would love to see, though, is corrections have as prominent a place as the original article, i.e. splashed across the top of the front page. A guy can dream…” he added.
fincon1: “The Daily Telegraph is now as bad as the Mail. I cancelled my subscription earlier this year after yet another anti-cycling article. Chris Boardman is right.”
Last weekend, Boardman called the article “hate speech” and demanded the press has “just got to stop” labelling cyclists as killers off the back of one widely reported incident from 2022 that informed the government’s acceptance of introducing a new dangerous cycling law… more on that and the impact the upcoming general election might have later…
"The UK is travelling in the wrong direction": Cycling miles travelled down and car journeys up according to latest government stats
Something tells me this is going to be a sprint
A well deserved easy day at the Giro, the sprinters and their teams emerging from hibernation to take the first of two more days where they can win. After today it’s back to the mountains for stages 19 and 20, the latter of the two featuring a double ascent of the Monte Grappa, before the final stage in Rome.
Can anyone stop Jonathan Milan making it four? If the Lidl-Trek man does that’ll mean half the stages of this year’s race will have been won by him or Tadej Pogačar.
Mercian Cycles ceases trading and enters voluntary liquidation
> Mercian Cycles ceases trading and enters voluntary liquidation
"Stating the blindingly obvious, cyclists whether new or experienced will be less inclined to ride on the roads if there is perceived or real danger and more people will cycle less as that danger increases"
Let’s dive into some of your reaction to this.
Pub bike: “My own experience is that for many years from the mid-2000s to around 2020 or so the roads seemed to get a little bit safer but since then they seem to have become more dangerous. I thought things got yet more dangerous after the changes to the Highway Code which should have had the opposite effect.
“The ‘Plan for Drivers’ is just making things even worse. Stating the blindingly obvious, cyclists whether new or experienced will be less inclined to ride on the roads if there is perceived or real danger and more people will cycle less as that danger increases. These cycling miles figures do not surprise me, but they do sadden me.”
+£200m quietly axed from active travel budget – we’ll await the high court judgement on that…
— Rory McCarron (@CyclingLawLDN) May 23, 2024
Ryanbybike: “Actively encouraged by the government. I’m not surprised!”
A Thursday dose of envy-inducing Norwegian cycling infrastructure
The new missing segment in the middle of our Cycle Expressway opened today, so it would have been rude to not turn up to the opening suitable atired… Yes I’m cycling in kilt and jacket, including bowtie. The bridge over the motorway’s going to make a huge difference. pic.twitter.com/A2sXsDKDX3
— Stuart Baillie @StuInNorway@velocipederider.com (@StuInNorway) May 21, 2024
Look at this masterpiece filmed by Stuart Baillie (StuInNorway on Twitter)… and I don’t just mean the cycling in a kilt…
“The new missing segment in the middle of our cycle expressway opened today, so it would have been rude to not turn up to the opening suitable attired… Yes I’m cycling in kilt and jacket, including bow tie. The bridge over the motorway’s going to make a huge difference.”
Excuse me while I nip to the shops on my cracked shared-use path covered with broken glass and give way signs at every turning… no, I’m not bitter.
"Haters gonna flag": Tadej Pogačar flagged (again)
Another jealous flag planted on Tadej Pogačar’s feed.
'Dangerous cycling bill' will not be made into a law after UK general election announced by Rishi Sunak
British Cycling announces "powerful new partnership" with Lloyds Bank (although Shell deal remains)
British Cycling has announced a “major long-term partnership” which will see Lloyds Bank become the governing body’s new “Lead Partner”. Described as a multi-year commitment, British Cycling reports Lloyds will be the title partner of the returning Tour of Britain events to be held later this year and will also be a title partner of numerous other events including a national track league and urban cycling festival.
Lloyds will also be title sponsor of British Cycling’s elite National Series and National Championship events. In short, if it’s a British Cycling event, you can expect to see Lloyds’ logo for the foreseeable. So too can you still expect to see Shell’s, the oil giants’ deal unaffected by this latest investment.
“As two British institutions, British Cycling and Lloyds Bank have a natural affinity and we share a commitment to supporting a more healthy, inclusive and prosperous Britain,” the governing body’s CEO John Dutton said. “In the last twelve months, a third of UK adults have ridden a bike and we want to see more people experiencing the joy of cycling.
“Through this partnership with Lloyds Bank, we can embark together on a journey to not only champion the sport but also harness its potential to deliver liberating experiences to families and communities nationwide. We are collectively committed to tackling social inequality and inspiring a nation to move together towards a healthier and more inclusive future.”
Track star Katie Archibald may be fielding some calls from Soudal Quick-Step after this Wolfpack-worthy sponsor shout-out (check out yesterday’s blog if you’ve got no idea what I’m talking about)… “British Cycling partnering with Lloyds Bank is really exciting as it means we can inspire even more people of all ages across Britain to get on a bike and experience the joy of cycling,” Archibald said. “From world-class events to grassroots initiatives, it’s clear that this new partnership will be a game-changer, bringing even more excitement and inclusivity to cycling.”
Is it too facetious of us to suggest we’re not exactly sure “excitement” or “inclusivity” are two words commonly associated with banking? Of course, we’re just being a bit disingenuous, we get she means the investment…
Tim Merlier sprints to stage 18 victory
🛞By half a wheel…#GirodItalia #Tudor pic.twitter.com/hiwI8uV9k3
— Giro d’Italia (@giroditalia) May 23, 2024
A second stage win for Tim Merlier at this year’s Giro d’Italia, the Belgian going head-to-head with Jonathan Milan and coming out the victor… by a bike throw.
🔻 A frantic finish on a very wide road, and two very powerful comebacks, between the two fastest men of this #GirodItalia
⏮ The @Continentaltire Ultimo Kilometro ⤵️#LastKm | #Continental #ContinentalItalia #SafetySponsorOfTheRoad pic.twitter.com/ZgqFPT89n2
— Giro d’Italia (@giroditalia) May 23, 2024
Both of the race’s strongest sprinters were slightly out of position and had to come from a few lengths back as the line neared, the pair almost side by side as they launched their final efforts, kicking clear of everyone else, Merlier simply half a wheel faster than Milan today.
Kaden Groves, Alberto Dainese, Caleb Ewan, Juan Sebastián Molano and Tobias Lund Andresen’s barren Grand Tour continues, the two at the top seemingly in a different league. Sunday’s final stage, in Rome, should give them all one more shot.
Will Merlier match Milan’s hat-trick? Can the Italian bag number four and confirm superiority as the Giro’s top dog? Will someone else break their duck? There’s plenty of climbing to get through before we know the answers to those…
Shimano finally introduces new electronic 12-speed GRX Di2 gravel groupset
> Shimano finally introduces new electronic 12-speed GRX Di2 gravel groupset
"People want to cycle more. We just need to help them do it": Conservative MP urges candidates to "be brave and take cycling out of the culture wars"
With the election build-up already well underway, Conservative MP Trudy Harrison has penned a post on The House website titled, “Let’s take cycling out of the culture wars”. Beginning by explaining how moving more is one of her goals for 2024 and highlighting the physical and mental benefits of walking or cycling your commute, Harrison urged “every candidate standing at the next election to include walking or cycling on their leaflets”.
“And this shouldn’t be seen as a war between left and right,” she said. “We’ve come far under Conservative governments, mayors and councils. Some of our cities are unrecognisable from ten years ago. Roads on which only those without other options would have cycled now serve thousands a day.
“We also mustn’t make it an argument between rural and urban areas. My Copeland constituency is blessed with lakes, rivers, fells and mountains, being situated within the English Lake District. But just as importantly, people and communities are connected by miles of public paths and bridleways, quiet lanes, coastal routes, and the start of the Coast to Coast, soon to become the 17th National Trail, which I completed with my husband last summer.
“We proudly boast the UK’s most popular challenge cycle route, Sustrans’ Sea to Sea (or C2C) – from the Irish Sea at Whitehaven to the North Sea at Sunderland, some 138 miles. These networks provide huge financial and social boosts, bringing visitors and business to the area, and are also relied upon by locals for everyday journeys and escaping into nature.
“It is often assumed that cycling is divisive. But the recently published, independently researched Sustrans walking and cycling index shows that people want to live in healthier places.
“Most people use all modes of transport depending on the journey. Sustrans found that 58 per cent of people support more cycle paths protected from traffic and 62 per cent would like more low-traffic neighbourhoods, while 24 per cent say they want to drive less, with 50 per cent wanting to walk more, and 43 per cent to cycle more. This should reassure us to use the systems set up across government to help more people to change gear and get active.
“Let’s be brave and take cycling out of the culture wars. I encourage every candidate standing at the next election to include walking or cycling on their leaflets; it might just attract people who don’t currently feel spoken to. People want to cycle more. We just need to help them do it.”
This is absolutely right: cycling shouldn’t be part of the culture wars this election.
In an independent and representative poll, 58% of people said they support more cycle paths protected from traffic and 62% would like more low-traffic neighbourhoods.https://t.co/NdsNwbk7YO
— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter) May 23, 2024
Help us to bring you the best cycling content
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.
61 Comments
Read more...
Read more...
Read more...
Latest Comments
I've often said in debate with drivers that a pedestrian should be able to complete their journey safely even if they are a complete idiot and entirely ignorant of the rules of the road. I can't then say that this doesn't count if the result of their error is that they are hit by a bike. There's a responsibility here for everybody to take the duty of care that they have over vulnerable road users seriously. As cyclists we want drivers to be alert to our presence and to take precautions that, even if we do something they don't expect us to do, they will not hit us. We must apply that same responsibility to ourselves and pedestrians. I have one question. Did any one of the cyclists in that group observe the lady approaching the road and ring their bell?
@mdavidford Yes. There's plenty of evidence, well known to the advertising and sales industries, that once people have decided they want to buy something, they will dismiss new negative information on the item while embracing positives. It's why so many organisations persist with, and get away with having additional 'hidden' costs that appear once you've already decided you want to buy those tickets. I'm sure most of those who still wanted to buy an SUV despite the added dangers to the rest of the population were convincing themselves those stats only applied to the bad drivers, but not them because they are good drivers etc. But also a little voice telling them that the bad drivers out there causing havoc confirms they need one too. Education about the dangers of SUVs needs to come before people are thinking of buying them, or possibly more realistically, needs to focus on the issues with the worst offending SUVs. Rather than 'SUV drivers are out there killing people', it should talk about the consequences of different bonnet height and shape, as well as the weight and power. Lots of people just want an SUV so they can get into and out of the car without it hurting their knees. Explain they can get that without buying a tank and they are less likely to go on the defensive. I'd also tax the worst offenders, and introduce speed limiters for the most powerful ones. See how many people who need one to tow a caravan once a year are put off if they can't speed on the motorway. I'd also suggest that in the case you are involved in a serious collision, that your choice of vehicle is considered an aggravating factor in allocation of blame and any sentencing. If you don't have a good reason for driving around in something big, heavy, and powerful with terrible close-range visibility, and go on to kill or seriously injure an eight year old, when they probably would have survived with just minor injuries if you were in a Fiesta - that's a consequence of a choice you made just as much as deciding to get behind the wheel while drunk, or to look at your phone. The only difference is time scales. Most people would at least try to come up with a justification for needing their personal tank, but it might at least make a few more people think about the potential negative consequences for them.
@chrisonabike I get the impression that Heidi is a true believer when it comes to the benefits of cycling and active travel, but she's also a moderate and team player when it comes to temperament, and will co-operate with the PM of the day, and will compromise according to what is assumed to be electorally popular. That's not necessarily a bad approach, especially if you hope to stay in power for long enough to get sustained change, or if you are happy to get on with making useful changes when the attention isn't on you.
@chrisonabike I agree that PPE is always the last line of defence, and having safe systems is always more important. But I'd say that being visible is still very useful in a lot of locations where effort has gone into safe systems (like railway tracks). Proper H&S 'hi-viz' will include reflective bits appropriate to the work and setting. What's right for improving visibility while cycling will depend on when you are cycling, where you are, what conditions are likely. What Heidi is wearing looks adequate to me, assuming her full route is in good light. I don't know much about the Reading end, although I'm sure I spotted a segregated cycle path, but London has a lot of good routes, and crucially, most drivers there know to expect cyclists. Her block of bold red will stop her from blending into the background, and as that's the bit of her that's moving, that's a great way to help the subconscious brain notice there's a human up ahead. Her hair, feet and sandals are all light, so help to catch the eye against dark backgrounds. I suspect the light coloured rim of her helmet is reflective, and I've got spoke reflectors and stickers on my bike, which is an easy way to add reflectivity regardless of what you are wearing. Particularly useful in Winter when there are a lot of competing lights. I favour using running lights all year to keep me a bit more visible when going through areas of shade and in the hope drivers will register that there is a bike ahead. But I also live in an area where most drivers are not expecting to see someone cycling, so it's more important to announce yourself here than in London. Anyway - good for Heidi. The complaints about not wearing hi-viz will only help to get the video seen by more people, and a great reminder that cycling isn't just for men in lycra.
Could we get some updates, the glove world hath changethed.
Google is broken. Even if they are forced to roll back on the made up summary (a German court said it was original content so they're liable), it will still be a front page of SEO slop. Images full of geometry nightmares. Another vote for switching search to DuckDuckGo. You can turn all the crap off in Settings. Ah, bliss.
If you're not trying to escape from wild animals, what would be the advantage of putting a tent on top of a car, rather than setting up a similar tent on the ground? Seems rather unnecessary to me - even if the price was comparable, I would choose a ground-based version.
"you can’t pass a law saying it’s illegal not to have a speedometer if you’re going to go above the speed limit." I don't think this would be a good idea, nor even speed limits (and presumably mandatory speedometers everywhere) ... ... but is there any theoretical legal impediment to that? Or even simply enacting a law that cyclists are not permitted to ride faster on roads than the motor vehicle speed limit (or some other limit) and leaving it up to cyclists how they go about complying with that? (Not a lawyer not a legal theorist though...)
61 thoughts on “MP urges candidates to “be brave and take cycling out of the culture wars” during election; Cyclists slam Telegraph’s quiet correction to story falsely claiming “death trap” cyclists hit “52mph” chasing London Strava segments; Giro + more on the live blog”
Cyle mils down, car journeys
Cyle miles down, car journeys up.
” It’s the only outcome for a country that set a strategy to destroy public transport, forcing people outside of London into car dependency and without the environment to walk & cycle safely. “
Hirsute wrote:
“No more war on drivers” = We want obese children and chronically ill adults causing enormous costs to the NHS.
There is some evidence that
There is some evidence that the fitter and more active you are as a child – adolescent then this can set a precedent for your fitness levels going into adulthood. Some say, but not proven, that you can set your body’s response and ability to tolerate and change when exposed to training loads at puberty. That this can set your ability to get fit and maintain fitness throughout your adult life and can even make a difference to how we age, even slow our bodies decline into old age. If this is so, then we should be doing all we can to encourage our children now to get out, get active and involved in sport whatever shape or form that takes!
Even if that’s not the case,
Even if that’s not the case, children being happier and healthier now is a good thing by itself. if it leads to healthier adults as a byproduct that’s even better.
60kg lean keen climbing
We shouldn’t forget the mental health angle either, especially as kids are suffering with exposure to toxic social media from a young age. Exercise can have a very beneficial effect on mood and even more so when it’s in green spaces.
Society needs to push the message that exercise is walking/running/scooting/cycling in green spaces – not using a treadmill in a gym.
I totally agree with you on
I totally agree with you on this, I myself after a full on working day, just long to push my bike out the front door and go for a ride to some of my favourite places and lanes. You need some level of fitness to do that and make it a worthwhile and enjoyable experience. Both physical and mental health are linked and can not be taken individually, so you are right to highlight that aspect.
60kg lean keen climbing
I’m classed as morbidly obese but during the summer I regularly do a 30mile bike ride, it’s not helped with any weight loss but mentally it’s a huge benefit.
That came up this week on
That came up this week on radio4, (randomly heard). Also just call it activity not physical activity, as it can put some off.
Yes but how will I make sure
Yes but how will I make sure that poor sweet Timothy and Tabitha don’t have to scuff their nice new shoes on the way to school if I don’t driver them the 1 mile to school in my 7 seater XC90. Sometimes I think you people hate children.
mctrials23 wrote:
My sister in law once got genuinely angry with me because I was playing with her kids on the grass, the grass was wet and ruined the 5 year old’s suede shoes.
No kid should have shoes they can’t play in.
Patrick9-32 wrote:
No shoes should be ruined by a bit of moisture, not fit for purpose, take them back to the shop!
Meanwhile, in The Netherlands
Meanwhile, in The Netherlands…
https://hollandinternationaldistributioncouncil.com/en/blog-dutch-children-happiest-world/
https://www.childinthecity.org/2017/01/12/why-are-dutch-children-the-worlds-happiest/
Of course there are lots of differences around kids and parenting and NL is not perfect. But I’d say providing for and installing a sense of independent mobility from a young age (and indeed into older age) has is a significant component.
My feeling is that a (slightly) higher baseline level of exercise / time spent outdoors is important too – but since NL is also a “developed modern culture” with excellent public transport and high car ownership I’m not sure how much of a diffence there is. I would guess overall activity levels in the UK and NL both show quite a drop from e.g. the 1980s (kids – get yourselves to school)…
There is a youtube channel
There is a youtube channel run by someone who moved to the Netherlands with his kids and goes back to the US occasionally. Its interesting to see his take on the difference. How children in the Netherlands still play outside in the street and have automy whereas in the UK the streets are empty and everything a child does is monitored by parents and usually involves driving them somewhere.
mctrials23 wrote:
Not Just Bikes!
There are several notable
There are several notable “cycle refugees” from English-speaking places in NL – e.g. the Bruntletts, or even the Hembrows (of A View from the Cycle Path) from the UK (who have The Campaign for Childhood Freedom page – FWIW seems this site will now give you browser scare warnings).
But yes, NotJustBikes has one specifically about kids and how NL is better through urban planning.
I’ve seen a couple of clips
I’ve seen a couple of clips on the NJB channel of groups of school children cycling to school, including the Finnish (?) town that has snow covered cycle paths. I’ve never seen such a thing in the UK. What a good way to socialise and build a lifelong active habit which the UK is missing out on due to bad cycling infrastructure.
bikes wrote:
Oulu I think – although other Finnish cities which also cycle in the winter are available e.g. Joensuu. Several cycle bloggers have covered it (Bicycle Dutch has done Finnish cycle infra in the winter AND the summer).
You’ve made another very important point there too – social interaction is a crucial dimension which is largely missing in the UK. With every other mode of travel, people like to travel socially. Which ends up being “in a group” and specifically “side-by-side”.
That is not only not emphasised in the UK, it’s not facilitated – and in fact in many places is discouraged or specifically designed out!
(Also recall the ire that “cycling two abreast” generates in some people).
How many other activities do we have where we make noises about “encouraging” the activity while simultaneously discouraging kids from doing them socially?
I came across an article the
I came across an article the other day about an area in Inverness that ran a project called play streets I think. Basically the street in the estate was shut off to traffic to allow the youngsters to play without fear. Unfortunately the bulk of the comments on the article were more than negative. Ranging from streets designed for cars only to teaching kids to be irresponsible and how dangerous it was.
Slightly pedantic point but
Slightly pedantic point but it irks me that the headline suggests the problem is “laziness”. I haven’t read the full article, but from the quote you’ve picked out it would certainly seem that the author of the article doesn’t actually subscribe to that view either (the article’s author probably didn’t come up with the headline).
Good point. I skimmed over
Good point. I skimmed over the headline (too lazy, obv) but now that you mention it it does seem a bit harsh to label it “laziness” when there are so many and such high barriers to activity. Some might be laziness but I bet a lot of it isn’t.
Death Cult Tories – making
Death Cult Tories – making things worse so that they can trick the elderly into voting for them again.
Exactly I doubt they even had
Exactly I doubt they even had any intention of taking that stupid bill to parliament, it was just a trick to get the gulible to vote for them again :-/
Interesting read in the the
Interesting read in the the Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/23/call-for-stricter-rules-to-stop-uk-mps-repeating-conspiracy-theories?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
IanMK wrote:
Whatever happened to valueing integrity?
To my mind, any political organisation should just expel any members that distribute false conspiracy theories. They bring the organisation into disrepute (well, possibly not the Tories as they must be rock bottom in terms of reputation) and pollute public discourse.
Exactly. They shouldn’t have
Exactly. They shouldn’t have to legislate to stop people spreading obvious lies. As you say, whatever happened to honour and integrity in public life?
Not a given. See e.g. Ian
Not a given. See e.g. Ian Hislop (of Private Eye) arguing with Sir Bernard Jenkin MP in a session of a select committee for transparency after the Owen Paterson affair. Hislop was rather outraged that Sir Bernard was arguing that (just like lawyers) there should be specific training for MPs because you could not take it for granted that MPs would be clear that getting large sums of cash / favours from an organisation while an MP might be seen as suspicious. Or even cloud your judgement!
Sadly the MP is probably right; but we probably should still be outraged. Dynamic equilibrium – some people seeking power will always be out for graft and we have to keep pushing back against that…
Nothing inherently good about
Nothing inherently good about “valuing integrity” for people seeking power. (Which *must* be the ultimate aim of parties / MPs, otherwise they’ll be out-competed by those who are).
While we might declare it a “good” / want to encourage it in politics it’s just another tool in the box. It can be a good play but its political value may be limited to certain environments. From the likes of Trump etc. a wider interpretation of “integrity” is clearly accessible in some (still) democratic environments.
Organisations might be expected to try to limit heterodoxy but the bottom line is “what succeeds is success”. I’d like to see it be “a virtue” but … I’m no longer shocked that people who aren’t out-and-out gangsters* sometimes seem less concerned about it.
* Your degree of political cynicism / anarchism may vary.
C4 Tonight 8pm – Dispatches:
C4 Tonight 8pm – Dispatches: The War on Britain’s Motorists
Not sure I can arsed watching it.
I wonder if the “car
I wonder if the “car journalist” will address the 60 year “war on pedestrians & cyclists” or point to the various elephants in the corner (massive numbers of vehicles on the roads, single occupant short journeys etc) let alone what motorists could do to make things not “the worst time ever to be a motorist” – like cease to be a motorist in some situations. Oh and stop automatically referring to LTNs as “controversial” because culture warrior types don’t like them.
Time will tell & I can’t be arsed to hold my breath.
So far, so terrible. The
So far, so terrible. The first segment is about potholes, so the presenter demonstrates the terrible state of Britain’s roads by driving an uber-rugged, ex-army Mercedes G-Wagon. No recognition that the increased popularity of ludicrous two-tonne vehicles like that is part of the reason why roads are deteriorating.
Tedious – I fast forwarded
Tedious – I fast forwarded through nearly all of it.
Why buy an EV if you have nowhere to charge it ?
The rest of the programme was
The rest of the programme was in a similar vein. Not the worst example of the “War on Motorists” trope – not as bad as the last such show I could be bothered to watch on BBC for example – but generally pandering to the victimhood of drivers. And a lot of lying by omission.
For example, the presenter did say that surveys indicate that LTNs are generally liked, but then immediately asked, “So why are some of them being set on fire?” Er….. because a lot of motorists are entitled little pricks and mindless thugs? Nope, it can’t be the fault of poor struggling drivers. Instead the blame was pinned on enforcement being some sinister revenue-generating scheme for councils. And in the final segment they tackled electric cars, and the issue of high electricity prices at public car chargers. They probably are a bit of a rip off but they do cost something to install and maintain. Reducing the VAT was suggested but no mention of how that would leave less money to fix potholes, just as years of frozen fuel duties has, something also not brought up when they compared the cost of fast charging to a tank of petrol. It was wrapped up by giving the boss of a major car company a few minutes airtime for unchallenged scaremongering about the effects of “rushing” the ICE to EV transition on jobs.
But at least cyclists weren’t demonized. We were only mentioned in one throwaway remark about “pedestrian and cyclists” benefitting from LTNs at the expense of drivers. Of course, that means no recognition in the potholes segment that cyclists report many of them before they become a hazard to cars, and we risk our lives, not just a few hundred quid repair bill.
Talking about LTNs she said
Talking about LTNs she said that, yes, LTNs are great for pedestrians and cyclists “but what about motorists?!”.
And talking about EVs, she said how driving around Manchester City centre was *such* a nightmare that she had left her car at home and was using an electric hybrid taxi instead (?). You know, I’m sure there were other ways she could have got conveniently around Manchester city centre…
Motor normativity innit.
Motor normativity innit. Probably never considered that, sure rat runs are great for motorists, but what about pedestrians & cyclists (won’t somebody please think of the children….)
ubercurmudgeon wrote:
closer to 3 tonnes, you wouldn’t raise an eyebrow about a mondeo estate, and they weigh 1.7 tonnes, even a golf can weigh as much as 1.6 tonnes.
The 2010 golf gti weighed twice as much as the mk 1 golf gti, partly due to increased size, partly increased safety and party increased comfort.
The problem for me is that
The problem for me is that under current Ofcom rules, aren’t apologies for falsely printed articles supposed to be of a similar standing to the size and prominence of the original article? For example, a front page headline requires a front page apology? The Telegraph clearly haven’t done this.
Although, to properly deter poor journalism, the rules for printing misinformation should be much clearer. My proposal would be:
In physical print, the paper must print a full apology across the front page with no additional article suggestions or headlining, outlining exactly what they printed that was incorrect and how.
For website publications, the article must be archived as false and removed from the main pages of the site. They must then publish an apology article explaining as above.
Ofcom doesn’t regulate print
Ofcom doesn’t regulate print press. IPSO guidelines require corrections to be given due prominence, but not necessarily equal prominence as the original article. They will sometimes require a front page error to have a front page flag, but the correction can be elsewhere – https://www.ipso.co.uk/media/2288/due-prominence-journalist-guidance.pdf
Despite many depressing reads
Despite many depressing reads on Road CC from us cyclists point of view let’s look on one bright side. It looks like the current government driving so many of these depressing stories will shortly be history. Even better IDS’s daft legislation on killer cyclists won’t make it onto the statute books.
Won’t make it on to the
Won’t make it on to the statute books yet, it would be totally wrong to assume that bill is completely lost yet
IDSs bit was only an amendment to a larger piece of legislation, a very clever tactic as whoever forms the next goverment will have to tackle what the bill was proposing, and it as well as IDS amendments had broad consensus across all parties. So it will return either in its current form or redrafted.
The football regulator bill is in similar state, unlikely to be included in the wash up, but note the press refer to it merely as being paused, not lost, or binned, or never going to happen, but paused.
IDS will be long gone after
IDS will be long gone after the election, but Matthew Briggs still needs to have something to do with his time…
Likely in the upper house,
Likely in the upper house, but there will be plenty more useful idiots in the commons to help out
stonojnr wrote:
I pray for labour to have the guts to dissolve the upper house and replace it with a PR elected chamber.
Just had BC membership
Just had BC membership newsletter – announcing Lloyds Bank are their new Lead Partner – Does this mean that the Shell sponsorship has been cancelled???
Don’t think so, I think Lloyd
Don’t think so, I think Lloyd’s are filling the gaps the Shell money didn’t pay for, like title sponsor of the BC run Tour of Britain, and sponsoring of national series and championships etc
Matthew Acton-Varian wrote:
No – Shell are the Unleaded Partner.
“Conservative MP urges
“Conservative MP urges candidates to “be brave and take cycling out of the culture wars”
Do I detect another tory defector? This time to the Greens, as labour are defeaningly quiet on active travel.
Surely her conscience can’t allow her to stay in the party of the dangerous driver.
I did believe a word any
I did not believe a word any (Tory) politician said last week.
Even less so since the announcement.
“We’ve come far under
“We’ve come far under Conservative governments, mayors and councils.”
Yes, very. As we could read on here just yesterday:
https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-miles-travelled-down-and-car-journeys-308489
marmotte27 wrote:
At least Rishi could be asked some tough questions during his campaigning, or at least he could if he wasn’t fielding chosen topics posed by Tory councillors pretending to be workers in hi-vis jackets:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/23/questioners-at-sunak-warehouse-speech-turn-out-to-be-tory-councillors-derbyshire-euros-wales
graUniad wrote:
brooksby wrote:
anyone can ask a question (but yes we did plant councillors)
Well there was probably a
Well there was probably a sign somewhere at the warehouse warning people – “Beware – heavy plant”…
I have gone off Sunak after
I have gone off Sunak after his DM-pleasing anti-cyclist leanings were voiced, but he’s still a lot better than his two predecessors!
wtjs wrote:
If that bar were any lower, it’d be subterranean
hawkinspeter wrote:
“I have gone off getting punched in the face, but at least its better than getting kicked in the balls!”
wtjs wrote:
That’s a bar that would be difficult to limbo under!
You mean he’s not quite as
You mean he’s not quite as terrible.
(No subject)
Typical Eurosceptic
Typical Eurosceptic propaganda! Can’t continue to moan it’s all Brussels … raining on your parade!
Obesity is now the biggest
Obesity is now the biggest killer in the UK, above smoking – a good cure for obesity is cycling regularly – it’s simple and cheap.
On election day, could
On election day, could everyone in Mark Harper and IDS consituencies turn up to vote on their bikes. Especially, bring your children on bikes. Actually, fuck it, we should all turn up to vote by riding our bikes…