“Eight people on bicycles occupy the space for one modern car”: Cyclist’s traffic photo sparks debate about “future of cities” and “efficiency” of cycle lanes + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Fabian Cancellara on TT-light Giro d'Italia route: "Seeing the drift of this specialty in the Grand Tours hurts me a lot, but this is the trend of modern cycling"
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Fabian Cancellara hopes time trials make a return to prominence on Grand Tour parcours in the future, Spartacus saying it “hurts me a lot” seeing the “drift” away from TT-heavy routes. His comments to Bicisport come following the Giro d’Italia’s route reveal on Monday, the opening Grand Tour of the season only to include two TT stages, a total of 42km over the three weeks.
“Seeing the drift of this speciality in the Grand Tours hurts me a lot,” Cancellara, who won two Olympic golds and four world titles in the discipline, said. “But this is the trend of modern cycling. They say they are not ‘spectacular’ and now the top riders are the same on this terrain that no longer makes the difference. Too bad, I hope this can change in the future.”
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Now the team manager of the ambitious Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Cancellara is hoping his squad will get a wildcard invite to the opening Grand Tour of the season. The Swiss team’s off-season saw some big-name recruitment, Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi joining an ever-improving roster that already included Michael Storer, Matteo Trentin and Alberto Dainese.
“When we set up this project, we told ourselves that within five years at most we would enter the WorldTour,” Cancellara explained. “We are on the right path, every year we are adding a piece to our puzzle, and even in the eyes of the public and industry insiders we have become a reality in all respects. Now they consider us and often fear us.
“Everyone is looking at Julian and Marc, but I’ll tell you more: the best purchases for the season are not them. You can’t imagine how important it is to build a strong team around these champions. I’m talking about mechanics, masseurs, trainers, cooks. We are now a structure that has more than 100 people. Then it’s clear that with two riders like that, expectations rise.
“With a two-time world champion and a guy like Hirschi who is among the best in the world in the UCI Ranking, we obviously have to play a leading role. The Ardennes classics can be our main goal, but also the stages of the Grand Tours and the short stage races where we will be invited.”
The best cycling bargains: check out the road.cc Recommends Bargain Buys of the Year 2024/25
> The best cycling bargains: check out the road.cc Recommends Bargain Buys of the Year 2024/25
Plans submitted for "first steps" to transform Rhondda Tunnel into Europe's longest walking and cycling tunnel
[📷: Rhondda Tunnel Society]
An application has been submitted by The Rhondda Tunnel Society to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council (RCT) proposing the excavation of land to expose the Blaencwm portal of the Rhondda Tunnel, the plans the “first steps” of an ambitious project to reopen the disused tunnel as Europe’s longest walking and cycling tunnel, Nation.Cymru reports.
The planning statement explains how “spanning nearly two miles, the restored tunnel would become Europe’s longest walking and cycling tunnel”.
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The tunnel is owned by the Department for Transport and managed by Highways England. It was opened in 1890 but closed permanently 80 years later.
“The aim of the Rhondda Tunnel Society is to create a unique visitor experience in the north of Rhondda Cynon Taf, which attracts people of all ages and abilities to the longest walking and cycling tunnel in Europe,” the planning statement continued. “This is considered to contribute significantly to socio-economic growth both within RCT and across wider south Wales.”
"If you get a knife held to your neck, you can't do anything": Mark Cavendish recounts "zombie knife" burglars who made him feel "helpless" in front of wife and kids
Leadership changes at the top of Raleigh's parent company — Accell Group CEO "transition" comes following loss of €390 million in 2023, although company insists recovery "well on track" following 2024 "normalised stock levels" and "significant progress"
Accell Group, the parent company of brands such as Raleigh, Lapierre, Ghost and Babboe will soon have a new CEO, a “transition” seeing the chief operating officer stepping into the shoes of Tjeerd Jegen who is moving to the group’s supervisory board, Bike Europe reports.
“It feels a natural moment to transition the leadership of the company. In 2024, we reached important milestones on our path to recovery. With the finalisation of the recapitalisation nearing, Accell enters its next phase of development,” the outgoing CEO commented.
That “recovery” is from losses of €390 million in 2023, a figure that was revealed in Raleigh’s recent accounts, the British bike brand itself posting a loss of £30.1 million in 2023. However, despite the eye-catching figures, the line from Accell Group is that the company is “well on track” to recovery and managed to normalise stock levels during a “challenging” 2024.
“As we look ahead, we are well positioned to benefit from the favourable macro trends and continue building on this momentum in the new year,” Jegen said.
“All brands now benefit from joint stock management, and the stock levels of finished bikes, which peaked at the end of 2023, have now been brought back to normalised pre-Covid levels. The majority of the stock now consists of models produced in the past year. The inventory of parts and accessories had been brought back to normalised levels earlier in the year. We see sales to customers in our key markets increasing again.”
In June, Accell’s credit rating was downgraded for the fourth time in a year, the blow coming at the same time that the group’s cargo bike company Babboe was criticised for a “shambles” recall of faulty frames.
The group also made job cuts to streamline its European production, with two facilities merging and some production relocated to Hungary and Turkey. In October, the major Dutch cycling company did hint at its recovery, Accell reporting that parts and accessories inventory is already back to normal and bike inventory levels are expected to reach the same point by the end of 2024.
Cycling Time Trials has a new website
Cycling Time Trials has given its website a new year refresh and it now includes new event timing features. The whole thing looks a lot more smart than the old site too, so give it a visit if you’re interested.
🚨NEW BIKE ALERT🚨 Ridley officially unveils new Noah Fast aero road bike "pushing the limits of UCI regulations" and claiming 8.5 watts of speed savings
Lapierre recalls Aircode and Xelius models over "issues with carbon fork"
Lapierre has announced a recall of certain Lapierre Aircode DRS and Lapierre Xelius SL3 models, after research suggested “some Lapierre bikes have issues with their carbon fork”.
As per the recall instructions on Lapierre’s website, the recall concerns Lapierre Aircode DRS and Lapierre Xelius SL3 bikes equipped with an aluminum stemand an aluminum shim (part n°3). Lapierre Xelius SL3 bikes equipped with a Lapierre carbon cockpit are not part of the recall.
“Research has shown that some Lapierre bikes have issues with their carbon fork,” the brand admitted. “If the fork is damaged, this could potentially lead to a crack. We ask all customers that own a bike concerned to stop using it immediately and contact an authorised Lapierre dealer. The dealer will check if your bike is part of the recall and if so, they will replace the fork as soon as possible. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this may cause.”
Dylan goes electric… and gets fined! Timothée Chalamet slapped with "£65 parking fine" after riding Lime bike to London premiere of A Complete Unknown
Brompton's new £100m factory approved, despite concerns from councillors about car-free plans
As expected, Brompton’s plan to build a new £100m factory in Ashford in Kent has been approved. The borough council gave the project the green light at a meeting of its planning committee last night, the BBC reporting that it was passed by 10 votes to two.
> Brompton CEO warns chancellor removing tariffs on Chinese bikes could “kill” folding bicycle brand
The factory is proposed for an area of wetlands and the loss of 2.4 hectares of a local wildlife site had been cited as a potential issue, likewise Brompton’s ambition to make the factory ‘car-free’ was raised as a concern by councillors.
Despite managing director Will Butler-Adams’s desire to see employees commute via sustainable transport, leader of the Labour Group, Brendan Chilton, said: “Thirty car parking spaces in a factory of this size is a joke.”
Butler-Adams said the site, which he hopes will be Brompton’s “real home” after five factory moves in 50 years, had “stood shoulders above the rest”, including options in Manchester and Birmingham.
The approval comes just two weeks after 2025 began with the sobering news that Brompton’s profits had nosedived in 2024, falling by over 99 per cent from £10.6m in 2023 to just £4,602.
"It was as if I suddenly stopped walking through three-feet-deep water like I had all my life": Joe Pidcock explains challenges of ADHD
Joe Pidcock, who will be joining brother Tom at Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team this season, has penned a lengthy Instagram post explaining some of the challenges he’s faced living with ADHD. Starting with his diagnosis in November 2023, Pidcock said starting on medication “completely changed my life”.
“It was as if I suddenly stopped walking through three-feet-deep water like I had all my life,” he explained. “Within four months I won my first race in over three years. Another month later I won my first UCI race. It’s not like the meds are magic, they couldn’t fix my concussion or cure Covid that ruined the rest of my year, I still need to see a phycologist every week and I’m not saying I don’t have to work my ass off for what I want.
“But before I always felt depressed and unmotivated. I had a hard time socialising, making and especially keeping friends. And that’s not just motivation for cycling, it’s everything. Like seeing friends, cooking dinner, texting my mum back, going to sleep, getting out of bed. I think the hardest part of it was I was incapable of helping myself. I didn’t even realise it wasn’t normal and I couldn’t have sorted any of this out without help.
Pidcock suggested “it’s very possible” he also has asperger’s, but believes “the label doesn’t matter” and he “doesn’t want sympathy for any of this”.
“I just think the world thinks ADHD just means you can’t sit still in school but from my experience it’s a lot more sinister than that. It was like having to learn everything in life at 21. I’ve come a long way but I think it’s fair to say I’ve still work to do,” he continued.
“Basically I owe everything to my family for getting me to where I needed to be. I’d be a bit f****d without yous. Thanks mum. What I’m saying is, if you’re in a similar situation or you’re close to someone that is similar just start with a bit of research it could completely change your life.
“Now with Q36.5 Pro Cycling I believe I’ve found my new home I’m really grateful and excited for the years ahead. I wouldn’t have accepted a place here if I didn’t think I was capable. I’ll make sure it’s worth everyone’s time. Thank you to everyone that got me here and to everyone that will get me further.”
UCI considering use of "rider airbags" and gear restrictions to "enhance safety"
> UCI considering use of “rider airbags” and gear restrictions to “enhance safety”
Cycling Canada bans TT bikes and disc wheels at junior national champs
In a bid to “ensure consistency, fairness, accessibility, increase participation and talent identification, and improve transport efficiency”, Cycling Canada has banned the use of TT bikes, disc wheels and extension bars for juniors at the road nationals. The news was reported by Canadian Cycling Magazine and means under-19s and under-17s will not be able to use TT bikes at this year’s national champs.
A good idea?
Chris Hoy's management launches legal action against bike maintenance brand over "distressing" video linking cancer diagnosis to use of rival company's chain lube
"Eight people on bicycles occupy the space for one modern car": Cyclist's traffic photo sparks debate about "future of cities" and "efficiency" of cycle lanes
Long-running live blog favourite BobFromAccounts snapped this photo of cyclists stopped at a set of traffic lights the other day. As an aside, having recently cycled in London at a peak commuting time, I can confirm it’s now the norm to be queued at least five or six deep when waiting for the lights to change, such is the popularity of cycling in the capital.
Let your mind wander and you could easily daydream about being an assembled Tour de France pro mingling at the start of another stage with your peloton of colleagues… obviously greyer, wetter and colder in London than France in July, plus Tadej Pogačar never looked to his right and saw rivals on Santander Cycles or a Brompton.
Anyway, I digress, back to the point. BobFromAccounts shared the picture on social media. We’ve opted to embed the version from Bluesky rather than Twitter/X because… well… Elon Musk.
At least 8 people on bicycles occupy the space for 1 modern car. This is efficiency; this is the future of cities. Build more cycle infrastructure, as not everyone can or wants to drive
— Bob From Accounts 🚲 (@bobfromaccounts.bsky.social) 14 January 2025 at 14:56
It was, unsurprisingly, on Twitter, however, where the ‘liveliest’ discussion came… so much so, Bob followed up the original post with this reply: “Enjoying the standard replies from those concerned about the ‘weekly shop, cold, disabled, rain, hills’ which, reading between the lines, are nothing more than wishing to drive everywhere without consequences.”
Obviously, not everyone can cycle, but better bike lanes + more people cycling + less people driving = more room for those who genuinely do need to access driven journeys in London.
Bob had his work cut out replying to all the hundreds of other replies, many taking issue with his statements.
“1 x 16-seat minibus could use that same space,” one said. “Which means double the people getting to where they want to be in comfort and much faster if the cyclists weren’t slowing them down.”
Bob’s reply? “Obviously you’ve never ventured to London where the average speed of a motor vehicle is 8mph.”
Mr minibus’s last-ditch effort? “Yeah because they are stuck behind cyclists. To be fair no one in London should need a car. Public transport is far superior to anywhere else in the UK.” Now we’re getting somewhere…
We obviously couldn’t let this pass without a road tax effort too… drumroll please…
Intriguingly, some furthered the point about fitting one bus in the space for 10 or 20 cyclists, apparently seeing it as some sort of ‘gotcha’, but in the process inadvertently aiding the argument for less private vehicle use in cities and major urban areas, with walking, cycling and public transport prioritised instead.
It wasn’t all blue tick accounts and fury… one commenter agreed single-occupant car use in London is “inefficient and unsociable” and suggested “really, cars, especially SUVs need to be removed from roads in city centres”.
16 January 2025, 09:06
16 January 2025, 09:06
16 January 2025, 09:06
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Latest Comments
I do like the ball bikes. His crazy engineering obsession that is sort of also utterly pointless. That and the similarity to the insult of ballbag.
Bicycles can't pedal themselves so they can't break the limit and it doesn't apply to cyclists do they can't break it either so where exactly were these 220 occurrences of the law being broken?
His standard of living would drop massively...
And his wonderfully slow paced reassembler introduced me to the JIS Japanese Industry Standard type crosshead screwdriver. There is a reason why your standard Phillips type crosshead will destroy your Shimano adjustment bolts.
Regardless of the merits of the argument, anyone who ties their jumper over their shoulders like that is automatically wrong.
Reply to hawkinspeter Can you give it a more descriptive url so I can imagine it better?
Thanks for raising this. I'm assuming they had a serious talk about visiting Saudi Arabia and went anyway. GCN wants to be respected, but this is the definition of sportswashing.
Regarding "[helmets are] good insurance if you topple over... and so are not without merit": Even that protection is exaggerated. In 50+ years of avid cycling, club membership, etc. I've had exactly one friend die from a bike crash. He was riding at slow speed when he came to a stop. He apparently failed to unclip, toppled sideways, hit his helmeted head and died of TBI. And let's keep in mind that far more pedestrians than cyclists die of TBI. And even more motorists, despite the "protection" afforded by a car's interior. So why is it that cyclists are the ones persecuted by helmet nannies?
Spot on with the explanation but hey Snooks doesn’t want facts to get in the way (I don’t ride hookless for the avoidance of doubt).
43 thoughts on ““Eight people on bicycles occupy the space for one modern car”: Cyclist’s traffic photo sparks debate about “future of cities” and “efficiency” of cycle lanes + more on the live blog”
Ahh yes, the old minibus that
Ahh yes, the old minibus that takes 16 people exactly where each one of them wants to go and splits itself for each passengers destination.
The reason the car is so popular is because it takes you where you want to go, when you want to go, doesn’t get cancelled, doesn’t go around the houses and gets you there in comfort. Public transport works in places like London because there is so much of it that its easy enough and convenient enough to get people pretty much where they want to go with a small compromise in the other areas.
Cycling gets you exactly where you want to go, when you want, faster than public transport and the only sacrifice is comfort and dealing with the elements. Oh and obviously the scrotes that want to steal your bike.
Then again, its never been about arguing with any good points, its arguing against cyclists. Not cycling. Cyclists. Anti-cyclist knobs will spout any crap to support their dislike of us so that they don’t have to admit they just don’t like cyclists.
I would just say, fine then –
I would just say, fine then – let’s ban all motor vehicles except full minibuses.
In many ways the motorbike is
In many ways the motorbike is the ideal form of transport, especially for commuting. There are even good parking options normally. I’ve always fancied the idea of one, but my Dad was badly messed up in a motorbike accident and that has always put me off. Having said that, I don’t own a car either and my last accident on my bike left me semi-badly messed up (two operations).
Sorry to hear that but was
Sorry to hear that but was the accident really an accident (act of god etc) or a road collision caused by someones negligence?
E-scooter ramming me, hit and
E-scooter ramming me, hit and run. Dad’s was a van that t-boned him after its driver ran a red light.
Depends what you mean by
Depends what you mean by motorbike. They are mostly overkill for commuting. Motor scooters and ebikes are the sweetspot where the vast majority of town and city-centric commuters would benefit.
If we were visionary we’d allow covered electric mopeds – a lighterweight version of the old BMW C1 – with no need for a helmet.
squired wrote:
I agree, but the the ideal would be frequent public transport – ideally tax-subsidised so that it’s free to the customers. That way you wouldn’t need a helmet and wouldn’t get wet when it rains and can happily look at your phone or read a book whilst travelling. I wonder what the roads would look like if we had fleets of free-to-use buses.
squired wrote:
Teleportation, surely? As quick as possible, literally door to door (well – portal to portal?) without having to concentrate or deal with transport quirks.
Different ways for different people, for different journeys of course. And everything is judged by the dominant mode, if there is one. (Well, by time in day / number of journeys technically that’s probably walking … but call it “driving” for distance and all non-trivial walked journeys almost everywhere).
Always wondered about a motorbike … but that’s because I cycle perhaps?
I’d still suggest for most people they wouldn’t consider it the ideal form of transport (EDIT – unless you are stretching that to the lowest powered motor scooters) – even for commuting. It’s not “social” transport (without planning) – in fact less so than cycling if there’s proper infra(!), harder to carry people (and in western Europe at least not more than one passenger), more faff with luggage, needing to “dress for the journey, not the destination” etc.
Plus the casualty numbers don’t look good (certainly for the rider, but not so good for others either).
OTOH limiting stats to lower powered things (scooters) and I think the numbers are a bit better. That – and history – is possibly why the Dutch still have motor scooters (and allow them to use cycle infra *). Overall they’re still better for society than more car journeys. (* But I think some places have banned them from cycle infra).
chrisonabike wrote:
https://portalsoflondon.com/2017/09/16/how-to-fold-london-part-one-finding-the-twitchells/
Indeed, the 2m wide minibust
Indeed, the 2m wide minibust that the closet racists (Anti Cyclists) would never actually use, no matter how good it was :-/
Of course they wouldn’t. In
Of course they wouldn’t. In the same way they care deeply about disabled people having autonomy and freedom when a bike lane is being proposed but also want to cut disability benefits. Its what idiots come up with when they think they are being clever.
And park in those wheelchair
And park in those wheelchair spaces…
ktache wrote:
Fewer needed now because of the effects of homicidal cyclists?
Not arguing about cyclists, I
Not arguing about cyclists, I think if you want to use my or z type of transport, that’s your perogative, but the majority of cyclists don’t obey the rules of the road and are dangerous to other road users. Bring in licencing for cyclists and if they really are keen to follow the rules, they won’t complain about it.
Andrew Needham wrote:
First troll of 2025 ?
First troll of 2025 ?
First troll of 2025 ?
No, I outed another typical ‘I’m a cyclist myself’ one a few days ago
Just an independent thinker,
Just an independent thinker, not part of the echo chamber or hive mind here!
You lost me at
You lost me at
“stopped at a set of traffic lights”.
Re. the Rhondda tunnel, I
Re. the Rhondda tunnel, I rode the Old Caoling tunnel in Taiwan a few years ago. It was fantastic. I imagine the Rhondda tunnel would be similar, and would love to ride it – and routes around it.
At least it hasn’t been
At least it hasn’t been filled with concrete before they can do anything with it.
Getting this pop up on
Getting this pop up on various road.cc pages today. Logged into account, have tried logging out and in again, subscription renewal not due until May, so I don’t need to disable ad blocker as road.cc is ad free for me anyway.
Quality content ? Lol what
Quality content ? Lol what like copying some random “bluesky” prompt for discussion about cycling, because they’re salty about Musk, but having to copy the actual twitter debate because else there’s no story to generate clicks.
stonojnr wrote:
So why are you here then, chap? Each to their own, personally if I think something’s shite I don’t bother with it.
Rendel Harris wrote:
So why are you here then, chap? Each to their own, personally if I think something’s shite I don’t bother with it.— stonojnr
For the quality below the line, obvs.
mark1a wrote:
I’ve been getting that too, but if I just click on the x to close it, the site then works fine – I don’t need to switch off the ad blocker.
Steve K wrote:
It seems to be a guilt trip rather than an actual wall.
(I’m a subscriber anyway…).
Sure, me too, it’s not
Sure, me too, it’s not preventing me from consuming the quality content described, I was really just trying to to bring it to the attention of road.cc staff, as well as checking it wasn’t just me.
Meanwhile, BBC is scamming me
Meanwhile, BBC is scamming me again! I know it’s just “stock photo” but I foolishly expected to find a mention of cycling in the article … in vain!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20g7705re3o
What’s the key to Denmark’s
What’s the key to Denmark’s great work life balance? Well the great health system is part of it, paid for through high personal taxation. it’d be great if the UK could enforce proper taxation for the mega rich tax dodgers. And Denmark’s low traffic cities also play a big role in the good levels of public health and low levels of obesity, so cycling plays a role for sure.
Funny how everyone forgets,
Funny how everyone forgets, that in some part, these rich people contribute more in tax, through their business than the rest of us pay. Also remember if we put higher taxes on the super rich, they just put up their prices to recover that loss, which makes the rest of us pay higher taxes on goods bought and higher prices.
Ahh … the good old “trickle
Ahh … the good old “trickle down economy” at work.
(No subject)
Andrew Needham wrote:
Well, we often forget that because the very rich can afford to not pay any tax by a number of creative schemes: https://legendfinancial.co.uk/how-the-rich-avoid-paying-taxes/
If the super rich will end up pushing tax rises onto the rest of us, then that sounds like they’re simply parasites on society and maybe we should take them to the guillotine rather than trying to help them avoid paying their dues?
Oh… just once in the new
Oh… just once in the new year, then:
Andrew Needham wrote:
Even funnier how everyone forgets that the only reason the rich people earn more money than the rest of us and so contribute more in tax (when they do, rather than hiding it away overseas) is because of the work of thousands and thousands of other people in their factories and offices who make the products or provide the services that make the rich people rich. I mentioned this to Karl Marx once and he said he thought there might be an idea for a book in it…
(With apologies to P.G.Wodehouse, originator of that final line)
Nice photograph of a cycle
Nice photograph of a cycle lane being used, the ant-cyclists keep telling us that cyclists hardly ever use cycle lanes – the M1 was empty when that was first built. The Bath to Bristol cycle route has about a million cycle journeys per year.
Maybe the Canadians should
Maybe the Canadians should ban carbon fiber and derailleurs, too. Some kids can only afford an old, single-speed steel bike.
Just a heads up – the term
Just a heads up – the term ‘Aspergers’ isn’t really ok these days due to its links to a nazi scientist. It certainly isn’t used by professionals working with autism.
Well, with a car, you get one
Well, with a car, you get one person irritating you, instead of with 8 bicycles, you’ll get at least 3 or 4 who will. I’m a cyclists, haven’t ridden in a while, but even when I did, fellow cyclists seem to think the road rules don’t apply to them. The times I’ve seen cyclists almost knock pedestrians over at pedestrian crossings, more times than I’d like to admit. There needs to be a license system brought in and if a cyclist breaks the rules, fine them.
Andrew Needham wrote:
In such cases you should call 998, they’re almost the police.
I’m surprised the cyclists
I’m surprised the cyclists have the time to attack pedestrians, when people lose count of the number of times they [the wheelchair user] are almost knocked over by these same cyclists
Andrew Needham wrote:
Yes. It’s noticeable that ever since licensing and registration requirements were imposed on motorists, the number of infringements by drivers has dropped to zero. Oh, hang on…
I’m afraid we’ll see a fair
I’m afraid we’ll see a fair bit of anti-cyclist rhetoric over the next 12 months. Local and regional elections are due this year and next year. Reform are riding high and they would be just the people that anti-cyclists would look to. Be prepared for a lot more rows about cycling facilities. Politicians are much more helpful when elections are due so this will be the time when you see attempts to remove cycling paths etc.