Lazer Quest

@mdavidford "We should all love one another and I know there are people who do not love their fellow man and I HATE people like that!" Tom Lehrer. Thing is Tom was being satirical...

Bristol City Council is hell bent on turning the former railway line into a so-called relief road for the A4. Van dweller pitches are simply a ruse to bide it time whilst it plots its next manoeuvrers.

@BaselGooner In the early '90s a friend of mine was working in Geneva, his girlfriend had her (unlocked) bike stolen one night and two days later it reappeared in the same rack outside her flat cleaned, oiled and with flowers and chocolates tied to the rear rack and a note saying, "I took your bike because I was drunk and had no money for taxi or bus. I thought it was funny but I was wrong. Sincerest apologies." I've always remembered that and thought what a great place Switzerland must be for cycle ownership if that's representative, sorry to hear it might not be.

Said motorists remain mentally ill when they aren't behind the wheel.

... Are you sure? Could be Scorpion de Rooftrouser minus his red beard?

...is undoubtably the funniest thing I've read all month - well done!

Well I wouldn’t leave a bike unlocked! Basel and Geneva have issues with cross-border thieves from France in particular but again it’s about better than UK I think.

@BaselGooner have things changed then? Visiting a friend in Zurich 15-20 years ago, I was shocked to see a Storck roadbike left unlocked. Completely unshocked about the theft in Newcastle though, friends had their front door kicked in, the banister their bikes were locked to ripped off the wall and the bikes gone before they could get down the stairs.

This guy kinda had it coming in all fairness he frequently posted about his bike on YouTube even when it was stolen he recorded the police giving him his illegal bike back 😂 hilarious the police are going to these measures. Especially as when they try and insert themselves into "local" gangs they're figured out straight away.... Instead of haphazardly diving on every rider how about contacting the insurance groups most have a list of approved professional built machines, if you approach some with a DIY build they insist on having it verified. For reference I ride an avaka bz20 I've been pulled over twice found it to be legal but zero details taken to avoid further hassle 🤦‍♂️.... policing at it's finest!

Number of points about this story: 1) the police positioning was frankly ridiculous. Electric motorbike rider could easily have gone straight into the canal. 2) it's a great idea generally to have a police operation here, but its modus operandi was catching drug dealers and robberies, no doubt backed up by intelligence showing a high number of incidents in the area. Illegal e-bikes - as the article points out are a distant second 3) banning electric motorbikes that go over 15.5 or 20mph is a fools errand. They will constantly be being modified and used illegally, and they are impossible to tell apart from bikes that don't have modifications. A much better solution would be to have government approved e-bikes which are completely locked from modification in standard colours and liveries, but in different styles e.g. mountain, gravel, road etc. This would also help the domestic cycling industry - someone like Jim Ratcliffe would be an obvious custodian - sitting at the intersection of cycling and motorised vehicles and might be persuaded to create a national brand. The government could also provide insurance at point of use/sale and properly administer them. These things aren't toys and cause real mistrust and anxiety for older people especially.