11 things we’ve learnt this week

@MaxiMinimalist If it was to do with a new cycle lane or quiet way, we could easily point to the Evil Cyclist Lobby Inc. But as this is the sweet & innocent auto industry (with the shallowest of pockets & no vested interest) I've absolutely no idea how this could have come to pass..... One of life's great mysteries.

@Rendel Harris maybe we should stop referring to certain cars as SUVs and go back to 'W**kpanzers' and 'Chelsea Tractors' but then going back to your info that wouldn't include the Ford Ranger (although that's a pick-up truck not SUV)

Thanks for the calculations. And as you point out, the difference in the change of velocity (aka acceleration, which is what matters) experienced by the hapless pedestrian is minimal. I don't understand the popular fixation with "energy absorbed" or "energy transferred" which seems to seize the imagination in these scenarios - notwithstanding the fact, as you point out, that most of the KE of the impacting vehicle is not in any case transferred.

@kinderje Well, I'm not very well versed in automobiles but looking at the Tucson that looks like one of the less offending vehicles, not that different to an estate car; that's very different to the rib cage or higher height square bonnets of a Range Rover and a world away from obscene shoulder height bonnet of a Ford Ranger*. If (as I believe there should be) a limit was set on bonnet heights I think your Tucson would be just about acceptable; anything that hits an average size person at the hip or lower so that they go over the bonnet instead of under the wheels should be the aim, in my opinion. Part of the problem is with manufacture nomenclature, because SUVs are seen by many people as the thing to have they call a lot of things that, as above, we used to call estate cars SUVs now. *According to t'intenet the leading top edge of a Tucson's bonnet is around 85 cm from the ground, whereas a Range Rover is 108 cm, doesn't sound like much but the difference in a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist could be huge. I can't find the figure for a Ford Ranger but I am 6 foot tall and when I stood next to one recently the top of the bonnet was about level with my armpit, so I would guess about 140 cm high which makes it a killing machine.

@Rendel Harris Sorry, I normally agree with much of what you say but not on this. I think we have disagreed on cars before. I own a Hyundai Tucson which, although classed as an SUV, I wouldn't say is a prestige vehicle and every school holiday/half term we drive from Somerset to Liverpool or Kent (not for cello lessons!!!) As a cyclist as well, I drive carefully around town but would hate to do 200+ mile journeys in a smaller car on a regular basis. As much as I hate "all cyclists do xyz" it annoys me when I then hear "all SUV drivers are a bunch of???"

@psyrog Oh, yes it does! GrossPanzers are bought by people who couldn't care less about anybody else and who believe the Untermensch should get out of the way if they know what's good for them! https://upride.cc/incident/cd10wer_audiq7_closerpass

I came for the comments on a stupid bike with a stupid helmet. I wasn't disappointed.

Seems like a great way to expose your solar panels to regular damage from chippings and such.

Those dudes going downhill, sparks flying from their modified shoes is the equivalent of children attaching football cards to their stays for the ‘motorbike’ effect; pointless, but fun.

I wish I could bé there. We left Bath 37 years ago for thé French Pyrénées - great cycling country! I'll bé thinking of you on the day as I hopefully will be climbing my local col.