Live blog: Bike cop PC Di collars texting scooter rider, Elephant Bike curling, helmet cammer, 13, records scary close pass + more
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Wed, Feb 21, 2018 14:40
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Jack is group editor across road.cc, off.road.cc and ebiketips, overseeing all three sites in the F-At Digital group to make sure everything’s up to scratch. He’s been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of road.cc including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town, and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it’s a long story).
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Latest Comments
ianking 18 minutes ago
I cycled a lot on the continent and have done fir many years. I've never been close passed, and only once had a scary overtake by an oncoming vehicle. Im close passed almost daily in the UK and dangerous overtakes are common. Some serious driver education is needed here, not to mention presumed liability legislation.
chrisonabike 52 minutes ago
@TrainWalkWheel at least one person on here seems to have better understanding of these than I do but AFAICS the model is even less likely to lead to good outcomes than happened with eg. a certain UK bus company. The one notorious for moving into an area, putting the existing providers out of business by running more services for pence and losing money, then - having captured the market - jacking up the price and dropping services. At least in that case the intention was presumably to deliver a self-sustaining service in the end (albeit perhaps a worse, overpriced one). But AFAIK mass bike share itself has never made money directly. So one wonders what the end plan is if any one of these market-share-capture firms actually won? (Presumably that isn't important and it's all about trading / financial shenanigans in some way. I doubt they could hold the local authority to ransom for the extra cash...)
chrisonabike 1 hour ago
Alas it's another part of "because cars / 'change', we can't just copy a well-proven design eg. from NL" On top of this is the UK "not invented here" making it up / no expertise or standard designs AND a "we must fit cyclists in around existing road space" causing strange contorted layouts. So what happens is we get things like bi-directional cycle *lanes* (not separated cycle paths) because cheapest / easiest to patch in. So that means that pedestrians don't have a space to wait *after* crossing the cycle space and *before* they have to deal with the road. (It also puts another block in the way of cycling convenience at traffic lights - say at a T-junction - because unlike NL the lights then apply to cyclists going straight on, whereas in NL that would be an informal cycle path crossing for pedestrians with no lights applying to the cycle path part - so cyclists just keep rolling).
MaxiMinimalist 3 hours ago
In 2019, Shanghai and other Chinese major cities implemented strict regulations and clean-up operations tp remove millopns of abondoned dockless bicycles that had created public nuisances and blocked pavements. One can't blame local authorities for taking actions in order to stop a messy situation triggered by unruly users.
yodhrin 3 hours ago
@Jakrayan Criticising people for not riding primary is like criticising a victim of domestic abuse for cringing when their partner threatens them with their fist. People don't ride in the gutter because they want to, they do it because if they don't they know there's a better than even chance that in any given ride at least one driver will be so affronted by the ENTITLED BIKE NONCE TAKIN' UP THE WHOLE ROAD!!!11 they'll do a deliberate punishment pass that could kill you or leave you maimed for life. Getting over in the gutter isn't a great solution, but multiple uncomfortable but not life-threatening passes is better than one potentially catastrophic one. It shouldn't be a cyclist's responsibility to put their life at risk just to remind drivers to obey the rules of the road they should be doing regardless. And as for "just getting off and walking", putting aside the reality that a ridden bike takes up *less* space than one with the rider walking alongside and so I'd argue the most considerate way to use that inadequate infrastructure(presumably there are no safe alternatives within a reasonable distance or why would anyone on a bike be using it at all) would be to proceed across on the bike at walking pace and then stop and put your foot down if someone needs to get by you; plenty of people use bikes as mobility aids and so "just get off" isn't as simple as it's made out to be. A couple of years back I had the worst sprain of my life, I could barely even hobble for two weeks and had a huge honking brace on my foot, had to sleep on the sofa downstairs because climbing them was a no go. I could still ride my bike though, do my shopping, see my mates - plenty of people have impairments that aren't temporary, to them "just get off" is tantamount to saying "just stay home". Let's keep it a benjamin as the kids say: "shared responsibility" and "keeping everyone safe" are, literally, copouts. They've framed the entire campaign so they can justify only taking actions that don't piss off drivers, and don't require them to actually do any work except harassing a few cyclists as they do a lunch run to the local Greggs, because that's the level of seriousness police in this country - in an institutional sense - believe road crime deserves.
lesoudeur 3 hours ago
"Scott says that it ‘redefines cable routing in the mountain bike industry’. While we’re yet to see if that claim rings true" I have a Spark RC Pro (2022) with mechanically controlled components. Because we use the front brake lever on the drive (right) side in the UK I have the rear brake hose and two cable housings (dropper and shock) on the NDS entering the headset. On my current bike I use 3.0mm Jagwire housing with no problems. I can install them by just pushing them through the headset without dismantling it. The new 2027 Spark has two openings either side of the headset so it is set up for a rear brake to be on the DS (right). Maybe they are dismissing countries that have the UK's brake lever configuration.
mark1a 4 hours ago
The first link is to one of their cycling computers.
Jakrayan 4 hours ago
To be fair when I'm out on the roads, car or bike, I see very many instances of people cycling who could be doing better. Ignoring the delivery riders, most of whom we know aren't actually riding bicycles / Ebikes, the most common issue I see is people riding too close to the edge of the road. Yes, drivers absolutely should do better, however this type of riding does little to discourage drivers from overtaking, and they will still pass too closely leaving the rider with FA room to the left either. So educating riders as to how to ride more safely isn't a bad idea IMHO. As for that narrow bridge, if it's popular with pedestrians I don't see how getting off and walking a few yards is a massive issue. And I'm normally in SPD-SL road cleats!
Jakrayan 4 hours ago
Indeed. Some lanes are so narrow, and with overgrown vegetation, that the driver may not be able to see anything behind in his wing (door) mirrors, and vans usually don't have a rear window so no rear-view mirror either. Much easier in this situation to just turn around and head back to the nearest farm gate, it won't be far. After all, 'share the road' works both ways. And before someone comments to say if you drive where you can't clearly see what's behind you, that driver may have no choice - deliveries, tradespeople etc.
mdavidford 4 hours ago
So we can add time travel to his list of talents? Is there nothing the man can't do?
18 thoughts on “Live blog: Bike cop PC Di collars texting scooter rider, Elephant Bike curling, helmet cammer, 13, records scary close pass + more”
Lib Dem councillor in
Lib Dem councillor in desperate attempt to retain seat in a conservative dominated area???
It’s a pity these things can
It’s a pity these things can’t really be recorded in the book of karma and consequences.
I’ve been unfortunate enough to visit The Christie hospital in Manchester and it’s amazing; the research, kit and current survival rates in a large part funded by events such as these.
Maybe these types of people shouldn’t be allowed access!
The story about the Lake
The story about the Lake District zip wire represents a fantastic piece of news for those that love the outdoors and our countryside, which I would hope includes most cyclists.
The promise of the cycling development was really just a sweetener for the main application for a huge zip wire coming off the side of Helvellyn (recently voted Britain’s favourite walk).
The back of Thirlmere lake is already a wonderful place for cycling – several miles of well maintained road with virtually no traffic.
Those who love the Lake District – whether enjoyed on two wheels or two feet – will be delighted that this unwanted commercial development has now been put on the shelf.
The driver in this close pass
The driver in this close pass really should be reported and removed from the road. Effectively saying that their journey is more important than someone else’s life. Anyone who overtakes like that is clearly not competent to operate heavy dangerous machinery in public places.
burtthebike wrote:
It really was a dreadful manoeuvre on what looks a quiet road. I hope the police will take some action (due to public pressure?).
No criticism of the cyclist but she should learn to ride a little further out from the verge.
Duncann wrote:
she’s 13, you need a helluva lot of self confidence to rider further out from the verge on roads like that, and passes like that only push it down more.
Awavey wrote:
I know, and sometimes I don’t have enough self confidence even at several times her age. But if it’s the right thing to do, and she’s competent to be on the road alone, why wouldn’t you encourage it?
I’d be surprised if the
I’d be surprised if the oncoming driver hasn’t reported the murderous pillock. He was almost into the trees!
Shame his number plate seems to be offset and therefore illegible. (Alfa Romeo?) Too much trouble to trace as a witness by Plod, I expect.
One does wonder though if he might have anticipated such a crazy manouevre (Cyclist approaching with stupidly fast car behind.) and slowed down or even stopped. I often slow as cyclists approach, knowing how likely it is that the car behind will try on something like this. I’d like to think I would have done so in this situation.
pockstone wrote:
I reckon the plate of the close passing Vauxhall is GY64 VBJ. It ties in with the DVLA check.
[/quote]
I reckon the plate of the close passing Vauxhall is GY64 VBJ. It ties in with the DVLA check.
[/quote]
I reckon so too.
I’m talking about the oncoming car, whose driver would make an excellent witness (if they could be identified and traced).
Double post, sorry.
pockstone wrote:
I sometimes move over to the centre line in my car; this deters drivers from over taking as they can see there is no room to squeeze through.
hirsute wrote:
Yeah, must admit to doing that myself sometimes. Save everyone the trouble of a stupid pass by not making it possible.
hirsute wrote:
A tactic I’d use with caution. I think in this instance the offending driver might just have taken his car straight through the cyclist. He clearly didn’t give a toss!
pockstone wrote:
I do the complete opposite, I deliberately move to the centre line so that oncoming motorists can see even more clearly that they can’t overtake, 25 years and it works every time, backing off just allows the morons to think that all motorists will do the same and then you have an even worse situation created because well meaning types have caused confusion.
Stick with not ceding, it might be counter intuative but as with most things on the road the more you cede the more people take the piss and it spirals ever downward as we see every day.
The same thing happened with creating a death by careless and look how that’s given motorists and even bigger out and lowered the threshold yet again for prosecution.
Nice Relive jersey, they need
Nice Relive jersey, they need a revenue stream, but one off jerseys don’t last long. Strava tried it with their challenge kits, but people get bored; it is not a long term earner. Their best bet is to get bought be Strava.
Nice Wiggins kit; now where can I buy it without the ‘Wiggins’ on it?
One day one of those close passes is going to result in a head on crash. Lets hope the cyclist passes serenely through and we get to see the video.
Leviathan wrote:
Hang on you’re wishing an innocent party is involved in a head on crash ?
I don’t wish that on anyone. Whatever their mode of transport. What if it was your parents driving the innocent car ?
fenix wrote:
Nice Relive jersey, they need a revenue stream, but one off jerseys don’t last long. Strava tried it with their challenge kits, but people get bored; it is not a long term earner. Their best bet is to get bought be Strava.
Nice Wiggins kit; now where can I buy it without the ‘Wiggins’ on it?
One day one of those close passes is going to result in a head on crash. Lets hope the cyclist passes serenely through and we get to see the video.
— fenix Hang on you’re wishing an innocent party is involved in a head on crash ? I don’t wish that on anyone. Whatever their mode of transport. What if it was your parents driving the innocent car ?— Leviathan
Hey, I didn’t say ‘wish,’ I said ‘one day.’ It is inevitable the way some people drive.