Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news

Live blog: Jail for company director who used 4x4 to deliberately knock “little shit” cyclist off bike; Froome to race TdF crit in Japan; Dutch student breaks women's speed record; Roglic extends +more

All today's news from the site and beyond.....
UPDATED Wed, Sep 11, 2019 08:44
29
Live blog: Jail for company director who used 4x4 to deliberately knock “little shit” cyclist off bike; Froome to race TdF crit in Japan; Dutch student breaks women's speed record; Roglic extends +moreGo to Jail - Ken Teegardin – Flickr – CC BY-SA 2.0
10 September 2019, 20:28
Jail for company director who used 4x4 to knock "little shit" cyclist off bike

A company director who used his 4x4 vehicle to deliberately knock a teenage cyclist off his bike and described the victim afterwards as a "little shit" has been jailed.

Report here on the Manchester Evening News, full story on road.cc in the morning.

10 September 2019, 19:39
10 September 2019, 19:35
Bristol bloke spaffs 30 grand fighting £100 speeding ticket

Heart bleeds, but have to feel sorry for those he is SKI-ing ... full story here on Bristol Live

10 September 2019, 14:49
Mathieu van der Poel storms up final climb to take Tour of Britain lead

Mathieu van der Poel stormed up the final climb of today's Stage 4 of the Tour of Britain in Kendal today to cross the line first and take the overall lead by just 1 second from Matteo Trentin after what is perhaps the toughest day's racing in this year's edition with more than 3,000 metres of climbing on the way from Gateshead.

With barely a flat section of road today and plenty of sharp inclines, today's parcours looked like perfect preparation for the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire later this month ... would you bet against the 24-year-old Dutchman pulling on the rainbow jersey in Harrogate?

10 September 2019, 14:29
Spot Tom Ritchey
10 September 2019, 14:19
Roglic commits future to Jumbo-Visma by signing four year contract extension

We heard a couple of rumours the current Vuelta leader could be going to pastures new, but Jumbo-Visma have put those rumblings to bed by confirming that Roglic has just signed a four year contract extension. 

With Tom Dumoulin on his way there too for 2020, Jumbo could have a bit of a headache when it comes to deciding who their team leader wil be in next year's Grand Tours... 

10 September 2019, 14:14
Carbon zimmer frame anyone?
carbon walker thing

And the frame weighs just 6.3kg according to the product description we've found on the Nitro Elite website. We'll have one of these when our knees eventually give out...

 

10 September 2019, 13:05
There is a bicycle pedal embedded in the middle of the road at Trafalgar Square

We spotted it during the die-in at the National Funeral for the Unknown Cyclist there on Saturday. Wonder how it got there? 

Pedal Trafalgar Square.JPEG
10 September 2019, 12:52
Dutch student breaks women’s cycling speed record

A Dutch student has broken the women’s cycling speed record at the annual World Human Powered Speed Challenge at Battle Mountain, Nevada.

VeloX 9 team (picture via TU Delft)

Rosa Bas hit 122.12kph at the event, organised by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association, to beat the existing record of 121.8kph set by Barbara Buatois of France in 2010.

Bas undertook her record-breaking ride on VeloX 9, a fully-faired recumbent bike designed and built by a team of students from TU Delft and VU Amsterdam, who have competed in the challenge for several years now, and held the men's record from 2013-15.

"We worked towards this for a year and now we have succeeded", she said. "It is amazing to cycle so fast. I went faster than cars are allowed to drive on this road."

10 September 2019, 11:16
Chris Froome to race Tour de France Saitama Criterium next month

Chris Froome will take part in the Tour de France Saitama Criterium in Japan next month, marking his return to racing – albeit in what is effectively an exhibition event – since his horrific crash at the Criterium du Dauphiné in June.

News of Froome’s upcoming participation in the 27 October event, which is expected to draw around 100,000 spectators and will pitch the stars of the Tour de France against Japan’s top domestic riders, was made by organisers on Twitter.

The post was accompanied by a video message from the Team Ineos rider, who said: “I’m really looking forward to coming back to the criterium at Saitama this year.

“It’s always an event that I really enjoy doing and especially seeing all the Japanese fans who are so passionate about the Tour de France and European racing, so I’m looking forward to it and see you soon.”

10 September 2019, 10:47
Man drives to police station to register bike... and gets arrested for drink driving

Police in the town of Brockville, Ontario confirmed that on Sunday afternoon they arrested a 52-year-old man for drunk driving... after he'd willingly gone to their station to register his bicycle. Brockville Newswatch report that a police officer could smell alcohol on the breath on the man; he was given a breathalyser which shown he was twice over the legal limit, and his driving licence was subsequently suspended for three months. 

He'll certainly be needing that bike now... 

10 September 2019, 10:40
Tour of Britain stage 4 - hills

The riders are off and have already taken on some punishing gradients before they've got anywhere near the three categorised climbs of the day. 

10 September 2019, 07:38
Cycling UK say if pavement parking ban is enforced, government should also reverse new rule that allows parking on cycle lanes

While a proposed ban on pavement parking has proved a mostly popular suggestion, Cycling UK highlight that beneath this, new rules were quietly brought in recently that allows parking in cycle lanes marked with solid white lines. Cycling UK say: "This change, made without notifying councils or the public - needs to be reversed."

Is it time tougher rules on parking on pavements and cycle lanes were brought in? Some consistency would be nice...

10 September 2019, 07:31
Former TV ballroom dancer says cyclists "go through red lights and scratch cars"

We had to google him, but someone who was on Strictly Come Dancing a few years ago has done a tweet about cyclists and it's not a particularly wise one. Commenting on a nasty incident reported this week in which a 5-year-old was hit by a cyclist who then fled the scene, 41-year-old James Jordan said for this reason, all cyclists need to be held 'accountable'. 

Despite numerous people pointing out that such legislation Jordan could be referring to would be hugely expensive and ineffective, plus the huge numbers of incidents each year involving motor vehicles, Jordan said of the latter: "But they are liable".  

10 September 2019, 07:25
New sponsors, Fiona?
kolbinger ride.PNG

And after her adventures this summer she deserves them! The Transcontinental Race winner posted her latest ride to Strava tagging Enve, 7Mesh and Fizik, presumably brands she's now partnered up with. Just the quick 100 miler with about 9,000 feet of climbing to test the new gear on this occasion...  

Jack Sexty

Jack has 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 the website 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). 

Add new comment

29 comments

Avatar
jaysa | 5 years ago
0 likes

Froome is reported still on crutches, yet he's doing an exhibition race next month  

Pray he avoids crashes and stays on the bike ...

I have no idea how he recovered from that horror crash so quickly.

 

Avatar
burtthebike replied to jaysa | 5 years ago
0 likes

jaysa wrote:

Froome is reported still on crutches, yet he's doing an exhibition race next month  

 

Presumably with a specially adapted bike so that he can pedal with the crutches?  This I've got to see.devil

Avatar
timtak | 5 years ago
1 like

> and are very aggressive in their behaviour.

There is something inherently agressive about travelling around in a 1-2 ton steel box, which may even deserve to be stratched, not that I do.

Forget the pedal (in Trafalgar Square). Look at those metallic sneakers.

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to timtak | 5 years ago
0 likes

timtak wrote:

> and are very aggressive in their behaviour.

There is something inherently agressive about travelling around in a 1-2 ton steel box

No, there isn't.

Avatar
quiff | 5 years ago
1 like

1. Quite enjoying that Strava has assessed the relative effort of (Transcontinental winner and PBP finisher) Fiona's recent 100 miler as "massive".

2. Cycle lane parking - the key wording in what appear to be the relevant 2016 regulations is that a solid white line marking a cycle lane "conveys the requirement that a vehicle, other than a pedal cycle, must not be driven, or ridden, in the cycle lane during the cycle lane’s hours of operation (which may be all the time)".

Surely in most cases, someone who has parked in a mandatory cycle lane has also driven in it (though admittedly not necessarily during its hours of operation). If driving in it is illegal, you don't necessarily also need to specify that parking in it is. Having said that, if previous rules expressly outlawed both parking and driving in a cycle lane, I appreciate this inconsistency is not helpful.  

Avatar
peted76 | 5 years ago
0 likes

Froome racing/riding in October = that's a hell of a recovery!

Avatar
Rapha Nadal replied to peted76 | 5 years ago
0 likes

peted76 wrote:

Froome racing/riding in October = that's a hell of a recovery!

Yeah, you couldn't make it up...

Avatar
Hirsute | 5 years ago
1 like

"Cycling UK highlight that beneath this, new rules were quietly brought in recently that allows parking in cycle lanes marked with solid white lines. "

Do you mean the law was changed? If so under what SI was this done?
Seems very strange to put up an article without a link to fundamental legislation.

Avatar
Jack Sexty replied to Hirsute | 5 years ago
4 likes
hirsute wrote:

"Cycling UK highlight that beneath this, new rules were quietly brought in recently that allows parking in cycle lanes marked with solid white lines. "

Do you mean the law was changed? If so under what SI was this done?
Seems very strange to put up an article without a link to fundamental legislation.

This back from Cycling UK: "The change came in the TSRGD update for 2016 (traffic signs regulations and general directions).

"Essentially mandatory cycle lanes made before the update are illegal to drive and park in. Mandatory cycle lanes made after the update you're allowed to park in - unless there's a double yellow line. To look at them there's no difference though."

So you can legally park in a cycle lane built after the 2016 update, but not if it was built before 2016; however there is no way of knowing really, which is indeed bizarre. Cycling UK Policy Director Roger Geffen also said this: "It's an absolute mess, as we've now two different types of mandatory cycle lanes that look identical but legally are very different. Cycling UK is keen to re-engage with the DfT to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency."

Avatar
Hirsute replied to Jack Sexty | 5 years ago
1 like

Jack Sexty wrote:

This back from Cycling UK: "The change came in the TSRGD update for 2016 (traffic signs regulations and general directions). "Essentially mandatory cycle lanes made before the update are illegal to drive and park in. Mandatory cycle lanes made after the update you're allowed to park in - unless there's a double yellow line. To look at them there's no difference though." So you can legally park in a cycle lane built after the 2016 update, but not if it was built before 2016; however there is no way of knowing really, which is indeed bizarre. Cycling UK Policy Director Roger Geffen also said this: "It's an absolute mess, as we've now two different types of mandatory cycle lanes that look identical but legally are very different. Cycling UK is keen to re-engage with the DfT to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency."

Not really clear which SI is referred to

I got as far as https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

11.1.3. Cycle lanes may be mandatory, where other vehicles are excluded for at least part of
the day, or advisory, where other vehicles may enter if necessary and when it is safe to do so.
 

11.5.1. As with mandatory with‑flow lanes, a mandatory contraflow cycle lane is bounded by a
continuous white line to diagram 1049B and all other traffic is prohibited from entering that part
of the carriageway.
 

So I'm none the wiser as to what Cycling UK refer to.

 

Avatar
Philh68 | 5 years ago
7 likes

Allowing parking in a traffic lane, what bright spark thought that was a good idea? Maybe they can stick a few bike racks in the middle of the high street just to share the inconvenience around. It’s only fair.

Avatar
Jetmans Dad | 5 years ago
3 likes

Calling any mainstream politician in the UK "ultra right wing" is akin to Trump & Co describing the Democrats as "Socialists". Just shows a lack of understanding of what the terms actually mean. 

Avatar
portec replied to Jetmans Dad | 5 years ago
2 likes
Jetmans Dad wrote:

Calling any mainstream politician in the UK "ultra right wing" is akin to Trump & Co describing the Democrats as "Socialists". Just shows a lack of understanding of what the terms actually mean. 

To be fair, the people Trump and his supporters call socialists also call themselves socialists. If you'd said communists instead, which I've heard some people call Bernie Sanders et al, that might have been a better analogy and I'd agree with your point entirely.

Avatar
scouser_andy | 5 years ago
4 likes

We are all accountable under the law. If anything, cyclists are disproportionately accountable compared to the potential for harm compared to our friends in motor vehicles.

 

But when it comes to vehicles and the potential for harm, unfortunately many members of the public have a [metaphorical] blind spot.

Avatar
Natrix | 5 years ago
0 likes

Mind you a lot of the cycle paths in France were originally built by the Nazis in WW2 so that their motorbikes could get around easily............

Avatar
burtthebike replied to Natrix | 5 years ago
12 likes

Natrix wrote:

Mind you a lot of the cycle paths in France were originally built by the Nazis in WW2 so that their motorbikes could get around easily............

So all we have to do is convince the Brexit party, sorry, the tories, that it is the natural ultra-right wing thing to do?  We'd have the best cycle provision in the world next year.

Avatar
Rick_Rude replied to burtthebike | 5 years ago
9 likes

burtthebike wrote:

Natrix wrote:

Mind you a lot of the cycle paths in France were originally built by the Nazis in WW2 so that their motorbikes could get around easily............

So all we have to do is convince the Brexit party, sorry, the tories, that it is the natural ultra-right wing thing to do?  We'd have the best cycle provision in the world next year.

Well I've got to give you points for trying. Somehow you can shoehorn Brexit into any conversation. Whatever the Tories are, they are not 'ultra-right  wing', in fact no party post war has adopted an ultra right wing stance. UK politics only works being left or right of centre. You're living in Robert Lindsay world, Wolfie.  

Avatar
burtthebike replied to Rick_Rude | 5 years ago
9 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Natrix wrote:

Mind you a lot of the cycle paths in France were originally built by the Nazis in WW2 so that their motorbikes could get around easily............

So all we have to do is convince the Brexit party, sorry, the tories, that it is the natural ultra-right wing thing to do?  We'd have the best cycle provision in the world next year.

Well I've got to give you points for trying. Somehow you can shoehorn Brexit into any conversation. Whatever the Tories are, they are not 'ultra-right  wing', in fact no party post war has adopted an ultra right wing stance. UK politics only works being left or right of centre. You're living in Robert Lindsay world, Wolfie.  

Thanks, how many points and where may I redeem them?  For those of us possibly rather longer in the tooth than you,  this government is, compared to its predecessors, ultra right wing.  Privatising the NHS, prisons, banning on shore wind farms, removing support for solar energy, hostile environment immigration, etc, etc.  We now have a government run by a congenital liar and cheat advised by a neo-fascist.

Avatar
brooksby replied to Rick_Rude | 5 years ago
7 likes

Rick_Rude wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

Natrix wrote:

Mind you a lot of the cycle paths in France were originally built by the Nazis in WW2 so that their motorbikes could get around easily............

So all we have to do is convince the Brexit party, sorry, the tories, that it is the natural ultra-right wing thing to do?  We'd have the best cycle provision in the world next year.

Well I've got to give you points for trying. Somehow you can shoehorn Brexit into any conversation. Whatever the Tories are, they are not 'ultra-right  wing', in fact no party post war has adopted an ultra right wing stance. UK politics only works being left or right of centre. You're living in Robert Lindsay world, Wolfie.  

Left or right of centre, true, but have you noticed how far to the right that centre has moved in the last couple of decades?

Avatar
Sriracha | 5 years ago
11 likes

It's pretty simple really. Design cycle lanes so that they can not be parked in, like this one in France.

As you can see from the overpainted road markings, previously this used to be your typical, narrow, "painted line" cycle path. They actually took out one motor-traffic lane to enable the cycle lane to be widened to something sensible, and installed a ferocious kerb to keep cars out. So it just shows what can be done, where there is a will.

Avatar
brooksby replied to Sriracha | 5 years ago
5 likes

Sriracha wrote:

...They actually took out one motor-traffic lane to enable the cycle lane to be widened to something sensible, ...

In the UK?  Take a lane away from our motorised overlords?  Are you quite mad??

Seriously, we practically have rioting when a council decides they'll paint a new white line, so actually confiscating road space for Bl00dy Cyclists (TM)...  Grrr...

Avatar
Htc replied to Sriracha | 5 years ago
1 like

Sriracha wrote:

It's pretty simple really. Design cycle lanes so that they can not be parked in, like this one in France. As you can see from the overpainted road markings, previously this used to be your typical, narrow, "painted line" cycle path. They actually took out one motor-traffic lane to enable the cycle lane to be widened to something sensible, and installed a ferocious kerb to keep cars out. So it just shows what can be done, where there is a will.

 

Please no! Stop building stupid segregated infrastructure. Spend the money on creating 24/7 bus lanes instead, safer and far more efficient for all road users getting from A - B.

 

Avatar
burtthebike | 5 years ago
4 likes

So the government changed the rules without even bothering to tell the people affected?  While all the time saying that they supported cycling, were fully behind it, and were doing everything possible to promote it.  Just when you think this government couldn't get any more two-faced and incompetent, they only too easily prove you wrong.

I can't find a link to the new rules, but there are a few reports from last year about new rules being brought in https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-6417983/Motorists-face-... so perhaps this review did exactly the opposite of what the government said it was going to do?

Avatar
brooksby | 5 years ago
4 likes

Quote:

new rules were quietly brought in recently that allows parking in cycle lanes marked with solid white lines.

Can we have a link for this?  I've seen nothing in the news (which I suppose is the definition of "didn't bother actually telling anyone about it...").

Avatar
Awavey replied to brooksby | 5 years ago
6 likes
brooksby wrote:

Quote:

new rules were quietly brought in recently that allows parking in cycle lanes marked with solid white lines.

Can we have a link for this?  I've seen nothing in the news (which I suppose is the definition of "didn't bother actually telling anyone about it...").

Though frankly when did that rule ever prevent anyone parking in the cycle lane anyway, anyone ever had experience or seen it been properly enforced?

Avatar
Tom_77 replied to brooksby | 5 years ago
4 likes

brooksby wrote:

Quote:

new rules were quietly brought in recently that allows parking in cycle lanes marked with solid white lines.

Can we have a link for this?  I've seen nothing in the news (which I suppose is the definition of "didn't bother actually telling anyone about it...").

 

The Highway Code still says:

Quote:

Rule 140

Cycle lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply.

Last updated 20 August 2019.

I had a look through the Statutory Instruments for the DoT, couldn't see anything in there.

Seems strange that the law could be changed and be so hush-hush. Although I suppose there's a lot going on at the moment.

 

 

Avatar
Jack Sexty replied to Tom_77 | 5 years ago
1 like
Tom_77 wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Quote:

new rules were quietly brought in recently that allows parking in cycle lanes marked with solid white lines.

Can we have a link for this?  I've seen nothing in the news (which I suppose is the definition of "didn't bother actually telling anyone about it...").

 

The Highway Code still says:

Quote:

Rule 140

Cycle lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply.

Last updated 20 August 2019.

I had a look through the Statutory Instruments for the DoT, couldn't see anything in there.

Seems strange that the law could be changed and be so hush-hush. Although I suppose there's a lot going on at the moment.

 

 

I've asked Cycling UK for clarification on this, it does appear the Highway Code online still says no parking on cycle lanes with solid white lines.

Avatar
brooksby | 5 years ago
6 likes

Quote:

Jordan said of the latter: "But they are liable".  

But if they were, there wouldn't be such a national problem with uninsured drivers, hit-and-run incidents, etc, etc... surpriseno

Avatar
brooksby | 5 years ago
15 likes

Quote:

Something has to be done to make cyclists accountable!!!
No insurance, no registration, they go through red lights, scratch cars all the time and are very aggressive in their behaviour.

I have insurance, thanks, and I have never run a red light or scratched a car.  Who are you, again?

 

Latest Comments