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BMX bike tops list of retro “toys”; Poll: Strava app ditches Bluetooth and ANT+ support – but are you bothered? Sunweb U23 rider Edo Maas left paralysed after Piccolo Lombardia crash; Police seek thug who pushed cyclist into hedge + more on the live blog

All today's news from the site and beyond.....
17 October 2019, 16:15
The BMX is the number one sought-after 'toy' in the current demand for all things retro
Nostalgia stats 1-10-17 at 17.16.43

As Raleigh relaunch their 80's classic BMX the Super Tough burner, they've also fed us some interesting stats about the current 'economic revival' for all things retro. BMX bikes make it to seventh on the list of the best 'nostalgic comebacks' according to web searches...

Nostalgia stats 2

...while it's the number one most popular 'toy'. BMXers might argue that it most certainly isn't a toy, but in any case Raleigh are anticipating plenty of festive demand for the latest version of the Burner. You can order it for £600 from the 23rd October at 12pm here on Raleigh's website, and take a look at the handsome thing below. 

raleigh burner 2019

 

 

 

 

17 October 2019, 14:05
Sunweb U23 rider Edo Maas “unlikely” to walk again after Piccolo Lombardia crash

Edo Maas, a member of Team Sunweb’s under-23 development team, is “unlikely” ever to be able to walk again after he crashed into a car that had entered the course of the Piccolo Lombardia race earlier this month.

Following the crash, which happened on the descent of the of the Madonna del Ghisallo, the 19-year-old Dutch rider was transferred to hospital in Milan. His family asked Team Sunweb to provide the following update:

Edo is now fully conscious and has been awake for a couple of days, and responds well to family and visiting team mates. The fractures to his back and the injuries on his face required multiple intensive surgeries over the last week, all of which were successful.

Edo is currently processing the diagnosis that the fracture in his back has led to paraplegia, a loss of nerve feeling in his legs. At this moment it remains unlikely that functionality in his legs will ever return, but fighting power and hope prevails.

At this stage no further information on Edo’s condition is available. We ask to respect Edo and the family’s privacy, as they process this difficult news. Another update will be provided when necessary.

17 October 2019, 14:15
Tour de France 2020 in figures

You can read full details on the route in our article here

17 October 2019, 14:14
Yet another one for the "Why don't you use the cycle lane?' file
17 October 2019, 12:56
London Cycling Campaign present petition to urge Mayor to take action on dangerous junctions
Space for Cycling flyer from London Cycling Campaign

The LCC got the 3,000 signatures needed to ask Sadiq Khan questions relating to the petition. They say: "It’s been one year since LCC organised our demonstration at the deadly Holborn Gyratory to call out the lack of progress on improving London’s most dangerous junctions. It was followed by a petition signed by nearly 3,000 LCC members urging Mayor Sadiq Khan to speed up improvements, while Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM formally questioned the Mayor about progress off the back of our campaign. 

"Now, one year on, progress is still lacking. There have been some positive developments – Camden Council won Liveable Neighbourhood funding to fix the Holborn Gyratory, while Greenwich Council have brought forward work on the extension to Cycleway 4 from Greenwich to Woolwich, which encompasses the notoriously dangerous Angerstein Roundabout.

"But many other junctions have seen little or no genuine improvements, with inadequate schemes being brought forward simply for the sake of checking boxes – many of the junctions in the Safer Junctions list as having been improved have since seen serious and fatal injuries, in the last year we have data for!

"If the Mayor is serious about achieving his goal of “Vision Zero” and preventing more people from being killed and seriously injured on London’s roads, he needs to do a lot better, and a lot quicker. It’s Vision Zero, after all, not “Vision A Bit Better”!"

17 October 2019, 12:06
A bike reportedly worth ten grand has been stolen from Esher train station
esher station theft suspect

The British Transport Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to about the theft of a bike at Esher Railway Station that is reportedly worth £10,000. The incident happened around 10am on Monday 23rd September, and anyone with info can call BTP on 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 152 of 24/09/19.

Aside from the fact that it probably isn't advisable to leave a five-figure steed at a train station, we hope bike and owner are reunited somehow. 

17 October 2019, 11:51
Strava remove Bluetooth and ANT+ support: bovvered?
 

We reported this morning that the fitness app giants will no longer let you share activities via Bluetooth and ANT+ recorded directly on their app; although as most of us who use it will probably have bike-specific GPS computers that will do the sharing anyway, do you actually care? Answer our poll and let us know... 

17 October 2019, 11:37
Even Green Party members and environmentalists are condemning the actions of Extinction Rebellion this morning

The decision to disrupt Canning Town - seen as a station used mostly by working class citizens to commute - has received widespread condemnation, even from supporters of Extinction Rebellion. The Mayor of London, plus many who considered themselves supporters of the movement have said this morning's events could divert the message and alienate the public. 

17 October 2019, 11:29
New Brompton colours unveiled
Brompton MY20 (16)

Britain's favourite folder will now be available in Bolt Blue Lacquer, House Red, Signal Orange and the Graphite Metallic premium finish. Prices start from £1,015 for the House Red Brompton M2L 2 speed, head over to Brompton's website to see all the new 2020 colourways and spec options. 

17 October 2019, 08:22
South Staffs Police seek thug who pushed cyclist into a hedge

The assault happened on Tuesday 8th October in Wolverhampton, and Police are appealing for anyone who may know the man responsible for pushing a cyclist into a hedge. 

News of this latest incident comes just two days after a Birmingham cyclist contacted road.cc to warn others, after he was pushed off his bike by a car passenger in Edgbaston on Monday. He said other cyclists should be attentive if they became aware of motorists pulling alongside them at the same speed, urging them to “just stop if that happens.”

17 October 2019, 08:10
Extinction Rebellion protesters blocking tube lines and trains *STRONG LANGUAGE*

Many have condemned the actions of the protesters this morning, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, with the shocking scenes above filmed on a would-be packed commuter tube at Canning Town underground station. Extinction Rebellion have received praise for their cycle protests and blocking normally congested roads to motor traffic - but is stopping commuters getting to work on public transport justified? 

The video contains very strong language as noted by one of our followers on social media (apologies for not mentioning it in the first place) - if this offends you, don't click on it.

17 October 2019, 08:06
Troy Deeney getting back to fitness on a Wattbike

The Watford striker has joined his cycling-mad teammate Ben Foster in seeing the benefits of cycling to stay in tip top condition. His team will want him back sooner rather than later, as they're currently rock bottom of the Premier League... 

17 October 2019, 07:59
Taylor Phinney to retire from cycling - in a way only Taylor Phinney could
Taylor Phinney after stage two of the 2017 Tour de France (via YouTube).jpg

EF First have announced that the flamboyant American will end his pro cycling career at the age of 29 this year, and Phinney had some interesting reasons for stepping away from the sport: "I’m stepping away so that I can be more true to myself, which means to make art, to make music, to create and cultivate. I’ve kind of had one foot in the sports pool and then one foot in the art pool, and art just won at some point. "

Although he says there will definitely be no more pro racing, he may or may not take part in some enduro racing on an informal basis, saying: "I just want to shred, you know?"

Needless to say, Phinney will be missed. 

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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44 comments

Avatar
squidgy | 4 years ago
8 likes

I'd like to be the 1st here to wish Edo Maas a full and speedy recovery. What a terrible tragedy for him, his family and friends and team to endure. Lets hope the initial diagnosis is unduly pessimistic and he can recover. That really would be a come back worth celebrating.

Avatar
poppa | 4 years ago
3 likes

peted76 [1582 posts] 1 hour ago0 likes
I could care less about the individuals on top of those trains.

Does this mean you do care about them or you don't?

Avatar
peted76 | 4 years ago
0 likes

I could care less about the individuals on top of those trains. They willingly made the decision to risk to their safety when they decided to jump on top of a train at rush hour. They could have tripped, slipped and fallen off or someone could have thrown something worse than a cup of ice at them. I certainly wouldn't wish a beating on anyone but it was either a 'highly stupid plan' or simply 'a distinct naivety' from those protesters to do what they did, where they did it.  I mean why pick on an underground station to start with and why that station of all stations, surely canary wharf if they wanted to upset the capitalists.. 

And while I agree that a couple of bad apples in a cart shouldn't spoil it for everyone.. and sympathise to those like @kt26, however those protesters protested in the name of ER, with a ER banner and their own ER cameraman and everything, ergo, why would anyone NOT consider them to be representing ER? and how difficult will it be for people outside of the movement, NOT to consider that the movement as a whole did endorse the action this morning?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQsbgoJU_Vk 

 

Avatar
kt26 replied to peted76 | 4 years ago
0 likes
peted76 wrote:

I could care less about the individuals on top of those trains. They willingly made the decision to risk to their safety when they decided to jump on top of a train at rush hour. They could have tripped, slipped and fallen off or someone could have thrown something worse than a cup of ice at them. I certainly wouldn't wish a beating on anyone but it was either a 'highly stupid plan' or simply 'a distinct naivety' from those protesters to do what they did, where they did it.  I mean why pick on an underground station to start with and why that station of all stations, surely canary wharf if they wanted to upset the capitalists.. 

And while I agree that a couple of bad apples in a cart shouldn't spoil it for everyone.. and sympathise to those like @kt26, however those protesters protested in the name of ER, with a ER banner and their own ER cameraman and everything, ergo, why would anyone NOT consider them to be representing ER? and how difficult will it be for people outside of the movement, NOT to consider that the movement as a whole did endorse the action this morning?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQsbgoJU_Vk 

 

I'm not sure I follow, are you saying just because people look like they represent a group it is ok to judge the whole group?

And please don't misunderstand I'm not here to have a go at anyone just offer the opinion of someone who is a cyclist and is deeply horrified at some of the bile spouted about "us" as a collective - and you see the result people being pushed of their bikes for being "cyclists".

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peted76 replied to kt26 | 4 years ago
0 likes
kt26 wrote:
peted76 wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQsbgoJU_Vk 

I'm not sure I follow, are you saying just because people look like they represent a group it is ok to judge the whole group? And please don't misunderstand I'm not here to have a go at anyone just offer the opinion of someone who is a cyclist and is deeply horrified at some of the bile spouted about "us" as a collective - and you see the result people being pushed of their bikes for being "cyclists".

What I meant was that it'll be very difficult for ER as a movement to distance themselves from those particular protesters yesterday in the public eyes.

No one should be stereotyped, but saying that, doesn't stop people from being stereotyped. 

The bad publicity those ER protesters gathered yesterday took the movement back a couple of steps.

You can't reasonably think that Mrs.Anne.Other from down the road with 2 kids is going to look at that tube incident on the news and think 'oh that's silly, however there's always a few bad apples, I'm sure the other 998 protesters aren't happy the way that ones gone. 

Whether it's right or not, Mrs.Anne.Other will exactly judge the 'whole movement' based on the overall media coverage and she'll lean towards the 'latest' media.  Whether that's okay to you or not.

I'd be happier if the peaceful sensible ER people just turned around and said 'We'd like to apologise to the commuters on the tube yesterday, you know how things go protesting, people get a little excited and there's a thousand ideas flying around, we didn't endorse that, we're dealing with those protestors directly and hope to be back to our normal more thought out protests at some point soon. 

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kt26 replied to peted76 | 4 years ago
0 likes
peted76 wrote:
kt26 wrote:
peted76 wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQsbgoJU_Vk 

I'm not sure I follow, are you saying just because people look like they represent a group it is ok to judge the whole group? And please don't misunderstand I'm not here to have a go at anyone just offer the opinion of someone who is a cyclist and is deeply horrified at some of the bile spouted about "us" as a collective - and you see the result people being pushed of their bikes for being "cyclists".

What I meant was that it'll be very difficult for ER as a movement to distance themselves from those particular protesters yesterday in the public eyes.

No one should be stereotyped, but saying that, doesn't stop people from being stereotyped. 

The bad publicity those ER protesters gathered yesterday took the movement back a couple of steps.

You can't reasonably think that Mrs.Anne.Other from down the road with 2 kids is going to look at that tube incident on the news and think 'oh that's silly, however there's always a few bad apples, I'm sure the other 998 protesters aren't happy the way that ones gone. 

Whether it's right or not, Mrs.Anne.Other will exactly judge the 'whole movement' based on the overall media coverage and she'll lean towards the 'latest' media.  Whether that's okay to you or not.

I'd be happier if the peaceful sensible ER people just turned around and said 'We'd like to apologise to the commuters on the tube yesterday, you know how things go protesting, people get a little excited and there's a thousand ideas flying around, we didn't endorse that, we're dealing with those protestors directly and hope to be back to our normal more thought out protests at some point soon. 

Ah, maybe I wasn't clear enough, I fully get this is what will happen. I expect this to happen, I expected this to happen where I heard there were people thinking of doing such action. And I'm not saying its necessarily unreasonable if it is present the way it was. I was just drawing the comparison as some went straight for the - XR shows their true colours routine - which is a slippery slope given how the same is applied to cyclist.

This is compounded by the half reporting of the story, XR did come out and apologise for the what happened, but instead of new stories, the old stories were updated. Co-founder Rupert Read came out calling the action "catastropically stupid" in light of the challenge to the Section 14 challenge also apologising to commuters and commenting on the fact that it was no-violent - also missing for context when the protester kicked-out at the commuter trying to pull him off the train is that commuters had already starting using violence against the "camerman". So I guess I just want to offer some additional context to the story which is very open to misrepresenting the facts at hand.

For example not reported here yesterday was the cycling angle, in that a mass bike ride took part that was organised by XR.

Avatar
Rick_Rude | 4 years ago
4 likes

Why is ER even being covered by Road.cc  at this point? 

Avatar
kt26 | 4 years ago
6 likes

Hi, been a silent observer for some time, but felt compelled to comment on a couple of points raised over the XR tube action (and no I don't support it) here:

1. Having be in contact with XR activists and a strong supporter of their overall goals, I can say most of them also didn't agree with the action - over 70% where strongly against it and voted as such and are very disappointed it happened as it will move the converstation away from where it should be.

2. Given the discussion yesterday over the 95% of cyclists running red lights I find it a bit odd that some on here are trying to paint the whole movement with the same brush, given the extreme action of a few.

3. In that vain, I found it funny seeing this on road.cc today given it isn't particularly related to cycling, while you have comment on XR in the past it has mainly be to do with how the action has affected cycling - but then have jumped on a sensationalising issue unrelated to cycling while ignoring some of the more important actions like XR activists trying to protect woodland in Surrey which is being demolished for HS2 despite the the uncertainty.

 

Also on the consumerism thing, seem to think we are missing the role advertising plays in driving demand - companies spend vast amount on psychologically stimulating ads to make people want things they would otherwise have no desire for. If you are immune you are in the minority and the better for it, but alot of money is invested in research to drive consumption - just something to consider

Avatar
Jetmans Dad replied to kt26 | 4 years ago
1 like
kt26 wrote:

2. Given the discussion yesterday over the 95% of cyclists running red lights I find it a bit odd that some on here are trying to paint the whole movement with the same brush, given the extreme action of a few.

Don't disagree with the sentiment you express here, but the issue is that these disparate groups use the umbrella of XR to get their message heard, and it works. So one of those groups protesting in this kind of way that even the bulk of other XR groups don't want will reflect badly on the whole umbrella as it has their name on it, and people are always likely to simply lump all of XR together when this sort of thing happens.

Cyclists, on the other hand, appear to have the umbrella group of "Cyclists", and how they should behave, imposed on them by others, and are much more concerned with simply being allowed to carry on with their daily lives without being hassled, abused or KSId as they do so. 

Avatar
kt26 replied to Jetmans Dad | 4 years ago
3 likes
Jetmans Dad wrote:
kt26 wrote:

2. Given the discussion yesterday over the 95% of cyclists running red lights I find it a bit odd that some on here are trying to paint the whole movement with the same brush, given the extreme action of a few.

Don't disagree with the sentiment you express here, but the issue is that these disparate groups use the umbrella of XR to get their message heard, and it works. So one of those groups protesting in this kind of way that even the bulk of other XR groups don't want will reflect badly on the whole umbrella as it has their name on it, and people are always likely to simply lump all of XR together when this sort of thing happens.

Cyclists, on the other hand, appear to have the umbrella group of "Cyclists", and how they should behave, imposed on them by others, and are much more concerned with simply being allowed to carry on with their daily lives without being hassled, abused or KSId as they do so. 

 

Absolutely agree a lot of damage has been done, it was alway going to be this way and part of the problem with how XR is run, it allows anyone to use the name as long as the action is non-violent, a great way to help spread the message, but it has an ungly flipside - a couple to radical members can destroy the good work of the entire group with a bit of help from the media.

I just see a lot of similarities with what is happening with cyclist, we are cleaner as a means of transport, healthier as a way of living but bad actions of a few is jumped on by the media because our existence is seen as a nuisance to the status quo and vested interests - and then you get things like channel 5's hate propaganda or yesterday radio rubbish, inciting hate in the masses leading to unhinged individuals thinking it is funny to push people off of bicycles.

Avatar
CyclingInBeastMode replied to kt26 | 4 years ago
3 likes
kt26 wrote:

Hi, been a silent observer for some time, but felt compelled to comment on a couple of points raised over the XR tube action (and no I don't support it) here:

1. Having be in contact with XR activists and a strong supporter of their overall goals, I can say most of them also didn't agree with the action - over 70% where strongly against it and voted as such and are very disappointed it happened as it will move the converstation away from where it should be.

2. Given the discussion yesterday over the 95% of cyclists running red lights I find it a bit odd that some on here are trying to paint the whole movement with the same brush, given the extreme action of a few.

3. In that vain, I found it funny seeing this on road.cc today given it isn't particularly related to cycling, while you have comment on XR in the past it has mainly be to do with how the action has affected cycling - but then have jumped on a sensationalising issue unrelated to cycling while ignoring some of the more important actions like XR activists trying to protect woodland in Surrey which is being demolished for HS2 despite the the uncertainty.

 

Also on the consumerism thing, seem to think we are missing the role advertising plays in driving demand - companies spend vast amount on psychologically stimulating ads to make people want things they would otherwise have no desire for. If you are immune you are in the minority and the better for it, but alot of money is invested in research to drive consumption - just something to consider

well said, the bicycle industry is massive in terms of pushing needless consumerism, we are a point now were the onset of disc braked bikes has meant an absolute plethora of rim braked bikes/wheels on the market.

The number of bikes that only need a short amount of fettling that go to the dump is frightening, I've fished loads including paying for some from the tip so that they could be put back into service. Whilst the problems are worse for other modes of transport, the lure of more shiny things including clothing which means masses of gear being disposed to landfill and premature replacement before parts are fully worn is and always has been a problem in the industry but is rarely if ever spoken about. 

Metals such as dead chains, worn/broken cables (including the metal inside outer cables) and so on that are binned for landfill instead of put in the proper scrap bin at the tip. I even cut open old brake blocks that have a metal centre and the bits of rubber all go into the rubber/tyre container I reckon I must have saved about 200 bikes from being scrapped over three decades but there must be tens if not hundreds of thousands of bikes rotting/being skipped and new replacements, many of them cheap tat that will end up doing same (few rides than sat in shed for years before being skipped)

We also have the problem of carbon fibre that seemingly nobody has a clue how to recycle/dispose of properly.

We can do so much more IMO, stopping the production and sale of cheap and nasty bikes that don't last 5 minutes would be a start but making sure we dispose of waste cycle components correctly to be recycled is another that everyone can do.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
5 likes

I find it bewildering that people are condemning XR while largely ignoring numerous thugs who violently assaulted an individual after making a peaceful protest.

Some commuters were in such a rush to get to work that they had time for a fight when they should have been embarking?!

Avatar
gazzaputt replied to ChrisB200SX | 4 years ago
0 likes
ChrisB200SX wrote:

I find it bewildering that people are condemning XR while largely ignoring numerous thugs who violently assaulted an individual after making a peaceful protest.

Some commuters were in such a rush to get to work that they had time for a fight when they should have been embarking?!

 

Err doesn't fella on the top of the tube try to kick the fella in the head and stamp on him?

Avatar
Htc replied to gazzaputt | 4 years ago
0 likes
gazzaputt wrote:
ChrisB200SX wrote:

I find it bewildering that people are condemning XR while largely ignoring numerous thugs who violently assaulted an individual after making a peaceful protest.

Some commuters were in such a rush to get to work that they had time for a fight when they should have been embarking?!

 

Err doesn't fella on the top of the tube try to kick the fella in the head and stamp on him?

Yep..

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to gazzaputt | 4 years ago
1 like
gazzaputt wrote:
ChrisB200SX wrote:

I find it bewildering that people are condemning XR while largely ignoring numerous thugs who violently assaulted an individual after making a peaceful protest.

Some commuters were in such a rush to get to work that they had time for a fight when they should have been embarking?!

 

Err doesn't fella on the top of the tube try to kick the fella in the head and stamp on him?

Nope. He tries to push away someone from an angry mob, already assaulting him with whatever they are throwing at him (do you remember milkshakes?), who is obviously trying to do him harm. I think if someone tried to grab your legs to drop you from quite a height you might defend yourself too, no?

Had the grabbing attempt been made by a police officer the story would be entirely different. No-one has the right to attack him just because of where he is.

I don't go attacking cyclists/drivers because they are in my way and slowing down my journey... but maybe you do?

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 4 years ago
4 likes

Guys, EXTINCTION REBELLION IS AN UMBRELLA ORGANISATION (if you can call it an organisation) for a bunch of disparate environmental groups. Many of the people within it didnt approve or want the tube disruption to happen for the same reasons given above.

It was what, 4 people out of 1000's that did this?

Unfortunately the damage has been done in the media and FB etc. Fuckwits.

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
0 likes

Nice Phil, you are of course from the continent of natural horror.  And awful driving.

Much less in nature to get you in mild, tepid blighty.  Drivers, hmmm.

What does surprise me is that you managed to give up most of your guns, and well done for it, yours does seem to be an extremely macho culture, with a bit of racism thrown in there, much like the US.  Where some seem to consider shooting massacres a price worth paying, for FREEDOM.

Avatar
Philh68 replied to ktache | 4 years ago
4 likes
ktache wrote:

Nice Phil, you are of course from the continent of natural horror.  And awful driving.

Much less in nature to get you in mild, tepid blighty.  Drivers, hmmm.

yes, I am. Awful driving is a national pastime, along with swearing and shortening all names to a single syllable and calling you mate then an effing c for riding a bike…

Though they must’ve put something in the water because today I had nothing but courtesy and safe passes from drivers. Even had to wave a few past me! Now that  I think about it, I was riding the Tern GSD with full panniers and wearing a fluorescent work shirt, they probably thought I was a postman not a cyclist… maybe I’m on to something.

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Philh68 | 4 years ago
4 likes

Those scum pushing riders off bikes should be forced to use the leaves of the Gympie Gympie tree as toilet paper…

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brooksby | 4 years ago
1 like
Quote:

He said other cyclists should be attentive if they became aware of motorists pulling alongside them at the same speed, urging them to “just stop if that happens.”

So can we now expect a spate of motorists shadowing cyclists all across Staffordshire, travelling at the same speed, just to make them stop riding?

Nope.  D-lock in an easily accessible location, I think (rather than jammed down a pannier or buckled away in a saddle bag).

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dobbo996 replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
2 likes
brooksby wrote:

Nope.  D-lock in an easily accessible location, I think (rather than jammed down a pannier or buckled away in a saddle bag).

I understand why you would want to do this but you hurling a D-lock at someone will only result in YOU getting your collar felt by plod.

Avatar
brooksby replied to dobbo996 | 4 years ago
1 like
dobbo996 wrote:
brooksby wrote:

Nope.  D-lock in an easily accessible location, I think (rather than jammed down a pannier or buckled away in a saddle bag).

I understand why you would want to do this but you hurling a D-lock at someone will only result in YOU getting your collar felt by plod.

I know 

Just makes me angry that some thug is doing this, and the response from the police is "Well watch out and if someone pulls alongside you, pull over, stop, and watch them laughing at you"...

(Anyway, my d-lock was quite expensive so I woudn't chuck it ).

Avatar
peted76 | 4 years ago
7 likes

ER have done themselves no favours this morning disrupting the tube. Normal people going about their working life, NOT using planes or cars is not the place to target. I was applauding them shutting down the roads and planes at city airport the other day, this however is just trolling for the sake of it. 

 

Avatar
visionset | 4 years ago
5 likes

It is about raising awareness and disrupting life as normal, since that is exactly what is and has been coming our way due to climate change.  Admittedly it is better to do this at an airport, but all capitalism disruption is good in my book. 

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Rick_Rude replied to visionset | 4 years ago
3 likes
visionset wrote:

It is about raising awareness and disrupting life as normal, since that is exactly what is and has been coming our way due to climate change.  Admittedly it is better to do this at an airport, but all capitalism disruption is good in my book. 

Yeah because what has capitalism ever done for us!

The money trail for extinction rebellion is also starting to be followed now. It's not leading to any great philanthropists. It's still all about you buying stuff and possibly paying more tax for it because 'green' you know.

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lllnorrislll | 4 years ago
2 likes

Interestingly someone appears to be named in the facebook comments for the police.

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srchar | 4 years ago
13 likes
Quote:

is stopping commuters getting to work on public transport justified?

Of course not - while the average car journey within London is responsible for the release of 138g CO2/passenger/mile (excluding emissions during the car's production), the average Tube journey results in the generation of just 48g CO2/passenger/mile, making the Tube one of the most carbon efficient forms of transport.

Not quite as good as a bicycle at 25g CO2/mile, but nowhere near as bad as a car.

Even if, like me, you're not of the opinion that billions of humans will die over the next several decades due to CO2 emissions, it's difficult to think of a form of transport with a smaller local environmental impact than the tube - half of it is underground and the trains are all electrified.

Avatar
Rich_cb replied to srchar | 4 years ago
5 likes
srchar wrote:

Of course not - while the average car journey within London is responsible for the release of 138g CO2/passenger/mile (excluding emissions during the car's production), the average Tube journey results in the generation of just 48g CO2/passenger/mile, making the Tube one of the most carbon efficient forms of transport.

Not quite as good as a bicycle at 25g CO2/mile, but nowhere near as bad as a car.

Even if, like me, you're not of the opinion that billions of humans will die over the next several decades due to CO2 emissions, it's difficult to think of a form of transport with a smaller local environmental impact than the tube - half of it is underground and the trains are all electrified.

I think the mask has truly slipped for Extinction Rebellion now.

They don't really care about the environment they just want to cause disruption.

I can't think of a form of mass transit that is less polluting than the tube.

With more modern trains and an increasingly low carbon electricity supply it will only get cleaner as well.

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hawkinspeter replied to Rich_cb | 4 years ago
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Rich_cb wrote:
srchar wrote:

Of course not - while the average car journey within London is responsible for the release of 138g CO2/passenger/mile (excluding emissions during the car's production), the average Tube journey results in the generation of just 48g CO2/passenger/mile, making the Tube one of the most carbon efficient forms of transport.

Not quite as good as a bicycle at 25g CO2/mile, but nowhere near as bad as a car.

Even if, like me, you're not of the opinion that billions of humans will die over the next several decades due to CO2 emissions, it's difficult to think of a form of transport with a smaller local environmental impact than the tube - half of it is underground and the trains are all electrified.

I think the mask has truly slipped for Extinction Rebellion now. They don't really care about the environment they just want to cause disruption. I can't think of a form of mass transit that is less polluting than the tube. With more modern trains and an increasingly low carbon electricity supply it will only get cleaner as well.

However, XR's protest is not really aimed at getting individuals to become "greener", it's about how government is ignoring/delaying the issues. One of their aims is to get government to actually speak the truth about climate issues (e.g. what is our government doing about toxic air in cities?).

Their aim is to cause disruption to get the government to act, so although disrupting the tube may be considered unfair in terms of penalising the commuters, it's also an effective way to hit businesses and get more publicity.

I think part of the issue with governments is that they are trying to "blame" consumers for the global climate issues whereas big business is far more to "blame" and yet their shenanigans are allowed to continue (e.g. fracking).

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srchar replied to hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
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hawkinspeter wrote:

Their aim is to cause disruption to get the government to act, so although disrupting the tube may be considered unfair in terms of penalising the commuters, it's also an effective way to hit businesses and get more publicity.

It's entirely the wrong type of publicity though. The government is elected by the people. It's a fallacy that you can change the government's attitude in isolation; you'll always need to bring a large number of voters along with you. Disrupting the train services on which people commute might well impact "business", but the targeting is indiscriminate.

I'd expect to get dragged off the top of a commuter train regardless of the subject of my protest, frankly.

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