Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Brailsford on Ineos Grand Tour leadership; A totally pants bike; Halfords bike sales up; Traffic warden tickets cyclist; Dutch in sensible take on cycling shocker; TfL uses AI to assess cycling demand + more on live blog

All today's news from the site and beyond...
16 January 2020, 19:55
Halfords lifts retail gloom with cycling sales lift
Halfords barrier logo 3x2 (copyright Simon MacMichael)

On a day when we reported that Cycle Surgery’s owners are closing down the chain, Halfords has lifted the bike retail industry’s gloom with news that its cycling sales are up 5.9 per cent in the 14 weeks to 3 January, including the crucial Christmas trading period.

That’s on a like-for-like basis – a measure used in the City to assess retailers’ performance since it strips out the impact of new or expanded stores opened during the period.

The company said that growth was “broadly based across the bike categories. Our work to optimise the cycling space in our retail stores together with a more innovative and differentiated range has created a better shopping experience for our customers during the peak holiday period. This in turn has delivered strong sales growth as well as better margins and reduced working capital levels.”

CEO Graham Stapleton said: "I am pleased with our overall performance in Q3, with total revenue growing nearly 5 per cent in the quarter. 

“Our results reflect the positive actions we have taken across the Group to deliver on our strategy, particularly Motoring Services, which grew strongly.

“Within Retail, Cycling performed particularly well, as customers responded to our innovative product ranges and differentiated proposition. 

“Approximately 85 per cent of our bike range is unique to Halfords, including our successful partnership with Disney and the development of an innovative range with Trunki, both of which helped to sell a record number of Kids bikes in the period.

“In addition, our ability to provide customers with a unique, free, build and storage offer was met with strong demand, as we built 86,000 bikes in the week before Christmas," he added.

16 January 2020, 19:43
The Dutch have it sorted but of course they do
16 January 2020, 19:16
Matching underpants optional

Spotted this morning on the Fulham Palace Road ...

Calvin Klein
16 January 2020, 17:39
Brailsford outlines Ineos' Grand Tour leadership roles

New signing Carapaz will head back to the Giro in an attempt to defend the Maglia Rosa that he won last year.

Bernal and Thomas will share co-leadership at the Tour in a similar plan to last year. Brailsford sounded cautious when speaking about Froome's recovery and while the 4-time winner of the world's biggest bike race will be keen to get back to challenge for a fifth title, there are some that doubt if he can get back to the same level.

16 January 2020, 17:23
Paris-Roubaix and chill
perfect_Val_2000x

Honest Valentines Day cards from Band of Climbers are back and they've made us giggle just as much as last year.

Want to express your love to your significant other? Want to remind them that you love cycling more?

Well, now you can. Head over to Band of Climbers for more

16 January 2020, 16:59
Explore commits to carbon-neutral travel
cycle-sri-lanka-explore

Adventure travel company Explore, who offer package cycling holidays, has announced that it will offset the carbon generated by trips booked through them.

The changes came into effect on January 1st 2020 with the aim of reducing the travel industry's current 8% contribution to the world's carbon footprint. 

Customers will see a small price increase when booking, but as Explore are keen to point out "an average trip with flights, this equates to less than £10 per person". That seems like a pretty small price to pay in our eyes.

For more, visit www.explore.co.uk

16 January 2020, 16:48
Will the super-talent conquer the cobbles?

Mathieu Van der Poel's team, Alpecin Fenix has just been granted spots at Strade Bianche and Milan SanRemo and their move to join the MPCC could be just the thing they need to get invited to Paris-Roubaix.

We wouldn't put it past Van der Poel winning them all. What's certain is that his presence is great for the races as he's always keen for an attack.

16 January 2020, 13:07
Well, that's enforceable...

There's so much going on here.

We just saw this over on the forum and it's a bike getting a parking ticket. 

It seems to be lent up against railings at a cafe and not obstructing a public right of way at all. But this traffic warden still issued a ticket, which won't be enforceable as there's no registration plate anyway.

Can anyone give us a reason why this happened? Answers in the comments below, please.

16 January 2020, 15:56
TfL trialling AI to collect data about cycling in the capital

London's Cycling and Walking Commissioner Will Norman praised the UK-first trial that will see artificial intelligence technology from Vivacity Labs implemented to understand more about how cyclists and pedestrians use London's road network. 

The Vivacity sensors gather data around the clock, which TfL say "provides a significantly more detailed picture of how London’s roads are being used by everyone 24/7." Video captured is processed and then discarded in a few seconds, so no personal data is ever stored.

TfL is in the process of introducing 43 more Vivacity sensors at 20 central London locations to gather data and further test to understand the full range of capabilities the technology has to offer.

16 January 2020, 13:03
Ear Miss of the Day
Screen Shot 2020-01-16 at 13.03.15

The offending employee has been sentenced to eight hours on the turbo wearing the road.cc dunce's cap - read the typo-free story here

16 January 2020, 12:42
Jeroboam Gravel Series goes global in 2020
jeroboam-gravel

With 7 races planned for 2020 in 6 different countries, the Jeroboam series continues to expand.

In 2017, the Jeroboam Bike Festival Franciacorta was held for the first time and in 2019, Jeroboam landed in three new countries. This year it will continue to expand, including events in Central America (Costa Rica) to open the calendar and one in Asia (Japan).

The full Jeroboam schedule:

Costa Rica - 13/15 March
Greece - 8/10 May
Japan - 6/7 June
Italy Dolomites - 19/21 June
Italy Franciacorta - 18/20 September
Spain - 2/4 October
Austria - 2/4 October

jeroboam-food-drink-extra

Across the series, the 300, 150 and 75 km routes (matching the Jeroboam, Magnum and Standard wine bottle sizes) will be joined by a short Demi Family Ride which sounds perfect to us as it includes 'tasting stops' where you can sample local foods and drinks.

If you're interested, head to jeroboam.bike for more info.

16 January 2020, 10:04
Cycle Surgery set to cease trading this year, according to anonymous insider
CycleSurgery logo

After the fiasco with the appearance of a Make Evans Great Again Instagram account levelling some damning accusations against Evans' senior management last week, today road.cc has been contacted again to say another major UK bike shop chain is set to close in 2020. 

A source who says they work for the chain claimed that employees were told yesterday of the closure plans. The London stores in Victoria and Waterloo have apparently already been closed; although some stores will continue to trade until May, and the online business should remain trading until June, according to our source. 

They continued: "It's quite sad news but the truth is that there is no willingness to keep the company up and the market did change a lot. Companies did not follow the trends properly I guess." 

We've now got a full story on this with further updates here

16 January 2020, 09:09
Wahoo launches gravel racing team
Wahoo gravel racing

Wahoo has launched its first gravel racing team, headed up by former World Tour pro Ian Boswell.

Boswell retired from road racing due to ongoing problems caused by a concussion and is one of the many former World Tour pros making the jump over to gravel racing.

He joins the likes of Ted King, Laurens Ten Dam and Peter Stetina who will be lining up at some of the world's biggest gravel races throughout the year.

Peter Stetina's Custom Trek Checkpoint Gravel Bike

16 January 2020, 08:24
Sitting comfortably, Chris? Wout is.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I forgot how uncomfortable the seat on my TT bike is #trainingcamp

A post shared by Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) on

I guess when you've been away from a certain bike for so long, it's bound to feel a little weird.

Then again, Wout's been having no such problems. Both had huge, career-threatening crashes on their TT bikes last year, so it's great to see them back in the TT bars.

16 January 2020, 08:18
Spot on, or a bit harsh?

What's your take on this one?

Cars that park in bike lanes in Frankfurt are being towed or even lifted out and taken away, probably to the naughty-step-for-cars.

16 January 2020, 08:13
Retiring pro re-joins is local team for his final season

Struggling to find a contract, Bagdonas has gone back to his local team for one last year before he hangs up his race wheels for good.

That's like me going back to Somer Valley CC. Apart from I'm not a multiple National Champion...or very good...

16 January 2020, 08:10
Van der Poel - the most frustrating rider to watch?

Watching this guy ride is great but it can also be incredibly frustrating.

If we tried half of this, we'd be on our backsides pretty quickly! We feel your pain, Rebecca.

Add new comment

43 comments

Avatar
Drinfinity | 4 years ago
0 likes

I thought the same till I tried to bleed a reverb dropper remote. It needed a hex key through which you could add fluid, only the actual tool would do it.

Avatar
jigr69 | 4 years ago
0 likes

Pubs which sell only alcohol as opposed to selling alcohol along with food, struggle to maintain in business. This is a trend that has been going on now for a number of years. It is no different for LBS to not only sell bikes or offer servicing, but my LBS has a nice cafe and toilets, which attracts cyclists stopping by either during or at the end of a bike ride. They have also embraced the local cycle club and offer discounts to members.

When it comes to buying items from them, if they come within a certain percentage of online prices, then they will get my money. Recently just purchased a wheelset at a cost of £400 and now looking to buy two Tacx Neo 2T smart trainers, to which I will still use them! (The savings on large items can be wiped out in a single hit if you ever need to return it.)

Avatar
Drinfinity | 4 years ago
0 likes

MVDP - such class.

Avatar
peted76 | 4 years ago
0 likes

My LBS is awesome, they price match Shimano stuff and if I ring them up and something isn't in stock they'll order it in which arrives usually within three days. They also give my cycling  club discount across the board, which allows me to buy consumables like those awesome Veloforte energy bars for less than I can get them online. They also totally understand that they can't always compete with online retailers. 

If I need my bike checking for something they'll look at it and more often than not just fix or adjust it there and then with no hassle and no cost. 

 

But wait, Halfords sold 86,000 kids bikes over Christmas!! That's a lot of bikes and a whole lot of loot! That's also a clear reason for LBS to advertise locally more to capture some of that market.

Avatar
LastBoyScout | 4 years ago
0 likes

Much as I try and use my local bike shops, I'm increasingly finding that they just don't stock the basics, so I'm forced to order online for them.

Examples would be where I've tried to get some bits for servicing brakes. I appreciate there are a myriad of brands and models and a shop can't possibly keep one of absolutely everything, but you'd think they would for the more common models from the bigger brands, at least - I had to drive miles to get an Avid bleed kit in a hurry.

And don't get me started on cycling shoes in shops where they rarely have more than a couple of sizes in each model, none of which are the one I want.

Avatar
visionset replied to LastBoyScout | 4 years ago
2 likes
LastBoyScout wrote:

I had to drive miles to get an Avid bleed kit in a hurry.

LOL at your user name. A kit for bleeding brakes? Surely you can mcguiver a way round that one! modern life 

Avatar
LastBoyScout replied to visionset | 4 years ago
1 like
visionset wrote:
LastBoyScout wrote:

I had to drive miles to get an Avid bleed kit in a hurry.

LOL at your user name. A kit for bleeding brakes? Surely you can mcguiver a way round that one! modern life 

Believe me, I tried - but I didn't have anything else that would fit the bleed valves.

And I needed the oil, anyway, which came as part of the kit.

At least I'll never have to buy it again - and my sister paid for it anyway, as was her bike  1

Avatar
HarrogateSpa | 4 years ago
5 likes

Ineos the company is determined to produce ever more oil, exacerbating the climate crisis, and ever more plastic, some of which will add to ocean pollution. It's wrong, and it's past time for change.

I'd like to see Road stop doing stories about Ineos the bike team. Otherwise, in effect you're facilitating the laundering of Ineos the company's reputation.

 

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
3 likes

Notts county council have gotten involved in the twitter thing, the original poster is calling prank and the enforcement officer seemingly has a proper sence of humour.  Nice.

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
14 likes

My wife and I had gone shopping and we briefly popped into Boots for some cosmetics (not for me). When we came out, we saw an inspector writing out a parking ticket.

My wife started pleading "We're really sorry, but we were only in there for, like, 2 minutes" (pointing at Boots.

The inspector didn't respond and carried on writing the ticket, so my wife started to get a bit angsty. "Come on, you dumbass, haven't you got something better to do?" she asked. The inspector responded to this by starting to write a second ticket (broken indicator cover or some such).

This went on for about 10 more minutes with my wife getting more and more abusive and the inspector writing more and more tickets.

Then our bus arrived, so we went home.

Avatar
grOg replied to hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
1 like
hawkinspeter wrote:

My wife and I had gone shopping and we briefly popped into Boots for some cosmetics (not for me). When we came out, we saw an inspector writing out a parking ticket.

My wife started pleading "We're really sorry, but we were only in there for, like, 2 minutes" (pointing at Boots.

The inspector didn't respond and carried on writing the ticket, so my wife started to get a bit angsty. "Come on, you dumbass, haven't you got something better to do?" she asked. The inspector responded to this by starting to write a second ticket (broken indicator cover or some such).

This went on for about 10 more minutes with my wife getting more and more abusive and the inspector writing more and more tickets.

Then our bus arrived, so we went home.

ho,ho..are you here all week?

a variation on the dog bite gag; does your dog bite? no..person then pats dog which bites him..I thought you said your dog doesn't bite? not my dog.

Avatar
LastBoyScout | 4 years ago
0 likes

I once got a parking ticket on a canoe trailer!

Admittedly, it was parked on what is "technically" a bit of pavement, but it was just a bit of filler in the corner of a car park and wasn't obstructing anyone.

The guy I was with phoned the council, as I think they'd put the minibus registration on it (seen it dropping it off, I think) - after a bit of explaining (Scout trip), it was cancelled.

Avatar
Municipal Waste | 4 years ago
0 likes

In Brighton the local *dreadful* news outlet today published a 'news' article about the number of empty retail units around the city. About 80% of the comments were saying the reason was due to the 'loony left' and their cycle paths or high parking charges putting off shoppers. It was very depressing.

Laziness is putting off shoppers, not the price of parking. Too lazy to get a bus or cycle into the city.

Online pricing is putting off shoppers, a good example from the cycle trade this week for example is GP5000 TL tyres in 25c are 4p cheaper on Wiggle than from Madison.

Then there's the problems faced by all retail but will be magnified for the likes of Evans and CC (because people using their expansive websites will have the expectation of being able to see every low-margin product under the sun in their stores) but those problems are rent, landlords whose buildings are falling down but apparently it's up to the retail business to pay for repairs*, and business rates being massively high.

There is also the problem where to get a good mechanic (which people demand) you have to pay decent money - but then compete on the same field price wise as a guy down the road doing a dreadful job. So bike mechanic wages haven't risen in years and consequently the good ones are leaving the trade in droves without training any replacements as would normally be what people from retiring from a trade do. And believe me I know this is the case because I just left the bike trade myself for that very reason -the most I could earn after 15 years experience and every piece of paperwork going was £22-23k a year, and I want to buy a house.

*Literally I once went to view a retail premises where the fascade and windows were conpletely ruined. The landlord was still trying to rent it out but insisting the renter would have to pay for it. Quotes for the work were in the region of £15-£20k!

Avatar
eburtthebike | 4 years ago
3 likes

Where's the crane truck?  This was in Lydney today, on the very recently installed cycle lanes, as featured in lots of angry gammon letters in the local press.  I wonder if I send this to the local rag they'll print it?

Avatar
grumpyoldcyclist replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
0 likes
eburtthebike wrote:

Where's the crane truck?  This was in Lydney today, on the very recently installed cycle lanes, as featured in lots of angry gammon letters in the local press.  I wonder if I send this to the local rag they'll print it?

Just do it, copy the council and the police in too........

Avatar
alchemilla | 4 years ago
6 likes

Re the bike getting a parking ticket, this is obviously unenforceable as there is no way of tracing the owner, and anyway, it looks like the bike is parked on a bit of land used by the cafe as there are tables and chairs around.  If tables and chairs are legally allowed to block the pavement here then there is no case for issuing a ticket for a bike, anymore than there would be for a pushchair or wheelchair.  Parking warden should be named and shamed.

Avatar
visionset | 4 years ago
2 likes

Retford for the parking violation, this might help

https://goo.gl/maps/irFDMEESV4z7fqec7

Ridiculous, these small towns with their crazy gestopo power crazed enforcers, be it front line or behind a desk

Avatar
Hirsute replied to visionset | 4 years ago
0 likes
visionset wrote:

Retford for the parking violation, this might help

https://goo.gl/maps/irFDMEESV4z7fqec7

Ridiculous, these small towns with their crazy gestopo power crazed enforcers, be it front line or behind a desk

I'm not sure what to glean from that. Most places I have been would clog up with no enforcement or deterrent.

Avatar
visionset replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
0 likes
hirsute wrote:
visionset wrote:

Ridiculous, these small towns with their crazy gestopo power crazed enforcers, be it front line or behind a desk

I'm not sure what to glean from that. Most places I have been would clog up with no enforcement or deterrent.

Yeah but not with bikes! Retford ain't Amsterdam any time soon.

Avatar
brooksby replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
0 likes
hirsute wrote:
visionset wrote:

Retford for the parking violation, this might help

https://goo.gl/maps/irFDMEESV4z7fqec7

Ridiculous, these small towns with their crazy gestopo power crazed enforcers, be it front line or behind a desk

I'm not sure what to glean from that. Most places I have been would clog up with no enforcement or deterrent.

Aberystwyth, a few years ago.  The police had told the council they weren't going to be enforcing parking any more and the council forgot.  They had (IIRC) a year or so with no enforcement for parking AT ALL.

(Apparently it was hilarious...).

Avatar
Freddy56 | 4 years ago
2 likes

not angry about cyclesurgery.

Wiggle and chainreaction have single handedly ruined the cycle trade by making a discounting cycle purchase cculture that everyone had to follow. cycle shops who relied on product sales will all die. the internet has made all products cheaper than RRP available somewhere. RRP is required for a bike shop to be viable.

 

Avatar
Hirsute replied to Freddy56 | 4 years ago
0 likes
Freddy56 wrote:

not angry about cyclesurgery.

Wiggle and chainreaction have single handedly ruined the cycle trade by making a discounting cycle purchase cculture that everyone had to follow. cycle shops who relied on product sales will all die. the internet has made all products cheaper than RRP available somewhere. RRP is required for a bike shop to be viable.

 

Partly lack of choice. Could not get a Mavic part from 2 places, "don't deal with them"
Couldn't get a basic tubeless repair kit from one in town.

Avatar
hopster replied to Freddy56 | 4 years ago
0 likes
Freddy56 wrote:

not angry about cyclesurgery.

Wiggle and chainreaction have single handedly ruined the cycle trade by making a discounting cycle purchase cculture that everyone had to follow. cycle shops who relied on product sales will all die. the internet has made all products cheaper than RRP available somewhere. RRP is required for a bike shop to be viable.

 

So its sad to see bikeshops close but if they don't evolve to provide a service that suits the customer then is it such a loss?  Its not always about the cost of a product that determines if you shop somewhere. 

The quality of the service you receive and whether they have products that suit their customers is just as important and it seems that shops that become hubs for their community are much more likely to survive.

If shops believe that just stocking products and selling them like a traditional bike shop from the the 80's is still relevant today then in my opinion they shouldn't exist.

Avatar
Simon E replied to hopster | 4 years ago
1 like
hopster wrote:

So its sad to see bikeshops close but if they don't evolve to provide a service that suits the customer then is it such a loss?  Its not always about the cost of a product that determines if you shop somewhere. 

The quality of the service you receive and whether they have products that suit their customers is just as important and it seems that shops that become hubs for their community are much more likely to survive.

If shops believe that just stocking products and selling them like a traditional bike shop from the the 80's is still relevant today then in my opinion they shouldn't exist.

Why does a cycle shop have to be a 'community hub'? They sell bikes and parts, they're not there to provide a counselling service or creche. Do small and independent shops, non-franchised garages and mechanics have to serve free freshly ground coffee served by a trained barista and provide a while-u-wait service to survive?

So let's say we all decide to do our regular food shopping online. You will understand completely if all local convenience stores are forced to close because they can't compete. The shops that stock those things you've forgotten to put on the order and are still open at 9.30pm when you've realised there's no bread for tomorrow's lunch or you've got to the end of the cling film or someone's used the last roll of toilet paper. The one with an ATM, a Post Office franchise and is the only place open on Sundays before 10am. It's OK for those shops to close because they charge more and the staff don't fall at your feet with gratitude each time you walk in to get half a dozen eggs or when you call by to pick up a bottle of wine or some tinnies to take to a friend's house.

What about the fact that CRC/wiggle can sell OEM or grey market items for less than the LBS can buy it? Is that the little shop's fault? And when you have a problem with removing that part you bought online it's the LBS you go to, the one with experienced mechanics, a workshop and proper tools.

What about the overheads of running a small business? Lots of shops in towns and cities close because council rates have shot up in recent years while out-of-town shopping centres have lower rents and rates, easy access (for drivers) and free parking and all the big stores and junk food outlets.

Spending at local businesses puts considerably more money into the local economy but no-one cares about that until it's too late. I'm not saying no-one should buy anything at chains or online; I do that too, perhaps more often than I'd like but I don't have a lot of money for bike kit and it's usually discounted end-of-line items or specific items of clothing that I know will fit properly.

Avatar
Drinfinity replied to Simon E | 4 years ago
0 likes
Simon E wrote:

Why does a cycle shop have to be a 'community hub'? They sell bikes and parts, they're not there to provide a counselling service or creche. Do small and independent shops, non-franchised garages and mechanics have to serve free freshly ground coffee served by a trained barista and provide a while-u-wait service to survive?

Yes. 
 

Otherwise what do they have over Wiggle? I can get any part I need delivered next day at the lowest cost online. Unlike a modern car, the owner can service pretty much everything themselves with simple tools, so the market for servicing is a smaller section of riders.

Give me a shop with some atmosphere and a nice brew, and I'll probably hang around and buy that nice jersey. However, if like the closest LBS you only open Mon-Fri 9-5, and 12:30 on Saturday and shut on Sunday, it's unlikely I'm going to be able to spend much cash there.

Avatar
Jetmans Dad replied to Drinfinity | 4 years ago
0 likes
Drinfinity wrote:

Otherwise what do they have over Wiggle? I can get any part I need delivered next day at the lowest cost online. Unlike a modern car, the owner can service pretty much everything themselves with simple tools, so the market for servicing is a smaller section of riders.

Give me a shop with some atmosphere and a nice brew, and I'll probably hang around and buy that nice jersey. However, if like the closest LBS you only open Mon-Fri 9-5, and 12:30 on Saturday and shut on Sunday, it's unlikely I'm going to be able to spend much cash there.

Exactly. The staff in my LBS are very good, servicing is quick, relatively cheap and much better than the job I could do myself. However, if I want a new cassette, it is both quicker and cheaper for me to buy them online as they tend to stock a very small number of items (they never have my preferred 8-speed 11-28 in stock for example).

As noted, I can get it next day from Wiggle or wait 3-4 days for them to have it delivered to them, and then I need to try and get to the store to collect it when I can't guarantee getting to them before they close at 5pm during the week. My Wiggle order is just delivered to my local 24hour petrol station for me to collect at my convenience. 

Without the "community hub" stuff, and providing services the online stores can't, LBSs are going to continue to struggle badly. 

Avatar
grOg replied to Freddy56 | 4 years ago
0 likes
Freddy56 wrote:

not angry about cyclesurgery.

Wiggle and chainreaction have single handedly ruined the cycle trade by making a discounting cycle purchase cculture that everyone had to follow. cycle shops who relied on product sales will all die. the internet has made all products cheaper than RRP available somewhere. RRP is required for a bike shop to be viable.

 

bike shops now have to have a business model that relies on servicing bikes to be profitable;selling bikes,parts and accessories at competitive prices doesn't have enough profit to be sustainable.

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 4 years ago
2 likes

For fucks sake not Cyclesurgery as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've always had good service from them, buying stuff as well as in the workshop...in multiple shops over the years. My local (to work) kings cross branch are a great bunch of guys. Really feel for them, such a shame.

 

FOR FUCKS SAKE IN CAPITALS JUST BECAUSE!!!!

 

 

Avatar
Bmblbzzz | 4 years ago
1 like

The other thing to note about parking is that a lot of places which are obstructive to park in at present would be okay if there were a lot less traffic. This doesn't apply to bike lanes, bus lanes, pavements or junctions, obviously, but would free up a lot of places where parking is prohibited in order to "maintain traffic flow" for the traffic we wouldn't have. Win win!

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
4 likes

If we want to get serious about badly parked vehicles then I have a solution:

Firstly, implement a rising fine scale, so the first time you're caught you get fined say £50. The 2nd time you're caught it goes up to £100, then £200, then £400 ..... maybe have a cap of £5000 and just tow and scrap/sell the vehicle once the owner reaches that cap.

Secondly, allow members of the public to submit videos of the badly parked vehicle from their phones with minimal fuss and provide a "finders fee" of maybe £10  for the first person to submit that instance of bad parking. If there's any evidence of people forging the videos, then maybe write a simple phone app that uses encryption to deter reverse-engineering of the protocol and thus provide an authenticated video stream.

NB. video is to be preferred as it's harder to photo-shop - especially if it involves walking around the vehicle to show several angles.

Pages

Latest Comments