Cop tasers Florida teen cyclist; Bikeability instructors could pay £100s for new training; Driver angry at teen cyclists tweets phone footage; Record fines for Grimsby town centre cycling; Dutch neighbourhood will ban cars + more on live blog
SUMMARY
Weekend catch-up
Unable to read road.cc because you were holed up in your storm bunker? Here’s what you missed…
Dutch National Headwind Championships abandoned … due to the wind (+ video)
Football manager fined for forcing cyclist off road
EF Education First Pro Cycling are selling off their old team bikes
Work finally starts on East Lothian bike path after 15-year access dispute
Motorbike rider jailed for killing cyclist in Oxfordshire
"This is not slow-motion"
De ploegen fietsen nu ook. Dit is geen slow motion beeld. 💪#nktegenwindfietsen pic.twitter.com/uv1LrKr6JX
— NK Tegenwindfietsen (@NKTegenwind) February 9, 2020
Footage from yesterday’s Dutch headwind championships, that was later abandoned because of… the wind! Full story here.
Florida teenager is arrested and put in a cell for 'resisting arrest', after rolling through a stop sign
Those who have ever thought themselves unlucky to actually get fined for running a red light while cycling (it’s best not to anyway) should be relieved they didn’t come across this particular sheriff in Seminole County, Florida, who cuffed a teenage cyclist and put him in a cell for allegedly trying to ‘resist arrest’ after rolling through a stop sign.
The author in the Facebook post above explains: “On this morning’s group ride, something unusual happened. My son and another teenage rider, Javier Lopez, were pulled over by a Seminole County Sheriff, and Javier Lopez was arrested for “resisting arrest”.
“The teens had been off the front of the group in a breakaway for approximately the last 20 mins and were holding a 25 sec gap. When they approached the left hand turn that would put them onto Florida Ave, my son stopped and Javier slowed and proceeded to roll through. They then proceeded to kick back up to speed as they were trying to maintain their breakaway gap. This is when the Sheriff, who was on the other side of the turn, took off in pursuit to pull them over. The rest of the group came to a stop then we all proceeded to continue chasing them. Approximately 25 sec later we came up on the teens on the side of the road, Javier already in handcuffs and my son asking why his friend was being arrested. The Sheriff said “why didn’t he stop? I told him to stop.” My son replied, “we did stop as soon as we realised that you were trying to pull us over.” T
“The sheriff insisted that he had yelled at them at the stop sign and that Javier was, in essence, “fleeing the sight of the traffic violation.” Although the group of cyclist tried to explain the situation, the sheriff said, “Today’s not the day for a road side jury.”
“They took Javier away, arrested him, and he is currently detained in a jail cell. His bail is set at $8500 and he will probably spend the night in jail unless his father, who is also a cyclist and was there on the ride, finds a bail bondsmen today.
“I understand enforcing the law, however, I do not understand the actions these sheriff’s carried out today. Why ruin the life of a good kid, who is in essence a child, with a criminal record? This should have been, worse case scenario, a traffic violation. Ask yourselves how many times you have slow rolled through a stop sign in your vehicle or your bike. Should this be how you’re treated? Or worse, is this how you would want your child treated? As cyclists, we should always follow the laws of the road, but we should also stick together when situations like these arise.”
The cyclist Javier Lopez has now been released on bail, and a GoFundMe has been set up with a $10,000 target to go towards costs and attorney fees.
BMX Street Finals: Some super rad highlights
Feast your eyes on some of these sick tricks, and be amazed no one broke any bones…
More than 50 people fined for cycling in Grimsby town centre pedestrianised area in three months
North East Lincolnshire Council are raking in the big bucks by handing out fixed penalties for dog fouling, littering, smoking in the wrong places and cycling in the pedestrianised area of Grimsby town centre, with 135 people fined for the latter since enforcement began in November 2018 via a private enforcement company – 51 of those have been given out in the last three months.
The Grimsby Telegraph reports that Councillor Ron Shepherd is super pleased that “out of control” cyclists are picking up fines, and people are “sick to death” of them “whizzing along Victoria Street”:
“Not only are they a nuisance, but they cause significant risk to passers-by and it may only be a matter of time before someone gets injured by a reckless rider.
“Enforcement officers are often the first line of defence against problem behaviour, and help keep our town centre a safe and pleasant place for visitors.
“They are also a helpful presence on the streets, and are often on hand to help people who get into trouble, by providing first aid or assisting the emergency services.”
"Can you explain how the hell this is not a close pass?"
I’ve watched this. I think it is a close pass. However, we have never received the original footage as requested. So, when we consider what admissible evidence we have then it is without that original footage. See ‘video’ part of this for explanation. https://t.co/fcNJryPByq
— Simon Cole (@CCLeicsPolice) February 10, 2020
Simon Cole of Leicester Police says they were not supplied with the original footage to take action against the driver of the Transit van in the YouTube clip tagged in the tweet; we’ll be following this up, in the meantime see our guide on what you need to know about reporting and submitting footage of close passes to the police to make sure the offending driver gets prosecuted.
The Cyclo-Knitter weaves a scarf for you in 5 minutes while you wait for a train
What the Dutch!?
Someone invented a Cyclo-Knitter; a pedal-powered machine that weaves a scarf in the 5 minutes you are waiting for a train.pic.twitter.com/9Zod5C0QtM
— Cycling Professor (@fietsprofessor) February 9, 2020
We’re told this was filmed at Eindhoven station and is the work of George Barratt-Jones – a super cool gift if there ever was one.
Canyon hosting demo sessions in Bath on 1st March
The German bike behemoths will be bringing a fleet of their latest road and gravel bikes to our neck of the woods on Sunday 1st March. Odd Down Circuit is 1.5km of smooth tarmac which is very good ground to try out a new bike, and Canyon will have all sizes available – more details on the Facebook even page here.
For the ultimate demo day experience, you can always come to Bike Live on Cannock Chase in April!
GB team announced for Track Cycling World Championships (Cav not included)
The 20 riders who will compete at the forthcoming UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin have been announced, in what will be the final opportunity for the Great Britain Cycling Team to score qualifying points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Laura and Jason Kenny will feature, as will Ed Clancy, Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Phil Hindes and Katy Marchant. There’s no place for Mark Cavendish, who reportedly had an eye on Olympic selection for the track team; but his omission means it’s all but certain he will now miss out.
Performance Director Stephen Park said: “The world championships in Berlin mark an important milestone on the path to the Olympic Games for the track cyclists and, as has always been our clear intention for this stage of the cycle, our focus now is on those riders who we believe have the potential to win a medal in Tokyo.
“The bar in track cycling is continuously being raised, which is great for keeping the sport healthy, but also means the fight for every medal is much tougher so Berlin will be interesting. “It’s also a good opportunity for our riders to show the selectors what they’re capable of and to help stake their claim on a place within the Olympic squad.”
The championships take place from 26th February to 1st March.
Driver angry at teen cyclists in London tweets Police... with mobile phone footage, from the driver's seat
@StopKillingCycl how about this lot pic.twitter.com/t06nZ3Mqml
— Kevo H (@Hu67966911Kevin) February 10, 2020
If you’re a bit irked about having your car journey delayed for a few seconds by some kids riding bikes in a very heavily congested area of London (we believe it’s one of London’s Royal Parks), it’s probably best not to tweet the Metropolitan Police Cycle Safety Team and campaign group Stop Killing Cyclists with what appears to be mobile phone footage of the outrageous act… from what appears to be the driver’s seat.
Twitter genius Kevo H, whose bio says Millwall is his second home, first tagged in the Met’s Cycle Safety Team on February 8th, and this morning decided to send more footage to Stop Killing Cyclists saying: “how about this lot” and: “here’s another lot.”
You are filming using a handset whilst you are driving? @MetCycleCops is this enough evidence of distracted driving?
— StopKillingCyclists (@StopKillingCycl) February 10, 2020
Stop Killing Cyclists have accused the driver of using a mobile phone while driving, and have asked the Met’s Cycle Safety Team if this is enough evidence to prosecute. Others weren’t very sympathetic towards the driver’s plight…
Another load of them gathered here too. pic.twitter.com/a39DZp3qQb
— paul gannon (@paulgannonbike) February 10, 2020
Kids on bikes! Just like it used to be when “Britain was great”! Shame about all those cars. Kids would be doing this more often it weren’t for all the cars.
— Toby Edwards (@IsSaddleThereIs) February 10, 2020
Wah Wah Wah had to go slower for 5 secs
— Berty Trousers (@bertytrouser) February 10, 2020
Pinarello for Mr Hamilton? Ineos become headline sponsor of the Mercedes F1 team
After buying a football club and taking over one of the most successful teams in cycling, the UK chemicals firm are now branching out into F1 by becoming the new Principal Partner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team in a five-year deal worth a reported £100 million.
Ineos owner Jim Radcliffe told reporters at the Royal Automobile Club in London today: “We have a genuine passion for sport and F1 is one of the most exciting sports around. It’s an intriguing marriage between sport and technology, similar to our America’s Cup (a sailing competition) challenge, which is effectively a 10-storey building sailing on top of a coffee table.
“Why Mercedes? We have admiration for a fantastic engineering company at the top of its game.”
Does that means a new Merc-branded Dogma F12 is on the cards? Not that it matters because we won’t be able to afford it, but yeah…
'Fold-me-up bike': not a thing
“Fold-me-up-bike”?
FOLD-ME-UP-BIKENo one. Nobody. NOT ONE PERSON calls it a fold-me-up-bike. This is not a thing. Please help @roadcc https://t.co/T4txSs2Y2M
— Toby Pestridge (@TobyPestridge) February 10, 2020
We agree this is not a thing Toby, and we don’t really understand the message full-stop. The video ad campaign featuring comic Guz Khan is mildly entertaining though, you can watch it here.
#UKPunDay, cycling edition
Nah that doesn’t work. Only think that makes you quicker is getting more aero pic.twitter.com/VecY6d9xQP
— Real Gaz of Trumpton #fbpe (@gazza_d) February 10, 2020
Coventry gets its own Bicycle Mayor, the second to be appointed in the UK
Coventry-born Adam Tranter, who is also CEO of PR Firm Fusion Media, has been appointed as the city’s Bicycle Mayor to ‘help coordinate between existing cyclists, the community, government, and nonprofits’. He’s the second in the UK after Cumbria appointed a Bicycle Mayor lasy year, and the 20th worldwide – full story to follow.
GP's bike stolen as she visited elderly patient in Edinburgh
Niddrie Medical Practice has posted an appeal on Facebook after Dr Jenny Bennison had her Merida hybrid stolen while she was on a patient visit. A reply in the comments claimed that a teen was spotted on a bike matching the description heading towards Duddingston Park South, but as far as we know the bike hasn’t been recovered.
Urwahn unveil 3D-printed e-bike
The bike that Urwahn have called Platzhirsch (no idea how to pronounce sorry) has an eBikeMotion rear hub motor system, Gates Belt Drive and an LED lighting system integrated into the handlebars, with a rear light built into the seatpost. The frame is ‘organic steel’ with all electronic components integrated, and there are numerous hidden mounting points for racks and mudguards for commuting duties. The price is €4,499 with a €500 discount for those who pre-order – head over to Urwahn’s website for more info.
Florida police officer who tasered teen cyclist gets written warning
Another example of exceedinly harsh policing from the US state (scroll down for the other one) as the video above shows a teen getting tasered for allegedly riding off when an officer tried to speak to him.
WFTV9 reports that the 19-year-old was doing wheelies on his bike and took off when the officer tried to talk to him. Internal investigators said that Officer Peter Meier should not have deployed his taser in the incident, because officers shouldn’t use tasers on cyclists except in cases of ‘aggressive resistance’; Meier said he used the taser because he believed the cyclist was causing a danger to himself and other drivers, but was given a written censure by investigators.
Bikeability instructors face paying hundreds for new qualification to keep licence
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iNews reports that cycling instructors face losing their licences unless they fork out £288 to take a new cycle safety exam, a revised version of the current Bikeability qualification. Bikeability say this is because the existing scheme has “inconsistent instructor training courses, unfair competitive advantage for Instructor Training Organisations, and lack of instructor professional development.”
Instructors in London who have formed a union under IWGB have written an open letter to Sadiq Khan and Will Norman asking for the bill to be picked up by Transport for London. Current instructors will actually pay more to complete the course, as new instructors will be eligible for a £60 subsidy from The Bikeability Trust; the training has to be completed by 1st August.
Cycle campaigners have recently questioned the effectiveness of Bikeability itself after the government announced that every child in England will be given access to it, claiming that the training needs to be backed up by safe places for children to ride to maximise the investment. Cycling UK’s Chief Executive Paul Tuohy said: “Projects like Bikeability and the Big Bike Revival provide the skills for safer cycling to some of the people who need it the most. It’s fantastic to see the Government continue to back programmes that deliver and are helping thousands of people every year on their cycling journeys.
“However we won’t get millions more cycling unless there’s further significant investment in infrastructure. Without it the Government is on a highway to failure in getting more people active. Funding for cycling and walking between 2020 and 2025 must increase to between £6 and £8bn to meet the Government’s own targets to double cycle use and increase walking.”
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Latest Comments
Kill A Cyclist = Don't Worry, we don't take it seriously, only a Joke Sentence. It's their own fault for cluttering up the roads, and anyway he shouldn't have been out at 4:50 in the morning getting in the way of respectable drivers who have an important job to do
I despair at the leniency of sentences handed out for Death by Careless Driving. If I was responsible for the death of another person based on my negligence in any other way it would be Manslaughter. But the fact a vehicle in involved is separate. Ironically due to the fact the govt at the time who introduced the law thought juries would be too lenient or apprehensive on convicting someone who - at the end of the day - still took another human life because of their actions. This needs more signatures and I hope it can reach its target Call for harsher sentencing for causing death by careless driving: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/766378
Sadly the prison system is a mess. A result of decades of right wing press appeasing longer sentencing, lack of investment and lack of support for released prisoners. The only consolation is that the driver has still paid a high price. He may well never again be employed as a van driver, his insurance premiums will skyrocket, he has a criminal record and much of his leisure time will be spent on community service for the foreseeable future. Maybe in these type of cases a large life-changing fine (£25k - £50k?) would be appropriate? Perhaps this money could be spent on released prisoners support.
But we should all applaud that cyclists can (and very likely in 100% of cases) be sent to jail for life if they are involved in a collision with a pedestrian and that pedestrian dies. Because IDS and that vengeful prick wanted 'equality' with driver sentences.
It is good that at least one motorist has been convicted for excessive speed in 20 mph zones. Whatever opinions of 20 mph limits might be, given the body of evidence of the reduction in KSIs long may the 20 mph limits continue. Anyone arguing against them is saying that the lives of those who have been spared just don't matter.
She put 2 and 0 together and made 27.
A rare legal defeat for Mr Freeman, and I find his client's legal arguments quite frankly ridiculous. However, let's not forget his work road safety campaigning, especially against dangerous e-scooters. I have mixed emotions about 20mph zones. They are certainly useful around schools and child-heavy areas and would especially work if dynamically assigned rather than prescribed throughout entire towns and cities. I and plenty of other cyclists ride above 20mph and it can be annoying stuck behind cars driving at 20mph on a road unnecessarily, it feels like a left-wing power grab to curtail people's freedoms. Instead, I believe that if the existing 30 limit and existing laws on phone use was rigourously enforced it would have a greater impact on KSIs... unfortunately the police have been dragged away to regulate Twitter and act as social services to incapable people.
So Lynda La Plante was driving on multiple occasions on the same road and recieving points & speeding fines? Did she not put 2 and 2 together after the first or second and adjust her speed accordingly? Or did she feel that, with a so called exceptional hardship/not being able to work plea, she would be allowed to do so indefinitely. Could this be a case of her expecting two-tier policing to be applied (beneficially) to herself...?
Re the Lynda La Plante case. I read about this in yesterday's Times. Definitely a case of Freeman laying the mitigating circumstances on thick in the hope that some of them stick. The comment that "a ban could end her career", was presumably instrumental in getting a 6 month rather than 12 month plus ban. La Plante's sense of entitlement was breathtaking. Unlike many banned motorists, she will not lose her job.
Perhaps if Lynda La Plante is constantly 'confused' by simple road signs, then she needs to hand her licence in, rather than a 6 month ban? Also - pleading Exceptional Hardship (which I thought was the only reason to contest a driving ban after accruing so many points) is taking the piss for a world famous author?
27 thoughts on “Cop tasers Florida teen cyclist; Bikeability instructors could pay £100s for new training; Driver angry at teen cyclists tweets phone footage; Record fines for Grimsby town centre cycling; Dutch neighbourhood will ban cars + more on live blog”
At least the lad in Florida
At least the lad in Florida didn’t get tasered…
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county/watch-bodycam-footage-shows-orlando-police-officer-tasing-man-bicycle/PH7BNGNH4ZC4TA6VHQ7R6Q2POE/
Based on this quote from that
Based on this quote from that link, shouldn’t we just tase ALL drivers?
“Meier said he tased the bicyclist because he was causing a danger to himself and other drivers.”
I put the important bits in bold just for fun.
Shame they don’t have the
Shame they don’t have the ‘Idaho stop’ law in Florida. That sounds incredibly harsh by the sheriff – what would happen if a deaf person was cycling and didn’t hear the sheriff’s commands?
Probably would get shot in
Probably would get shot in the back, it’s ‘murika
Wasn’t there a case in NYC
Wasn’t there a case in NYC last year where someone didn’t stop for the police and they ran him over with an SUV “for his own safety”…?
Given that riding with
Given that riding with headphones in is so dangerous it should, apparently, be banned I think that deaf people would be banned too. So would never be on a bike to be in that position.
I don’t really see why people
I don’t really see why people think that cycling whilst wearing headphones (or indeed being deaf) is so dangerous. I appreciate that you can get a lot of information about what traffic is doing behind you but that just means that you don’t have to look behind so often. The main danger is if you try to turn right or pull out without looking and that’s just as dangerous if you’re deaf or not. Ultimately, there’s not much control you have over traffic behind you (except maybe taking primary position) so being able to use your ears just gives you better awareness of what’s going on.
I used to cycle a couple of miles from the station to my house with headphones on, listening to music. It’s not difficult to just make a point of looking around more often and being especially careful at junctions. In the end, I found it a little bit disorientating and prefer to not use them, but it wasn’t dangerous at all.
If you’re in favour of banning deaf people from cycling, then it would make just as much sense (and be just as wrong) to ban them from driving. If hearing is so important to road safety then we should start to ban car music systems. I’m not sure if there’s been much research on hearing ability and road safety, but we should at least find that out before discriminating against deaf people.
Have a look at
Have a look at
For clarity, I have no issue
For clarity, I have no issue with people riding while wearing headphones of any sort, nor do I have an issue with deaf people doing anything. I choose, personally, not to wear them, but that’s because I like listening to the wheels on the road and the wind in my ears, no other reason.
Not really surprising in the
Not really surprising in the biggest police state in the world, where “sheriffs” are still allowed to roam.
I don’t think he actually
I don’t think he actually went through a red light. Reading the report it sounds as if he didn’t actually come to a standstill at a STOP road sign, but he slowly rolled through (as we would do in the UK at a GIVE WAY sign). If so it is even more harsh.
Yeah, that’s how I read it
Yeah, that’s how I read it too. It’s even more harsh when you consider that some states have the Idaho stop law which allows cyclists to treat a STOP sign as a yield sign and a red light as a STOP sign.
How is that place pronounced?
How is that place pronounced? Because semen hole sheriff sounds entirely appropriate. And to think they give those mental hospital inmates a uniform, a badge and a gun. Power tripping gone mad.
The local cyclists have
The local cyclists have called in reinforcements for Javier, the cyclist arrested by the over-zealous cop, from the equivalent of the Cyclists’ Defence Fund
“Bike Law wants to thank the thousands of cyclists, clubs, coaches, and organizations who have spread the news about the arrest of Javier Lopez. I recognize how understandably concerned our community is and am always amazed by our diversity, unity, and resilience.”
Councillor Ron Shepherd is
Councillor Ron Shepherd is super pleased that “out of control” cyclists are picking up fines, and people are “sick to death” of them “whizzing along Victoria Street”:
Lets face it, the one’s “whizzing” are not getting caught. Much easier for a lard-*rsed enforcement “officer” to catch granny on her way to the shops
The headless picture of the
The headless picture of the couple of enforcement officers are not particularly flattering.
Also it’s a gross inaccuracy
Also it’s a gross inaccuracy to describe Grimsby town centre as a ‘pleasent place for visitors’. (Do people visit Grimsby – or are they just unfortunate to have to ‘visit’ it?)
I went to the Grimsby
I went to the Grimsby Telegraph to get the full story, and now I aware of the phrase “dog s*** chandelier”.
The dog sh*t maypole is even
The dog sh*t maypole is even better/worse
“Not only are they a nuisance
“Not only are they a nuisance, but they cause significant risk to passers-by and it may only be a matter of time before someone gets injured by a reckless rider.”
I’m sure the good councillor has all the relevant data to make such a claim of “significant risk” like the number of people killed and injured by cyclists at that location, and if he doesn’t, his claim is false. Funny how the rest of the world seems to get by with shared use in such areas, but in wonderful free Britain, we have to have pointless laws brought in by cycle-hating councillors.
Also ok to drive down it at
Also ok to drive down it at certain times if you are a permit holder !
Kevo H’s twitter stream
Kevo H’s twitter stream consists of 3 things
1. Rants about cyclists (e.g. “any lights?” on a Chris Boardman retweet of a road.cc bike review, “any cyclists?” on CycleGaz’s tally of convictions, and the ones above )
2. Rants about traffic jams (usually with what appears to be photos from a hand-held phone from behind the wheel of his black cab).
3. Rants about footy
Oh, and rants about mincab drivers.
Thats four things …
/stops before descending into a pale pastiche of the monty python spanish inquisition sketch
No matter how much reckless
No matter how much reckless cyling this illegally driving professional captures, he will never make up for the disgusting criminality of John Warboys.
Anyone know if “The Black Cab Rapist” was a member of the LTDA?
ktache wrote:
Exactly – all taxi drivers need to be held accountable for the actions of every other taxi driver, even the ones they’ve never met. After all, that’s how they treat cyclists and what’s sauce for the goose etc etc
Nice to see a bit of BMX on
Nice to see a bit of BMX on here. Although Courage Adams should have been 2nd at least (easy 1st if he’d stayed on). Great rider. If you liked that competition street riding find some real street riding on youtube as it’s even better. The lack of helmets also made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. If it wasn’t so damn stormy outside I’d go get the old bike out (and probably end up injured/concused as was usual).
“UK chemicals firm”
“UK chemicals firm”
I’m sick to death of road.cc promoting Ineos. Ratcliffe’s company is actively destroying the climate with ever-expanding oil and gas production, and contributing massively to plastic pollution in our seas and oceans.
Ratcliffe greenwashes his appalling company through sports sponsorship, with the active collaboration of road.cc, who report his every waffle in gushing terms.
You should be ashamed of yourselves.
So, as announced by the
So, as announced by the instantly forgettable minister for cycling, whose name I’ve forgotten, all children will be able to take bikeability; it’s just that there won’t be anybody to train them as they can’t afford the fees.
Look, I know this government is the most incompetent, useless bunch of ex-public schoolboy liars and cheats ever, but honestly………
Meanwhile, Holland shows us the way again, with entire neighbourhoods without personal cars.