Driver almost hits cyclist – then crashes car; Paris-Nice highlights; Cav and G in stellar chain gang; Coronavirus – London Bike Show postponed, Mallorca cycling hotels suffer; e-bike thefts soar in Netherlands; Pavement parking ban + more on live blog
SUMMARY
Wiggo’s new TV show starts tonight
Bradley Wiggins is fronting a new Comedy Central show where British athletes take on members of the public in a series of challenges that are sort of semi-related to their respective sports.
It’s called Gods of the Game. Here’s the trailer. Wiggo appears to be gigantic and that’s actor Tom Rosenthal, son of sports presenter Jim Rosenthal, badgering him.
Gods of the Game is on at 7.30pm tonight.
The opening episode features Chris Hoy on a pedalo.
Pavement parking could be banned in England
You’ll have immediately noted the ‘could’ in that headline.
The BBC reports that the government is to open a consultation on whether to give local authorities more parking powers. Various options will be considered.
At the minute, pavement parking is only banned in London where a law was introduced in 1974.
The aim of it is not just to prevent pedestrians, including wheelchair users, people with baby buggies and the visually impaired, from being obstructed – it also seeks to limit damage to footways.
I used to have to get a pushchair across the pavement below on my way to my daughter’s nursery.
As you can see, it is fucked. And as you can also see, drivers are prone to parking on it.
I mean just look at it.
The AA agrees that people who park in an anti-social way should be penalised, but is against a ban.
“An outright ban could lead to unintended consequences with parking chaos becoming more widespread.
“A better solution would be for councils to make a street-by-street assessment and where pavement parking could be allowed it be clearly marked and signed.”
Looks like the Volta a Catalunya might be cancelled
Volta a Catalunya cancelled due to government restrictions, according to Spazio Ciclismo (h/t @OdvartJames) https://t.co/uPeh1M3ob5
— José Been (@TourDeJose) March 12, 2020
For more information on whether cycling events have been cancelled, postponed or are still on, see our Coronavirus Watch report.
Midlands to host 2020 National Championships
The Road Race – Saturday 20 June – at the 2020 @HSBC_UK | National Road Championships ⬇️
Start – Centenary Square Birmingham 🚩
Finish – Wolverhampton 🏁More info 👉 https://t.co/IC0fXTbRTf#NationalRoadChamps pic.twitter.com/QgTVP1kDPE
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) March 12, 2020
London Bike Show postponed until July
The London Bike Show and Triathlon Show: London will be postponed until July 3-5 2020 following the escalation of COVID-19 Coronavirus across Europe and the UK.
In a statement, organisers said: “We have been following UK government guidelines and working with the rolling advice from the public health authorities and other organisations, but it is now with reluctance that we have taken the decision to postpone the event at this time.
“The safety and wellbeing of our staff, exhibitors, visitors, partners and contractors is of the utmost importance to us, and therefore feel the protection and prevention of harm to the public has been paramount to this decision.”
Exhibitors’ bookings will be transferred to the new show dates.
Visitors’ tickets will be automatically transferred to Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th July, and will be valid on any day that you wish to attend – simply come along with your existing ticket to gain access.
If you are unable to attend on any of the new dates, you can contact https://www.seetickets.com/customerservice and they will be able to arrange a refund.
To check the status of other cycling events, see our Coronovirus Watch page.
How wide are your handlebars?
Not as wide as these, we’ll wager. We’ve reviewed the Ritchey WCS VentureMax bar in a 44cm width, and found them good for a wide range of riding. If you’re heading off road and you want more control, or somewhere to sling a big bar roll for your camping gear, you might need more real estate than that. Enter the Ritchey WCS VentureMax XL in a whopping 52cm width.
“Taking the idea of the original alloy WCS VentureMax to the next level, the WCS VentureMax XL features all of the goodness of the original bar but widens it way up to a full 52cm”, says Ritchey. “Appealing especially to the bikepacking community, the WCS VentureMax XL offers ergonomic tops for a more comfortable hand position, and the wider grip ensures more off-road control and stability when fully-loaded. Plus, there is plenty of real estate on either side of the stem for mounting accessories and bags. Additionally, the WCS VentureMax XL also features a 4.6° back sweep, aero-shaped 38×22.5mm tops, and drilling for a Shimano EW-RS910 junction box.”
If you’re interested in fitting bars to your bike that definitely wont fit through those daft bike gates on shared use paths then the XLs are €104.95 and available on Ritchey’s website.
Tour de Bretagne cancelled
“In view of the health news and the measures taken throughout France, it is with deep sadness that the Tour de Bretagne cycliste takes the decision to cancel its 54th edition which was to take place from April 25 to 1st May 2020.”
🚨 INFORMATIONS 🚨
Au vu de l’actualité sanitaire et des mesures prises sur l’ensemble du territoire français, c’est avec une profonde tristesse que le Tour de Bretagne cycliste prend la décision d’annuler sa 54ème édition qui devait se dérouler du 25 avril au 1er mai 2020.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/ZOViKAleAF
— Tour de Bretagne (@tourdebretagne) March 12, 2020
For an overview of cancellations and postponements of cycling events, see our Coronovirus Watch page.
Tom Pidcock on the G-Spot
National cyclo-cross champion, Tom Pidcock, is down in South Africa for the Cape Epic mountain bike stage race.
He warmed up with the Songo.info Champions Race, in which he came third.
And here he is going down the G-Spot mountain biking trail yesterday.
British Olympic Association to offer more commercial freedom to athletes
British athletes competing at this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo will have more opportunities to thank sponsors as part of a compromise agreement with the British Olympic Association (BOA).
The BOA’s ‘Rule 40’ protects the exclusivity of the International Olympic Committee’s major sponsors, but a number of high profile athletes have said they find it unduly restrictive.
Former track sprinter Callum Skinner has previously said he found his British Cycling contract limited his commercial opportunities as the sport’s governing body has a series of large commercial partners who are offered exclusivity.
Late last year a group of athletes led by Adam Gemili launched a legal challenge against the BOA and the two parties have now reached an agreement.
Andy Anson, the BOA’s recently appointed CEO, said: “This agreement allows athletes to further benefit from their personal sponsors whilst balancing the needs of the BOA to raise funds to support all athletes at the Games.
“I’m grateful that Adam [Gemili] and his colleagues took the time to work with us to find a solution.
“We have always been and will continue to be supportive of athletes maximising their earning potential and having sponsors at a national or local level.”
Gemili said: “As an athlete group we are pleased to have reached an agreement with the BOA that moves us into line with other Olympic federations and that provides every athlete an equal and fair chance to generate sponsorship revenue in the build up to and during the Games.
“I would like to say thank you to the BOA for facilitating an open dialogue and recognising and addressing the concerns of the athlete body.
“Most importantly I would like to thank my teammates who have supported this movement both openly and behind the scenes, together we have made a real difference and demonstrated the strength of unity.”
E-bike thefts skyrocket in the Netherlands
NL Times reports that over 3,800 e-bikes were reported stolen to Dutch bike insurer ANWB last year – 38 per cent more than the year before.
This is not entirely unexpected with some 420,000 e-bikes were sold in the Netherlands last year – 40 per cent of total bike sales.
“Until recently, the plug-in bike was mainly used for recreational purposes by older Dutch people,” said an ANWB spokesperson. “But now masses of pupils ride them to school and commuters take them to work.”
They added that, “shopping centres, train stations and entertainment areas in particular are true theft hotspots.”
The figures were confirmed by Enra, the Netherlands’ other major bike insurer. They said that while conventional bikes were mainly stolen by opportunistic thieves, the high value of e-bikes made them a focus for organised crime.
“Most stolen electric bicycles cross the border straight away,” explained Jeroen Snijders Blok of SAFE, an organisation that works to combat bicycle theft. He said the fact that e-bikes are widespread in the Netherlands, but not yet in the rest of Europe was a factor.
Video: Steps no barrier to riding your kid to school
When you need to get your kid to school 😂 pic.twitter.com/x2BjUdi0TJ
— Awesome Cycling 🚵♀️🚵♂️ (@AwesomeCycling) March 12, 2020
Mass cancellation of cycling holidays in Mallorca
A massive proportion of cyclists who had booked to stay in Mallorca during March and April have now postponed their trips, according to The Business Association of Balearic Travel Agencies (AVIBA).
Last year an estimated 20,000 cyclists descended on Mallorca between March and April, but The Olive Press reports that local hoteliers are suffering an ‘exponential’ cancellation of bookings.
“The situation is very delicate and the level of activity from cyclists compared to last year has decreased by 40 per cent,” said an AVIBA spokesperson. “Almost all destinations in Mallorca have been impacted.”
Flanders Classics has postponed all its upcoming sportives
This includes the We Ride Flanders sportive, which has around 16,000 riders.
We have decided to postpone all of our Peloton recreational cycling events up to April 19, including @RondeVlaanderen cyclo, until later this year. Concerning the pro events we will await further advice from authorities but we will of course understand any decision taken.
— Tomas Van Den Spiegel (@tomasvds) March 12, 2020
You can find the latest news on other major cycling events on our Corona Watch page.
PedalMe's swift (and effective) response to a theft report
Dispatch are on it. Thank you!
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) March 12, 2020
Typical! Bike now back in our custody. Should be back in service within the hour. Thanks for raising the alarm and trying to prevent the theft!
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) March 12, 2020
We chased the bike down and it was abandoned by the thief in Holloway.
— Pedal Me (@pedalmeapp) March 12, 2020
Video: A fine finish to today's stage of the somewhat optimistically-named Paris-Nice
🏁 🇸🇮@JTratnik y a cru mais c’est finalement 🇮🇹 @Bonifazio_993 qui s’impose dans un finish de folie.
⏪ Revivez le dernier kilomètre de l’étape 5 de #ParisNice.🏁 🇸🇮@JTratnik was close but 🇮🇹@Bonifazio_993 claims the win after a crazy finish.
⏪ Relive the last kilometer. pic.twitter.com/18y1T8Zmbh— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 12, 2020
€30,000 fines will be dished out to riders caught with a tuned e-bike in France
The harsh new statutory law could even land offenders with two years in jail if they’re caught with an unlicensed e-bike capable of reaching speeds over the EU-legal limit of 25km/h – full story over on eBikeTips.
Paris-Nice Stage 5 highlights
The Race to the Sun is continuing (for now) … here’s what happened today …
Broken femur for Michael Woods
Bad news for the EF Pro Cycling rider Michael Woods, who broke his femur when he crashed on a descent at Paris-Nice today.
His team said: “He was taken to a Lyon, France, hospital immediately, where evaluations confirmed he suffered a closed fracture to his right femur. He will undergo surgery this evening in Lyon to repair the injury.”
It was his first race of the season, and clearly he will take several months to recover.
Whether he will actually miss any races in that time is open to question, with the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
100km track race anyone? 1908 London Olympics pic
Covering almost 166 laps of the White City track, this monster of a race (on bikes of course that were very different to the ones use by today’s trackies) was won by Great Britain’s Charles Bartlett in a time of 2:41:48.6 with another British rider, Charles Denny, second.
The bronze medal went to a certain Octave Lapize … three-time winner of Paris–Roubaix and Paris–Brussels and winner of the Tour de France in 1910 when, on the race’s first visit to the High Pyrenees, he famously accused the organisers of being “murderers!”
The start of the 100k Track race – Olympics – London 1908 pic.twitter.com/pi2xVPzTIw
— classicretro (@classicretro) March 11, 2020
This is some chain gang ...
The more observant among you will note that they are all past or present Team Sky/Team Ineos riders.
Une Dream Team dans la roue de @MarkCavendish sur les routes de @CyclingNice ! 🤩
A Dream Team behind Mark Cavendish on #NiceCyclingParadise roads! 🤩@GeraintThomas86 | @WoutPoels | @LukeRowe1990 | @EddieDunbar | @nicholasroche
📸 https://t.co/NGuB5jx0rE pic.twitter.com/TG3zjyESk0
— Nice Cycling Paradise (@CyclingNice) March 12, 2020
It looks like poor Beryl got Jumped ...
Bike share rivalry in North London just got nasty …
Brutal… pic.twitter.com/qVPa7tcQc9
— Jono Kenyon (@Jono_Kenyon) March 12, 2020
Near Miss of the Day: Driver crashes off the road after only seeing cyclist at the last moment
You can see in the video that James was wearing hi-vis… although clearly that did very little to stop
Inches from death for both of us. First thing he asked when I got him out of the car ‘Did I hit you?’ Thankfully not. @cyclegaz @PompeyCyclist @NthrnCyclistTVL @MikeyCycling @gcntweet pic.twitter.com/Y60kfnlYAm
— James Hannaway (@JamesHannaway1) March 11, 2020
Since we posted this yesterday floods of comments have come in on social media and on the site aghast at the driver’s actions.
Some from abroad have also questioned the rider’s route on a dual carriageway; and although cycling on four-lane roads classed as A-roads with green signs is perfectly legal, some have warned against riding on busy dual carriageways.
The lucky cyclist hasn’t commented on what the consequences might be for the even luckier driver, but has said that it wasn’t even raining at the time of this horrendous near miss that could have been so much worse…
It wasn’t actually raining at the time. The road was wet from previous rain.
— James Hannaway (@JamesHannaway1) March 13, 2020
12 March 2020, 09:13
if active travel funding is not deployed soon, the government will struggle to meet its own targets.
More money to come for cycling?
"Jam tomorrow" not an ideal approach for green transport in a climate emergency
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Latest Comments
Presumably your bike has the legal restriction to 25 km/h, in which case you're not dangerously close to the line at all, it's the high speed achievable by illegal electric motorcycles (there is a plague of them at the moment in my area of London that, I would estimate, are capable of at least 45 mph) that's causing the collisions, the actual power is fairly irrelevant.
I use this cycle path regularly. It is used by commuters during the week but it is used more and more by families with young children evenings and weekends when the weather is fine. The car boot takes place on a Sunday which conflicts with this leisure use. One problem is with cars stopping on the cycle path to wait for a gap in traffic (as in the picture). Even if the car is stopped and there is space behind it, as in the picture, you can't be sure that the driver won't reverse or the driver behind won't close the gap so you have to slow down to almost a stop to get through safely. You would have to dismount as well as you would be using the footway part of the path. This isn't a huge problem going up the hill into Cheltenham, (coming towards you in the picture) as it is relatively steep and usually against the prevailing wind if there is any, so you are going slowly anyway. Going down the hill however it is easy to reach 30mph and this is where cyclists are going to be seriously inconvenienced by having to slow down and dismount. I don't think it's a huge safety issue but it will be annoying. Obviously the driver should not be blocking the cycle path at all and should wait in the entrance, which has good visibility, until there is a gap in both the road and the cycle path traffic. This is obviously beyond the skill set of the majority of motorists who would not dream of blocking the road but can't see any problem with blocking the cycle path. The main problem, however, is with drivers from Cheltenham crossing the oncoming traffic to enter the car boot sale. There may be nothing blocking the cycle path and the drivers will be looking for gaps in the (usually continuous) oncoming traffic. When a gap appears they will go but will they have checked that there are no cyclists on the track who will expect the driver to give them priority as instructed in the highway code. A cyclist coming from Cheltenham down the hill will be travelling at speed from behind the driver and the driver will cut across them from their left if they are not seen. Experienced cyclists will be watching out for this but that is not who the cycle path is intended for, it is intended to encourage new cyclists to get on their bikes. Another concern is when a driver is turning into the site and does notice a cyclist and does give way. The driver behind may not be expecting the car in front to stop and there is potential for a rear ending incident. The speed limit is 40mph but it is only adhered to in heavy traffic. I rarely drive but I did drive the road recently and I was doing exactly 40mph when I was overtaken. None of these would be a problem if drivers could be relied upon to obey the highway code but it seems to me that it is asking too much in today's "drivers come first" and "must drive as fast as possible" mentality. Finally one time I cycled when the car boot was on there was a person in a hi vis jacket directing the traffic. If the individual has received training then it should be safer but it will still inconvenience cyclists unless we are given priority.
@KiwiMike Respectfully, I don't think "oh well people can afford it" is a valid excuse for blatantly overcharging for a product. Yes of course it's people's choice whether they want to pay for it or not, just as it's my choice to point out that in my opinion, as with so many cycling products, it's a rip-off.
I guess you’ve never been for a ride in the countryside, and wanted to stop somewhere there isn’t a perfectly-positioned tree, fence or wall? Or have always had the good fortune to have a bike rack or wall positioned perfectly where you need it, and been happy to balance your bike and trust no-one will nudge it. I accept that’s a valid use case.
If you can afford a £3000 ebike you can almost certainly afford this. Especially as it’s the last one you’ll ever need to buy. Of course people will value the utility in their own way, there’s no definitive right / wrong, there’s just choice.
@jackcycles "The idea that you need a dedicated cycleway in order to ride a bike is ludicrous and false" You might not need one because you're a brave cyclist. There are many people in this country who aren't brave, who don't like mixing with traffic, and who won't cycle if they have to. So they need a dedicated cycleway, despite your protestations. "Just be more assertive" will never, ever work as a tool to enable more cycling.
@neilmck Other studies have shown different results, however, e.g. a 2025 study in Barcelona showed injury rates on uni-directional cycle paths were slightly higher than on bi-directional ones - I'll post the link below as otherwise might end up in the black hole of link approval quarantine. The study you cite is from 1990 when in many areas cycle provision was very much in its infancy and drivers were much less accustomed to watching for cyclists in separate infrastructure than they are now. As ever, in my experience at least, the issue is not the cycle lane per se but junction design, with proper mitigating measures e.g. raised tables at junctions, different surface colours, warning signage, set back give ways etc there's no reason bidirectional lanes should be more dangerous.
Bi-directional cycle paths are very dangerous and councils should use extreme caution when deciding to install them. The problem is the complexity they provide motorists who have to cross them. There was a study made in Berlin that shows you are 12 times more likely to be killed at a crossing on a bi-directional cycle path than if you cycled on the road. https://www.bikexprt.com/bikepol/facil/sidepath/adfc173.htm
That - if it is like the photo - seems to be an inadequate and very poor entrance design. Where are the physical features to enforce behaviour? There will be a queue of cars sitting on the mobility track. The LHA could have CPOd a small slice of land to make it adequate and given a one or two car standing area by the carriageway with a bent-in mobility track. I'd say the designers have looked the other way.
I’m not sure this is a problem really. How often does the car boot sale take place?once a week at most, and not every week either? And not all day. I’m sure all users can manage and it would mean everyone taking car at the entrance / exit.
18 thoughts on “Driver almost hits cyclist – then crashes car; Paris-Nice highlights; Cav and G in stellar chain gang; Coronavirus – London Bike Show postponed, Mallorca cycling hotels suffer; e-bike thefts soar in Netherlands; Pavement parking ban + more on live blog”
In the Pavement Parking
In the Pavement Parking Inquiry last year it was noted in Q159, “…experience suggests that one of the best ways of not doing anything and kicking the can down the road is to have a long drawn-out review process and extensive consultation.”
The latest government response? Let’s hold a consultation. Jeez, I wonder how this is going to end.
And then give it to the local
And then give it to the local authorities to enforce.
I found this shocker on the BBC a few days back.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51801370
Imagine the cowardice and bullying in assulting a blind man with a guide dog.
And in the first article on the BBC I think The Weasel got it best-
167. Posted byThe Weasel
on25 minutes ago
But, but, but… How dare they infringe my human right to put my poluting, status-signalling machine anywhere I want!?
Waaahhh!
It is already illegal to drive on the pavement, so it is already illegal to drive onto the pavement to park.
billymansell wrote:
Various governments have been promising to do something about pavement parking for thirty years or thereabouts; nothing ever happens. If they can stop it in London, they can pass a law for the rest of the country, but it would upset their voter base, so it will never happen, and the people put in danger probably don’t vote tory anyway.
Driving on the pavement is
Driving on the pavement is banned, right? Therefore, unless you’ve pushed your motor vehicle onto the pavement, you must surely have broken the law to get it there.
As someone who recently was pushing a buggy around, I’ve realised what an utter blight the behaviour is. I can’t imagine how unpleasant it must be for wheelchair or mobility users.
I expect there is a leeway on
I expect there is a leeway on how much driving is done and the reason why as otherwise how do you get on your own driveway?
If there’s drop kerb between
If there’s drop kerb between the road and your driveway then no problem, otherwise driving over a kerb is an offence under the Highways Act.
schlepcycling wrote:
Exactly. Unfortunately, a great many people seem to think “But it’s the only way I can get my car onto my (recently tarmacced over front lawn) driveway!”
So many homeowners do it, but then don’t want to spend the money to have the council properly put a dropped kerb in.
You should see the state of a telecomms manhole and a water stoptap, near where I live – the owner gravelled over their front lawn but didn’t get a dropped kerb put in. Not caring about the utilities access which his car drives over every single time he goes in or out of his car storage space…
He’s going to have fun when
He’s going to have fun when the water board or telecoms want to carry out major work via the two access’s. As an aside do you need planning permission for when you change the layout of your property and the creating of an access point?
MrGear wrote:
Not that simple – it could have been lifted there by crane for example. To be successfully prosecuted, the driving on the pavement must be witnessed by a police officer (yes, I know it’s ridiculous!)
If it came to court (like it ever would, the chances of such a “minor” misdemeanour going to court is zero), the defence would say “did you see the defendent drive the car onto the pavement?”
No? No case to answer.
I know it’s stupid, I know it doesn’t make sense but that’s the law at the moment.
The road I live on is
The road I live on is currently closed as the main sewer has collapsed. There are signs at both ends, helpfully put in the carriageway so driver cannot fail to see them. There is also a second set of signs in case the drivers missed the first ones. Yet all the time there are countless cars driving up, and turning round, or trying to squeeze through by driving completely on the pavement. The diversion takes fully five minutes by car. Can these idiots not read large road signs put helfully in the road? Of course they can, as they have to drive on the other side of the road to avoid crashing into the signs. So they obviously think that the road closed signs don’t apply to them, and they can get through. I even watched a tractor unit with a massive low loader trailer on drive up, ten minutes later he was reversing all the way back, as there was nowhere to turn around. How I laughed.
And that, in a nutshell, is why the standard of driving is so shit, and why cyclists are at such danger. Many drivers don’t care about other road users, don’t pay attention to what is in front of them, and think that rules don’t apply to them.
Rant over.
I understand, mate.
I understand, mate.
Speed limit and No Entry signs never apply to them, others, you know the unlawful drivers, just not them. Good, considerate drivers, they are.
“Otherwise law abiding”
I would not call that a rant;
I would not call that a rant; a voice despairing at driving standards.
If you think that Ritchey bar
If you think that Ritchey bar is wide, there is Australia’s Curve Cycling’s Walmer bar, 600 mm wide, flared to a total of 750mm.
ktache wrote:
Those bars remind me of the cow-horn handle-bars I had on my self-built second-hand £10 bike as a kid (Dad wouldn’t buy me the shiny new Puch racer I wanted – been scarred for life!). They looked cool and made wheelies a heck of a lot easier 🙂
What was it with putting drop
What was it with putting drop handlebars the wrong way up?
“The opening episode features
“The opening episode features Chris Hoy on a pedalo.”
This sounds like something Alan Partridge would pitch to an exasperated Tony Hayers. Monkey Tennis?
‘An outright ban could lead
‘An outright ban could lead to unintended consequences…‘
Yes: drivers having to learn that their actions have consequences. For once in their fucking selfish lives.
TheRantyHighwayman on
TheRantyHighwayman on pavement parking. He seems not to be a fan…
https://therantyhighwayman.blogspot.com/2020/03/footway-parking-fail-redux.html