Police criticised for arresting and fining cyclist ignoring ‘no cycling’ signs; Astana end Miguel Ángel López suspension; The “vague personal hierarchy of traffic violations”; Ineos snap up second Hayter brother; Weekend round-up + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
The "vague personal hierarchy of traffic violations"
Let’s kick off the week with a profound, near philosophical, take on the state of our roads from the great modern temple of public discourse — Twitter.
Stay with me…
People have some vague personal hierarchy of traffic violations. They tell themselves it’s based on safety but it’s mostly about driver convenience. This is extremely clear when you compare public reactions to cyclists running a red light vs a driver parking in a crosswalk.
— Ollie (@Ollie_Cycles) August 1, 2022
Oh lord, straight into red light jumping at 9am on my first day back…
But here are a couple of other additions to the hierarchy of traffic violations…
How about – it’s bad when cyclists run red lights but perfectly normal for motorists to speed up to “make the yellow”. Don’t want to be rear ended!
— Whose lane? My lane! (@Jeffrey99713014) August 1, 2022
My favorite: blocking a bike lane is fine, blocking a car lane is a catastrophe
— Dan Miller (@meelar) August 1, 2022
Any more?
Anyway, it’s all a great excuse to bring up this vid from the weekend…
Looks like Ken doesn’t know what a crosswalk is pic.twitter.com/cgqgwAh1HM
— UOldGuy🇨🇦 (@UOldguy) July 29, 2022
Weekend round-up: Reilly review; Commonwealth crash; History makers; Calls for councillor's resignation + more
(📷: ASO/Fabien Boukla)
It wasn’t just the Lionesses who made history yesterday, Annemiek van Vleuten did too… but you probably knew that already. The 39-year-old comeback queen dominated – once again – on the slopes of La Planche des Belles Filles to cap off a historic week for women’s cycling.
Elsewhere on road.cc this weekend, Stu’s been checking out Reilly’s Fusion… and, without too many spoilers, it did pretty well…
Back on the racing scene, Olympic champ Matt Walls suffered a frightening crash at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (but actually in London) yesterday as he was sent over the barrier and into the crowd at the Lee Valley VeloPark during the scratch race.
Over in the US, cyclists are calling for the resignation of a Jersey City councillor, Amy DeGise, who failed to stop after striking a delivery cyclist – and only reported the incident six hours later.
Oh, and our Bike at Bedtime is the new titanium Enigma Evoke Mk3. Check it out now, or save it for bedtime, or read it now and take a mid-morning nap…the choice is entirely yours…
Ineos snap up second Hayter brother
Why have one promising upcoming British racing talent when you can have two? Bonus points if they’re from the same family. Ethan Hayter — Olympic champ, two-time national TT champion, Tour of Britain stage winner, twice Romandie stage winner, and currently out at Tour of Poland hoping to earn selection for a debut Grand Tour at La Vuelta — has a brother called Leo.
Leo’s pretty good at riding bikes too…he won two stages and the GC at the ‘Baby Giro’ before adding the national U23 TT title to his palmares in June. He’s got an U23 Liège–Bastogne–Liège to his name too and will be joining his big brother at Ineos, first as a stagiaire until the end of the year, and then permanently in 2023.
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) August 1, 2022
Leo Hayter: “I’m super proud and excited to be joining the Ineos Grenadiers this coming year, moving up to the highest level of the sport in a British team I’ve been inspired by since I started competing. Having participated in some training camps with the team, I already feel really at home here, and now can’t wait to get started.”
Commonwealth Games 2022: a closer look at the Cannock Chase Forest XCO course
The Commonwealth Games are in full swing, and on Wednesday we get to see the mountain bike racers hit the trails. The race is held at the Cannock Chase Forest and we’ve put together the course information for you. https://t.co/VC0oJwF0Hc
#CommonwealthGames22 pic.twitter.com/rUJlNaKAEg— off-road.cc (@off_roadcc) August 1, 2022
> Commonwealth Games 2022: a closer look at the Cannock Chase Forest XCO course
Police criticised for arresting and fining cyclist ignoring 'no cycling' signs
Last night, Royal Parks Police revealed that “in accordance with our Park Priorities” a cyclist stopped in a designated non-cycling area of Kensington Gardens had been arrested after refusing to give officers his details, and was later released with a £60 fine for the cycling offence…
In accordance with our Park Priorities a cyclist was stopped in Kensington Gardens, cycling in a non designated area. Refused to provided satisfactory details and arrested. Once officers were satisfied with details he eventually provided he was released with a sixty pound fine. pic.twitter.com/vP5ttSNgxu
— Royal Parks Police (@MPSRoyal_Parks) July 31, 2022
The reaction to Royal Parks Police’s tweet was mixed — some had little sympathy for ignoring the park’s by-laws — while others argued clamping down on individuals pedalling a bicycle, even where prohibited, shouldn’t be particularly high up the crime-tackling priority list.
One reply called the response “heavy-handed behaviour”, adding: “More heavy-handed behaviour. Please Google ‘proportionality’. It’s still totally out of proportion with the risk associated with the ‘offence’.”
Seriously? and yet you fail to deal w drivers who drive in to #RichmondPk before they’re allowed, commercial vans, close passing, tailgating and speeding!! Slow hand clap. Out of interest why is no cycling allowed there? who does it impact on?
— Ruth Mayorcas (@RuthMayorcas) July 31, 2022
Bloody hell – that was a narrow escape! So great to see the @MPSRoyal_Parks are on the case with this. Clearly it’s a much greater menace than speeding drivers, distracted drivers, drunk drivers, drugged drivers, bad drivers, angry drivers…
— Bang Average 3rd Cat (@BangAverageCat3) July 31, 2022
What a complete waste of time and resources.
— Active Travel Neighbourhoods 💚 (@ActiveTravelNet) July 31, 2022
It’s not the first time the force’s social media output has ended up here on our live blog…
Back in the spring a tweet was branded “tone-deaf” for boasting that one of the force’s officers had managed “not to jump a single red light or ride on a footpath” while cycling to work during a tube strike.
Astana end Miguel Ángel López suspension
Miguel Ángel López has been “provisionally reintegrated” back into Astana Qazaqstan Team following a short-lived suspension prompted by news the Colombian was being investigated as part of a doping probe in Spain.
In a statement, the team concluded that in the absence of any findings by Spanish authorities or the UCI “it was not in a position to continue the suspension”.
As it was communicated earlier (on 22.07.2022), following the news of Miguel Angel Lopez’s questioning by Spanish Police in connection with an investigation on Dr. Maynar, Astana Qazaqstan Team suspended Miguel Angel Lopez pending clarification of the status of the proceedings.
Based on the information received, Astana Qazaqstan Team was advised that in the absence of any finding by either the Spanish authorities or the UCI, it was not in a position to continue the suspension or further deprive the rider of his contractual rights. Miguel Angel Lopez is thus provisionally reintegrated as part of Astana Qazaqstan Team and will return to the previously agreed racing plan (Vuelta a Burgos and then Vuelta a España).
Astana Qazaqstan Team has forwarded all the information received to the International Testing Agency, which is in charge of anti-doping investigations on behalf of the UCI. The Team will monitor the situation closely and will not hesitate to take resolute measures depending on the development of the situation.
Timmy Mallett's UK tour continues
The day I met @TimmyMallett on his bike ride around Britain: pic.twitter.com/3lmsmnu3rY
— Stuart Leithes (@LeithesITV) August 1, 2022
42-metre £2m active travel bridge lifted into place
A crane hoisted the new Gooseholme active travel bridge into place across the River Kent in Kendal last week, a development the council says is a “hugely significant step forward” in the £2m project.
Cumbria County Council, working with contractor Story Contracting Ltd, and in partnership with an extensive specialised project team, oversaw the installation of the 55-tonne structure which was lifted into place.
The £2 million project is being delivered by Cumbria County Council with funding partners: the Environment Agency, South Lakeland District Council, as well as Sustrans, and is part of walking and cycling charity’s £77m programme, supported by the Department for Transport, to enhance the National Cycle Network.
The bridge is expected to open in the autumn.
You can't carry a Thetford Porta Potti 345 by bike...
…this life chose me. 😉 pic.twitter.com/GR0oO8viNn
— Elisabeth Anderson 🚲🐺 (@velobetty) July 31, 2022
Life after July
So, for the first time since July 1, neither the Tour de France or Tour de France Femmes are on our TV screens to get us through the work day (okay, okay, I know there were three rest days)…
There is some racing in the diary this week, however, over in Poland at the WorldTour (but not broadcast, as far as we can tell) Tour de Pologne. Cav’s debuting his fresh new British national champ’s colours…although things on the bike aren’t going quite as well…
Cav is in a group that has been dropped by the #TdP22 peloton on the hills in the final part of the stage.
Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/noQaCU7s6R
— Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team (@qst_alphavinyl) August 1, 2022
Cav’s two top-tens without threatening for the win over the weekend leave us here, on stage three, with Ethan Hayter the best hope for a British stage win on a long day in the saddle back-ended with three sharp stingers and an uphill finish…
Transcontinental update: Christoph Strasser first over Transalpina Pass
Of course there is life after the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, and not just the Tour de Pologne (stage three was won by birthday boy Sergio Higuita, by the way), Transcontinental Race has been underway for a week now. Christoph Strasser was first to summit Transalpina Pass and is through the fourth checkpoint…
First up and over the Transalpina Pass and through CP4 is Christoph (100). The weather is turning.#TCRNo8#transcontinental pic.twitter.com/IDEHK1tmqs
— The Transcontinental (@transconrace) August 1, 2022
Ulrich Bartholmoes and Adam Bialek have since passed through as well. Transcontinental has an impressive tracking page if dot-watching is your thing…
A kudos-worthy ride: Annemiek van Vleuten's La Planche des Belles Filles win
According to Strava, Van Vleuten’s winning ride is the most kudosed women’s ride ever, and third most kudosed women’s activity of all-time. Not too late to get that to number one…
Pro rider perks
Here we have it folks…the single greatest thing about being a professional cyclist (for Alpecin-Deceuninck)…
Sleep is the most crucial part of recovery. We are happy to announce Revor as our official sleep supplier. Revor and their ‘mattress carriers’ provide our riders with personalized mattrasses during all Grand Tours and training camps.
Read more: https://t.co/7hX2R0UsCJ pic.twitter.com/9i6ZcZ1ng4
— Alpecin-Deceuninck Cycling Team (@AlpecinDCK) August 1, 2022
Soon-to-be on Ebay — the ultimate in sporting memorabilia — Mathieu van der Poel’s mattress from the 2023 Tour de France…
Reader reaction
Here’s what you’re saying about Royal Parks Police and our main live blog story of the day…
As a cyclist I think this is right. If people on bikes aren’t punished for not following the rules, it just gives the anti cyclist brigade ammunition.
— James geldart (@geldart_james) August 1, 2022
If its against law then so they should.
— Brian Muir (@brianrobertmuir) August 1, 2022
Any more?
1 August 2022, 08:05
1 August 2022, 08:05
1 August 2022, 08:05
1 August 2022, 08:05
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Latest Comments
@Rendel Harris you've painted a rather alluring picture of social harmony there, but unfortunately you've got my name wrong. I'm Jack, not Nigel. However, to return the compliment, I must think of a story for you. I imagine you sat outside a pub, real ale and pipe propped on the adjacent table, in a similar fashion to Nigel Farage at his populist best. You turn to your wife. "You know what dear? I think I've been a bit harsh in my time. I've shunned the politeness and wisdom of others for too long and want to change my ways.* "There there Rendel", says Mrs Harris. "You're not a bad old stick, it's just living in London that's emptied your soul of kindness and compassion. I've found a lovely new place where we can settle down in our later years. It's on a leafy cul de sac, surrounded by friendly neighbours and smiling faces. There's a guy a couple of doors down, a remarkable man. As well as his towering intellect and rapier wit, he's also a keen cyclist, holding severa local KOMs. Don't be perturbed dear - he'll ride with anyone provided they show other road users the kindness and courtesy they deserve." Rendel turned emotionally, voice shaking. "Oh my dear, thank you for this second chance", and with that the rest of the pub goers turned and applauded the couple, throwing garlands of petals in their wake. The end.
As a Councillor, Edward needs to be paying some attention to all that parking obstructing visibility and manoeuvres at the junction, and sorting out those radii.
Ed Hill was chucked out by Reform in 2025, though TBF to him it was about how to run it rather than ideology I think. He is now reportedly closer to Advance UK, which is distinctly more extreme than Reform. I'd call this Alan Amos style attention seeking.
Emily, thank you for such an insightful piece. I’m a man, but I enjoy watching the women’s races, possibly more than the men’s. The racing is so much closer, we rarely know who’s going to win. You painted a wonderful picture of how a true champion is able to ‘rise above’ setbacks and distractions, and focus their energy on the task in hand. ‘All’s fair in live and war -and sport, but always good to hear riders expressing their admiration for their competitors
@Nigel Garage ...and then everyone applauded my courtesy and I waved courteously to all the people who were courteously throwing flowers and cheering and courteously waving flags that said "Nigel is the best!"
The picture from street view clearly shows give way lines from the roads to the green painted cycle/pedestrian lane. The road user should give way (or must...) to the user of the green lane. This would of course apply to any cyclist on the roadway.
If I recall there is a cave or two along the route - perhaps they were sheltering from the heat in one of those having taken it for a Golf bunker?
“So if there’s a cyclist travelling down the cycle path at the moment, from this position I can’t see them because my blind spots are too big on the left hand side of the vehicle”, claims Hill. Well, there's your problem, right there...🙄
First impression from the headline that he's likely a twit. Then the detail he was expelled from Reform makes you suspect that failing even their low bar requirements he really is. Then he clearly explains his vehicle is unsafe for the highway because he can't see to give way when turning. Any collision he now has should have that video run out explaining he drove a vehicle he knew to be unsafe. Advice for motorists; instead of thinking that pedestrians and cyclists are low risk 100kg objects, imagine them as a 300 Tonne trains that will crush you and your vehicle if you cross into their paths. You'd give way to the train, so you equally can to the others.
I've had a brief look on Facebook, and Ed Hill (who now appears to be affiliated with Advance UK) seems to have taken some useful road safety improvements under his remit, including an initiative to help local pedestrians on unpaved roads, where the wider council won't help due to planning failures. Regarding the cycle path, I think this is linked to a wider misunderstanding about giving way at junctions and I'm afraid I cannot agree with Mr Hill's conclusion. Regardless of the suitability of the cycle path, vehicles should give way at the junction to both pedestrians crossing and cyclists. It seems to be a poorly understood rule among motorists where some believe they have priority at junctions like this, where they certainly do not. I once had a similar issue myself, while leisurely walking to Waitrose to buy some lunchtime fripperies. A driver beeped their horn as I crossed the junction, despite me having priority, and was shocked and apologetic when I explained I had priority. A polite conversation later, the driver departed, educated and updated on the rules of the road.
49 thoughts on “Police criticised for arresting and fining cyclist ignoring ‘no cycling’ signs; Astana end Miguel Ángel López suspension; The “vague personal hierarchy of traffic violations”; Ineos snap up second Hayter brother; Weekend round-up + more on the live blog”
Re. “Crosswalk”; I’m sorry,
Re. “Crosswalk”; I’m sorry, but that’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in quite a while!
CyclingInGawler wrote:
Superb isn’t it? I’ve long wanted to do a Starsky-and-Hutch-style over-the-hood slide on drivers who stick their noses over the stop line, never had the guts.
There’s a zebra crossing I
There’s a zebra crossing I regularly use which is on a junction.
https://goo.gl/maps/1LgqDT1pT9GWCRKcA
Practically every motorist decides that they have to wait to get out of the junction, sitting across the zebra crossing (even on Streetview!)
I used to just walk behind them, but now I either walk veeeeeerrrrrry slowly in front of them or else just wait, right by the car, with my arms folded.
Remind me…what’s the name
Remind me…what’s the name of the building immediately opposite that zebra crossing.
Mary Willoughby wrote:
To all non-Bristolians: the building to which Mary alludes is the inner city headquarters of Avon & Somerset Police.
I was crossing a (rather wide
I was crossing a (rather wide) junction (on foot) over the weekend when a driver coming out of the junction literally just pulled up at the juction no more than a couple of feet in front of me. I considered several options, including walking in to the side of the car or knocking on the window, which was within touching distance, to explain rule H2, but as the driver looked like she might be somebodys Grandma I decided to leave it
I was waiting to cross at
I was waiting to cross at these lights the other week. Lights turned red for traffic, green for me. Then a white car undertook the two lanes of stationary traffic and sailed through. I had noticed it, and it wasn’t close but as they passed I shouted as loud as I could “OIIIIII, LIGHTS”. Driver looked shocked and I noticed them slow down at the next set further down. However I had my phone in my hand, so I wonder if they thought I was filiming them. (Unfortunately I wasn’t as was meeting the wife at New Steet Station and had just started a Find My search when at the lights). They didn’t go straight away when next lights went green until beeped at by the traffic behind.
“as the driver looked like
“as the driver looked like she might be somebodys Grandma I decided to leave it”
Great advice. Only pick the fights you know you can win.
Mungecrundle wrote:
???
YEStotheEU.
YEStotheEU.
I’ve seen the video before
I’ve seen the video before and it is amusing.
I’m sure there was a similar
I’m sure there was a similar one many years ago whereby an impatient driver tried to hurry some old lady who was crossing too slowly for their liking; she kicked the bumper and the airbags went off? I’ll try to find it …
… found it. I can’t tell whether it was staged or not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2zgr_Gg11U
panda wrote:
I really REALLY want that not to be staged 😀
The airbags and the Porsche
The Mustang airbag and the walk through Porsche video were both staged, both were very funny though.
YEStotheEU.
YEStotheEU.
Not fussed?
Not fussed?
CyclingInGawler wrote:
looks a tad staged to me but still funny.
From last night
From last night
needs a bit more hazard perception !
That second one, with ‘going
That second one, with ‘going through a deep puddle at speed’, was terrifying. Can’t imagine what was going through the head of the driver of the oncoming vehicle…
I can, nothing – though in
I can, nothing – though in reality there probably was a bit of “Landyitis”, but if I were the cammer, I’d have sent that footage to the police if there was a readable plate as it was certainly without due care and consideration, could so easily have caused the cammer to crash.
Love the John Shuttleworth
Love the John Shuttleworth voiceover on that one.
Is it possible that the
Is it possible that the cyclist didn’t realise that the Royal Parks Police are “real” police, and thought that they were just Percy the Park-Keeper? Hence not cooperating…
brooksby wrote:
You wouldn’t blame them, I have it on the authority of a real Met copper that up until 2005 the Royal Parks Constabulary (when the RPC became part of the Met) was where people went if they failed the entrance procedure for the Met, after 2005 they became Met officers by default, so if you meet one aged over about 37 s/he most likely was originally a Met reject, and my encounters with them have certainly tended to bear this out.
“Back in the spring a tweet
“Back in the spring a tweet was branded “tone-deaf” for boasting that one of the force’s officers had managed “not to jump a single red light or ride on a footpath” while cycling to work during a tube strike.”
Why are we criticising the Police for this policy? Sure, they might start with small wins but imagine how much safer people will feel when they can work up to confidently say that all of their Officers managed to get to work without abducting, raping and murdering a member of the public.
So right above a permanent
So right above a permanent plaque saying “cycle here” you have temporary paint saying “no cycling”. How is that fair?!
Isn’t it a bicycle in a red
Isn’t it a bicycle in a red circle, so ‘cycling prohibited’?
brooksby wrote:
Yeah, I think it’s meant to be this sign, except it’s greyscale so it probably causes some confusion. I imagine that’s why the “no cycling” has been added too…
Surely a hot shot lawyer with
Surely a hot shot lawyer with expertise in road safety could have got the cyclist off that fine. If only we could think of someone that fits that decription.
IanMK wrote:
You mean “a Top Lawyer (TM)”? 😀 😉
If it was a council park,
If it was a council park, then there are all sorts of possiblities for trying an appeal, if the colour had been lost on the decals so you believed they were marking a cycle route and the writing looks so suspiciously amateurish that you assumed it was vandalism (see the exhibit from a couple of months ago of “No cycing” or whatever it said). Councils are compelled to be reasonable by law – not that they always are.
However, I have a suspicion that Royal Parks are literally a law unto themselves and common sense and reasonableness might not legally be in their tradition, old charter or something. (I may of course be talking a load of old toot).
I think it would have made
I think it would have made more sense to have the roundel up on a post, though, not inset into the pavement…
https://www.swindonadvertiser
https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/20587832.watch-moment-screaming-cyclist-thrown-car-bonnet/
Motorist “clips” e-bike (hard enough to damage the bike) then throws the bike out of the way to carry on going. Cyclist stands in front to stop him, so he drives into him and carries on with him on the bonnet.
The judge said that whilst it was “an offence which clearly passes the custodial threshold”, he posed “absolutely no danger to the public”. He got 12-month sentence suspended by 18 months, was banned from driving for one year and ordered to pass an extended re-test before he can get his licence back, and paid £500 victim compensation.
(Meanwhile, in other news, a couple who buried their deceased dad deep in the Welsh woods in accordance with his wishes have both been sent straight to jail for four months each. Discuss).
These new (old) burial
These new (old) burial customs always attract controversy:
https://www.affertons.co.uk/2022/03/04/the-controversial-birth-of-cremation-in-the-uk/
Personally when I’m gone you
Personally when I’m gone you can stuff me and mount me, posed making a suitable gesture, on a pole outside your least favourite local party / council office / parliament with a sign saying “it’s what he would have wanted” *. Because I’ll be dead…
* Bonus points if this leads to specific legislation to deal with such protests.
brooksby wrote:
Speaking for myself, I live in constant fear that I’ll be buried alive in Welsh woods, so that’s probably the biggest danger to the public.
What’s that? He was dead when they buried him? Oh, well maybe that’s just their first taste of wild burying and it’s almost certain they’ll escalate to live burials if not locked up.
Wouldn’t the biggest danger
Wouldn’t the biggest danger to the public be if they buried you … but you came back?
chrisonatrike wrote:
It’s always a risk
chrisonatrike wrote:
TBH I was really glad that didn’t come out of the coronavirus pandemic. At the beginning, there was a lot of newswatching, watching for the first reports of the dead rising… Luckily, apocalypse averted 😀
This time…
brooksby wrote:
But are you sure it’s not to early to say?
brooksby wrote:
Correction: they only got a suspended sentence.
Mea culpa – I must have
Mea culpa – I must have misread it.
But still – four months for burying a body in the woods vs twelve months for driving a living person along on the bonnet of your car in anger…. Doesn’t really seem proportionate, to me.
I don’t see how he is allowed
I don’t see how he is allowed to drive if he is PSTD and is triggered so easily. How are the public protected ?
brooksby wrote:
He doesn’t pose any danger to the public, just those stupid, annoying, entiled cyclists and no one likes them do they?
https://metro.co.uk/2022/08
I got stopped many moons ago
I got stopped many moons ago in Kensington Gardens wheeling along a path (at a jogging pace) and got pounced on by an agressive WPC. After some discussion and apologies, she let me off with just a verbal warning not to do it again. I have a feeling the cyclist who was fined could have achieved the same result if they had wanted to…
joe9090 wrote:
A warning for jogging on a path…
Was there a 5mph speed limit?
Duh wut? Wheeling = cycling.
Duh wut? Wheeling = cycling.
There, I hope I clarified your comprehension!
joe9090 wrote:
I think the vast majority of readers would interpret “wheeling” to mean pushing your bike; in British English wheeling is defined as pushing or pulling a wheeled object. In American English it is sometimes used for cycling but I’ve never heard it or read it used by a British person, so quite understandable that a British reader would not get your meaning.
joe9090 wrote:
Wheeling is not cycling in most people’s usage. In addition your poor grammar did not aid my comprehension.
Wheeling = pushing one’s cycle alongside, rather like wheeling a trolley, and not astride the vehicle e.g. https://www.cyclehoop.com/product/access-infrastructure/bike-wheeling-ramp/
Scooting is in between that and cycling (i.e. astride a bicycle), usually with one foot on the pedal nearer you.