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news
Jeremy Vine denies graffitiing 'F*@! Off' on 'Cyclists Dismount' sign; Police catch cyclist riding down M55 hard shoulder; talkRADIO presenter must drive everywhere; Cycling out in the spring weather; Strade Bianche should go ahead + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Cyclists dismount (Copyright Simon MacMichael)01 March 2021, 17:35
More meddling from Mr Vine: should cyclists be able to get off their bikes and walk across at red lights?
Wow, this question certainly flushed out some prejudice. https://t.co/lCFqJF9TMK
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) March 1, 2021
Most of us will already know that legally the answer is yes... but this is Twitter, where anyone can create their very own permanently incensed moral code.
Maybe I’ll just get out of my car and push it through the red light...?!?
Cyclists can’t just pick and choose which laws they want to obey.
— Slater 💙 (@Grossberger101) March 1, 2021
I'll get out my car and push it across in that case
— Jamie Scott (@Jamie2090) March 1, 2021
Even if we know that those who think a pedestrian pushing a bike through a red light should be hung, drawn and quartered are actually talking cobblers, it's a great opportunity to share this classic Mr Bean clip...
01 March 2021, 16:25
Another sign alteration...
Two sign vandals in one day, this time a subtle change to a no jogging instruction in Clifton in Bristol. At least they've opened up the evenings for anyone who's that way inclined and wants some exercise before bed...Jeremy, was this one you?
01 March 2021, 16:43
Record numbers of children set to cycle to school from March 8
New research from Halfords has found that more children than ever before are set to cycle to school once they re-open next week. Over a third of adults in the UK have bought a bike since the start of the pandemic, with 28 per cent of those being kid's bikes. Last Christmas saw the biggest ever sales of kid's bikes at Halfords and 37 per cent of respondents said they were planning to buy themselves or a family member a bike in the next six months.
The number one reason for buying a bike was to keep fit with 58 per cent of 2,000 adults polled saying they wanted to cycle for exercise. Almost half said it was to spend time outdoors with their families, while 30 per cent wanted to avoid public transport.
The high street chain also announced today that their profits approach £100 million due to the cycling boom.
01 March 2021, 10:37
Jeremy Vine denies graffitiing 'F*@! Off' on 'Cyclists Dismount' sign
I approve of this message 🤣 pic.twitter.com/TYjSUrvEoS
— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) February 28, 2021
road.cc news editor Simon MacMichael found this amusing piece of graffiti on a cyclists dismount sign in West London over the weekend and suggested it might have been the work of another local cycling advocate — Mr Jeremy Vine. Simon put the question to the broadcaster on Twitter and unfortunately for all who hoped Vine is secretly an anti-cyclists dismount sign vigilante, he denied it...Although that's what he would say, isn't it?
It wasn't me.
(via @simonmacmichael) pic.twitter.com/gEk9IxbE4k— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) February 28, 2021
For a bit of context to the sign, the usual route for pedestrians, cyclists and joggers along the Thames Path is closed, meaning everyone has to use the narrow stretch of footway seen in the photos. Despite sometimes getting busy, the cyclists dismount sign is generally unnecessary considering how easy it is to roll through at walking pace...
01 March 2021, 16:41
01 March 2021, 15:24
01 March 2021, 15:17
Strade Bianche update from race organisers RCS Sport
RCS Sport has today told Cyclingnews that Strade Bianche should be unaffected by the province of Siena being put under new restrictions. "For now, the race is confirmed," RCS explained. "Even though Siena is now classified as 'code red', that has no impact on the race, only on the public. Of course, anything can happen with the virus, but at the moment we have not yet received any notice that the race cannot take place."
Earlier today we shared a report from the Netherlands which claimed a decision about the men's and women's races would be made this week.
01 March 2021, 15:11
New Coefficient Cycling Road Race carbon handlebars
Coefficient Cycling has revealed its new Road Race carbon handlebars, suitable for both the smooth tarmac and rougher gravel. The patent-pending integrated computer bridge claims to offer “hand placement options to powerfully and comfortably lift you over a steep climb and/or stretch-out and narrow-up to bridge a gap or breakaway from the pack”. While the patented Coefficient Swope design, with sloping, sweeping bar tops, promises to relax your upper body, improving both respiratory and neuromuscular functionality.
The bars, designed within UCI and ITU rules, have a 7 degree flare, measure 87mm from stem to computer, and are available from 38cm to 44cm, with smallest size weighing in at a claimed 310 grams.
01 March 2021, 14:48
Dr Richard Freeman verdict delayed again
Shock news: the fitness-to-practice medical tribunal of former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman - who is accusing of doping a rider - will not be handing down its decision tomorrow as 'further time is required'. Verdict now expected on March 12.
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) March 1, 2021
One day possibly in the near future the Dr Richard Freeman case will reach a verdict...That day will not be tomorrow however. The case has been rumbling on for two years and a verdict was expected to be heard on Tuesday, but this has now been pushed back until March 12 at the earliest...In February, Freeman was charged with violating anti-doping rules.
01 March 2021, 13:31
Police catch cyclist riding down M55 hard shoulder
Although MN31 agreed that it was a lovely day for you to be out & about doing your daily exercise. They didn’t think the hard shoulder of the M55 was the best choice for a cycle. #T1TacOps @LancsTacOps pic.twitter.com/mb8LTwUG6F
— Lancs Road Police (@LancsRoadPolice) February 28, 2021
Lancashire Police caught this cyclist taking a Sunday spin on the M55 hard shoulder. No word about if the man was fined or just given a talking to but DCC Terry Woods said his actions were "silly". DCC Woods said: "Lancashire Police cover well over 150 miles of motorway including M6, M61, M55, M65 and M58. Thankfully not many people are silly enough to risk cycling along them!"
This isn't the first time the police force has had to deal with people riding on motorways. In May last year a cyclist was fined after a van driver crashed trying to avoid him on the M58. Later that month, police in Cheshire escorted four cyclists from the M53 after receiving numerous calls reporting the group.
01 March 2021, 14:07
01 March 2021, 14:03
Another cycle lane targeted by vandals spreading nails
Some twisted nut has covered Vernon Rd/Beverley Dr cycle access in rusty nails now. @NTCouncilTeam I'll go back down with a brush & try to clean it up but it looks like we're got a serial saddo on the loose. @JoeKirwin could u flag this to the appropriate bod pls?@northumbriapol https://t.co/FYpkiTZmJW pic.twitter.com/JbE28zyYTd
— Steve 😷 🚴🏻♂️ 🏴 (@boylemeister) February 27, 2021
01 March 2021, 12:34
talkRADIO presenter must drive everywhere
Some campaigners say they want LTNs to be removed as a matter of social justice.
Occasionally the mask slips and they reveal their real motives; LTNs affect their perceived right to drive everywhere for short journeys, polluting other people’s neighbourhoods in the process. pic.twitter.com/JkkQSo5iGN
— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter) February 28, 2021
talkRADIO presenter Cristo Foufas is no stranger to slating LTNs and defending the need to drive in London...Yesterday he shared his journey running errands across South London, travelling exclusively by car...One Twitter user described Foufas' inability to understand the geography of his own neighbourhood as "hilariously brilliant", while others questioned why parts of his journey couldn't be done by public transport, bike or on foot? Anyway, here it is in all its glory...
This diagram is hilariously brilliant. How can a single person not understand the geography of their own neighbourhood? This journey planning is absolute madness. Would love to see how he finds things in a grocery store, does go 6 times to each aisle before finishing?
— Justin Gist Preuninger (@elegancehq) February 28, 2021
01 March 2021, 12:02
Strade Bianche situation monitored as Siena infections are on the rise
Race organisers are closely monitoring the situation in the Italian province of Siena where next Saturday's men's and women's editions of Strade Bianche are due to be held after tighter restrictions were implemented in the area following a rise in infections. The code red measures mean that residents can't travel, unless for work or medical reasons and all non-essential shops have also closed until Sunday at the earliest. Dutch outlet Wielerflits reports that for the time being the races will continue as planned, although this will be decided in the next few days. Strade Bianche was the first WorldTour event held following the four month shutdown of pro racing last year when Wout van Aert took an impressive victory.
01 March 2021, 11:31
Weekend racing round up: Pup in the peloton, insane bike handling and behind the scenes footage
Opening Weekend of the Belgian Classics lived up to its billing with racing across an uncharacteristically mild final weekend in February. On Saturday, Deceuninck-Quick-Step and Anna van der Breggen did what they do best, winning the men's and women's races respectively. It was Davide Ballerini who benefited from his super strong team, including the help of World Champion Julian Alaphilippe. On Sunday, Mathieu van der Poel came to the party, attacking from 83km to go, only being reeled in during the closing stages. The Dutch champion's attack showed off some of his bike handling skills...
And thankfully nobody was hurt and this pet pup was back on the side of the road before causing any crashes...
01 March 2021, 10:59
01 March 2021, 10:08
"Feels like a permanent switch": Thousands of cyclists make the most of the spring weather
Went out for a few hours this morning on the old bicycle. Genuinely insane amounts of folk enjoying a ride on what was a pretty chilly February day in London, and a more diverse, younger crowd too. Feels like a permanent switch for many. 👍
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) February 28, 2021
Another weekend of glorious weather brought out thousands of cyclists onto the roads, bike lanes and trails around the country. There are plenty of videos from London doing the rounds on social media...
#CS3 in London ☀️
This is people centred infrastructure.
So many people out walking 🚶♀️ and cycling 🚲
Safe infrastructure with dedicated space for active travel means that when conditions are right all ages all ability active movements are enabled.
More of the same please! pic.twitter.com/KHqwwymMGv
— Dermot Hanney (@HanneyDP) February 27, 2021
And it wasn't just in London, there were similar scenes up and down the UK, like this video from Manchester...
A really lovely part of today was cycling along the Manchester Road share path.
I counted more people cycling and walking towards Manchester than in cars.
I have even provided a soundtrack.
🐕❤️🚲 pic.twitter.com/CoF4s6EXSL
— Harrie Larrington-Spencer (@tricyclemayor) February 28, 2021
01 March 2021, 08:47
Poldark's Richard Harrington worked for Deliveroo during lockdown
Poldark actor Richard Harrington is "grateful" for having been able to ride his bike every day after taking a job as a Deliveroo rider during lockdown last year. With no acting jobs available, Harrington turned to delivering people's takeaways in London between March and September as a way of keeping himself occupied.
"I got a job with Deliveroo, going around on my bike and delivering takeaways to people," he said. "I'm normally quite a fit person, but the lockdown had turned me into a lock-in, so I was thankful I was able to go on my bike every day because of the job."
The actor has recently featured in The Crown and Gangs of London and is currently filming Fflam, a new drama on Welsh language channel S4C.
Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.
Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.
Add new comment
39 comments
brooksby
|
3 years ago
0 likes
Low-traffic schemes benefit most-deprived Londoners, study finds
Data dispels myth that low-traffic neighbourhoods are disproportionately found in privileged areas
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2021/mar/02/low-traffic...
Kapelmuur
|
3 years ago
8 likes
Re pushing a bike past a red traffic light, I was once pushing my bike the 'wrong way' on a one way street when a policeman stopped me and told me to go back to the start of the one way section and find an alternative route as 'a bicycle is a vehicle and vehicles can't proceed in a contrary direction to the traffic on a one way road''.
Almost 60 years later I still feel bitter about it!
OldRidgeback
|
3 years ago
6 likes
That idiot Cristo should use a mapping tool and start riding a bike. He'd cut his journey times in half at least and wouldn't have to worry about parking. I live in the area and know how frustrating it is to drive around, which is why I leave the car and opt for two wheels for local trips like that. It's just so much easier by bicycle. It'd save him money on fuel and he'd get some exercise. And the weather was great at the weekend too.
That idiot Cristo should use a mapping tool and start riding a bike. He'd cut his journey times in half at least and wouldn't have to worry about parking. I live in the area and know how frustrating it is to drive around, which is why I leave the car and opt for two wheels for local trips like that. It's just so much easier by bicycle. It'd save him money on fuel and he'd get some exercise. And the weather was great at the weekend too.
Don't be silly, it wouldn't suit his anti cycling and LTN agenda. The guy is a serial Twitter twat, and worse he's allowed to broadcast his views.
Someone put "TBF, buying petrol without a car isn't easy."
I have filled up with 5L in a can and strapped the can to my rack and cycled home several times (petrol for a mower).
I had to do that last week.
My car is in the garage having some serious welding done, and my wife announced when I got home that her car was saying it was completely empty.
I had to take a can down to the local garage and fill it. It fitted quite nicely in a messenger bag once I'd taken everything else out.
(I'll tell you what, though, motorway service areas are NOT designed for the convenience of anyone not in a car. Even ones accessible from normal non-motorway roads...)
Did you use one of them? They charge about 15p a litre more then non motorway ones.
Had to. The garage in the village had closed for the evening, and my wife refuses to use it for anything anyway (for reasons I've never got to the bottom of). So a quick ride down to Gordano Services for 4.5 litres of unleaded at 141p per litre... 
Yes I do. But they both run happily on unleaded (hardened cylinder heads fitted years ago, IIRC) (my car is currently in the garage having some welding done on the floorpan and heater channels to bring it back up to MOT standards (despite it not actually having to be MOTd I put it through an MOT-equivalent anyway, for safety's sake)).
Christo reacted the same way to Ranty Highwayman as a mobile phone driver reacts when called out - it becomes about justifying it ("I have my reasons") - which is a tacit admission that Ranty's "why drive?" is a legitimate question. He could have ignored it - he hasn't broken any rules in terms of travel choice, after all.
BtW, an LTN is just an update of older areas originally built with through roads for the car era, to be like every big housing area built in the past 50 years.
Remember a national speed limit dual carriageway with no hard shoulder is OK for cycling.
It's even good for a horse drawn vehicle - as long as it's not racing...
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