Another cycle route blocked by "disappointing" barriers that "reduce accessibility and comfort"; Geraint Thomas' namesake sells a bike... cue plenty of jokes; Cycle lane hosts cricket match for the ages; Vuelta Femenina + more on the live blog

Here's the before and after of a path in Nuneaton where some bollards have been replaced by the dreaded chicane barriers, one local cyclist saying the "disappointing" move "rather than being an improvement for walking, wheeling, and cycling, reduces accessibility and comfort".

The cut through comes, Bicycle Ben explains, near a National Cycle Network route and now reduces accessibility for riders on bikes, but particularly for those on cargo bikes or adapted cycles which may be wider than other bicycles and may struggle to get through the reduced width between the barriers.

It's worth noting that there is no reasonable nearby alternative connection and this may well be inaccessible to anyone riding an adapted cycle or certain mobility aids, as well as those using non-standard cycles including cargo/utility bikes, towing trailers etc.

— BicycleBen (@BicycleBenUK) April 30, 2024

 We've reported on numerous cases such as this, the logic normally deployed by local authorities being that the barriers are there to prevent prohibited vehicles accessing the route, although as many point out this can come at the cost of preventing those who are meant to be able to use the path.

Yep. The bollards were fine as a legacy restriction. A touch narrow on today's standards maybe, but not worth making an issue over. Unless they'd been damaged somehow, I don't know why they have been replaced, and then why not like for like?

— BicycleBen (@BicycleBenUK) May 1, 2024

In March, a disabled cyclist won a battle to get Newcastle City Council to remove "discriminatory" barriers after the local authority agreed for an out-of-court settlement to modify the National Cycle Network path. 

A month earlier, in February, Bolton Council admitted that no equality impact assessment was carried out prior to it installing similar chicane-style barriers on a cycling and walking route.

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, Stockport Council backtracked on a plan to introduce more barriers to cycling and walking routes, a decision welcomed by campaigners who said the proposals would discriminate against disabled people who use non-standard cycles, wheelchairs, and mobility aids.

Perhaps most bizarrely was the case of the newly installed bollards on Milton Keynes' cycleways and shared-use routes. A delivery cyclist in the city, ultracycling legend Steve Abraham, told road.cc about the surreal situation whereby the bollards were too narrow for cargo bike trailers to get through. The punchline? The fact that said cargo bike trailers had been provided to couriers by... the same council that installed the bollards...

Kristen Faulkner earned EF Education-Cannondale their second win at La Vuelta Femenina, the American rider slipping away on the run to Zaragoza (no comment on which idiot in charge of the live blog described tomorrow's stage in their preview earlier today...)

Kristen Faulkner hit the gas pedal and never looked back 🤯

Her win gives the squad our SECOND stage win at La Vuelta Femenina 🥳 pic.twitter.com/CnJTFeaJcm

— EF Education–Cannondale (@EF_Cannondale) May 1, 2024

There had been crosswind action, fewer than 20 riders finishing within two minutes of the stage winner, the rest left to lick their wounds after unnecessary GC losses. Georgia Baker came home second with Marianne Vos in third, the Dutch rider taking a few bonus seconds and moving into the race lead.

TOMORROW we have the summit finish to Jaca, the GC favourites needing to find their climbing legs soon as we head for three kilometres averaging north of eight per cent to chuck el gato entre las palomas (no idea if that works in Spanish)...

This Saturday (4 May) is Local Bike Shop Day 2024, with riders encouraged to support the cycle businesses in their area. The event is sponsored by Cytech and numerous Association of Cycle Traders members are making the most of the day by offering customers offers and deals. 

For example, Summit Cycles in Aberystwyth, will be celebrating Local Bike Shop Day by offering up to 50 per cent off selected clothing and helmets, free bike health
checks, e-bike test rides and a prize draw to win a £150 voucher.

Aztecs in Bow, East London will be offering customers old and new 10 per cent off everything in the shop, on the day, whilst at De Ver Cycles in Streatham, Britain's first black cycling champion, Maurice Burton, will be in conversation with Paul Jones
discussing their book, The Maurice Burton Way, and visitors can also ride with Maurice at 9am, departing from De Ver Cycles' Streatham shop."

"Independent bike shops across the UK have a particular culture, service
and level of expertise that places them at the heart of their local
cycling communities. Local Bike Shop Day the day we all get to celebrate
that," said Jonathan Harrison from the ACT.

"Whether it's for accessories, for servicing or repairs, for accessories
or just for specialist advice, independent bike shops provide a
knowledgeable and invaluable service to cyclists of all ages, and this
is a chance to support them and celebrate them. For bike shops it is a
chance to reinforce their customer relationships and promote themselves
to new audiences."

Lennard Kämna, the German rider who has won a stage of all three Grand Tours as well as at Critérium du Dauphiné and Volta a Catalunya, has been let out of hospital in Tenerife having been treated by doctors for a month following a serious training camp collision with the driver of a vehicle at the start of April.

He had been down to ride the Giro d'Italia a race appearance that was cancelled after the 27-year-old suffered numerous injuries "especially to his chest" and underwent successful surgery last week.

"Thank you for all the support over the past few weeks," Kämna said. "I would especially like to thank my girlfriend and my family who have done everything to make me feel as comfortable as possible. It has not been an easy time at the University Hospital in Tenerife, but I am very grateful to the medical team and nurses for what they have done for me over the past few weeks.

"I am overjoyed that the first step of my recovery has been completed today and that I can now move on to Hamburg. I will start my rehab there and I am highly motivated to get back on the bike as soon as possible. But the most important thing is to get healthy again."

By far my favourite bike lane blockage to have ever made the live blog, splendid stuff...

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Paul Goodier (@6289_paul) 

Stick with this one before you turn it off and comment your disagreement...

Did a video generalising @MikeyCycling & similar up-loaders, as ever, comment section on those uploads is an interesting look into society. Pulled a swerve with the way i intro’d that caught out premature commenters. Maintain that anyone who uses term ‘grass’ is emotionally /… pic.twitter.com/e5Kl1aLysN

— Shaun 🐢 (@officialjobberX) April 30, 2024

As Shaun concludes: "If what he does saves one life then I say 'crack on, fella'."