“I’ll pay the fine! You’re not going to see me complaining”: CyclingMikey shares footage of him accidentally riding through red light, although barrister doubts prosecution is “in the public interest”; Paris-Roubaix cobbles stolen + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"Ridiculous" Paris-Roubaix vandalism as cobbles stolen from famous sector and "a lot of rubbish" left by fans
Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix (The Friends of Paris Roubaix — the volunteers who maintain the cobbles and help keep the famous sectors rideable) have raised the alarm about a “ridiculous” act of vandalism at Sunday’s race, cobblestones apparently stolen out of the ground by spectators looking for a souvenir.
“Cobbles from the Carrefour de l’Arbre were stolen after the race. There was also a lot of rubbish. Ridiculous,” the group said on social media, also sharing a photo of the littering problem.
I’m afraid you’ve got to win Paris-Roubaix if you want a cobblestone on your mantelpiece, and digging one out the ground has obvious safety implications for anyone professional or otherwise riding the cobbles. Not to mention the extra time and money required to replace the pilfered pavé. In short, not the smartest idea. But don’t worry, we have a suspect…
I saw this guy take one, he’s even smiling while doing it.. pic.twitter.com/mGTc25PxAb
— Rick (@RBAFCA) April 9, 2024
Very suspicious. Facetiousness aside, there has been plenty of sympathy for Les Amis des Paris-Roubaix, a voluntary organisation stretched for time and resources that does its best to help keep one of the great sporting events running. And then something like this happens.
Jane van Nieke: “Ridiculous doesn’t begin to describe it! Merci beaucoup for your continued passion and hard work.”
Olifants: “We true cycling fans very much appreciate your efforts to retain this portion of history in the sport in spite of people without manners or morals or ethics. I thank you!”
"Road safety remains the biggest barrier to more people cycling": Research suggests more than two thirds of Scots think not feeling safe is main barrier to cycling
Timmy Mallett's Northern Ireland cycling tour
This is our regular ‘we’re very jealous of Timmy Mallett’s life’ post. Northern Ireland is the latest destination the presenter is exploring on two wheels.
Well worth a follow on Strava, plus other socials, if you’re that way inclined…
Delicious Quirkiness of directions from the walled city #norniron pic.twitter.com/2le5MwZ3WO
— Timmy Mallett (@TimmyMallett) April 10, 2024
"Taking the first step was pretty emotional after what I've been through": Jay Vine begins recovery from fractured vertebrae
UAE Team Emirates climber Jay Vine was one of the worst affected in last week’s horrendous Itzulia crash, suffering several fractured vertebrae in the pile-up which also saw Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič abandon with injuries.
The Australian rider has updated fans on his condition, explaining that being able to take his first steps with a walker was “pretty emotional” considering some of the early fears about the extent of the damage.
“Incredible support from everyone! Thanks so much for all the messages!” Vine wrote on Instagram. “Medical update on my end: I’m tracking as well as can be expected, I have been able to walk around my room with the aid of a walker, and taking the first step was pretty emotional after what I’ve been through.
“Waiting to get home to Andorra, but the folks in the hospital have been A + with the care I have received. Just can’t believe that I will still be able to walk and play with my kids one day, it was pretty scary for a couple of days when we weren’t sure if surgery or neurological problems might present themselves. Long road ahead for my recovery, but I am looking forward to getting the process rolling.”
Learning to ride a bike as an adult — one cyclist's story
A year ago today, I got a bike for my birthday and tried learning to cycle for the first time. I’ve made a little video for fun to show my journey over the past twelve months.
I didn’t think I’d be able to, so if you’ve never learned or want to try again, this is your sign🚴 pic.twitter.com/039kclCUxR— Councillor David Barker (@David4BKH) April 10, 2024
Bike thief who ditched his own bicycle to steal another jailed
A bike thief has been jailed and ordered to pay his victim compensation after admitting abandoning his own bicycle in order to steal another one.
The Peterborough Telegraph reports Benjamin Trayford was seen on CCTV cutting through a lock on March 9, leaving his own bicycle outside the Nisa shop in Eldern to make off with the stolen one.
The 31-year-old was identified two weeks later, having been approached by Tesco staff for acting suspiciously, and arrested by the police in relation with the earlier theft. Trayford admitted the offence and has been sentenced to four weeks in prison and was ordered to pay £250 in compensation.
“This was a moment of opportunity for Trayford, and he didn’t think twice before committing the offence,” PC Jenkins said. “Bikes are extremely important for cyclists as they are often their main form of transport, and therefore I would like to encourage cyclists to look into the best ways to protect their bikes when it comes to leaving them.”
Paris-Roubaix spectator's lawyer insists "never any intention to harm" to Mathieu van der Poel and confirms she has contacted riders' union
Elisa Longo Borghini lands impressive solo victory at Brabantse Pijl
It’s the official cobbles x Ardennes crossover day — Brabantse Pijl — the perfect mix of a last dose of pavé and puncheur-friendly tarmac bergs. In the women’s race, Elisa Longo Borghini continued her impressive classics campaign, adding a third victory of the spring to her palmares and a second in succession, following on from Flanders.
🥇 Elisa Longo Borghini cruises to a solo victory at Fleche Brabanconne! 🙌
🥈 Demi Vollering follows shortly after to take second! 👏#DBP24 pic.twitter.com/uLHx2u7IRK
— Eurosport (@eurosport) April 10, 2024
Demi Vollering was second, the Ardennes triple-header starting this weekend surely going to offer the SD Worx climber a big opportunity for that first victory (or three) of 2024. 35km to go in the men’s race, and with no Mathieu van der Poel or Tadej Pogačar it feels a bit like some bike races used to — open, competitive, all up for grabs… we’ll let you know who comes out on top as soon as it’s happened…
Benoît Cosnefroy sprints to Brabantse Pijl victory
𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓲𝓻𝓮 ☝️
Benoit Cosnefroy wins the Fleche Brabanconne, outpacing everybody else in the sprint 💪
Straight on the radio to thank the team, too 📻#DBP24 | @decathlonAG2RLM pic.twitter.com/wgOE9nS26K
— Eurosport (@eurosport) April 10, 2024
No 60km solo victory? I guess that comes next week when Tadej Pogačar returns… just a good, old competitive reduced bunch sprint, Benoît Cosnefroy the strongest of an evenly matched front group that had reeled in escapee Marijn van den Berg on the final climb to the finish.
In Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel’s absence, UAE Team Emirates and Alpecin-Deceuninck had to settle for third with Tim Wellens and sixth with Quenten Hermans. See, isn’t so easy without your big dogs, is it?
Shout-out to Israel-Premier Tech Brit Joseph Blackmore (who’s already won three stages and three GC races this year, by the way) for a moster lead-out followed by enough strength to sprint for fourth. Did his team pick the right man for the finish?
"Obstacle course" cycle junction a "ruse to drive motorists out of the town", claim drivers – but cyclists praise long-awaited layout change
"I'll pay the fine! You're not going to see me complaining": CyclingMikey shares footage of him accidentally riding through red light, although barrister doubts prosecution is "in the public interest"
Here’s a bizarre turn of events for your Wednesday live blog. CyclingMikey, the road safety campaigner who uploads and reports videos of road users committing traffic offences, has shared his latest video, in which the road user in question is… himself?!
Having stopped at traffic lights on Eccleston Street in Westminster, one of the four lights visible soon turned green, signalling the bicycle rider to advance and cross the junction. However, with no traffic following, and the benefit of camera footage to look back on, he worked out the other three lights were red and the green light was in fact for traffic from another direction and had been twisted out of place. How the junction should look…
@TfL @CityWestminster I’d like to report this traffic light as someone has twisted it to point down the wrong road. See the video in my post above. This is what it is supposed to look like: pic.twitter.com/6fCWqTJAVD
— CyclingMikey the Unspeakable (@MikeyCycling) April 10, 2024
How it did…
Anyway, Mikey took the bold (and admirably principled) step of uploading the footage to social media and even invited any trolls who may wish to report the incident to the police, giving the time and date of the incident to assist any report.
“It’s my mistake, I hold my hands up, I’m at fault there,” Mikey told his YouTube video. “I missed that the other two traffic lights were still red. I realised something was wrong when the scooter rider next to me revved his engine and then stopped, so he obviously almost got caught too, but he and the other scooter rider behind me didn’t follow through. That’s probably the best use of video cameras that I have over the years, that I can go back and look at when there’s been a point of conflict or something’s gone unexpectedly and I can find out what went wrong and change my own riding as a result.
“I’m sure that some trolls would like to report me for running the red light… you’re welcome to, I’ll even give you the time and date! It was yesterday, the 8th April, at 13:16, I’m sure you can work out where the road is.
“If the police prosecute me, so what? I’ll pay the fine, you’re not going to see me complaining.”
Barrister and fellow YouTuber the BlackBeltBarrister saw the footage and suggested it “ought not be in the public interest” to prosecute in this case.
“Perfect example of where the police can use discretion as this video serves as education and a show of integrity — so it ought not to be in the public interest to prosecute,” he commented.
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Latest Comments
@C3a Presumably it's to do with turnover stability while moving. I saw a Tentbox today, just being driven through Garstang. I can certainly see the advantage of these boxes over tents, because I have suffered lifelong from the 'Get orf my land' brigade, and there's a much greater tolerance among them for those 'camping' in vehicles than for those much more worthy real campers in tents. Add to that the convenience of just stopping in any old free spot by the roadside, where there isn't a decent site for a tent, and you can see the attraction.
Most of the cars that I have owned have had a roof-box limit (bars, box and contents) of 70kg. How does a textbox fit with that? Is the limit only applicable when the vehicle is moving?
@Chris RideFar For starters, by being 1,5 m above the ground you are mostly protected from dew. In many countries it also protects you from frost or really low temperatures. You'd be surprised how much of a difference it actually makes. Bugs, ants, spiders etc. are another thing, as is the purely mental feeling of security by being isolated from the ground. You'd be surprised how much that means to some of us and our better halves ;-) Sleeping on the ground also means more mechanical damage to the floor from rocks, hard roots etc., which could make a big difference in some areas and on longer trips, where a ripped tent floor could really break your holiday. I'm not saying a roof tent is the answer to all one's troubles with camping. But these factors definitely to make a difference to many of us.
When was the last time you had a groundsheet with a built in mattress? The point is predictable comfort.
Is it because cars and driving are about convenience (for a price), so there is mileage in selling more (quite expensive) related things that are about convenience?
@FionaJJ that's the crux of the issue i guess. Minority causes can have this where the mainstream has the power to steamroll you (figuratively and literally). There's always "fear of angering the giant" (or alienating the decision makers / majority, where any politician has the temptation to gain attention by criticising this. And business salespeople stand to gain by selling "convenience and status" instead). But ... it's also easy to keep getting "small wins" while losing the main argument. (That would be where rules and public space remain suited to or are further modified to reinforce motor dependency and thus reduce active travel - even if perhaps it's now autonomous vehicles and "they're more efficient / much safer than human drivers").
@Secret_squirrel If you put it on the ground, you don't need a "giant solid base". I still don't get the point of it.
@chrisonabike I'd personally prefer it if she were bolder, but on the spectrum of terrible to brilliant options for Transport Secretary, having someone who believes in cycling, but is a bit timid about it, is a net positive. Yes, those of us who can see opportunities missed or delayed will be frustrated, but it could easily have been much worse. That doesn't mean there's not a role for encouragement and constructive criticism. Agreed Chris Boardman has a good approach. He is ambitious, but communicates it in a way that is meaningful to the majority, and makes it hard for all but the most brazen anti-cycling activists to disagree with his ambitions.
43 thoughts on ““I’ll pay the fine! You’re not going to see me complaining”: CyclingMikey shares footage of him accidentally riding through red light, although barrister doubts prosecution is “in the public interest”; Paris-Roubaix cobbles stolen + more on the live blog”
Re Roubaix cobbles, obviously
Re Roubaix cobbles, obviously ridiculous, selfish, thoughtless and stupid, although one has to say that the surprise isn’t so much that it’s been done as that it hasn’t been done before.
What’s odd is that Edinburgh
What’s odd is that Edinburgh isn’t famed for racing on its cobbles (or indeed other roads) yet every year after winter it looks like the same people have come and nicked ours – and indeed taken ample souvenirs from the tarmac also.
Are utility companies still
Are utility companies still digging them up and puting sh1te tarmac patches back in their place instead of spending time reinstating them properly :-/
I am not sure. OTOH at
I am not sure. OTOH at Randolph place, presumably “because historic” they’ve routed the new cycle route up this (CCWEL) and they carefully took up all the sets, tinkered with the footways then re-laid the sets and directed the cyclists back onto them. (They could have put in nice cycle paths on either side, I think there’s plenty space, but no…)
Like cyclists here were demanding more pavé. Grr…
I blame those ‘corporate VIP
I blame those ‘corporate VIP guests’
Maybe someone wanted a garden
Maybe someone wanted a garden bike wash area similar to mine*
(* can confirm that granite setts responsibly acquired from UK source)
It’s too much – not only do
It’s too much – not only do you own a peloton’s worth of cycles plus your house is merely an annex to your bike shed. You’ve even got your own pavé…
I’m thinking of getting into
I’m thinking of getting into cycling…
mark1a wrote:
Gosh no! Have you any idea the wear a chain can pick up if you’re putting the force of your legs through it? To say nothing of the dirt…
Low power jet washer?
Low power jet washer?
Though I am surprised that you have not dedicated a corner in your impressive workshop area for washing. It is your better than most bike shops home workshp isn’t it?
? I don’t trust myself using
? I don’t trust myself using a jet washer on bikes for bearings longevity, so I just use the garden hose with tap pressure with brushes for washing, and a watering can for rinsing. ’tis possibly my
bikeshopworkshop you recall (a guy’s got to have hobbies right?), and although I have ultrasonic bath and parts washer in there, I need to keep it dry so washing is outside.*North of Ireland.
*North of Ireland.
One of the most disgusting
One of the most disgusting things I have ever read
driver who “failed to observe four separate red lights at the intersection and “failed to brake or steer”, jumping curb & killing baby, held to be “single, momentary lapse of attention”, acquitted of all charges.
Hirsute wrote:
That is a tragic miscarriage of justice and Judge Katherine Denhoff should be immediately removed from her position.
Considering that the driver went straight through a red light before crashing, I would dispute that statement as being categorically false.
I just wondered how many
I just wondered how many people it would need to have been killed at that spot – 4,5,6, 12 before it became a guilty verdict or would it make no difference as to how many were killed and he still would have been aquitted?
The way that was written
The way that was written makes me think it is a sick April fools joke. 🙁
And the reporting is awful (as usual with most media outlets) too:
“Zadeh has admitted he was driving a Ford Escape that ran a red light at the intersection of Hornby and Smithe streets. The SUV hit another car.. “
I would ask if the vehicle was sef-driving/autonomous.
http://rc-rg.com
The judge should be permanently removed from office for this.
How would she feel if she was related to the baby that died?
The way that was written
The way that was written makes me think it is a sick April fools joke. 🙁
And the reporting is awful (as usual with most media outlets) too:
“Zadeh has admitted he was driving a Ford Escape that ran a red light at the intersection of Hornby and Smithe streets. The SUV hit another car.. “
I would ask if the vehicle was sef-driving/autonomous.
http://rc-rg.com
The judge should be permanently removed from office for this.
How would she feel if she was related to the baby that died?
* KERB
* KERB
[** though possibly not in Ca?)
That’s terrible. At best a
That’s terrible. At best a momentrary lack of concentration, at the most forgiving, is 1 red light, not 4 with the last fatal one having been red for 20secs 🙁
I think there were 4 lights
I think there were 4 lights at the ‘intersection’ not necessarily 4 in sequence.
But 20 secs and doing nothing to brake or steer is not ‘momentary’.
David Barker – exceptional &
David Barker – exceptional & inspirational.
Chapeau.
I was thinking the same –
I was thinking the same – overcoming his reservations due to his dispraxia and learning anyway – that’s an inspiration.
Woodbridge society complain
Woodbridge society complain scheme designed to improve cycling & walking in the town doesnt understand the “dynamics of an historic market town”
https://martini.eadt.co.uk/news/24240650.woodbridge-societys-concerns-active-travel-scheme/
And they’re correct! Our
And they’re correct! Our historic market towns are full of motor traffic and parked vehicles – and they have been for a generation (or more)!
Bikes and cycling are no more “in keeping” than wearing a wimple or driving a (horse) carriage.
Further – plans to make the store fronts of e.g. Macdonalds / Starbucks / Tescos are entirely ignoring history – merchants have always liked it gaudy.
We can’t have people cycling and walking in any numbers in these places because the streets are too narrow.
We go to Woodbridge 3 or 4
We go to Woodbridge 3 or 4 times a year and it annoys me that cars are allowed along the main street on a Saturday and even park on the pavement.
Quite what the dynamics are I have no idea – more wankpanzers in the pedestrian bit I suppose.
Oh and then there are all the drivers who park in the bus stop by the town square.
Think the original intent was
Think the original intent was to make the main market square pedestrianised, but they backed off it.
The changes proposed werent exactly earth shattering, couple of modal filters and one dead end.
But this is a place where parents demanded a car park to drop their kids to school at with a catchment area of no more than 2 miles https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24150450.concerns-traffic-kyson-primary-school-woodbridge/
And there was me thinking
And there was me thinking that a lot of market towns pre-date cars.
Quote
Quote
Benjamin Trayford was seen on CCTV cutting through a lock on March 9…
… PC Jenkins said. ” … I would like to encourage cyclists to look into the best ways to protect their bikes when it comes to leaving them.”
Unquote
Would the police ever provide similar (victim blaming) advice to motorists…?
Quote:
Like, er, using a lock, PC Jenkins?
[Snip]
[Snip]
Would the police ever provide similar (victim blaming) advice to motorists…?
[Snip]
Really?
Have you slept through the last few decades of public broadcasts and adverts inviting people to *not* leave valuables in their cars, or if they do, to cover / hide them.
True – but they don’t tend
True – but they don’t tend shake their heads and suggest you should have looked at the best way to protect your missing car? Nor shrug while pointing to the sign that says “car thieves operate in this car park”.
mitsky wrote:
I tried “taking methods to
I tried “taking methods to protect my bike” such as making the bike, lock and stand live with high voltage electricity, but apparently that is illegal. How much does an armed security guard cost? Asking for a friend.
Thanks for the excellent
Thanks for the excellent coverage of the women’s Paris-Roubaix.
I imagine you will be up for an award at the end of the season.
What is the point of sending
What is the point of sending somoeone to prison for four weeks. All it does is punish society. The state of our prisons mean that somone who goes in as a person who could be rehabilitated will probably come out as an in debt drug user, who then needs to commit further crimes to pay the people he owes.
Legin wrote:
The government are proposing that short prison sentences (12 months or less) be suspended in almost all circumstances.
Sentencing Bill Factsheet: Short Sentences
The trouble is we’ve had 14
The trouble is we’ve had 14 years of this Government talking about doing all sorts and delivering the square root of zero! Roll on the election and we may get some politicians who actually want to work and get things done.
Legin wrote:
I’m not sure about your maths there – did you remember to carry the zero? 😉
brooksby wrote:
I checked
https://www.cuemath.com/questions/what-is-the-square-root-of-0/
With the light going to green
With the light going to green after the bus past, does that mean the bus went through a red light :-/
Cello Lessons !
Cello Lessons !
Ah, but did they arrive
Ah, but did they arrive looking like an explosion in the Decathlon aisle, with helmet hair and oil on their Louboutins? Got to look at the whole picture you know.
Actually looks more like a double bass (around 6ft/182cm) than a cello (around 4ft/121cm) to me, in which case all the more kudos to the rider.
“Contrebasse portée roulant
“Contrebasse portée roulant en si”
but cello is near enough !