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Do not frighten drivers and keep the noise down: Richmond Park's new code of conduct for cyclists; Drum and bass bicycle tour; Kick in the teeth bike rack; Jesus Christ, your dog bit me!; Giro breakaway day; Paris before and after + more on the live blog

It's Tuesday and Dan Alexander will be taking you through the day on the live blog...
Tue, May 11, 2021 09:01
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Do not frighten drivers and keep the noise down: Richmond Park's new code of conduct for cyclists; Drum and bass bicycle tour; Kick in the teeth bike rack; Jesus Christ, your dog bit me!; Giro breakaway day; Paris before and after + more on the live blogRichmond Park road cyclists - via Flickr Creative Commons
11 May 2021, 16:27
Do not frighten drivers and keep the noise down: Richmond Park's new code of conduct for cyclists
Richmond Park code of conduct

Listen up, there is a new code of conduct from Richmond Park Cyclists for people riding bikes in Richmond Park. Personal highlights include: 'Keep it down' and the one about trying not to frighten drivers. Cyclists have been asked to consider riding in single file, 'filter gently through stationary traffic so as not to startle' and to only use verbal signals 'when necessary'.

The code of conduct comes at a time of growing calls to ban through traffic from the park. In February, shocking pictures emerged on social media of the aftermath of a collision involving a driver and a cyclist, which left a woman in hospital and the car wrecked a short distance away off the road. 

Richmond Park Cyclists says the code of conduct is about: "Creating a safe and welcoming environment for every type of cyclist and other park visitors. Put together with the help of the Royal Parks Police, The Royal Parks, the Friends of Richmond Park and our subscribers."

Richmond Park code of conduct

The code of conduct has not gone down well on Twitter...

More on this tomorrow, when we'll be looking to contact Richmond Park Cyclists to find out more about its newly-published guidelines. 

11 May 2021, 15:56
Joe Dombrowski wins stage four of the Giro d'Italia from the breakaway

For the second consecutive day the breakaway outfoxed the peloton to battle it out for the stage win. Joe Dombrowski of UAE Team Emirates soloed away from Alessandro De Marchi, Rein Taaramäe and Christopher Juul-Jensen on the final climb of the day. De Marchi takes the maglia rosa from Filippo Ganna who was more concerned with aiding his teammate Egan Bernal's challenge. 

Bernal, along with Aleksandr Vlasov, Mikel Landa, Hugh Carthy and Giulio Ciccone forced a gap from the other GC favourites late in the day to take 11 seconds off Remco Evenepoel and Simon Yates.

João Almeida was the day's big loser, dropping out the peloton and losing nearly four and a half minutes to the Bernal group. The stage played out in miserable conditions and the riders will be thankful to see one of the easiest stages of the race on the menu for tomorrow.

Joe has come a long way...

11 May 2021, 15:32
Drum & race: DJ takes drum and bass on bicycle tour

Stop the count. The most peak Bristol moment has happened. DJ Dom Whiting went for a ninety minute spin around the streets with his decks on the handlebars, giving the people exactly what they want to hear on a Sunday afternoon...well, what some people want to hear. 

He has taken his mobile rave across the south of England, from London to Bristol via Oxford, High Wycombe and Reading. Dom attracted a big crowd rolling behind on bikes and turned heads from confused locals...all delivered with a live stream to put Piers Corbyn's grainy election day disaster to shame.

11 May 2021, 14:43
Paris before and after

A before and after from Paris, and one from closer to home...

11 May 2021, 14:27
Thibaut Pinot "one in million chance" of riding the Tour de France

FDJ team manager Mac Madiot believes there is a "one in a million chance" that Thibaut Pinot rides the Tour de France. Pinot has suffered the effects of a crash on the opening stage of the Tour last year, abandoning the Vuelta a España after two stages and struggling to find form at the Tour of the Alps.

The Frenchman was planning on competing at the Giro d'Italia but had to scrap that plan to focus on his recovery. With the Giro too soon, there had been speculation that Pinot, who turns 31 at the end of the month, could reset his sights on his home Grand Tour. 

However, Madiot told Eurosport, "There is a one in a million chance he will be at the start of the Tour. The most important thing is that he fully recovers. We are not going to put pressure on him, that would be a mistake."

After the recent Tour of the Alps, Pinot spoke about his injury troubles. "I’m only thinking about healing myself," he said. "I would unnecessarily suffer and I would not be able to help the team. It's not even a question of shape, but the pain in my back prevents me from performing well."

11 May 2021, 14:25
11 May 2021, 13:45
Acclaimed German architect Helmut Jahn killed in collision with two drivers in Chicago

Acclaimed German architect Helmut Jahn, who was so well-known he was one of the first to be dubbed a "starchitect", has died after a collision with two drivers in the Chicago suburb of Campton Hills. Jahn, 81, was riding his bike on Saturday afternoon when he was reportedly hit by two drivers and pronounced dead at the scene.

Jahn was best known for his design of the Sony Centre in Berlin and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, as well as the Thompson Centre in Chicago. In addition to being an award-winning architect, he taught the next generation, lecturing at the University of Illinois Chicago Campus, Harvard, Yale and the Illinois Institute of Technology.

11 May 2021, 13:01
Ill-timed nature break by Peter Sagan helped Taco van der Hoorn's unlikely victory

Deceuninck-Quick-Step veteran Iljo Keisse revealed in his daily column for Het Nieuwsblad how an ill-timed stop at the side of the road helped Taco van der Hoorn stay away to win stage three of the Giro yesterday. Keisse explained that just as Bora-hansgrohe upped the pace after the long first climb, their team leader Peter Sagan answered the call of nature.

Whether Sagan took a piss, the piss or both is up to you, but the Quick-Step domestique believes the break stifled the rhythm of the chase. "In the descent of the climb, the peloton broke into four pieces," he explained. "Which meant that Oss and Sagan took a lot of time to return. Bora-hansgrohe had already made up for a minute on the escapees, but had to wait for Sagan and start right from the start. Still a mistake from the leader."

Well, well, well...we would love to tell you what is happening on stage four but unfortunately the grim Emilia-Romagna weather is giving the broadcasters some issues. What we do know is there is a big breakaway up the road and a fierce 4km climb near the finish.

11 May 2021, 12:39
"Look at these kids eh, not paying road tax and riding two abreast": Cycle school bus in action

Great to see another cycle school bus out on the roads this morning...and a good sense of humour too...

11 May 2021, 12:28
11 May 2021, 12:10
Kick in the teeth from orthodontist blocking bike rack with giant advert
Wembley Orthodontic Centre bike rack.JPG

Brace yourselves for this piece of advertising outside Wembley Orthodontic Practice in South Kenton. Guess all the pavement-blocking adverts in the picture below were not enough...

One of our readers, Richard, got in touch with the picture, but tooth be told we are not too sure about the story behind this apart from that it has presumably been put up without permission and might well soon be taken down. 

Wembley Orthodontic Centre bike rack.PNG

 

11 May 2021, 10:15
Chris Boardman makes the case for cycle commuting to re-elected Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham

Re-elected Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham expressed his desire to improve public transport options for Mancunians during this video following him on an eight-mile journey from Middleton to Media City. Showing us "the reality of public transport in Greater Manchester", Burnham's trip takes an hour and a quarter on the bus and tram, costing £5.30.

Seeing the video, Chris Boardman made the case for cycling...he tweeted: "If that trip was done 3 days a week by bike - realistic, leisurely 43mins each way - you’d save £1500 a year & 6 FULL DAYS of your life not commuting. Not to mention time/money saved not having to go to a gym. A FULL family holiday a year just be doing some commutes by bike..."

You don't need to convince us, Chris. I am sold, and it seems plenty of other people are too... 

11 May 2021, 09:50
Islabikes launches new 14" wheeled balance bike
Islabikes 14" balance bike

Islabikes has added a new 14" wheeled balance bike to their range, aimed at children around 3-years-old. The narrow stance is designed to help children learn the riding position ready for a bike with pedals. It shares the design of Islabikes' smaller Rothan 12 but is suited for kids with an inside leg of 36cm upwards and at 3.4kg it is easily carried. 

Director Dave Bowater explained the thinking behind the new bike: "the balance bike is the gateway to cycling for so many children and speaking as a parent of two, one of my proudest moments was watching them scoot off into the distance for the first time. By adding this larger size, we are now offering taller children the opportunity to get the very best introduction to cycling."

11 May 2021, 08:54
Arjen Robben spotted riding home from FC Groningen match

The Flying Dutchman has become The Cycling Dutchman... 

11 May 2021, 08:16
"Ah f**k, I'm going to make it, what the f**k": All the best reaction to Taco van der Hoorn's surprise stage three breakaway win

That is the calibre of stat I enjoy...Taco van der Hoorn was understandably shocked to have won the second road stage of the Giro d'Italia. The 500-1 shot could not contain his excitement speaking to the media: "I can't believe it. With 1km to go I was looking behind to see...'ah f**k, I'm going to make it, what the f**k.' Those last metres were really unbelievable.

"I wanted to be in the breakaway because I want to ride aggressively the entire Giro. But I know it is difficult to make it to the finish with a leading group. But every chance, no matter how small, is one. Actually, I didn't believe we could make it when the gap at 25 kilometres was one minute."

Check out the passion in the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert team car...

11 May 2021, 07:42
Cyclist claims Jesus of Nazareth actor's cockapoo bit him in London park
Jesus of Nazareth actor Robert Powell

A London cyclist was surprised to discover that the cockapoo he claims bit him is owned by Jesus of Nazareth and Holby City actor Robert Powell. Karzan Wali posted the photo below on local neighbourhood app Nextdoor and received numerous replies of, "Jesus Christ"...

Jesus of Nazareth actor Robert Powell

The cyclist says he was riding across Hampstead Heath when the actor's dog ran towards him and bit him on the leg, leaving a wound that needed hospital treatment and a tetanus jab. Powell denies his cockapoo bit the cyclist and insists all it did was bark at him.

"My dog has never bitten anybody in her life," Powell told the Mail on Sunday. "I saw his leg and there is not a mark on it. The dog did not bite him. I even made a joke while the dog was yapping and said, 'See, even the dog knows you can’t ride a bike here'.

"He was riding an off-road bicycle which is illegal and I told him, 'You’re not allowed to ride a bike here'. He skidded to a halt and all my dog did was yap at him."

While cycling is not allowed on some of the park's paths, Wali says that at the time of the incident he was riding on one that permitted cycling.

"The dog owner was very inconsiderate and rude, didn’t apologise and also didn’t believe me that the dog bit me," Wali explained. "I can assure you, I got bitten and had to get a tetanus jab and am now on antibiotics as the bite marks are red and sore. Be aware of this owner and the dogs, especially cyclists."

Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating an allegation of a person allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in Hampstead Heath Park, but no arrest has been made.

Dan Alexander

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.

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65 comments

Avatar
Ihatecheese | 3 years ago
1 like

I did not realise you could ride bikes in Hampstead Heath. As a dog owner we always have to be careful our dogs don't get in the face of those who don't appreciate. Our dog is tiny but still there are many who dislike dogs. 

Richmond park wise I understand as a pedestrian and driver and casual cyclist why they are adding these rules. Yes some drivers are idiots but not an excuse to use them as a reason not to improve. 

Beating arbitrary challenges with a gang shouting code words at each other in recreational parks Is fun. I did it when I was a kid with my mates.

But there is no entitlement for grown adults to act like children in parks. At least when sharing the roads. Be it if you're on a 50quid bike or 5k.

Same as there is no extra king/queen of the road entitlement for car drivers to be idiots, just because their vehicle is bigger. 

Hopefully we will get on together in my dream world where we are all humans using different forms of transport depending on the required need! ☺️

 

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David9694 replied to Ihatecheese | 3 years ago
2 likes

Ihatecheese wrote:

I did not realise you could ride bikes in Hampstead Heath. As a dog owner we always have to be careful our dogs don't get in the face of those who don't appreciate. Our dog is tiny but still there are many who dislike dogs. 

 

*rubs eyes in disbelief* *several times*  A dog owner claiming have any awareness that not everyone is as besotted with Poochie as they are. Go on...

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Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
11 likes

Richmond Park Cyclists. The language is very similar to other forms of prejudice and hate, where the hater declares the hated must change their behaviour or appearance in order to reduce the reasons for being hated. Cyclists must be seen but not heard. RPC. Twats.

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Sriracha replied to Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
0 likes

Except, surely this code of conduct was written by the hated, not by the haters? Unless you are making a case for the great and good cyclists who make up the Richmond Park Cyclists group having been coopted by motorists?

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Argos74 replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
12 likes

I absolutely understand where they're coming from. Every week I read about drunken, drugged-up cyclists with no insurance killing car drivers, knocking out of their cars and leaving them for dead or worse at the side of the road, and generally behaving like hooligans. Hooligans! If I was a car driver, I'd be pooping my pants at the mere thought of picking up my car keys.

Not to mention all the terrorist attacks carried out using bicycles. I mean, have you ever seen a car, van or lorry used in one of these heinous acts? This must be stopped! Stopped I tell you!

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Sriracha replied to Argos74 | 3 years ago
0 likes

I was replying to Muddy Ford's view that the code was similar to other instances of the hater telling the hated how to stop being an object of hate, whereas in fact the code is written by the hated in this case. So, what's your point?

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HoarseMann replied to Argos74 | 3 years ago
1 like

Argos74 wrote:

Not to mention all the terrorist attacks carried out using bicycles.

Not common - but it has happened...

Made a mess of Bognor Regis town centre in 1994.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_bomb

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OldRidgeback replied to HoarseMann | 3 years ago
1 like

HoarseMann wrote:

Argos74 wrote:

Not to mention all the terrorist attacks carried out using bicycles.

Not common - but it has happened...

Made a mess of Bognor Regis town centre in 1994.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_bomb

Not to mention the time the IRA planted a device in a bicycle in Brighton. As I recall, bicycles fitted with devices were also used by the Vietcong in the Vietnam war. 

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Muddy Ford replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
0 likes

Yep, hence the 'Twats' summary

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Sriracha replied to Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
0 likes
Muddy Ford wrote:

Yep, hence the 'Twats' summary

You don't think, given that they are cyclists from a widespread membership of cycle clubs in the area, that maybe they have a point? You can't just dismiss them all as twats.

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Captain Badger replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
3 likes

Sriracha wrote:
Muddy Ford wrote:

Yep, hence the 'Twats' summary

You don't think, given that they are cyclists from a widespread membership of cycle clubs in the area, that maybe they have a point? You can't just dismiss them all as twats.

I think people who are likely to take note of a code of conduct are broadly already complying with it. This seems to be superfluous, as the worthwhile bits will be in the HWC anyway.

Seems it's a well-meaning attempt to show that we "play our part". In reality, it'll be another set of arbitrary rules to beat people on bikes over the head with, and lends legitimacy to shrill "complaints" about lycra louts that should actually be dismissed. 

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Hirsute replied to Captain Badger | 3 years ago
2 likes

That's how I feel about it. No point trying to pander to people who think cyclists should not be on the roads, should cede way at any point, who don't pay their road tax and who wear lycra (like no one else does of course).

Come up with a set of rights and reasons as to why cyclists can use roads and why they take a certain road position at different points.

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Awavey replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
2 likes

I'd not label them in those terms, but I feel its misguided effort at best, I'm not sure what it expects to achieve, or what the authors hope it will achieve. Will random person driving through Richmond Park now feel it's ok for cyclists to be there as some other local cyclists have come up with a code of conduct? Will local motorists be expected to come up with their own code of conduct, dont drive like idiots,its not a race track, obey road signs kind of thing ?

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brooksby replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
3 likes

I read an article recently about how Black Americans teach their kids to seem friendly and inoffensive so as not to draw unwanted attention from police, shop-workers, etc...

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Sriracha replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
0 likes
brooksby wrote:

I read an article recently about how Black Americans teach their kids to seem friendly and inoffensive so as not to draw unwanted attention from police, shop-workers, etc...

I don't want to get into a debate about racism, but when it comes to cyclists I'm quite sure they should not have to be taught to give the appearance of being friendly and inoffensive.

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brooksby replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
2 likes

Sriracha wrote:
brooksby wrote:

I read an article recently about how Black Americans teach their kids to seem friendly and inoffensive so as not to draw unwanted attention from police, shop-workers, etc...

I don't want to get into a debate about racism, but when it comes to cyclists I'm quite sure they should not have to be taught to give the appearance of being friendly and inoffensive.

Well, yeah, but we don't want to scare the motorists, do we?

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Hirsute replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
2 likes

Does that mean cyclists should not wear lycra then to avoid being called a lout?

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Captain Badger replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
0 likes

hirsute wrote:

Does that mean cyclists should not wear lycra then to avoid being called a lout?

No no, leave the lycra on, please.....

Avatar
Eton Rifle replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
3 likes
brooksby wrote:

I read an article recently about how Black Americans teach their kids to seem friendly and inoffensive so as not to draw unwanted attention from police, shop-workers, etc...

Yeah, it's all a bit "Sit down and shut up Rosa. You'll only make the white folks hate us more."

Avatar
Muddy Ford replied to Eton Rifle | 3 years ago
1 like

That's that angle I was coming from too. This 'be seen but not heard' is all about reducing hatred of cyclists and nothing to do with improving cyclists safety in Richmond Park. "Don't make a spectacle of yourself, you'll upset the drivers" Whereas just on this website alone we have nearly 600 videos of drivers having a complete disregard for cyclists safety, with many of them intentional because they deem us to be pests or below them. This 'be quiet' pampers to that. Cyclists don't denegrate drivers, we are drivers too. What we want is better standards of driving, so that we can take our nervous and less experienced friends and family out for a cycle ride without panicking that some moron is going to wipe them out. Telling us to be quiet when everyday a cyclist is killed by a dangerous and ignorant driver just gets my goat, hence why I think the RPC are twats for coming up with this stupid conduct. Would be better if they pushed for driving standards through the Park to be rigorously enforced.

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Daveyraveygravey replied to Muddy Ford | 3 years ago
1 like

Completely agree!  It reminded me of the people that start a sentence "I'm not a racist but..."

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HoarseMann | 3 years ago
2 likes

well this is weird. hope it's fixed soon.

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ktache | 3 years ago
1 like

Was there any reason why Quest might have been showing the highlights of the opening TT stage of the Giro this evening rather than highlights of today's actual stage?

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TheBillder replied to ktache | 3 years ago
4 likes

Think it's this: "Well, well, well...we would love to tell you what is happening on stage four but unfortunately the grim Emilia-Romagna weather is giving the broadcasters some issues."

Just re-showing the TT was a bit rubbish though. I wondered if I'd blundered into Quest +72 by mistake.

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eburtthebike | 3 years ago
8 likes

"Richmond Park Cyclists says the code of conduct is about: "Creating a safe and welcoming environment for every type of cyclist......"

"welcoming"?

Look, I know I'm an old stick in the mud, but could we please use word definitions in common use as understood by native English speakers, not invent new meanings, it just gets confusing.

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AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
3 likes

Richmond Park Cyclists are made up from people from lots of local cycling clubs apparently so I suspect they have seen behaviour that even they have been embarassed about so have done the conduct. Yes, the "startling" motorists does give the headlines,  but remember we are invisible to them until we are not so I can get what they are stating to some extent. Although I do wish they would be indicating they are doing what they can to reduce the cars in the park. 

From their About us Page
ContributorsPaul Harknett – Former Chair, London Dynamo
James Heath – Trustee, London Cycling Campaign
Duncan Adamson – Slipstreamers' Coach
Peter Cunliffe – South Western Road Club
Derek Griffiths – Kingston Wheelers
Jed Harrison – Sportive Secretary, London Dynamo
Tim Lennon – Richmond Cycling Campaign
Justin Levene – Weir Archer Academy and Get Kids Going
Marina Lim – Commuter
Martin O'Sullivan – Deputy Head of Turing House School
Martin Winter – Twickenham CC

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Hirsute replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
9 likes

Any driver frightened by a cyclist should not be driving.
Hours of videos of drivers intimidating and behaving recklessly around cyclists in the park

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Captain Badger replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
10 likes

hirsute wrote:

Any driver frightened by a cyclist should not be driving. Hours of videos of drivers intimidating and behaving recklessly around cyclists in the park

Frightened when cyclists "appear out of nowhere"

Frightened that they "might run the cyclist over"

Frightened that cyclists shout out when their lives are put at risk

Frightened that they don't know whether to o/take safely or wait, so go for squeezing past at speed whilst staring glazedly ahead.....

 

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Sriracha replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 3 years ago
0 likes
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Richmond Park Cyclists are made up from people from lots of local cycling clubs apparently so I suspect they have seen behaviour that even they have been embarassed about...

The headline was a little misleading - Richmond Park's new code of conduct for cyclists suggests this is something written by Richmond Park authorities, for cyclists. It isn't.

It's a long time since I cycled in Richmond Park, but I can well imaging some of the aggressive tossers who have no heed for others - putting them on a bicycle changes little about their attitude and the behaviour it fosters.

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brooksby | 3 years ago
7 likes

Wonderful euphemism in the Bristol Post today:

A car inbound on the A4/Portway ended up on its side in the adjacent inbound bus lane during this morning's rush hour (locals will know where I mean).  No other vehicles involved, no injuries.

This was described by the Post as "a single car collision".

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