Standard slams “homicidal cyclists charging at pedestrians”… with image showing motorist about to hit cyclists on bike lane; Evenepoel says his shoulder is “pretty much destroyed”; Brutalist ‘brifters’ blasted by baffled bicyclists + more on the live blog

It’s not the Daily Mail, it’s not The Telegraph. Golly, it’s not even The Times. It’s The Standard, who’ve blown the windows open with a solid showing in this month’s anti-cycling column, crossing off all the usual bingo numbers — and even bringing a whole new level of passion for the game, if I may add.

In a comment piece titled “The London Question: Why is London suddenly full of cyclists charging at pedestrians?” posted in the London Standard last night, columnist Melanie McDonagh charges at the reader, saying: “You see it every day: cyclists ignoring red lights and pedestrian crossings and pedalling furiously on their way as if the lights don’t apply to them. A cycling colleague yesterday witnessed two cyclists colliding at right angles, having run the lights from separate directions. He observed with some gratification that they were both taken to task by an infuriated pedestrian.”

She then mentions that she is observant of this more now than before because she was knocked down by a cyclist and hurt at Ludgate Hill. The cyclist also fell down his bike, and was surrounded by indignant riders, who shouted at him: “You’re the kind of prick who gives the rest of us a bad name,” even offering her to be witnesses should she press charges.

She didn’t though, as she was “shaken” and “just wanted to get away”. However, she claims that with this incident, she was added to the “thousands of pedestrians whose accidents with cyclists are not recorded”.

She added that the official 7 per cent figure injuries to pedestrians being caused by cyclists is a “guaranteed underestimate” — a figure that was the foundation for Olympian and England’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner Chris Boardman to proclaim that “more people are killed by lightning, or cows”.

McDonagh continues: “The psychology of the bad cyclist isn’t hard to discern; he (sorry, but it’s usually a he) is so conscious of his own vulnerability vis a vis cars that he feels that he can regard the rules of the road with latitude since his objective is to avoid getting on the wrong side of a turning car. He’s unconscious of the fact that there is another party just as vulnerable to him, viz, the pedestrian crossing the road. And of course, many cyclists, like the rest of us, are in a hurry; most of the ones I see going through red lights — and I see it every day — are plainly in a rush. But I’m afraid red lights apply to two wheels as well as four. A cycle going at high speed can kill you, especially if you’re frail, and that’s not even considering electric bikes which are that bit heavier and faster.”

> "30,000 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads every year, less than three involving a cyclist": Chris Boardman on dangerous cycling

She lays down a number of measures which can be implemented to solve this problem, such as police to deal with offenders on-the-spot (“Have you ever seen a cyclist who jumps red lights pulled over by the police, the way speeding cars are?”), confiscating bikes of red-light jumping cyclists, and if it’s a rider on hire bike, imposing hefty fines on the card details held by the hire bike company, before ending with a deafening blow: “But we must do something about homicidal cyclists. A useful mode of transport has been hijacked by lunatics.”

The whole article is accompanied with a vox pop video too. I’m not going to lie, it’s a painful watch, with some random Londoners asked what I’m assuming must’ve been a loaded question, and sharing suggestions like introducing “speed limits” and “traffic lights”, one person adding: “I’m just scared of cyclists because I’m scared they’re going to steal my phone.”

The London Question: How can we tackle dangerous cyclists? 🎥#londonlife #cyclist pic.twitter.com/35DyZMj6t0

— The Standard (@theLDNstandard) December 12, 2024

All of this was shared on Facebook for a wonderful range of anti-cycling comments — with a picture showing a motorist driving across London CS7, as a cyclist has to take aversive action to not get hit…

All’s not lost. There was one comment suggesting the irony of the image: “And yet clearly he picture shows the threat that drivers pose by the simple act of not complying with the requirements of the road markings thereby creating an additional hazard to the cyclists who have to compensate once again.”

One person added: “Hope you also address drivers running red lights and pedestrians crossing against red lights in your articles. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but let’s be honest—everyone does it,” while another said: “The media question: Why is so much of our media owned by off shore billionaires who twist any agenda to suit themselves?Drivers are responsible for 5 hit and runs every day in London.”

As always, feel free to comment what you think about the Standard comment…

The national governing body also posted its third consecutive loss amid “severe economic headwinds” – as its CEO emphasised the “urgent” need to modernise and increase commercial prospects, while insisting there’s no “overnight fix”.

Read more: > “What happens when you take on Shell as a sponsor”: Cyclists blame “nauseating greenwashing” deal as British Cycling membership drops by 15,000 in under two years

After retiring at the end of 2022 disillusioned with cycling, Holmes made an unlikely return this year riding for himself. On the road.cc Podcast, he discusses the challenges of DIY racing and why he’s optimistic for the future of Britain’s domestic scene...

> “You need a billionaire to say ‘I’ll save the sport’. But that won’t happen”: Matt Holmes on why British cycling needs a reset and his journey from WorldTour pro to the “world’s most reluctant YouTuber”

Earlier this week, Trafford was named the “best council in Manchester” after it received over 60 per cent of the votes at the Walk Ride Greater Manchester Awards

While the council was recognised for its commitment to active travel, reflected in its upgraded infrastructure including the introduction of segregated cycle lanes, walkways, and School Streets schemes, where roads are closed to vehicles during school pick-up and drop-off times with limited exceptions — a cyclist has shared image of a “hideous” pothole on Twitter.

Nadia Kerr, a solicitor dealing with cycling crash and serious injury claims and requests, wrote: Congratulations but Trafford Council, can you fix this hideous #pothole on Edge Lane near the junction with Kings Road (outside tram stop). I hit is a few weeks ago and reported it. It’s still there! It’s massive.”

Remco Evenepoel’s crash last week, after an unfortunate dooring incident with a Belgium Post van during a training ride, has forced him to be hospitalised. Initial reports suggested that it could just be a broken collarbone, however, examinations at the Erasumus Hospital in Anderlecht showed that the injuries were much worse, with the double Olympic champion suffering fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade and right hand, as well as contusions on both lungs and a luxation of the clavicle.

> Remco Evenepoel calls for drivers to use Dutch Reach after suffering multiple fractures in dooring incident on training ride

Now, in an interview with Sporza, he has opened up about his condition and what this could mean for the 24-year-old’s upcoming season, saying that while he’s doing alright given the circumstances, he’s feeling “anxious” about his early 2025 programme getting derailed.

“In the shoulder region everything was pretty much destroyed,” Evenepoel, who launched a road safety campaign with bpost urging all drivers to use the ‘Dutch Reach’ to avoid injuring cyclists by dooring them, said. “All ligaments were torn, so that there was a bone floating in my shoulder region, so to speak. That's why the joint has to be fixed properly now.”

“I initially thought it was my collarbone, but when I was straightened up on the chair, I felt that the pain was actually coming from the outside of my shoulder. Unfortunately, the list of damage turned out to be a bit longer.”

He added: “In December I'm not allowed to do anything at all, just some movements to keep the joint flexible. On January 6th we have a new scan planned and I will know more.

“I expect a month of intensive work with the physiotherapist and some training on the rollers. And then I hope to be able to train outside from February 1.

“Am I already counting down? I realise that I still have a long way to go. Two months in this period is precious time that I will lose. But that’s how it is.

“I don’t panic easily, but I do feel a bit anxious at the moment about when I’ll be back in shape. I know I can get back into good shape quickly if I start training, but mid-April is still late to be competitive again. 

“Normally a good winter and preparation takes three to four months. I only start in February... Then you only end up in May when you make the calculation. It will therefore be difficult to set goals in the spring.”

Remco Evenepoel at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

As of now, the first target for the world time trial champion looks in 2025 looks like it’ll be to get competitive on the bike and race the Belgian monument Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but a tilt at victory could still be difficult. He said: "I will certainly do my best to achieve that. With this injury I will unfortunately have to skip races like the Tour of Catalonia or Paris-Nice. Those were big goals for me.”

“Then I hope to be able to ride all four Ardennes classics. I would like to celebrate my return there and I hope to be in good shape to be able to score in Liège. Although I realise that it will still be a tough road.”

“It’s often easy to put on a smile for the cameras, but behind the scenes it's still painful and difficult. It's not my first setback, but it may well be one of the last. It’s really been a year full of ups and downs.”

Thoughts on this new kit? I know it’s another blue jersey in the sea of blue shades in the peloton, but your live blog host thinks that it looks smart and nicely done. I think the white is a nice touch with the navy blue, and this praise is coming from someone who has an unholy amount of disdain for Red Bull designs and liveries in Formula 1.

 

 

 

 

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