Are "borrowed" Lime bikes pushing London to Dutch levels of cycling?; Toronto's "bicycle mayor" arrives to be sworn in leading hundreds of cyclists; Fabio Jakobsen abandons Tour de France; Park Lane cycling scenes in Hyde Park + more on the live blog

Click-click-click-click-CLACK. Click-click-click-click-CLACK. 

No, I'm not humming the intro to some Dutch techno-anthem, neither is it the noise made by the zombies from The Last of Us. It's the sound of a 'hacked' Lime bike hurtling past you. 

But Guardian journalist and cycling campaigner Peter Walker believes that the with more and more teenagers "borrowing" the locked Lime bikes pushing London to the levels of biking seen in the hallowed, mythical land of the Dutch?

The rate at which London’s teenagers are “borrowing” locked Lime bikes at the end of the school day, some of my local secondaries are heading for near-Dutch levels of cycling modal share.

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) July 12, 2023

If you didn't know, the lime-coloured, well, Lime bikes are the e-bike hire scheme popular in several boroughs of the capital (as well as Manchester and Milton Keynes). They are supposed to be unlocked using the smartphone app and dropped off at the designated parking bays after use.

Supposed to be.

However, there are ways to get around the unlocking, which went viral a couple months ago on TikTok, as people hacked them to ride without the battery assistance, which resulted in users "dumping the bikes with impunity", according to one council.

> People have been hacking Lime e-bikes to ride them without power

Peter Walker, however, says that this 'hacking' has allowed schoolgoing teenagers to use them at the end of the school day, with him claiming that some of his local secondaries are "heading for near-Dutch levels of cycling modal share".

"Lime should get some sort of NHS grant for their contribution to teenage activity levels. Manually pedalling a bike that heavy definitely falls into 'strenuous' exertion," he added.

I've heard it called "the click clack of anti capitalism". Personally I call them "free range bikes". I live on a hill, and I often see (or hear) quite slight youngsters pedaling up the road unassisted. Those bikes are bloody heavy without the motor, credit to the kids.

— Georgina Wilcox (@GeorginaWilcox) July 13, 2023

Twitter user and frequent cycling advocate @BobFromAccounts wrote: "Unpopular opinion: The next mayor should be funding free bikes for the young 'uns, thus creating a whole new generation of bike people, fewer cars and cleaner air whilst in turn positively annoying many of the car-brained."

While Andy Hillier, a journalist wrote: "I hired one the other day. My teenage son was shocked I actually paid to use one."

As long as we are discussing popular and unpopular opinions, here are my two cents, echoed by @CHAIRRDRF.

Unusual (and unpopular?) opinion: Evidence for me that if more people had access to convenient and secure bike parking, + subsidised kit/accessories for low income people - there would be a lot more cycling!

— CHAIRRDRF (@CHAIRRDRF) July 12, 2023

Walker said that the clicking noise they make can be a good thing as it alerts others of their 'arrival' — they can’t stop pedalling or the back wheel locks up, hence the waywardness; others were far less forgiving of the sound.

Had two booked today that proceeded to head off all on their own before I got there. Very disconcerting - feels like you’re going mad.

— Chris Davies (@crd37) July 12, 2023

It does make one wonder though, how is Lime making any money off these things?

A Lime spokesperson's said that the company was aware of a "limited issue related to unlocked bikes being ridden without any power in London, and have worked to identify hardware solutions to prevent it, which are now being tested".

Some live reporting from road.cc stalwart Simon MacMichael with images of the C9 extension westwards from Kew Bridge in west London, which he says is "starting to take shape nicely".

You can see Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium poking its head up immediately above the road narrows sign to the right of the petrol station.

He added: "Once this is built through to Brentford, it will be possible to pretty much cycle all the way from Stratford to Brentford on protected or off-road cycle lanes (and beyond those, off route paths either end eg River Lea to the east, Syon Park/Thames Path to the west)."

"Except for Kensington ******* High Street."

First the Park Lane in London and now this today? Which one of you has made a deal with the devil...

Remember yesterday's cryptic team radio from UAE Team Emirates? 

"Everybody jump the tiger, when the crocodiles have to swim, you jump!" ... WHAT?

Looks like someone's cracked the message and solved the mystery of why were tigers and crocodiles roaming on French roads.

I think I've cracked the code! 💡
Tiger = yellow & black = Jumbo-Visma (Vingegaard)
Crocodiles = green = BORA-hansgrohe (Hindley)
"Jump the tiger" = position yourself ahead of TJV
"When the crocodiles have to swim" = when BOH are vulnerable in crosswinds
"You jump" = push on for… https://t.co/0y8yzqUxzd

— Lukas Knöfler 💙💛 (@lukascph) July 12, 2023

Now wouldn't it be funny if UAE's DS just did it again for the laughs?

Equipment issues again? At least no disc brake complaints this time...

> Chris Froome "let down" by Tour de France snub, blames "frustrating" equipment issues

Joy! Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner has revealed that the cyclepath in Park Lane in Hyde Park, London is being made permanent.

Hyde Park is a much loved London gem, which gets v busy with people walking.

With more Londoners cycling, our Park Lane cycleway provides a safe alternative for bikes (accessible at night), prioritising the park for walking & slower cyclists.

We're making Park Lane permanent. pic.twitter.com/E3mfmLNPGe

— Will Norman (@willnorman) July 13, 2023

Dutch sprinting specialist Fabio Jakobsen has announced this morning that he is going home from the Tour de France, after a tough edition of the Grand Boucle with his team Soudal Quick-Step, which he is set to leave next year.

He said: "Due to my stage four crash, and after discussions with the team, we decided it’s better for me to stop my Tour de France journey here. At this point it seems impossible for me to get to Paris, as I am not recovering, and my body is not healing from the crash.

"I’m very sad to leave the Grande Boucle, because I had big goals for this race and wanted to be at my best with the team. I will now take some time to recover and clear my head, and hopefully be back at my best later this season."

Unfortunately, @FabioJakobsen will not start stage 12 of the #TDF2023.

Read more about it here and join us in wishing Fabio a speedy recovery: https://t.co/gprrpP3a1M

Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/qHLxT2rZOP

— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) July 13, 2023

A stage winner in last year's Tour, beating the likes of Wout van Aert and Mads Pederson in a sprint to the finish line, Jakobsen hasn't had the best of times in Bilbao and France so far this year.

> Fabio Jakobsen quickly edits Instagram post to remove sight of broken Specialized

He was expected by many, including our esteemed panel, to at least compete for the green jersey this year. However, the Wolfpack man has failed to win any stage so far, always a spectator from the back to the gripping action the four sprint stages has provided this year.

To add more to his miseries, he unfortunately was involved in a bad crash right at the final corner before the straight for the sprinters on stage four, leaving him bloodied and bruised. Oh, and his Specialized bike snapped in half, a photo of which he had posted on Instagram. And which we spotted with our keen eyes on the live blog before Jakobsen was presumably told to edit the post so as not to bring any bad name to the all-important bike sponsors of the team.

Fabio Jakobsen after stage 4 crash at 2023 Tour de France (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

Speaking of the team, Jakobsen has confirmed that he will leave Soudal Quick-Step, who after some very strong showings in the Tour have failed to make an impact this year, struggling to offer the Dutchman opportunities to place himself in the bunch.

Reports suggest that team boss Patrick Lefevre wants to strengthen the climbing aspect of his team to support world champion Remco Evenepoel, who is not here in the Tour but set to ride in the Vuelta.

Jakobsen said: "If I stayed another two years, I would have to share my spot with Remco and another top sprinter. I want to go to the Tour, I want to sprint, that will not work at Soudal Quick-Step in the coming years."

"I did talk to Patrick here in the Tour, on the bus,” he said. “At the end of the conversation, I got a hug. However, unfortunately, I can’t stay. I have to find another team."

"It was coming beforehand, but I hadn’t seen Patrick after the spring. As the boss of the team, he also has to take stock and I can also talk to Patrick. We don’t want to break up with a fight."

> Jakobsen’s team to proceed with legal action against Groenewegen over Tour de Pologne crash

The timing of Jakobsen's decision to go home could also be based around the fact that none of the next six stages offer anything for the sprinters, as the already quite difficult Tour heads into the even more gruelling Alpine territory.

Which also leaves Soudal Quick-Step's chances of getting a stage win looking very slim, with the only realistic way to victory through a breakaway. And from what we've seen so far, it could be incredibly difficult to get in one and make it all the way to line without being caught. But crazier things have happened so let's not count them out.

Meanwhile, well wishes for the sprinter's recovery have flooded on social media. road.cc wishes him a speedy recovery too!

Get well soon Fabio, so sad that that crash has ended your Tour ambitions. ❤️‍🩹

— Anna Mac 👑🪱 🌈🖤 (@AnnamacB) July 13, 2023

That's a shame, I thought he was climbing really well in stages 1 and 2 so the shape was definitely there. Get well soon!

— Alexandra G (@_alegatz) July 13, 2023