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news
Cycling with earphones, yay or nay edition: Jeremy Vine panned for falling off bike and hitting pothole while wearing earbuds; Thibaut Pint-ot in the PSG Ultras; New Cervélo for Jumbo-Visma; Pogačar on for Track TT Olympics? + more on the live blog
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Jeremy Vine hits pothole and falls off bike (Twitter: @theJeremyVine)14 December 2023, 09:12
Jeremy Vine hits a pothole and then falls off his bike in heavy rain, gets shamed for riding with earphones
As the saying goes, one man's poison is another man's meat. Our favourite live blog entrant's recent video shows him cycling to work early morning with the heaven relentlessly pouring from above. And with rain comes every cyclist's (one of the) worst nightmares, being taken for a fool by a pothole disguising itself as an ordinary puddle.
Something very similar happened to the Channel 5 presenter, presumably going to the office for another edition of his daily morning show through the Oxford Street at six-thirty in the morning. But as he decided to move over to the pavement to have a quick check of his bike, the water had collected on the side (ironically the beginning of a submerged bike lane) and Vine couldn't see the red line marking the raised kerb, making him go off his bike.
Fell off my bike. The heavy rain yesterday hiding the potholes on Oxford Street. Six-thirty in the morning, no one to blame but me. Treasured earphone pinged out... pic.twitter.com/lmlugVmJmd
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 13, 2023
"Ouch, that hurt a little," he said on the dubbed video. "And I had to fish my bike out of this stream."
He checked his camera and his light, but what he failed to notice that the one of his Bose earphones (worth £100 or so) had pinged out of the ear. The video shows him set off back on his route, now a little late for his work, realise the earphone was missing, take a U-turn, cycle all the way back (not falling this time), and find the stray earphone still lying, intact on the London pavement.
Unfortunately, Mr Vine's miseries didn't seem to end here. Cue people on social media barracking at him for cycling with earphones.
Dave replied: "Wait you wear earphones whilst cycling? This means that you will have reduced awareness of your surroundings due to your hearing being impaired. Also you don’t appear to of [sic] fitted a light to the front of your bike which shows other road users your direction of travel. Safety first."
Vine hit back with the classic grammar check, correcting Dave's misuse of "of" in place of "have".
Have. To have
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 13, 2023
More people got on his back for the activity, some lambasting him, some genuinely puzzled by the choice. Brian Anley said: "I can't even run with ear pods in because I feel so conscious if not knowing what is going on around me without my sense of hearing."
Now I have a feeling this might a divisive one. While Vine seemed to be unbothered by the trolls mocking for cycling with earphones, for many, riding with subdued senses is a real concern, and not something they'd be comfortable with doing themselves or even share the road with people doing likewise.
So what's your take on all this? Cycling with earphones, yay or nay? Let us know in the comments...
14 December 2023, 17:17
JV returns to the site of his fall, only to find a pothole so big it "made Santa look small"... and gets shamed for using earphones again
I don't know how does Vine keep doing it again and again. Maybe it's our collective attentions feeding him energy and he's building the next spirit bomb, soon to be detonated to take over the entirety of the cycling world on the internet.
But yeah, he's back. Back on the site of his fall, only to find a pothole so big that it made "Santa look small", complete with his quirky, outlandish animations (to be frank, it is quite a massive pothole). And of course, the story of admonishing him for using earphones while riding hasn't ended.
Today I returned to the scene of the fall off my bike … to see what Oxford Street Pothole #28 looked like when it wasn’t disguised by a pool of rainwater. IT WAS BIG https://t.co/6tYe5kD16a pic.twitter.com/J886Fy48iu
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 14, 2023
As soon as his post was up, there was a reply: "Maybe this time don't wear your earphone so that you're aware of what's going on around you."
Do potholes make a noise, then?
If you'll allow me, I will remove your car stereo and all the windows.— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 14, 2023
And there was Ross who made the situation about Edinburgh versus London.
That’s a mere scratch to the surface compared to the pot holes in and around Edinburgh. If you avoid one you hit another one. pic.twitter.com/cCPknULRF9
— Ross Cochrane (@Jambo_Ross) December 14, 2023
14 December 2023, 17:08
Council “escalates war on cycling menaces” with new town centre ban, saying: “We will not stop until we eradicate this behaviour”
A local council says it has “escalated” and “intensified” its “war on cycling menaces” by implementing a complete ban on riding a bike in pedestrianised zones, as part of a wider crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
North Lincolnshire Council announced this week(link is external) that a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is now in place in Scunthorpe and Brigg, following a public consultation earlier this year, introducing stronger powers and increasing fines for what the local authority describes as the “scourge” of “irresponsible behaviour”.
14 December 2023, 16:07
"Oh but what about emergency services?": Claims against cycling infrastructure hindering fire trucks refuted by Cycleway 9
Greater London Authority's Assembly Member from the Conservative Party Nick Rogers asked Mayor Sadiq Khan about the emergency response times on Chiswick High Road before and after Cycleway 9.
GLA Assembly Member @NickRogersLDN asked @MayorofLondon about emergency response times on Chiswick High Rd before and after #Cycleway9. Great news that London Fire Brigade response times were faster after #Cycleway9 pic.twitter.com/pIn4YX71Zf
— Hounslow Cycling (@HounslowCycling) December 12, 2023
And we'd like to say a big thank you to Mr Rogers, for this has resulted in making data public that shows that the presence of good, usable cycling infrastructure more often than not leads to a reduction of car usage, freeing up space for emergency services.
If you look past the times of 2020 and 2021, both riddled with Covid and lockdowns for the most part, the average response time for the first pump was almost similar to both 2018 and 2019. However, for the second pump, the response time fell well below those of 2018 and 2019, and matched the lowest ever average time in the past five years, recorded in 2020.
14 December 2023, 15:17
Now that's more of what we like to see!
Community projects across London get £575k total active travel grants including helping deaf ppl in Newham & Redbridge, LGBTQ+ women, trans & non-binary ppl in Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham & older Somali ppl in Tower Hamlets cycle more. Thanks @willnorman @tfl @LMFoundation_! https://t.co/mNgBObDkPP
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) December 14, 2023
14 December 2023, 13:54
These are the best reflective cycling vests we've brought to light in hundreds of hours of night-time riding, along with our picks of other reflective cycling gear.
14 December 2023, 13:31
Philippe Gilbert and Loïc Vliegen found guilty of assaulting motorist following “dangerous overtake”
Former world champion Philippe Gilbert and Intermarché-Circus-Wanty pro Loïc Vliegen have been convicted of the assault and battery of a motorist who dangerously close passed them during a 2016 training ride.
The now-retired Gilbert was also found guilty of carrying and using pepper spray, which is banned in Belgium, during the ensuing roadside altercation – during which he fractured his finger – while the driver received his own conviction for the “intentional obstruction of traffic”.
14 December 2023, 12:52
"The developer has had three stabs at this junction without stakeholder involvement and it is still riddled with errors": Active travel group bemoans failed plans for a road crossing
A torrid affair has been afoot in the village of Bicester, with cyclists and pedestrians both disavowing a developer's latest plans for road crossings which form part of a 60,000 square metre business park site.
Active travel groups have labelled the third proposal by Peveril Securities Ltd for a pedestrian crossing in Lakeview Drive, Bicester “complex” and said it appears to have been put forward with "vehicles in mind".
Catherine Hickman, chair of Bicester Bike Users' Group, said: "The developer has had three stabs at this junction without stakeholder involvement and it is still riddled with errors. The pedestrian crossings are still pitifully indirect which will tempt users to dash across where there is no crossing.
"The islands and offset crossings are far too small to accommodate prams, mobility scooters, or wheelchairs. The cycle crossing lines up with the pedestrian only path which will encourage unnecessary conflict. Pedestrian and cycle paths are not segregated or buffered from the traffic, contrary to the county's own policies."
Robin Tucker of Oxfordshire Cycling Network echoed similar thoughts, reports Oxford Mail, adding that the cyclists and pedestrians seem to have been an afterthought, perpetuating similar drawbacks on planning we have seen repeat over and over again due to the ingrained motonormativity.
He said: "The proposed design is complex for people walking or cycling and seems to have been designed for vehicles first, with people fitted around the edges. We’d like to see a design that makes it easier and more intuitive for people to get where they want to go.”
Danny Yee, of Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, said: "National guidance is clear: a cycle track should have a one metre buffer from 40mph traffic, and must have at least a 0.5m buffer.
"If a design this bad is going to be put in, the speed limit on the A41 needs to be dropped to 30mph through this junction. A lower speed limit will also reduce the danger to those frustrated pedestrians who will make unplanned and unsignalled crossings to avoid slow and convoluted multi-stage crossings."
14 December 2023, 12:45
👀 Pogacar to take part in Track Olympics?
14 December 2023, 12:26
14 December 2023, 12:08
It's new bike day! Check out this new Cervélo
With Jumbo out the door, and Lease a Bike in, I wasn't sure if Cervelo would still stick with the yellow bee theme for the all-conquering Dutch team's latest bikes. But it turns out they haven't only stuck, but doubled-down with this gorgeous, intricate golden honeycomb accents on the latest Cervélo bikes, shared via the courtesy (aka Instagram) of Robert Gesnik.
14 December 2023, 11:09
Dooring – What is it, what does the law say and what should you do if it happens to you while cycling?
With Ford's latest announcement of an alert system for motorists to prevent from dooring cyclists (how considerate), here's a deep-dive on the wretched menace, covering everything you need to know about a danger to cyclists that is sadly too common.
14 December 2023, 10:55
Are you sure those Ineos Pinarello Dogmas don't look a lot like 2020 Bahrain's McLaren Meridas?
While I could see a lot of people not being too keen on Ineos Grenadier's new kits (I for one didn't mind them too much), I haven't seen many scorn at the team's new colourway for its bikes.
So as your live blog host, it naturally falls on me to make a case against and at least try and convince you to scorn at them.
To begin with, I'll be honest I'm not a fan of the gradient thing going on. Looks almost like one of those mid-2000s Microsoft WordArt gradient fills.
And is no one else instantly reminded of Bahrain McLaren's Merida Scultura from 2020?
> Check out Team Bahrain McLaren's 2020 Merida Scultura Disc
Gosh, I miss the early Ineos burgundy and aubergine colours!
14 December 2023, 10:16
Thibaut Pint-ot living his best life among the PSG ultras with a beer in each hand
I always knew that Thibaut Pinot had impeccable balance, but I never thought it was "screaming your lungs out in the stadium with two beers in hand" good...
Sa meilleure vie 🥺#BVBPSG pic.twitter.com/pauRSQmn3L
— Collectif Ultras Pinot (@UltrasPinot) December 13, 2023
In yesterday evening's final Champions League group game against Dortmund at the Parc des Princes stadium, Thibaut, the unanimous choice for the favourite rider at road.cc towers, was enjoying with two pints of beers in his hands with the Paris Ultras.
Maybe not enjoying as much, given that PSG just ended up scraping past Milan on goal difference. Ah Pinot, why did you have to go supporting PSG though...
Maybe we need to come up with a list of cyclists who could be on your Sunday league, or maybe even semi-pro football XI?
> Footballers who cycle XI — the Premier League stars who love life on two wheels
Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after completing his masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Cymru, and also likes to write about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.
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111 comments
chrisonabike
|
1 year ago
4 likes
I recommend being able to hear as a cyclist / pedestrian, because ... motor vehicles!
As others have said, with plenty of headphones you can still hear somewhat.
Inside a motor vehicle even if you aren't listening to music / concentrating on your phone* you can't generally hear much because a) metal and glass box b) your own motor / road noise.
Still remember the driving lesson in the mist / fog I had - stopped at a junction, the instructor said "what ways can you tell if someone's coming?" and after a guess or two by me, just wound down the windows.
* I haven't had my coffee yet, sorry.
ChrisB200SX
|
1 year ago
1 like
I noticed when I first started running with an ipod that the earphones blocked out the noise (not sound), so much so that I could hear my own heart beat and groundstrikes. I also had a much clearer idea of what was going on around me rather than just indistinctive loud traffic noise.
AidanR
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1 year ago
10 likes
If you told drivers that they couldn't listen to music in their cars because it reduces awareness of surroundings when piloting 2 tons of metal, they'd look at you as if you were mad.
And then tell you that if you wear earphones when cycling then you're dangerous.
mitsky
|
1 year ago
3 likes
I wouldn't do it myself as I use a bluetooth speaker hanging off my handlebars which also helps warn pedestrians of my approach.
My presumption is that anyone who does usually doesn't do so with fully noise cancelling headphones and can thus hear other noise around them.
As others have said now and in the past, no one would say that drivers aren't allowed to drive with closed windows and radios/music, both of which cause far more external noise blockage.
Ugh, that's even worse. The world is irritating enough without having somebody else's choice of music being enforced on you. The idea that it's acceptable to go about blaring music from your bike or car or on the bus is baffling and infantile. Have a bit of consideration for those around you.
Ugh, that's even worse. The world is irritating enough without having somebody else's choice of music being enforced on you. The idea that it's acceptable to go about blaring music from your bike or car or on the bus is baffling and infantile. Have a bit of consideration for those around you.
You must love supermarkets, especially in the months leading up to Xmas.
Ugh, that's even worse. The world is irritating enough without having somebody else's choice of music being enforced on you. The idea that it's acceptable to go about blaring music from your bike or car or on the bus is baffling and infantile. Have a bit of consideration for those around you.
You must love supermarkets, especially in the months leading up to Xmas.
Have you not heard of online shopping?
What's wrong with piped music? Speak up there, I can't hear you!
Much more bearable piped music is available of course...
You must love supermarkets, especially in the months leading up to Xmas.
There is a selection of songs that I hate particularly because they were on a very short rotation when I worked very long shifts in a supermarket many years ago.
Supermarket music is less annoying though, because a) I've chosen to be there and it's to be expected and b) it's at least intelligible rather than mostly bass thumping from a car or a tinny buzzing at various distances from a bike/pedestrian who needs to soundtrack his (almost always his) journey and fuck what anyone else wants. It's remarkably hard to concentrate on anything else when something is nagging away at your peripheral hearing.
There is a selection of songs that I hate particularly because they were on a very short rotation when I worked very long shifts in a supermarket many years ago.
Supermarket music is less annoying though, because a) I've chosen to be there and it's to be expected and b) it's at least intelligible rather than mostly bass thumping from a car or a tinny buzzing at various distances from a bike/pedestrian who needs to soundtrack his (almost always his) journey and fuck what anyone else wants. It's remarkably hard to concentrate on anything else when something is nagging away at your peripheral hearing.
I get easily bored by music if I hear it too often and I prefer music with unusual beats (think J Dilla) or time signatures (Unsquare Dance?) and so I hate with a passion the generic, regurgitated poppy Xmas hits that get forced upon us every year. Yes, it's easy for grandmas to clap along to and it has a traditional song structure with a sing-a-long chorus and that's why I hate it.
I get easily bored by music if I hear it too often and I prefer music with unusual beats (think J Dilla) or time signatures (Unsquare Dance?) ...
Sounds like you should check out Clown Core.
Apologies in advance.
I get easily bored by music if I hear it too often and I prefer music with unusual beats (think J Dilla) or time signatures (Unsquare Dance?) ...
Sounds like you should check out Clown Core.
Apologies in advance.
That's a bit too techno for my liking. I'm a big lover of old school funk and hip hop (ATCQ for the win), but have been branching out into a bit of math rock as Mrs HawkinsPeter loves her heavy rock and we've been to ArcTangent festival a few times now. Just tapping my foot along to some Meshuggah
If that really bothers You so much for the few seconds You might hear it as we cross paths... #FirstWorldProblems
We both live in what used to be called the First World.
If we do cross paths, how about I spit on you? I don't have any contagious diseases, it's just a bit of liquid. Might piss on your wheels when you park up, it'll dry off.
Entitled childish arseholes who "need" to inflict their choice of music on everyone around aren't the biggest thing wrong in the world, no. But day-to-day life here in the developed world would be that little bit nicer if more people showed a little more consideration for the people around them. You're not in a film, you don't need a soundtrack.
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