“So of course, who do people take their anger out on?”: Facebook group learns of driver’s crash, blame cyclists…; “Wooden that be fun to ride”: Definitely not the new Trek — but cyclist’s DIY Madone is rideable…(apparently) + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Billionaires' Row banning cyclists over speeding claims forces riders to risk "A-road with grisly collision record", argue "reeling" campaigners
Let’s kick Friday off with the latest from Billionaires’ Row, that’s Britain’s “most expensive street” (thanks to its £35 million average house price) that is home to private homes and embassies belonging to the world’s super rich, but also a crucial quiet and safe active travel route used by thousands of cyclists. Well, it was used by thousands of cyclists… until the Crown Estate banned pedestrians and cyclists after complaints about “dangerous” cyclists causing “near misses” and putting residents and diplomats “at risk”.
Needless to say that didn’t go down too well, the Labour candidate for Kensington & Bayswater calling the ban “a selfish and spiteful act” and starting a petition calling for its reopening. Naturally, then, Conservative candidate Felicity Buchan also started a separate petition immediately afterwards, some cynics suggesting that might have more to do with the upcoming election than a sudden newfound want to champion the interests of cyclists (just type Felicity Buchan road.cc into your browser for the source of people’s cynicism).
The London Cycling Campaign said it was “reeling” from the closure and shared a screenshot of a collision map, to demonstrate the choice now facing riders who can’t use Kensington Palace Gardens for their journeys… “a park shut at night” or “an A-road with a grisly collision record”… pick your poison…
We’re still reeling from @TheCrownEstate‘s decision to close #KensingtonPalaceGardens to walking & cycling (but not to cars!)
The N-S cycling alternatives?
– A park shut at night 🤦♀️
– An A-road with a grisly collision record 💀
Image via @betterstreetskc pic.twitter.com/PDzZ9ZMJzJ
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) June 12, 2024
Well, there might be some hope, the Crown Estate yesterday telling the Evening Standard the installation of “temporary measures” may allow a “safe controlled reopening”. The organisation claims it would “rather not” restrict access but near misses caused by “dangerous” cyclists meant there is a need for a “review of continuing cycling and pedestrian safety incidents”.
And it seems like nobody is happy (except perhaps some residents), the two major party candidates, locals and the council all saying they want to see it reopened.
A council spokesperson said: “The council was very disappointed to learn that the Crown Estate has taken the decision to close Kensington Palace Gardens to pedestrians and cyclists, without any prior consultation with us. The closure of Kensington Palace Gardens removes a much-valued and largely traffic-free link for people walking and cycling between Notting Hill Gate and Kensington High Street.
“In addition, the closure of part of the pedestrian link from Kensington Church Street to Kensington Palace Gardens has removed an important connection to Kensington Gardens for Kensington residents.”
Something tells me the Crown Estate might be announcing a U-turn in the near future…
Bianchi launches e-Oltre: an 11kg ebike that feels like "a true road bike" (says Bianchi)
> Bianchi launches e-Oltre: an 11kg ebike that feels like “a true road bike” (says Bianchi)
Great Britain loses Olympic cycling silver medal to France 100 years after cyclist's death
I’ve got to admit, the 1900 Paris Olympics wasn’t really on our radar as something we expected to cover in 2024. We’re probably a bit late (124 years late) to the party if we wanted to produce any news copy around the action, or so we thought. A curious case has been brought to light, the International Olympic Committe rectifying its historical records to award a silver medal from the men’s 25km cycling race at the 1900 Games to France rather than Britain.
The IOC has agreed to rectify its historical records to reflect the fact that a silver medal from the Olympic Games Paris 1900 will now be credited to France rather than Great Britain. This was approved today by the IOC EB.
More: https://t.co/EZTyLRSJXy pic.twitter.com/sxMtrwxG2j
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) June 13, 2024
The medal was, and remains, awarded to Lloyd Hildebrand, a British citizen who was born and brought up in France (even if the beacon of truth Wikipedia says he was born in Tottenham), competing for a French club before and after winning his medal at the 1900 Olympics.
“As was the norm then, and for several later editions of the Olympic Games, athletes had only to send the number of their licence, established by the national federation where they were regularly competing, and pay the entry fees to compete at the Games,” the IOC explained. “National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were not involved in the process, as they are today.
“Based on this newfound information, the IOC EB decided to apply the same policy as in previous cases brought to the IOC’s attention. The medal won by Hildebrand will now be credited to France instead of Great Britain in the official records of the Olympic Games Paris 1900 and in the IOC’s database.”
"Wooden that be fun to ride": Definitely not the new Trek — but cyclist's DIY Madone is rideable...(apparently)
Introducing the Trek Board-one — heavier, less aero, but oh so much stiffer (some would say ‘too stiff’) and available for a fraction of the full carbon offering…
[Rock Rider/Facebook]
Now, I might be wrong, but there appear to be some slight differences between this model and the new bike we spotted Lidl-Trek’s riders using at the Critérium du Dauphiné. Enjoy some ‘spot the difference’ if you’re able to, it’s a tricky one…
> New Trek Madone breaks cover at Dauphiné
Facetiousness aside, us and everyone else who saw this pop up on Facebook were well impressed by the crafting and work that’s gone into this, and it’s rideable! Well, we’re taking the creator’s word for it. Shared by Rock Rider, who is apparently based in Kenya, he replied to the inevitable question about whether you could actually clock any kilometres on it with a bullish one-word declaration… “Yes.”
“My Trek Madone, actually stronger than your carbon fibre,” he joked.
Top marks all round but those internally routed cables in particular got plenty of love in the comments.
Patrick Shea: “Are you sure that’s a Trek? Looks more like a Specialized Rootbaix to me”
Tim Clements: “The ride probably feels a little wooden”
Cesar Tan: “Trek Mad-One”
Robert Alan Pearce: “Wooden that be fun to ride”
Cyclists riding "at excessive speeds" and causing crashes prompt Royal Parks to review cycling policy, as charity cancels time trial events because "they directly encourage cyclists to go faster than speed limit"
Tree-mendous punning
"A sad day for women's cycling": RideLondon Classique cancelled for 2025 as UCI "unilaterally" moves dates "without consultation or prior warning"
Tour de Suisse stage shortened to just 42km due to snow blocking climb
Snow on top of the Nufenenpass means today’s sixth stage of the Tour de Suisse is just 42km, which basically makes it an 8km bunch hill climb, the peloton currently tackling an easy pre-ascent warm-up before the fireworks can be set off shortly. Another Adam Yates stage win is the most likely outcome of course, his UAE Team Emirates teammates almost certainly hoping to repeat the destruction of yesterday. Can anyone else get close? Will João Almeida be granted some freedom? All will be revealed very soon.
Zwift unveils £1,199 Zwift Ride smart bike with singlespeed frame, Kickr Core trainer and Zwift Cog system: how does it ride?
João Almeida wins Tour de Suisse stage six
🇵🇹 João Almeida VENCE a etapa 6 da Volta à Suiça 🔥🔥🔥
Que exibição fantástica do Português 👏 🙌 🥇 pic.twitter.com/Kf7tEU8PP0
— Eurosport Portugal (@EurosportTV_Por) June 14, 2024
UAE Team Emirates pulled off another 1-2 this afternoon on today’s shortened stage six, the order of the winner and runner-up reversed from yesterday’s result, João Almeida gapping Adam Yates in the closing metres atop the climb to Blatten. With another summit finish tomorrow before a mountain time trial on Sunday, the British rider takes a lead of 27 seconds into the weekend.
Egan Bernal and Mattias Skjelmose were the best of the rest, Enric Mas suffering a worse day than yesterday, while there were signs of improvement from Lenny Martinez after a tricky week for the Frenchman.
Tom Pidcock and Oscar Onley are in seventh and eighth on GC respectively.
DEALS
Free virtual riding app MyWhoosh lets users transfer levels and ratings over from Zwift profiles
> Free virtual riding app MyWhoosh lets users transfer levels and ratings over from Zwift profiles
"So of course, who do people take their anger out on?": Facebook group learns of driver's crash, blame cyclists...
road.cc reader Simon got in touch with a tale from his local Facebook group where people have learnt of a road traffic collision, a second in recent times after a previous driver’s crash took out the BT box that provided internet for most of the area. While Simon reports there have been some complaints previously about speeding on the roads, there was only one thing to blame for this one…
“For context, there’s also been a bridleway upgrade recently, which caused various people to be very angry for various contradictory reasons (I’ve written a blog on it here, and in general, cyclists are generally seen as the lowest of the low,” Simon reported.
“So of course, when a car (driver) crashes, who do people decide to take their anger out on? Couldn’t make it up really, the usual anti-cycling insurance and tax bingo in there as well, plus the suggestion that people are both cycling so slowly they need to be overtaken, but so fast it’s also a race track: Schrodinger’s cyclists evidently. One of those where it’s been brought up so many times that road tax hasn’t been a thing since the 1930/40s etc, that people must be deliberately ignoring the rebuttals to push the agenda they want to believe in, rather than the reality.”
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Latest Comments
@DrG82 is a liar. First off, who here said they got everything right? "I wouldn’t say that the Welsh government got everything right." The article contains commentary saying they didn't get everything right. I suppose saying something obviously true sets you up to lie later... "They applied the speed limit changes uniformly, without considering exceptions" You are a liar. The Welsh Government guidance contained rules that would allow councils to exempt roads from 20mph. As an example, much of my route into town stayed at 30 and 40mph because my council bothered to apply the exemptions. I particularly enjoyed your unsupported claim of "This has been a massive waste of money". The article states "collisions involving all road users on 20mph and 30mph are down 37 per cent, with casualties dropping by 35 per cent". I'd say a one-off cost of changing road signs for a permanent 1/3rd reduction in collisions is gonna save the taxpayer a chunk of healthcare costs and owners and businesses a chunk of money not fixing car bodywork. Nothing but contempt for you. Take your lies elsewhere.
With so many people using and looking at mobie phones whilst driving and other distractions, may I suggest you always wear Hi viz and stay at home.
The design of the "car" has played a role in this. SUVs and what the Americans call "trucks" are exempt from the pedestrian safety regulations which apply to passenger cars. Had the victim been hit by a car designed in the past twenty years he would have been "scooped" onto the bonnet and either over the roof or off to one side. Still a serious injury risk and potentially fatal but they have the benefit of those passive safety systems to improve their chances. With vehicles with such a high bonnet line as this Volvo has what tends to happen is the person bounces off the bonnet and falls on the road in front of the vehicle where they're then run over. This has happened time and time again and is becoming more of an issue as the numbers of vehicles exempt from the safety standards grows.
@Accessibility for all Reducing the speeds wouldn't have helped in this case as the driver was reported doing 65 in a 40 zone on the approach to the junction, his driving described by the witnesses as erratic and evidently had no intention to stop to give way even though he had been warned by the passenger who apparently shouted "bike" three times just before the collision. He would have likely flown through that junction even if it was traffic light controlled with a red light for him at the time. In my own experience the entire area i.e. east of Lymm towards Warburton and along Dunham Road all the way up to Altrincham and past into Hale Barns, all those wealthy, posh settlements around Manchester Airport are best avoided by road cyclists. A disproportionally high number of psycho drivers must for some reason live in that area because every single time I went there on my road bike in the past, I either got harassed myself or witnessed proper dickhead driving - speeding, close passes, overtaking into oncoming traffic or round a blind bend, accelerating towards pedestrians already crossing the road, you name it. I gave up road cycling in that area years ago and only use the local TPT these days.
In respect of the murder charge: based on him hitting Mr Mullins and making no attempt to help him (this killing him), how would the case compare to a hit and run driver who seriously injures or kills a cyclist, knowingly, and flees the scene without helping? Would this make the cut for a murder charge? Or is there something very different going on here that I’m missing? Genuinely curious because I don’t recall there being a murder charge before for this kind of thing unless it was premeditated. In fact, in my experience most cases like this seem to go the opposite way - where the driver can merely say the sun was in their eyes and get away with a slap on the hands.
@Rendel Harris...and there was me dishing out the praise!
@polainm He must also be an already hardened criminal. It wasn't mentioned during the court proceedings to avoid influencing the jurors and ensuring he had a fair trial, but he had been released from prison shortly before this incident and was couch surfing at his cousin's house days before. Just look at his face, he's only 35, but looks older than his victim who was 56. Must have spent half his adult life in prison.
@jaymack They did offer him manslaughter though but he declined to plead guilty. Without wanting to seem curmudgeonly, yes great that they preferred the most serious charges but hard to see how they could have done differently considering that Richardson got out of the car, saw Mr Mullins was stuck underneath and then got back in and carried on. That clearly moved it above anything that falls under death by dangerous driving.
@thrawed Agree - the UK winters are utterly grim; grey, wet & windy. Not the type of weather you really want to go out and ride. Everything get covered in filth, and takes time to clean it after a ride. Oh for colder, drier & crisper days which can be enjoyable to be out in.
@ymm In my view, lax sentencing of dangerous drivers, especially where cyclists are involved, makes the judge, jury and CPS complicit in UK driver culture. This driver is a sociopath.
18 thoughts on ““So of course, who do people take their anger out on?”: Facebook group learns of driver’s crash, blame cyclists…; “Wooden that be fun to ride”: Definitely not the new Trek — but cyclist’s DIY Madone is rideable…(apparently) + more on the live blog”
This closure is so
This closure is so transparently about rich people wanting to shut out ‘the masses’. With all that money, they’re aghast that they’re forced to share a road with poor people.
And the standards are doubled
And the standards are doubled all the more when you consider how much money is owed to ‘the masses’ by diplomats (embassies on that road, IIRC) who don’t pay their congestion charge.
Well, to be fair, there is no
Well, to be fair, there is no congestion on their road. (Unless you count the hordes of rampaging cyclists. )
I wonder whether they’d call
I wonder whether they’d call the Police if they were burgled? You know the Police that we all pay for with our taxes, then again taxes are for little people I suppose.
I imagine that places like
I imagine that places like that have very private security (black suits and mirrorshades), and wouldn’t dream of bothering the police.
Shouldn’t that be a Tree-k?
Shouldn’t that be a Tree-k?
Although I suspect actually it’s a Pine-arello, or possibly a Boardman.
Maybe a Willow-er
Maybe a Willower, or a Branchi.
Any rider would have to wear
Any rider would have to wear Oakleys, of course.
I said it before but will
I said it before but will repeat myself:
Imagine if any road was closed due to complaints about “near misses with drivers”.
There would be uproar.
They would also have to close
They would also have to close every road…
I had a wooden car once.
I had a wooden car once. Wooden chassis, wooden wheels, wooden engine. It wooden go anywhere.
Wooden frame looks like it’s
Wooden frame looks like it’s got a com-ply-ant ride
‘Tree-mendous punning’
‘Tree-mendous punning’
Knot really.
NotNigel wrote:
Oh yew!
Sir Mark Cavendish, well
Sir Mark Cavendish, well deserved.
Gordon Ramsay sharing useless
Redacted
I’ll just leave this here
I’ll just leave this here
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/16/the-brain-is-very-vulnerable-dutch-cyclists-urged-to-wear-helmets-as-road-deaths-rise
Oh ho ho ho!
Oh ho ho ho!
Does this come under “problems of success”? E.g. being so successful at achieving mass cycling that the proportion of frail or uncertain cyclists is much higher than in “non-cycling countries” like eg. UK?
I think even NL may not be quite at the point where “mandatory helmet” is *on balance* a public safety-improver. (Though they’ve already tried to address some other more relevant things like making using a phone on your bike an offence).
Perhaps they might be justified in the case of certain groups eg. those over a certain age? (I’ve posted the study details before but while older people are significantly likely to experience bad outcomes in crashes I am not sure they linked that with head injuries per se – perhaps a wiser idea would be to mandate trikes for older people? Maybe even semi-recumbent ones to reduce fall heights?)
Also according to Mr. Hembrow’s analysis some of the recent increase in KSI comes from more car / backsliding on safety for vulnerable road users.
https://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2023/04/whats-gone-wrong-with-road-safety-in.html
For a quick review of the recent figures see: