Your bike hates you, Gumtree edition: How not to fit a front mech; DCS Andy Cox questions Mail coverage of Jeremy Vine cycle lane near miss; Monster Raving Loony Party: 15-minute city conspiracy theories “even too loony for us” + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
15-minute cities hit TikTok
“Now we’re afraid of reasonable walking distances?!?”
Well, some folks really want you to be.
HT @CriticalMassAKL pic.twitter.com/YV0AkM7qIe
— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) February 13, 2023
Monster Raving Loony Party admits 15-minute city conspiracy theories are "even too loony for us"
You’ve probably heard about 15-minute cities by now but if not, in a nutshell: they are schemes promoting active travel, much like low-traffic neighbourhoods, to create urban areas where local amenities can be easily and safely accessed on foot or by bike within 15 minutes.
Some feature planters and bollards, others ANPR number plate recognition cameras to make sure drivers don’t go where they shouldn’t. Anyway, the idea that you can walk to the shops in 15 minutes is highly controversial, of course, and has attracted the shouty right wing types on Twitter (plus some non-right wing types, probably). Think, Katie Hopkins, Laurence Fox, Nigel Farage and you’re pretty much there…
> Tory MP attacks 15-minute city concept with known conspiracy theory
And while some would ask how you could possibly object to the convenience of walking to the shops in 15 minutes, the figures above and others on Twitter and Facebook like to shout about a threat to freedom, surveillance states, climate lockdowns etc. etc.
> GB News presenter claims 15-minute cities and LTNs are “un-British” and “illiberal”
And while Conservative MP Nick Fletcher even brought up the issue in Parliament last week, one political party you won’t be hearing anything from on the matter is the Monster Raving Loony Party…
The satire-heavy creation of Screaming Lord Sutch, behind such policy proposals as half the grey squirrels being painted red to increase the red squirrel population and national debt being cleared by putting it on a credit card, admitted to the Guardian’s Peter Walker that the idea that 15-minute cities are a plot to imprison people in their own homes is “even too loony for us”…
– 2030 seems a tad optimistic to us.
– No, but we will fix air conditioning units to the outside of buildings to prevent it further.
– That’s even too loony for us.
– Only on the 29th of February.— 📢 oFFiCiaL mONsTEr rAvINg lOOnY PArTy 🎩 (@Official_MRLP) February 14, 2023
Happy Wednesday…
Count the cyclists
Good morning London ☀️ 🚲 pic.twitter.com/P7W3vqwpJN
— Rory McCarron (@CyclingLawLDN) February 14, 2023
Sorry, no answer for you, I don’t have a clue…
Bling bikes
Mauri Vansevenant punches to stage four glory in Oman but Matteo Jorgenson clings on to GC by ONE SECOND
Atop the Green Mountain, Soudal Quick-Step’s Mauri Vansevenant came past Matteo Jorgenson in the final hundred metres to claim stage victory…
🏆 @MVansevenant99 wins stage 5! 👏 pic.twitter.com/GDzVL40lbY
— Tour of Oman (@tourofoman) February 15, 2023
Jorgenson had looked in control, easily following Vansevenant’s earlier accelerations, but kicked too soon and was passed with the finish line in sight. Fortunately for the young American, Vansevenant could not open a big enough gap to also take the race overall, Jorgenson taking the crown by one second.
But you can’t accuse Mauri of not trying…
🥵 @MVansevenant99 gave everything in the last climb to win the final stage!💦 He was happy to see his mom take care of him once he crossed the line. 🥰 pic.twitter.com/KbllJqubQK
— Tour of Oman (@tourofoman) February 15, 2023
Mail on Sunday cleared by Independent Press Standards Organisation over "Red light rats!" story
IPSO (the Independent Press Standards Organisation) has ruled there was no breach of the editor’s code in a Mail on Sunday piece of 20 August 2022, titled “Red light rats!”, about cyclists jumping red lights outside Buckingham Palace.
IPSO deemed there was no breach of Clause 1, relating to accuracy, which states:
The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.
The complaint related to the idea, shared on Twitter, that the road had been closed to motor vehicles at the time and police had been present telling riders to continue. They also questioned the use of a composite photo which meant it may unable to confirm if any cyclists pictured had jumped a red light. The complainant also suggested the article was an attempt to create “road rage” towards cyclists, compounded by calling them “rats”.
However, IPSO’s committee deemed:
The newspaper had demonstrated that its journalist and photographer had been present at the scene, and taken the photographs used to create the composite picture. The photos showed that cars and vans in both directions were stopped at the traffic lights while the green man was on or while the adjacent digital display showed a countdown, indicating that they were stopped at a red light. The photos also showed a number of cyclists passing through the crossing while the green man was on, while pedestrians were crossing and while the cars remained stationary.
And…
In addition, the publication had said that there had been no police present and the road had been functioning as normal – which again was supported by the pictures it had provided. The Committee also noted that the complainant had not been present at the scene and was speculating that the road had been closed based on information from social media. Taking all this into consideration, it was the Committee’s view that the publication had taken sufficient care not to publish inaccurate or misleading information, and it was not inaccurate or misleading to claim that the cyclists had “ignored the traffic signal” and “jump[ed] a red light”.
On the “rats” front…
The Committee also noted the complainant’s concerns regarding the phrase “rats” and that he considered this was an attempt to create anger towards cyclists. The Committee noted that the Editors’ Code of Practice makes clear the press has the right to be partisan, to give its own opinion and to publish individuals’ views, as long as it takes care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, and to distinguish between comment, conjecture and fact. In this instance, the description of the cyclists as “rats” was clearly the opinion of the newspaper, and clearly attributed to it. Further, this was a subjective characterisation, and while the Committee noted the complainant disagreed with this description, this did not in itself mean that the article was inaccurate or misleading to include it.
"There really should be no need to debate this": DCS Andy Cox questions Daily Mail coverage of Jeremy Vine cycle lane near miss
Remember this from yesterday’s live blog?
This just happened.
He did say “sorry I didn’t see you.”
An apology is always accepted.
But this gent needs a refresher driving course. pic.twitter.com/9WV6H067ob— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) February 14, 2023
Well, here’s the Mail’s coverage…
Jeremy Vine sparks debate after sharing video showing him nearly ploughing into car on a cycle lane https://t.co/DAGelTjeDA
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 14, 2023
Another classic for the ‘who was in the right?’ folder. Thankfully, DCS Andy Cox was on hand to respond to the reporting…
If @theJeremyVine was a bus in a bus lane would the car have turned and who would be in the right? Do we expect the bus to give way? Well… It’s exactly the same principle for a bike in a cycle lane. ‘The turning vehicle gives way’… There really should be no need to debate this. https://t.co/Fxbghg8fWW
— Andy Cox (@AndyCoxDCS) February 15, 2023
Pogačar goes two from two — wins Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol opening stage with monstrous attack
It’s just too easy for this lad…
🇪🇸 #69RdS6: Great work by Alex Martín with 145km in the breakaway of a hard stage with +4.000m
🥇 Tadej Pogacar (UAD) wins the first stage after attacking on Despiernacaballos climb and takes the lead in the overall classification of the Andalusian race pic.twitter.com/xPV9YHcyzZ— EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team (@EoloKometaTeam) February 15, 2023
Second race day of the year and Tadej’s got his second win. It was a typically dominant win too, smashing clear of the peloton on the final climb of the day, shelling the brave Santiago Buitrago, who had been clinging on for dear life, a few hundred metres later and soloing to the line.
#69RdS 🇪🇸 / L’attaque décisive de 🇸🇮 Tadej Pogacar (UAD) sur l’étape du jour. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hjradHPDa7
— Renaud Breban (@RenaudB31) February 15, 2023
Two more pro wins this year than we had in our whole careers too Dan
— Cillian Kelly (@irishpeloton) February 15, 2023
2023 WorldTour Bikes | Who's Riding What In The Men's & Women's Pro Peloton?
Cav might go to the Giro before Tour de France, Alexander Vinokourov suggests
Astana Qazaqstan team boss Alexander Vinokourov has outlined a possible timeline for Mark Cavendish’s route to the Tour de France, suggesting a Giro d’Italia appearance could be on the cards.
“We’ll try to win races before and then concentrate on the Giro and Tour,” he told Cyclingnews at the Tour of Oman, Cav’s first race for the team.
“I don’t know about going to the finish, but for preparation, winning stages is always a good motivation and it helps to arrive relaxed to the Tour. We’ll see later, but in any case, it’s an idea and Mark is open to it. I think the more races you do, the better it is.
“After UAE, it’s Tirreno and I think Milan-San Remo too. Then he’ll do some races in Belgium. He’ll rest a little bit and then race the Tour of Turkey and maybe the Giro. There are four or five days between them.”
Your bike hates you, Gumtree edition: How not to fit a front mech
“Marin Eldridge Grade Bike. Rare classic 1990s collector’s item. Very original, good condition.”
Cool, let me take a look… erm, what?!
To avoid being scammed or disappointed Gumtree advises buyers to “ask lots of questions about the items you are buying” but to be completely honest, I’m not sure I want to.
“If an ad sounds too good to be true then it probably is,” they also warn. Not an issue here…
It’s collection only from Axminster in Devon if anyone’s interested in this ultra-inefficient set-up. Keep your oval chainrings, Froomey, it’s all about rusty trianglular chain routing these days…
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention. £190?! Go make ’em an offer if you dare…
15 February 2023, 09:08
15 February 2023, 09:08
15 February 2023, 09:08
15 February 2023, 09:08
15 February 2023, 09:08
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Latest Comments
Ridiculous. Because someone is not deterred from buying an SUV it does not follow that they don’t care about cyclists or pedestrians!
You'd have to be mad to back this
New party game. Find a generative AI picture and the first team that circles 10 obvious problems wins a shot of rum.
Say what you will about the braking efficiencies of both rim and disc brakes. Or of seemingly having only one pedal and crank. Or of the angled-in brake hoods on flat bars. Let alone the rearward facing handlebars. I'm so impressed though, by the chain that traverses one side of the bike, to switch side somewhere around the dropouts, to the other side of the bike! Every side's a drivetrain side!
@chrisonabike We live in terraced houses, so no garage.
@Shades They have a 5 bedroom house for the 4of them (2 parents, 2 children). Admittedly, the hall isn't wide but it's not as if they're short of space. I keep 2 of my bikes in the cellar.
In other news, researchers prove beyond doubt that water is indeed wet.
And why are they not heavily de-starred by NCAP? The rot started with the Nissan Qashqai which used loopholes on bonnet safety regulations that didn't adequately include the headlight lenses, they put deep soft tissue penetrating ridges into the lens mouldings that increased their height and the aggressiveness of the look of the car but made it much more dangerous to any vulnerable roaduser. Unfortunately the raised stance and batmobileish looks appealed to buyers, particularly women and the whole industry surged in that direction. Now much worsened with the seeming unstoppability of the Range Rover look.
@mdavidford Most importantly, will someone name a range of exotic (well, exotic for the 1980s) snacks after me?
@mctrials23 Nerdy sort of fact, if the RTW challenge was to cycle round the equator, which would make sense in a way with that being the longest circumference of our oblate spheroid, it would only take 8,714 kilometres of cycling as the rest of the 40,075km would be by boat.
90 thoughts on “Your bike hates you, Gumtree edition: How not to fit a front mech; DCS Andy Cox questions Mail coverage of Jeremy Vine cycle lane near miss; Monster Raving Loony Party: 15-minute city conspiracy theories “even too loony for us” + more on the live blog”
MRLP the voice of reason. Far
MRLP the voice of reason. Far less looney than so many Conservatives and whatever faction Nigel Farrage is a part of these days.
Slower speeds = fewer crashes
Slower speeds = fewer crashes. Who knew….
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64637389
Moist von Lipwig wrote:
Yes but the savings (both economic and in terms of life) are not more important that my ability to drive to my daughter’s cello lesson in a reasonable amount of time, therefore I am completely against road safety improvements.
ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:
Ooopsie – I must have left Martin-mode on. Sorry everyone!
They’re enough of a parody on
They’re enough of a parody on their own thanks.
However – remove “reasonable length of time” and you get this:
“former vicar on 2,000 mile bicycle ride across Europe with a cello“.
Bonus points for Dawes Galaxy but I’m not sure about the carrying though. I upended myself once getting a Christmas tree home in that configuration.
I seem to recall road.cc reviewing some instrument carrying kit not so long ago, and (maybe the same) there’s this one, modelled with suitable instrument:
https://www.mundomusicgear.co.uk/blogs/latest-news/how-to-carry-a-cello-on-a-bicycle
If you’re worried about crash damage of course you’ll probably just use the turbo.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/turbo-training-and-playing-a-cello-some-skills-on-show-here-video-270244
I couldn’t agree more, as
I couldn’t agree more, as long as it is *the best* cello teacher available, commensurate with the musical abilities of said daughter.
* one of the best
** in Kent
* one of the best
** in Kent
There is something wrong with
There is something wrong with the data! The speed limits do not apply to cyclists and pedestrians, who as we all know are the cause of all accidents with all drivists (especially professional taxi drivists) being innocent victims and totally blameless in all cases. There must be another explanation, correlation does not equal causation!
Count the cyclists – that’s a
Count the cyclists – that’s a good start, there’s plenty of room (or rather there should be…) for improvement though!
OK, what about somewhere not quite so far in the future?
For the Daily Mail’s benefit,
For the Daily Mail’s benefit, Highway Code Rule 140
“You should give way to any cyclists in a cycle lane, including when they are approaching from behind you – do not cut across them when you are turning or when you are changing lane (see Rule H3). Be prepared to stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists before crossing the cycle lane.”
How long until someone comes
How long until someone comes along and says, “But it only says ‘should’, not ‘must’“…?
But it does, it also says
But it does, it also says avoid collisions, allow others to make mistakes, be prepared and slow down and hold back if a road user pulls out into your path at a junction…
Maybe they should add a new one don’t contrive incidents to boost your social media ratings.
Regardless if you think the driver is totally wrong, and I think there is a debate on at what distance that should rule applies in situations like this, Vine had plenty of time to react and make that a total non event and if that’s the worst he puts up with on a ride, that’s a win in my book.
My last two rides I’ve been properly left hooked, twice, had two vehicles turn across my path, one a learner, that I had to stop for, a bus turning into a junction that short cut the corner and still nearly hit me even though i was more than 3 bike lengths away from the junction, more close passes than you can shake a stick at, and a bunch of oncoming drivers on single track roads who refuse to slow down let alone stop in a passing place or give me any room.
Id say to Vine stop making mountains out of molehills when we as cyclists have got far bigger issues on the road than this.
Awavey wrote:
Get outta here with your logic 😉
And the same applies to car vs car interaction. If a car emerges from a junction in front of another car, but enabling plenty of time for the other car to slow down and stop but the other car fails to do so, it is at the very least a partial fault incident.
We expect other cars to percept and respond to hazards, so it hardly seems unreasonable to expect the same from cyclists.
Your riding experiences are
Your riding experiences are becoming increasingly common I think for all of us post Covid, fuelled by some media outlets (I never understand why they’re not prosecuted for inciting hatred or some such…oh wait).
Awavey wrote:
I was taught – when learning to drive, some years ago now – that a fundamental of being on the roads is to not make it necessary for another road user to have to take avoiding action (including putting them in a position where they have to brake or else run into you).
as was I, but Im realistic
as was I, but Im realistic that Im unlikely to encounter many drivers who not only remember that but put it in to action, so I ride in a way that causes me the least amount of grief & potential harm in these types of situations and maintains my momentum.
Especially on a commute, riding as Vine did is just wasted energy and unnecessary aggravation, if that doesnt happen to you at least once a ride you’re riding in a cycling utopia.
Riding into a situation that you can easily avoid, doesnt help anyone imo, but it sure gets those clicks rolling in.
Do you really think the Daily
Do you really think the Daily Fail pays any attention to what the Highway Code says – should, must or otherwise?
Unfortunately, Vine has some
Unfortunately, Vine has some pretty poor presentation of incidents. I don’t think it helps that his camera makes objects appear further away than they are so it creates the impression that he is riding into danger. Also, he does seem to over-egg some apparently marginal incidents.
So, I’m getting more into the “more harm than good” camp with him.
On this episode though, the SMIDSY should be the talking point. If the van driver was not aware of the potential conflict, I think it is worse than a “I can get across because the cyclist will lift off, he’s got plenty of time to react” type of incident. It is the legitimisation of poor observation excusing poor driving. Not knowing there was a conflict says it could have been a worse incident and implies they didn’t consider and check for the possibility – habitually ignoring bike lanes.
Vine did nothing wrong.
Vine did nothing wrong.
The driver indicated to turn left without bothering to look which is a basic driving error and would fail a driving test.
Vine regularly highlights that the main issue for road safety for vulnerable users is poor driving behaviour.
I think I’d already covered
I think I’d already covered your point.
What I can’t tell from his presentation is whether he did anything wrong or not. It creates the impression that he ignored the emerging conflict – he seemed to be cycling slowly yet did not apparently react until the last minute, so that arguably is wrong – one wrong doesn’t make another mistake right. But I qualify this because that superwide angle destroys perspective and that van might have been right on his nose and his speed may be higher than it appears.
If a bus driver saw a van turning across a bus lane, would you expect the bus to react immediately to avoid a collision drive right up to the van to make a point? The van is always in the wrong, but the bus shouldn’t drive to increase risk.
Difficult thing with busses
Difficult thing with busses is, unlike cars, people aren’t belted in and there is a high chance they are stood up.
I’ve seen reports of busses breaking to avoid a collision only to injure those on board with heavy breaking. There may be no collision but the effect of poor driving has an impact.
IanMSpencer wrote:
I agree. It’s all very well and good quoting Rule 140 while you’re cycling ignorantly into a emerging hazard, but a tiny bit of care (and therefore observation of rule 76) would have prevented that unnecessary altercation.
Cycling “ignorantly”??
Cycling “ignorantly”?? Whatever that is.
The hierarchy of road users puts a greater duty of care on motor vehicles so the driver in this case should take a “tiny bit of care”.
The driver would fail their test for this. Rule 76 is about general road use (not cycling lanes) so would not be relevant in this situation.
I guess some people are not Vine fans but like Cycling Mickey with his camera footage Vine is helping to show where the real danger on the roads comes from.
sean1 wrote:
It’s a bit like typing ignorantly. It’s cycling, while not thinking about what you are doing. In this case cycling into a car that has indicated to turn well in advance of a turn and turned fairly slowly across your path.
You don’t think rule 76 is relevant? JV is literally cycling straight on past a junction. Exactly what rule 76 covers. Perhaps you should read it? It starts with “If you are going straight ahead at a junction…”. I.e. exactly what JV was doing. It even says “watch out for drivers intending to turn across your path”.
Amazing. A cycling forum
Amazing. A cycling forum where the cyclists victim blame other cyclists. The mind boggles.
If you check the highway code you will find that switching on your indicator does not give you right of way. Also “turning slowly” does not give you right of way.
Again Hierarchy of Road Users and Rule 140 make it very clear that in this situation the onus is on the car driver, to look and wait if cyclists are proceeding ahead in the cycle lane.
The driver was in the wrong in this situation. (except for Daily Mail readers when obviously it is always the cyclists fault).
sean1 wrote:
News just in! Suggesting that road users (yes, including cyclists) open their eyes and respond to hazards is ‘victim blaming’.
Get a life.
Yes, the driver was wrong to turn across a cycle path with a cyclist coming up from behind (And in contravention of rule 140 of the highway code). But JV was also wrong to continue cycling and to fail to prevent such an unnecessary altercation (and in contravention of rule 76 of the highway code).
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Vine didn’t do anything wrong
Vine didn’t do anything wrong.
He did in fact stop without colliding with the car which was at that point completely blocking the path. So he did follow Rule 76.
Yes Vine did make a point of ensuring the driver knew he had cut him up. That is perfectly reasonable. He could of just hung back and doffed his cap to the more important motor vehicle.
Through his videos Vine is highlighting common dangers encountered by cyclists and hence bringing it into discussion.
Ian Walker just completed a study on car bias and how danger from motor vehicles is normalised in society.
An interesting study and some of the responses here and elsewhere just confirm the inbuilt bias that exists towards cars.
https://road.cc/content/news/britons-normalise-dangers-driving-study-suggests-298703
sean1 wrote:
FTFY.
Look, in all seriousness,
Look, in all seriousness, Jeremy Vine could have prevented that altercation very easily, and if he had done what he was supposed to do (iaw highway code) there would not have been an altercation. Yes, it’s true that if the car driver had done what they were supposed to do, there also would have been no altercation, but that means that they are both at fault.
Only the driver is at fault.
Only the driver is at fault.
Vine did make a point of highlighting the drivers error but he didn’t threaten or abuse the driver. So there was no “altercation”. Both moved on after a couple of seconds.
Hopefully now the driver will be a bit more aware when left turning across cycle lanes. If that is the result then well done Vine.
sean1 wrote:
You keep saying that but it’s patently untrue. Perhaps you should brush up on your highway code. Start with rule 76.
ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:
Not sure I want to enter this argument but anyway…
It takes JV about 3 seconds to come to a stop from the time the car turns onto the bike lane based on the time stamps in the video payer. Is that waht other people see or is my computer playing up?
He seems to me to have “watched out for drivers intending to turn across [his] path” as he seems to begin to brake almost immediately the car enters his lane and decelerated at a sufficent rate to avoid a collision.
A rule of thumb (i.e. I don’t recall the reference) is an average driver takes 1.5s to react (not great but I believe empirically derived) and then a car slows at 7m/s2. Presumably there is lots of variation in both figures based on many things you can imagine for yourselves. However if we take an average driver, but assume they were doing about 25 kph (no idea how fast JV cycles), they would have had 0.5s to spare, very approximdately, before a collision would have occured. Maybe JV wasted some of the 0.5s but hard to say IMO. Of course he was on a bike but I don’t know the figures for that off hand and I can’t be bothered to look them up when I could be spouting my ignorant opinion in a forum. Presumably JVs reaction time would be quicker than avergae due to the adrenaline from constant fear of detah JV must have based on his videos.
The only argument that seems to be being made against him is he should have braked sooner or harder. He seems to be pretty quick from what i can tell, given he isn’t watching the footage in slo-mo waiting for it to happen. Braking hard has its own risks so it makes sense, up to a point, to use the space you’ve got and 3 seconds just doesn’t seem like it is that slow of a stop – especially when it is fast enough to avoid the collision.
It’s 19 secs on the twitter
It’s 19 secs on the twitter timestamp when the car indicates, 24 secs when JV stops, its 5 secs elapsed imo.
Ive done an emergency stop for a car that pulled onto a roundabout in front of me with no warning in less than 2 seconds from similar riding speeds.
I don’t know what video
I don’t know what video people have been watching, but Jeremy avoided crashing. I shall put that another way, he rode in such a manner that he did not crash into the car that had been driven across his path.
The driver did nothing to avoid a crash, either not looking in their side mirror, or doing so and ignoring what they saw. And not noticing the road markings showing a cycle route.
ktache wrote:
Don’t you be comin’ on ‘ere with yer common sense!
cqexbesd wrote:
The fact that you think that the car entering JV’s lane is the start that JV should have done something is very telling. Indicators are there for a reason.
Indeed. Any person who wasn’t going out of their way to be an obstructive tw@ would have anticipated the other road user at the point of indication (that is , after all, what the little stick near the steering wheel and the flashy lights on the car are for ; so that others can anticipate what you’re going to do. That’s literally why they’re there) and slowed down/stopped earlier.
Anyway, it’s not the end of the world. Perhaps JV made a mistake, perhaps he was going out of his was to be an obstructive tw@. Given that he proceeds to go around in front of the car just to make a point, my money would be on the latter, mind you.
The only issue that I have with it, is in my opinion, by posting videos of himself being a tw@, I feel he is making it harder for the rest of us. The online backlash does seem to show this.
But he is absolutely entitled to be a tw@ on the highway if he likes and I can’t do anything to stop him, but I won’t pretend he didn’t do anything wrong when we all know he went out of his way to get in front of that car to prove a point.
ShutTheFrontDawes]T
To indicate your intentions – not to say that from the moment you put them on you are definitley moving and no way will you stop for anything.
Just watch a busy road for a while, where people want to turn across a car lane – you will see lots of people indicating and waiting for a break. The vast majority of people don’t just put their indicator on and barge through. Cars coming the other way – well this probably depends on local driving culture and may other things – either go straight ahead and ignore them, or slow down and wave them through or sometime even stop if the traffic is queuing up ahead.
I think suggesting people should perform an emergency stop the moment there is someone indicating isn’t sensisble, safe or common practice.
Thats great. A long time ago I worked with a woman who had only narrowly missed out on becoming an astronaut. Watching her play computer games … she reacted before I could even work out that something changed. I bet she was a good road user, although I never witnessed it myself.
I totally agree with the over
I totally agree with the over egging, I think his whole persona does him no favours. Unfortunately he’s got a reputation behind him – pre anything to do with cycling- that a lot of people think he is just generally annoying. I don’t know many people who wouldn’t switch over from radio 2 at dinner not so much to do with the topics on debate but to avoid listening to his voice that could grate cheddar.
So who would be a better celebrity representative for cycling safety?
Chris Boardman? Not famous?
Chris Boardman? Not famous? OK, er… Boris Johnson? No, not him…
I’d go with Timmy Mallett but then he’s probably “before my time” for many and “niche children’s TV” for those around at the time. Adam Hart-Davis – same story.
Too many men already – what about Tanny Grey-Thompson?
Nah, I was thinking more
Nah, I was thinking more along the lines of people who appeal to the common people, not in a derogatory way. Someone like Peter Kay, everyone seems to love him judging from the hype around his tour…or it could alternate between what tv show is big at the time, Sarah Lancashire or James Norton from Happy Valley, in fact the BBC could have snuck some road safety in Happey Valley..a close pass on Tommy Lee Royce biking through the Calder Valley resulting in the next scene the driver of said car slumped over the steering wheel with the clear message of not knowing who you’re fucking with when on the roads…so please be considerate to other road users.
I was just trying to think of
I was just trying to think of ones that have been known to sit on a bike!
Peter Kay would be a good shout – someone positive. Otherwise if it was just “well-known” I’d suggest Jeremy Clarkson obvs.
I did think Clarkson and top
I did think Clarkson and top gear presents past and present, obviously James May has made his views clear in where he stands. Only concern with Clarkson and other people who say things for the sake of controversy, is their other views being associated with cycling and putting normal folk off…
Chris Boardman is already up there, always has been always will, but unless your over a certain age or already in to cycling, a lot of folk won’t know or care.
chrisonatrike wrote:
Alexei Sayle?
MAOIST!
MAOIST!
Sorry but I hate him so he’s
Sorry but I hate him so he’s out!
Well I don’t want to open
Well I don’t want to open this Pandoras box, but heck why not 😉 is Vine doing all he can to be visible there ?
Run and hide! Run and hide!
Run and hide! Run and hide!
And what ridiculously bright
And what ridiculously bright colour did the motorist choose for their vehicle?
one that requires the owner
one that requires the owner keeps it regularly clean, shiny and bright as else it shows the dirt up something rotten
SMIDSY should never be an
SMIDSY should never be an excuse – it should be an admission of guilt that is punished appropriately.
Exactly.
Exactly. (Along with momentary lapses should be aggrevating factors not mitigations).
I haven’t checked but no
I haven’t checked but no surprise if the brexit loons are getting all ranty about the 15 minute city. Word of warning – they lied about the ‘benefits’ of brexit (there are non – not a single one has been found) and they are lying about 15 minute cities too.
“I have the option of driving
“I have the option of driving or walking or cycling or taking public transport, being able to decide which is best for any given journey or application??? why are you opressing me and taking away my freedom to only have the option to drive under all circumstances???”
“My Dad passed away in 2010
Found this yesterday
“My Dad passed away in 2010 (I still miss him ) . I remember him once saying to me of our family home: “When I bought this house I could walk to a grocers, bakers, butchers and newsagent. Now I have to drive to a supermarket, and they call it progress.” 16/22
“This didn’t happen overnight, it took place over many years. I’m sure there were lots of different reasons for all the small shops going, but not being able to compete with supermarkets probably played a big role.” 17/22
“There are 5 new housing estates in the area where my parents house is, all built in the last 15 years. None of them have any shops. People who live there have no choice but to drive to a supermarket (or have a delivery), it’s all they’ve known and so is ‘normal’ to them. “19/22
“There was no consultation about any of this, it just happened, and left us with no alternatives to driving to get what we need. I’m not saying people shouldn’t still be able to do that if they want, but it would be nice to have a choice.” 20/22
“15 minute cities appear to want to try and give us that choice. Walking a few minutes to get stuff when you need it is nothing new, it’s how things were until quite recently, I’m only mid 50s and can remember it well.” 21/22
https://twitter.com/MartynBrunt/status/1625162141928923136
Probably wont get picked up
Probably wont get picked up otherwise, “Tributes paid to Suffolk Cycling Legend Bill Seggar”
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23318653.tributes-paid-suffolk-cycling-legend-bill-seggar/
Mail on Sunday cleared by
Mail on Sunday cleared by Independent Press Standards Organisation over “Red light rats!” story
Independent: No
Press: Questionable that the UK press is there to report the facts or to stir up hatred
Standards: Ho, ho, ho.
Organisation: OK, I’ll give them that one.
Maybe it’s me but self
Maybe it’s me but self regulatory and independent seems to be an oxymoron ?
I had a quick look on WIkipedia and I liked what IPSO appear to say about themselves.
“IPSO exists to promote and uphold the highest professional standards of journalism, and to support members of the public in seeking redress where they believe that the Editors’ Code of Practice[2] has been breached”
A jellyfish has more teeth.
A jellyfish has more teeth.
Also, in the dealings on this
Also, in the dealings on this, every singe email from the IPSO (and I checked all of them) came from a different person. So there was absolutely no continuity in who complainants are dealing with, the same questions were asked 3 or 4 times, the answers ignored, and asked again.
All in all, the entire process is designed to discourage people from proceeding with a complaint.
I understand there were at least 10 complaints filed, but the absolute dogs dinner of a process they force complainants to go through (none of which is clear, or well documented) did it’s job and put of the others.
The only reason I pushed on (knowing full well they’d throw it out, as apparently “cyclists” are not a “group” (unless one ignores a red light then we are a group with group responsibilities) and can be called whatever they want) was to tie up the time of those invlved in publishing the article.
In the weeks after the article there were a number of incidents of unprovoked attacks on cyclists by drivers, one resulting in the victim passing away as a result of his injuries, but even this is not enough to get the IPSO to see that this constant barrage of derogatory and fact-light articles has an effect.
Monster Raving Loony Party
Monster Raving Loony Party admits 15-minute city conspiracy theories are “even too loony for us”
It has been the case for some time, at least since the premiership of Boris the Liar, that the extreme right wing delusionists of the tories are two stops from Dagenham. Sadly, the tories have gone so far right that these people no longer appear too extreme even for them. In the past, they’d have been laughed at and dismissed as loonies, but with the support of the DM and GB news, they have credibility.
Pedant mode = on
Pedant mode = on
Upney?
ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:
Way past Barking.
eburtthebike wrote:
Ha nice. I’ve only ever heard “three stops from Dagenham (Barking (mad)).
Local variation I’ve heard
Local variation I’ve heard occasionally: “He’s east of East Ham, him” – East Ham being the last stop before Barking as one heads east on the District Line.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Funny, thanks for sharing. (Sincere,I know it doesn’t come across on t’internet)
I’ve not heard the Dagenham
I’ve not heard the Dagenham variation – which is a strange location to pick as there is no Dagenham stop (and there are two wtih Dagenham in the name…)
Ah, the Mail. If only they
Ah, the Mail. If only they could find a female celebrity cyclist who posted videos like Jeremy Vine, they could blame them twice: first for making innocent men crash into them due to their success and/or sexy clothing, and second for having the temerity to ride a bicycle legally in what is still primarily a car-worshipping country.
Women and cyclists: Know your Limits!
How did the owner of that
How did the owner of that bike on Gumtree manage to do that?
Took it to Halfords.
Took it to Halfords.
IanMSpencer wrote:
Y’know, something just doesn’t look right there, but I can’t put my finger on it…
“Marin Eldridge Grade Bike.
“Marin Eldridge Grade Bike. Rare classic 1990s collector’s item. Very original, good condition.”
Nothing wrong with the front mech, but the bike’s upside down.
reg: front mech – I locked my
reg: front mech – I locked my bike outside a bank in Brunswick Square (busy part of central London, lots of cafes and foot fall etc) for about 10 minutes once and when I came to unlock it I noticed someone had stolen my front mech !! And they did it without breaking the chain. Amazingly professional job it was.
Chain link pliers and
Chain link pliers and refitted it?
Older front mechs had a bolt
Older front mechs had a bolt so you could break the cage, I’m guessing so you could change the mech without breaking the chain. Before quicklinks became a big thing.
To be fair, and providing
To be fair, and providing some much needed balance, the concept of 15 minute cities is not as simple as having lots of nice things close by and everyone walking happily to their local shops.
There is an insidious feeling about government control and the creeping disease of socialism, not without reason when you look at the human toll of Lockdowns and mandates, treatment of people who want to make their own personal decision on vaccines, and many government responses to Covid.
Having quotas on how far you can drive, locking down areas for some and not others, etc. is a very slippery slope. It’s not hard to see China’s social credit score being adopted. Getting a permit to visit your parents, not having enough credit to go on a holiday, etc. sounds silly, but so did keeping 1.5m away from each other, or wearing a mask in your home a few years ago.
This is all about freedom for many.
How do you feel about not
How do you feel about not being able to drive legally about 70mph on a motorway, or 30mph on an urban road? Does that restrict your freedom too much. Or how about the freedom to drive on the right-hand-side of the road?
Or how about the freedom to
Or how about the freedom to drive on the right-hand-side of the road?
Standard Anti-Vax Freedom Nutter. Could well be Johnson/ Trump supporter who denies evolution etc.
Interestingly, the Germans
Interestingly, the Germans have seemingly headed off the move towards totalitarianism by allowing people to drive any speed on motorways… ( it’s a social bargain: we may restrict you in other ways but at least on this one you’re free, which proves it isn’t a slippery slope)
Oh good lord, isn’t there an
Oh good lord, isn’t there an election in the US that needs preparing for or something?
I’m trying to avoid “don’t hold back – tell us what you really think” as I don’t want to be reminded.
However… “there’s an insidious feeling about government control…”
Yes – there’s some of that about. Not sure what “many” means – is this really new? What is the baseline for people being suspicious of “them” over the last few decades? Or indeed longer – when in “western” countries “freedom” was constrained in a way that the Russian and Chinese governments might envy?
I can’t speak for these folks. I do know some people who are a bit suspicious. A couple of them come from countries where recent former governments really did quietly put people in holes though (plenty to choose from). So I will cut them some slack.
I would agree that – like our financial system – “trust” is important. So if lots of people did suddenly stop trusting the system to the extent that they didn’t cooperate that would indeed be a change. I’m not seeing most people – for better or worse – living as anarchists though.
It’s clearly time we do even more lessons on “what are your sources” and “how to do research” in schools. (And I write as someone who wasn’t keen on history, back in the day…) Instilling “critical thinking” is always going to be fighting against the tide for humans. We should acknowledge we’re not really made like that – but it’s a habit worth training. Unless you’re a salesman or a demagogue keen for a compliant populace!
Locking down polluting ICE
“Locking down” polluting ICE vehicles. Does not affect people moving about.
Freedom to pollute is what you are arguing for.
“Permit to visit your parents” otherwise known as a vistors parking permit that we have had for donkeys years.
“creeping disease of socialism” – you should try capitalism
Roulereo wrote:
I’m not sure socialism is creeping anywhere right now. At least, certainly not forwards. Retreating in the face of a right wing onslaught, yes.
(Although in the long run, perhaps we are heading towards socialism. How did the capitalist west defeat socialism in the 20th century? By giving us social democracy, so we had most of the benefits of socialism in terms of government services, and enough money to afford some of the fruits of capitalism. Some of those in power would do well to remember this).
Mark B wrote:
Is there actual genuine socialism anywhere, now?
Russia is a right wing kleptocracy and I’m not really sure how to define China’s totalitarianism.
I mean – even the UK Labour Party is quietly removing anyone deemed to be too left wing, FFS.
Yes on road.cc
Yes on road.cc
“You’re all TROLLS
This is such a left wing Corbynista, anti-eu and anti-Johnson site
just can’t stand you toffee nosed snobs”
and
“I’m afraid it’s the Labour Party, it’s the Lib Dems, it’s the Coalition of chaos, it’s the Guardian-reading, Tofu-eating, wokerati – dare I say the anti-growth coalition that we have to thank for the disruption we are seeing on our roads today!”
Most of the disruption I see
Most of the disruption I see on the roads is caused by idiot motorists who drive carelessly or irresponsibly, regardless of conditions. For every hour I lose in roadworks of some description, I loose another two because yet another moron has driven his or her vehicle into someone elses.
brooksby wrote:
— brooksbyToo left wing? As in anyone who demonstrates any socialist tendencies, anything at all, like concern for your fellow man rather than profit?
eburtthebike wrote:
Tomato/tomato, says Sir Kier…
Just watched a video of the
Just watched a video of the promises made by Starmer to get elected as leader, and his denial of those promises since he became leader. He’s as bad as Boris.
You mean “he’s as electable
You mean “he’s as electable as Boris / Blair”…?
Starmer always looks like the rather square / stiff teacher who’s trying hard to contain his disappointment the kids find him dull and unpersuasive, because if he gives in to yelling at them he’ll really have lost the class. He really does believe he knows best and everyone will eventually see that though. So obvs. prime minister material.
Roulereo wrote:
There is an insidious feeling about government control— RoulereoQuite funny considering that we’ve had a right wing neoliberal Thatcherite Conservative government in power since 2010 (and not really Socialist one before that, Tony Blair was no Leftie).
Thanks to the endless facilitation and proliferation of private car use many people, particularly in large towns and cities, who don’t drive are hemmed in by dangerous roads while noise pollution, air quality are dreadful and safety is hugely compromised.
What ‘freedom’ are you referring to? Freedom to pollute, to endanger lives? Extending the ULEZ is an attempt to change priorities. If you don’t like paying the tax then use a non-polluting or less polluting method of getting about the capital.
So, Jeremy Vine doesn’t like
So, Jeremy Vine doesn’t like the way that some people drive and some people don’t like the way that Jeremy Vine responds to misbehaving drivers.
That’s 2 unhappy parties – only one of which has the power to remove both lots of unhappiness by changing their own behaviour…