“Motorists obey the law… Cyclists don’t”: Adam Boulton at it again; Some parts of London set for ‘largest car-free zones in the world; New bright Shimano commuter pedals; Calls for NHS bike sheds; Cops issue nail trap warning + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Geoff Kabush possibly not a fan of new Lance Armstrong documentary
You know who doesn’t have a ESPN documentary coming out? Everyone who didn’t cheat, lie, steal, intimidate, and be a vindictive prick. No, not everyone was doing it and many more talented people took other paths in life. Don’t fall for anyone’s revisionist “truth”. #doperssuck
— Geoff Kabush (@GeoffKabush) May 14, 2020
The XC racer clearly doesn’t have much time for the new doc on cycling’s most famous fraud… will you be watching it?
I get the entertainment but my issue is it is always a one-sided revisionist story. The distortion of the truth is infuriating. Clean riders who honourably took other paths don’t have millions of dollars in drug money and a platform to tell their side story.
— Geoff Kabush (@GeoffKabush) May 14, 2020
Cleveland police warn the public to be "cautious" as reports of more nail traps being planted in woods circulate on social media
Earlier this month, images of these shocking traps buried in the woods went viral after a cyclist was forced to call for a lift home when the traps punctured both of his tyres; and it’s now reached the sad state of affairs where police are asking the public to be “cautious”, because it’s believed more have been planted, and will continue to be planted over the weekend. People are also still posting more pictures of traps across social media.
Please share if you are planning on exercising in the below areas over the weekend.
Officers are warning people over potential nail traps being planted in wooded areas in @EastCleveNPT pic.twitter.com/0dApvnpXJQ
— Cleveland Police (@ClevelandPolice) May 14, 2020
Marske woods today, well placed tree layed over a trail, someone is going to get seriously hurt soon pic.twitter.com/EMYaKhlh7d
— andy jackson (@smogmonster9) May 14, 2020
Cleveland Police also added that anyone caught planting traps will be arrested. The Independent spoke to Mary Lanigan, leader of Redcar and Cleveland District Council, who believes the campaign is most likely the work of warped self-styled ‘vigilantes’ who take issue with people exercising in rural areas during the pandemic. She said: “This isn’t the work of kids. They started appearing not long after the lockdown so I’m not sure it’s a coincidence but … whoever it is, it is shocking. It is stupid. What they’re doing, it could cause unimaginable injury to someone. It has to stop.”
“People have a right to exercise here. If the people putting these horrific traps think they may be helping in some way, all they will do is add to the pressures on our hospitals.”
Yesterday, police in North Yorkshire said they were interviewing two women who admitted on camera to planting traps when they were confronted by a 17-year-old cyclist.
Jess Varnish appeal hearing set for next week
The retired GB track cyclist’s appeal hearing against a decision made in January 2019 that determined she had not been an employee of British Cycling is set to take place via webinar on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
The BBC report that the decision could take ten weeks, and that the three possible outcomes are the original decision is upheld, it’s overturned or it’s decided another tribunal needs to take place with three judges. If it is overturned, Varnish could then take action against British Cycling for unfair dismissal, based on the allegations of bullying she said took place within the team set-up.
Chris Froome's top indoor training tips
🌬 Ventilation
🎶 Distractions
🍌 Nutrition @ChrisFroome reveals his top three tips for indoor training 🚴♂️Watch the full episode of Lockdown Lowdown with @aimee_fuller here: https://t.co/5xwVQkZ6zd pic.twitter.com/Qry8tECTJq
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 14, 2020
In an interview on Eurosport’s ‘Lockdown Lowdown’ show, Froome says that decent fans, musical or visual distractions and some food within easy reach are the three top things he’d recommend for a better home training experience. Interesting that the four-time Tour champ chose to wear a plain black hoody rather than Team Ineos kit in this video… anything in those rumours, we wonder?
Fizik's new Les Classiques Tempo Overcurve R4 pays homage to the cobbled classics
Not that any of them happened this year, but if you want to honour Paris-Roubaix et al with a pair of 200 quid shoes then you can do so with Fizik’s new Les Classiques Tempo Overcurve R4.
Built around the ‘moderately stiff’ R4 outsole, they’re optimised for tough terrain and the splatter-effect artwork is inspired by the mud, dust, sweat and tears that is emblematic of cycling’s toughest single-day races. We can’t see that they’ve landed on the Fizik website yet, but when they do they will be priced at £209.99.
Bafflement at Cleveland Police saying nail trap thugs could 'potentially' be left with a criminal record
A number of the comments on the Cleveland Police Facebook page have took issue with the warning that offenders could be ‘potentially’ be left with a criminal record for planting nail traps in wooded areas. Hopefully it will be considerably more than a slap on the wrist for those responsible if they are caught…
Calls for mandatory hospital bike sheds to help prevent thefts
After growing instances of theft outside hospital entrances across the UK – described as “disturbing” by Spokes Lothian Cycling Campaign spokesperson David French – his fellow Spokes member Professor Chris Oliver has called for 24-hour secure bike sheds to be made mandatory on all NHS Lothian sites.
The former surgeon told The Edinburgh Evening News: “It’s very upsetting for doctors and nurses to come back to their bike to discover it’s been systematically vandalised for parts or completely stolen. It should be mandatory that NHS Lothian and Edinburgh University provide secure safe bike parking for staff that need to travel to work by cycle.
“It’s no excuse that poor cycling infrastructure persists, especially with the recent move to more active travel with the pandemic.”
A 29-year-old doctor who had her bike stolen by a thief who was shown on CCTV spending 10 minutes to snap her lock in half believes that some criminals are turning to bike theft beause shops are closed.
Police in Lothian say they are reviewng CCTV of the thefts.
Nadine Dorries takes break from retweeting doctored videos... to say something half-sensible about cycling
Never a believer in the nanny state, but the fact that obesity is the second biggest coronavirus risk factor and 25% of Brits are obese, has to be a wake up call.
It’s time for us all to get on our bikes. #COVID19 https://t.co/DjgF99JnJ7— Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧#StayAlert (@NadineDorries) May 15, 2020
The Tory minister received widespread condemnation for sharing a video from a far-right source making false allegations about Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer; and in her first tweet since, she’s said it’s time for Britain to “get on our bikes”. Cue the inevitable responses…
It’s certainly time for YOU to get on your bike.#DorriesResign
— Kieron Finn 🌹 Schrödinger’s Prat (@kieronfinn) May 15, 2020
Movistar rumoured to be one of the teams interested in signing Chris Froome, while Ineos dismiss transfer rumours
According to @ciclo21 there are two teams interested in signing Froome and one of them is Team Movistar: https://t.co/CASo4qRnhh
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) May 14, 2020
Although according to Gazzetta dello Sport an Ineos source has claimed any talk of a transfer is fake news, while reportedly admitting that there’s a chance he won’t be the team’s leader when racing resumes.
Cars are clogging up roads near beauty spots, as drivers remove cones to park on roadside in Dovestones
All Dovestones carparks are blocked off, plus there’s cones on both sides of the road – these selfish pricks! 😕
I should have known the one at the back was going to park there when he passed me close enough to pick pocket my flapjack 200yd earlier ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/rYSvOIvu1t
— Mel Sykes (@nuddypants) May 15, 2020
It could be argued that these people are just plain selfish, but the government’s lockdown guidance that allows driving to beauty spots while many car parks remain closed hasn’t helped matters – the Oldham Chronicle reports that after drivers ignored no parking signs and removed cones to do so, car parks around Dovestone Resovoir have now been reopened today.
Giant and ConnectBike unveil the 'Giant Deliver E' cargo bike, that will soon be delivering Domino's Pizza
The world’s largest food delivery chain Domino’s were involved in the specialist e-cargo bike’s development, and they’re set to be rolled out for delivery couriers to use from this July – full story over on eBikeTips.
Adam Boulton is at it again, claiming motorists "obey the law" while "cyclists don't but should"
Motorists obey the law and face sanctions if they don’t. Cyclists don’t but should. https://t.co/rS71jthI0g
— Adam Boulton (@adamboultonSKY) May 15, 2020
The Mayor of London has to make walking and cycling easier to ease pressure on public transport. Here’s a journalist whose sole line of questioning on this serious issue is a solid two minutes of nonsense about “clamping down” on people cycling pic.twitter.com/VUM4IiSDxs
— Mark Treasure (@AsEasyAsRiding) May 15, 2020
The sweeping statement from the Sky News Editor-at-large has provoked a strong and baffled reaction online – as did his interview with Sadiq Khan – with many pointing him to numerous statistics related to traffic incidents in the UK.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
*gasps*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA pic.twitter.com/FiLo9UcOWB— Jon (@ormondroyd) May 15, 2020
Road tax abolished in 1930s. Vehicle Excise Duty based on emissions. My car and my bikes both zero rated. Pick any set of traffic lights in the country and I’ll show you motorists going through at red. There are bad cyclists and bad drivers. Bad drivers kill more. pic.twitter.com/51y191p1Nq
— Ruaridh Browne (@RuarBro) May 15, 2020
— Hackney Cyclist (@Hackneycyclist) May 15, 2020
That’s got nothing to do with research. My points were about enforcement, which @SadiqKhan didn’t answer. https://t.co/wd1bpB5TDl
— Adam Boulton (@adamboultonSKY) May 15, 2020
Boulton claims his points were about ‘enforcement’ and not incidents, although others have noted that many drivers don’t “obey the law”, and a large proportion of motoring offences don’t face sanctions that would be deemed strong enough in the eyes of many.
Come on Adam not this again – you can do better.
There are over 1 million uninsured drivers in this country and a hit and run with an uninsured driver every 3 days.
But yeah motorists obey the law, right?— Andrew 🇬🇧🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@TwoWheeledAndy) May 15, 2020
Very funny. The vast majority of motorists do not always obey the law on speed limits, safe passing distances among other things, yet only a fraction of transgressions are ever reported, let alone prosecuted.
— AledElwyn (@aledelwyn) May 15, 2020
Boulton has form for being anti-cycling – in 2017 he penned a rant in the Sunday Times, claiming “a backlash could be stirring against cyclophilia” and accusing the UK of having “a senseless worship of bicycles”.
Boulton is yet to back up his claims with evidence or statistics, which road.cc awaits with great anticipation.
Shimano launch new flat pedals for commuters in an array of bright colours
Hipsters with those bright-coloured fixies will be glad to know that they might now be able to match their steed with a pair of Shimano’s new PD-EF202 or PD-EF205 flat pedals. Available in black, silver, gold, red or blue, both are designed for trekking, commuting and mtb’ing. The PD-EF205 has a closed aluminium body with a resin plate to create a stable platform even if you’re wearing formal shoes, while the open design of the PD-EF202 is more aimed at shedding away much on trails.
Prices are yet to be announced, but Shimano say the PD-EF202 will be available in stores from July and the PD-EF205 should land in August.
Sadiq Khan promises some of the world's largest urban car-free zones in London
We’re creating one of the largest low-traffic areas anywhere in the world to help the capital move in a safe way 🌍
Find out about Streetspace for London#StreetspaceLDNhttps://t.co/FBj2qTiZDG pic.twitter.com/rRBU6LGlwH
— Transport for London 🚶🚴 (@TfL) May 15, 2020
The full extent of London’s Streetspace plans have been announced, with London’s Mayor saying TfL will “make central London one of the largest car-free zones in any capital city in the world, increasing walking and cycling and improving our air quality.”
Areas set for car-free zones include streets between London Bridge and Shoreditch,
Euston and Waterloo and Old Street and Holborn. More streets will see space repurposed for cyclists and pedestrians, while London’s cycling network is also set to be added to.
“London’s road to recovery cannot be clogged with cars”, reiterated Khan.
Sam Coates latest Sky presenter to be answered over bike scepticism
If you don’t cycle – and I’d be a danger to myself and others on a bike – how do you get around if public transport AND cars are out? https://t.co/iHJI0DDxRz
— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) May 15, 2020
In reaction to the news that Sadiq Khan plans to transform parts of London into “one of the largest car free zones in the world”, Adam Boulton’s colleague got plenty of useful suggestions when he asked how he was supposed to around around…
Serious response; bike lessons. Free in most London boroughs. Incredibly sensible thing to do
— citymobility (@citycyclists) May 15, 2020
E-bike.
— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) May 15, 2020
If you’re dangerous to others on 10kg of metal then you shouldn’t be in charge of two tons of it.
— Dave (@stourdave) May 15, 2020
15 May 2020, 08:41
Anything missing from our list? We're just updating it now after some suggestions from the team, but do let us know about other pop-up schemes in your locale
Pop-up cycle lanes: what’s happening near you?
Government has instructed local authorities to swiftly provide more space for cyclists
15 May 2020, 08:41
Full story on the news that first broke on Wednesday
Extinction Rebellion sets out to reclaim the streets for people this weekend
Stencils and spray paint at the ready in call for safe space for people on foot and on bikes
15 May 2020, 08:41
Show and tell anyone?
World Naked Bike Ride London invites cyclists missing out on cancelled ride to 'exercise and surprise'
Organisers say that all activities are intended to be performed safely in isolation
15 May 2020, 08:41
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Latest Comments
@Mr Blackbird Hmm my goat is clad in carbon-based polymer and has the noted undercarriage certainly, but seems to be missing the jets and screens? Would the Old Billy still seize it do you think? If they find it among a herd of sheep how can I prove it's not being concealed but is a legal Electively Assorted Pally Caprid?
@chrisonabike Will you two please stop panda-ing to one another?
@kingleo They're only imposing the 18+ age limit, raised from 16, on escooters, not legal ebikes. There is no minimum age for riding an EPAC in Ireland.
I thought it was all about the gear ratios?
@chrisonabike These are polarising issues - anyone attending would have known there was trouble bruin.
@VIPcyclist Yes, the live coverage on S4C was a few stages at the beginning and a few at the end. Shame it wasn’t the whole lot. Stage 19 was particularly good live. Setting the record for the fastest time up the Alpe. He went a bit faster than I did a few years ago 😮. Amazing watching Pogačar hit the bottom of the hill with the breakaway over 3min ahead of him. S4C is available to watch again on the BBC iPlayer if you want to rewatch. The adverts seem to be stripped out too 👍🏻. S4C are looking forward to next year when some stages are here at home in Cymru 🙂. Non-welsh speakers can just watch the video I guess. I like it in my own language, but the iOS app ‘Tour Tracker’ is very very good too, especially for time trials. It’s also more ‘live’ than the live video. So, if it announces some sort of incident you can focus on the live feed to wait for it! (Cymraeg is one of the British Isles oldest living languages BTW.)
I paid for my month, first week off work so I wanted proper full day coverage. Enjoyed it, nice to be able to pause live coverage, but then they make you watch the adverts when trying to catch up. Channel 5 for when I was working, alright, less chat. Seemed to use the tnt virtual studio. Already cancelled, of course, but will be catching the TdF femmes until I'm booted off. Even though I could watch the commenwealth games I haven't, I hope the games have done well securing the rights because their viewing figures will be right down, such coverage benefits being on the BBC.
A goat has a carbon fibre fuselage, Pratt and Witney jet engines, hydraulic retractable undercarriage and in flight movie screens, but that doesn't make it a Boeing Dreamliner.
Didn't we do this earlier in the week?
If you come to road.cc only to read road bike articles, why do you keep clicking through to the other ones? Seems a bit daft
31 thoughts on ““Motorists obey the law… Cyclists don’t”: Adam Boulton at it again; Some parts of London set for ‘largest car-free zones in the world; New bright Shimano commuter pedals; Calls for NHS bike sheds; Cops issue nail trap warning + more on the live blog”
Geoff should probably reserve
Geoff should probably reserve judgement until he’s seen the film and it’s content and perspective.
I’m no fan of Armstrong but even if this is a fawning attempt at rebuilding his reputation then we all know the true story. A variety of sources will give always give a clearer picture.
I think that the point he is
I think that the point he is making about clean riders not having a platform it’s valid. Lance had and is making a fortune by telling his story his way. This seems very wrong that a cheat makes additional fortunes when those that ride clean don’t get the chance. You don’t need to watch the documentary to know this is a fact.
But is the documentary just a
But is the documentary just a platform for a cheat or is it a searching examination of the whole story? As I said, you don’t know until you watch it.
As it is I doubt Armstrong will be making an “additional fortune” from appearing in a film about him.
Lance will earn money if it
Lance will earn money if it is watched.
The fewer people that watch it, the less money it makes.
I won’t be watching it.
Just like I won’t purchase books written by drug cheats, it justs increases their wealth from cheating.
To be fair to Cleveland
To be fair to Cleveland Police, they cannot guarantee a conviction – once they pass it to the CPS it’s in the hands of them, the courts, and the lawyers, and they can’t know what might happen at that point.
mdavidford wrote:
In the same way that if I kill someone, I could potentially end up with a criminal conviction, but I suspect that level of retribution probably won’t deter too many murderers.
Why the word vigilantes in
Why the word vigilantes in scare quotes? These thugs are taking the law into their own hands and using violence to further their agenda
No scare quotes for the woman reported yesterday who was challenging cyclists on the pavement. She most definitely wasn’t a vigilante (she might be wrong, but not a vigiante)
Some folk might consider it semantics, but vigilanteism is illegal to my knowledge, challenging folk with your opinion, however misinformed, is not.
Vigilante kind of implies
Vigilante kind of implies that although your methods may be illegal, they are in pursuit of some kind of just cause. In this case, they have no just cause, so the use of scare quotes seems reasonable, to indicate ‘they might call themselves this, but it’s not actually an appropriate description’.
OK, I’ll accept that, well
OK, I’ll accept that, well presented.
Still very wary about applying the term to the woman from yesterday though
Maybe terrorist is a better
Maybe terrorist is a better word? Surely the seek to terrorise cyclists?
terrorist is appropriate. But
terrorist is appropriate. But brings up far too negative and extreme a sentiment. Plus we don’t need such a serious term to be wasted on these lowlives compared to the very real acts of terrorism that occur.
Captain Badger wrote:
The government’s agenda is now to get us to blame each other rather than them https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesMomentum/videos/2908801322506222/?t=2
Good luck to Jess Varnish,
Good luck to Jess Varnish, she deserves justice after the absolute white wash of the investigations findings and the disgraceful bahaviour of some of the BC Coaches. I’m still waiting to see the performance data that led to her dismissal…….. is that he wind I hear blowing?
Quote:
I’m sorry, but if the NHS trusts gave a monkey’s about bike theft then they would already have put secure (properly secure) bike storage in place.
Indeed, they spent taxpayer
Indeed, they spent taxpayer money on cctv, but only to give a false sense of security since clearly no one monitors it:
“a thief who was shown on CCTV spending 10 minutes to snap her lock”
The sort of measure that
The sort of measure that could be cross-funded from car parking charges if the SNP and the Conservatives weren’t more interested in making political capital out of abolishing these.
Dont go there,people get
Dont go there,people get surprisingly passionate about their demands to park for free at hospitals,our politicians arent brave enough to make that decision as it no doubt becomes labelled ‘Politicians force NHS staff to ride bikes as government raids motorist taxes to fund bike sheds for them’ in some publications
The payment system went
The payment system went proper wrong at The Royal Berks, within days, staff, patients and visitors couldn’t find anywhere to park. Was a BIG story on South Today. Free parking will have the Great British driving public taking advantage.
Ah, the “hard-pressed”
Ah, the “hard-pressed” motorist.
“Give me stuff for free – swathes of tarmac cost nowt. But what’s this I see you’ve built – a secure cycle facility – how much did that cost??”
Podgy, middle-aged, right
Podgy, middle-aged, right-wing bloke hates it when he is occasionally inconvenienced by fitter and/or younger cyclists. Therefore he overestimates any negative effects they might have, ignores all positives, and consistently ignores all evidence to the contrary. News at 11.
Boulton – do you have a point
Boulton – do you have a point ?
Priceless. Could someone who
Priceless. Could someone who uses Twitter post that ‘van driver ploughs into cyclist on roundabout’ video to this guy:
https://mobile.twitter.com/RuarBro/status/1261262048106811394
[i]Peter Hedley @PWH683
Replying to @adamboultonSKY
Cyclists should pay road tax have an ID plate on their bikes and follow the rules of the road such as a red traffic light means stop[b] and at roundabouts give way to traffic on your right[/b][/i]
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8311279/Moment-cyclist-left-sprawling-floor-crashing-van-wrong.html
Quote:
Is that a euphemism?
If not, it really should be… 😉
If Movistar are serious about
If Movistar are serious about signing Froome then I wonder who else they will be signing in order to support their ‘three leader, no strategy’ approach?
Related to the Dovestones
Related to the Dovestones parking story, I rode out past Ladybower & Derwent Res today (Yorkshire Bridge area). Plenty of cars parking up already – God knows what it’ll be like over the weekend – but great to see parking tickets on all the cars that were outside the marked bays (and there were LOTS).
Suspect that as lockdown gradually lifts, people will suddenly find how difficult it is to actually stay 2m apart when walking on pavements and trails or queuing at shops.
Adam Boulton; perhaps I’m
Adam Boulton; perhaps I’m being naive, but I would have expected some degree of factuality from someone reporting the news, not made up drivel. He’s so biased he could work for the BBC.
A little bit of sympathy for
A little bit of sympathy for Mr Boulton please, A man just over 60 years of age, obviously has weight issues , clearly an at risk for covid and now joins the ranks of Hopkins , littlejohn, and Clarkson in saying stuff to get attention, bless his little cotton socks be kind to those with problems
I see Matthew Briggs is
I see Matthew Briggs is weighing into the cycling safety debate again, in a letter to The Times asking what, given the push to increase cycling, is being done about getting new laws passed to punish dangerous cyclists.
PRSboy wrote:
Yes but he’s only doing it for our own safety
Serves me right for looking.
Serves me right for looking.
I didn’t get beyond the top left corner of the front page before being confronted by… ‘let’s decapitate random cyclists for Christmas’…Matthew Parris’s smiling mug.
What a filthy rag the Times has become.
Well done to Sadiq Khan for
Well done to Sadiq Khan for holding steady against that provocation by the Sky News person. Many, many years ago I was instrumental in getting the first Bikeability training delivered in London schools. On the launch date, in a junior school, in Central London we had local politicians, the Minister of Transport, people from Cycling Uk and TfL, the Head Teacher, the children and their bikes etc at the school. I was asked to do a live interview with BBC radio. The first question I was asked (and remember i was in a school with junior children, launching a scheme to help them learn how to ride safely and responsibly on road) was ‘why do cyclist go though red lights?” I was so thrown by the line of questioning that I froze and then became defensive. It was a terrible interview after that and I was deeply angry. I didn’t have the experience and media training politicians have and i am still so pissed off that the launch of Bikeability training for children in London (and all the years of work that went into it) was hijacked by some little twit from the BBC.