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Actor Eddie Marsan rants about cyclists ignoring red lights and bike lanes; New Cav deal looks unlikely; Calls for infra after crash; 1-0 Sam Bennett; Reaction to L2B train ban; Bad parking; AOC's cycling dress; Tour of Britain doc + more on the live blog

It's the middle of the week and Dan Alexander is here for your Wednesday dose of live blog action...

SUMMARY

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15 September 2021, 16:01
Brooklyn Bridge bike lane
15 September 2021, 14:57
"Next year Fabio Jakobsen will be our man for the Tour": Patrick Lefevere says Cav is looking to cash in as contract talks stall
2021 Tour de France Cavendish - 1 (1)

Patrick Lefevere's been saying things again. Sorry if you're bored — this time it's about Cav...

The Deceuninck-Quick-Step team boss told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that Cavendish is looking to cash in on his success, quotes that imply the 36-year-old may be closer to an exit than signing a new deal. Earlier this week whispers circled that Cav and Lefevere were struggling to agree terms for the Manxman to extend his stay, largely due to disagreements about financial terms and Tour de France participation.

That's despite the widely reported news that the team had offered Cav a one-year contract extension. Lefevere's latest comments show the pair still don't see eye-to-eye: "I respect Mark Cavendish. We saved his skin. We gave him all the tools. He took the challenge and he did it. And now it begins. Now he thinks it is time to cash in again.

"And then the next discussion begins, how much he should earn next year? That's a very difficult one, even for me. I can hardly give someone who wins four stages in the Tour and the green jersey, four stages in the Tour of Turkey and a stage in the Tour of Belgium the same wage as this year. Mark Cavendish has sky-high expectations in that regard and I'm very realistic. That's a difficult marriage.

"He's now starting to talk to me about his image. He says: 'with my image I am worth so much'. I say: 'your image in London is different from your image in West Flanders, with all due respect'. None of my West-Flemish sponsors are going to make amends to pay Mark Cavendish a higher wage for his image."

Another key sticking point appears to be Tour de France selection, something Lefevere cannot guarantee Cav, considering Fabio Jakobsen's meteoric reappearance at La Vuelta a España. Jakobsen won three stages and is seen as a safer bet by Lefevere...

"That's another thing. Mark always said the same thing: 'Next year it's up to Fabio, he's the fastest in the world, he's young, he has to go to the Tour'. Until he has now won four stages himself and has equalled Merckx's record.

"Now I feel that he wants to go to the Tour again next year. But I will not go to the Tour with two sprinters next year. Next year Fabio Jakobsen will be our man for the Tour. I understand him: imagine if he can win one more in the Tour, then Cavendish will go down in history. But should I take the risk of sacrificing someone who might be faster than Mark? For a record which is essentially of no use to us as a team. And then, if he breaks the record, he might ask me for a bonus too."

15 September 2021, 14:44
British Cycling announces routes for 2021 HSBC National Road Championships
Lincoln GP _ credit British Cycling.jpg

British Cycling has released details about this year's HSBC UK National Road Championships, which will be held in Lincoln from 14-17 October. The championships, in a slightly unusual autumn slot in the calendar, will decide who wears the national champions' jerseys and, for the first time, all time trial, circuit race and road race events will be held during the same week.

The road races are the main event, and both the men's an women's events will be held on Sunday 17 October and centre around the famous cobbled Michaelgate climb. The men will take in 13 laps (166km), the women eight (101km).

The time trial events are the first races of the week and will be contested on Thursday 14 October on a circuit with 500ft (152m) climbing per lap. This means the elite men will rack up 450m (1,500ft) of ascent during the 44.7km challenge. The women's race is 29.4km.

"Lincoln’s roads have played host to some momentous bike races over the past five decades," British Cycling CEO Brian Facer said. "Bringing the three championships together into a single week is great news for fans of our sport and highlights our commitment to evolving our major events."

15 September 2021, 13:59
Sonny Colbrelli shows off his new European champ's kit

It's just a shame that glorious Italian national champion's kit won't be seen again...also...is that Italian champ's Merida going to get scrapped, after just two months, for a European champ's paint job? If so, you know where to send the old one...

15 September 2021, 13:22
Actor Eddie Marsan rants about cyclists ignoring red lights and bike lanes

Nigel Havers and Christopher Biggins have company in the 'actors ranting about cyclists' club. The Happy-Go-Lucky and Hancock actor Eddie Marsan couldn't help but have a pop at cyclists jumping red lights...which, in turn, became a rant about bike lanes, cyclists filtering too close and the Highway Code. So close to the bingo full house...

Marsan's in good company in the club...

Since going quiet about the Kensington High Street cycle lane, Havers' This Morning segment has been pissing off popular restaurant critic Jay Rayner. While just the other week, Biggins was explaining why he voted for Brexit to Nigel Farage on GB News...

Anyway, rambling over, back to what you're here for. The inevitable replies which followed...

15 September 2021, 12:07
1-0 Sam Bennett? Sprinter named in Deceuninck-Quick-Step line-up

Someone get Patrick Lefevere somewhere to sit down...Sam Bennett has been named in the Deceuninck-Quick-Step squad for Friday's Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen just days after his boss accused him of "playing with his balls in public" and threatened a pay cut. Racing, and thus avoiding three months of inactivity, should see those threats fizzle out to nothing...

15 September 2021, 11:41
Paris-Roubaix Femmes route details announced

The first ever women's Paris-Roubaix is coming on Saturday 2 October. Race organiser ASO has released the full route details and confirmed the route will include 17 sectors of cobbles, covering the final 85km of the men's route and finishing in the iconic Roubaix velodrome.

The day will be 116.4km long and starts with three circuits around Denain, before joining the same route as the men after 31km. It means the women will race the five-star sectors Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l'Arbre. 

ASO also released the men's route, but it is pretty much unchanged from the brutal parcours fans will be used to seeing the peloton race.

15 September 2021, 11:15
Josh Quigley seven-day cycling distance world record attempt: 36 per cent of the way there

You fear the worst when a Josh Quigley video with an ambulance pops up on your timeline...sorry, Josh. You've got form on that front...

Thankfully it's nothing more than a bit of friendly roadside support as the endurance legend smashed day two of the record attempt. He's now up to 786 miles in two days...36 per cent of the record total. Just another 340-mile day yesterday...and possibly another today...and the day after...

Keep your fingers crossed that's the last paramedic he meets this week.

15 September 2021, 11:01
Relive the Tour of Britain with the Ineos Grenadiers

You can probably tell I'm a sucker for these behind the scenes at pro races vids that have become increasingly popular as team's beef up their YouTube output. Yesterday, we had Alex Dowsett's take on the opening few stages. Today, it's Ineos Grenadiers' entire race packaged neatly into one 14 minute video...a lunchtime treat.

15 September 2021, 10:06
"This stupid country in one short story": Reaction to London to Brighton bikes on trains ban

No shopping allowed on trains on Christmas Eve. No bikes allowed on trains on the day of London to Brighton. No bags allowed on trains over Glastonbury Festival weekend. Guess which one of these is real...

15 September 2021, 09:45
How not to park No. 4378

Some solutions...

Rory Meakin went for: "A rotary cutter to trim overhanging debris like this or a tow truck driving round looking for such things?"

Sonsu added: "Stiff fines the only solution. But as the police doesn’t do anything there won’t be any improvement any time soon." To which the aptly named 'You Park Like a C*nt' account replied: "Fines need to reflect the wrongdoer’s financial circumstances. Otherwise it’s just a punishment for the poor." 

15 September 2021, 08:38
What Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's dress really said...

'Tax the rich' on a dress? Maybe Jeremy Clarkson will rock up on Amazon wearing a 'tax the cyclists' coat? 

15 September 2021, 07:47
Calls for proper bike lane after Sheffield cyclist hit by turning driver

Saif was knocked down while riding past stationary traffic sat next to the empty bus lane. The video sparked a debate about who was at fault, with some saying the Range Rover driver's positioning made the situation worse, while others lay the blame solely with the Peugeot driver.

Either way, it's a scenario cyclists who ride regularly in urban areas have probably experienced at some point or other. What would have helped, as Saif points out, is some proper infrastructure on the Ecclesall Road.

Of course, getting infra's just one part of the puzzle...especially if it's done like the Cork cycle lane we featured on the blog recently. A local rider took their first spin down the new cycle lane...only to narrowly avoid being hit by two drivers. I think the emphasis here is on building proper infra...(and changing drivers' attitudes to cyclists).

Dan is the road.cc news editor and has spent the past four years writing stories and features, as well as (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. Having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for the Non-League Paper, Dan joined road.cc in 2020. Come the weekend you'll find him labouring up a hill, probably with a mouth full of jelly babies, or making a bonk-induced trip to a south of England petrol station... in search of more jelly babies.

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80 comments

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nicmason replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
0 likes

that video does not show a brake check. it doesnt show the car after its gone past the group. your assuming it from the cyclists reaction. that might be right but its not in the video.

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hawkinspeter replied to nicmason | 2 years ago
2 likes

nicmason wrote:

that video does not show a brake check. it doesnt show the car after its gone past the group. your assuming it from the cyclists reaction. that might be right but its not in the video.

Just realised that you're distinguishing between actually seeing the car perform a brake check and the effects of that. I think it's disingenous for the BBC to cut out that bit as it's obvious what happened.

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EK Spinner replied to nicmason | 2 years ago
5 likes

nicmason wrote:

that video does not show a brake check. it doesnt show the car after its gone past the group. your assuming it from the cyclists reaction. that might be right but its not in the video.

You are corret in that the brake check isn' shown, however it does show that the driver had stopped immediatly after passing, if it wasn't a brake check then he stopped for an obstruction which should have been visible prior to his overtake and the need to stop so sharply should have cancelled out need/desire to overtake. Either way round it is at least driving without due care and attention

 

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hawkinspeter replied to EK Spinner | 2 years ago
0 likes

EK Spinner wrote:

nicmason wrote:

that video does not show a brake check. it doesnt show the car after its gone past the group. your assuming it from the cyclists reaction. that might be right but its not in the video.

You are corret in that the brake check isn' shown, however it does show that the driver had stopped immediatly after passing, if it wasn't a brake check then he stopped for an obstruction which should have been visible prior to his overtake and the need to stop so sharply should have cancelled out need/desire to overtake. Either way round it is at least driving without due care and attention

There was approx 12 seconds between his overtake and the "brake check".

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eburtthebike replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
4 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

Time for another BBC complaint, I reckon.

Edit: Just hammered out this complaint:

Quote:

The video shown of a driver punching a cyclist has been edited in a way that distorts what happened. The description also has "when they caught up to him", whereas the full video shows that the driver performed a "brake check" with the intention of causing the cyclists to collide with his car.

As the removed section was only 10-15 seconds in length, it raises the question as to why the BBC felt this was necessary unless they are trying to change the narrative to make it appear as though the cyclists were attempting to surround the car and intimidate the driver.

Good luck with that; the BBC is institutionally anti-cyclist.  I've no idea why, but they indisputably are and have been for at least 40 years.  None of my complaints succeeded, despite overwhelming evidence, but when you're judge and jury in your own case, as the BBC is, they are very rarely going to find themselves guilty.  As one famous reporter said, who's name escapes me, the BBC complaints process exists solely to exonerate their staff.

EDIT; it was Kate Adie.

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kingleo replied to eburtthebike | 2 years ago
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The BBC is concerned about the treatment of minority groups but not cyclists - they use the BBC to attack them.

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TriTaxMan replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
3 likes

I have also sent a complaint in along the same lines and have requested a response to the factually inaccurate news article.

Highlighting the video description and how it was the driver that started the entire incident.  I won't hold my breath regarding a reply.

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wtjs replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
0 likes

I won't hold my breath regarding a reply

This, in Lancashire at least, is the main police weapon in the cover up of the idleness endemic in Traffic Police. There has been no reply, despite reminders, to a letter of 26th July asking about the action taken over this 13th July close passing incident. It is obvious, as will be emphasised in my PCC complaint, that absolutely no action was taken and they don't want to admit anything in print. When they won't tell you, it means they just filed the complaint in the bin. He was right over the double white line as well- but that isn't regarded as an offence in Lancashire

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EK Spinner replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
1 like

hawkinspeter wrote:

Time for another BBC complaint, I reckon.

Edit: Just hammered out this complaint:

Quote:

The video shown of a driver punching a cyclist has been edited in a way that distorts what happened. The description also has "when they caught up to him", whereas the full video shows that the driver performed a "brake check" with the intention of causing the cyclists to collide with his car.

As the removed section was only 10-15 seconds in length, it raises the question as to why the BBC felt this was necessary unless they are trying to change the narrative to make it appear as though the cyclists were attempting to surround the car and intimidate the driver.

The BBC also describe his wife as having fallen off her bike, as opposed to being knocked off her bike by the idiots car.

I have also just noticed that the car had come to a halt during the brake check, he then pulled forward while being passed by the group of riders, surely that in itself is driving without due care

 

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to EK Spinner | 2 years ago
4 likes

I have also just noticed that the car had come to a halt during the brake check, he then pulled forward while being passed by the group of riders, surely that in itself is driving without due care

Which is omitted from the BBC footage, just him driving forward surrounded by cyclists after "they caught up with him" to "complain about the bad pass". 

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TriTaxMan replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
5 likes

I made sure that part was added to my complaint to the BBC.

"In reality, during the removed footage the driver performed a brake check manoeuvre with a view to having the cyclists involved crash into the back of their vehicle. As the cyclists passed the driver he began to accelerate, and when the ride leader tried to de-escalate the situation the driver then began the assault of the cyclist. Therefore the entire confrontation was instigated by the motorist but the edited video does not show the true facts of the incident."

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Flintshire Boy replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
0 likes

Grabbing hold of someone's wing mirror, however much of a dangerous dork they have been, is emphatically NOT 'de-escalating'!!

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TriTaxMan replied to Flintshire Boy | 2 years ago
3 likes

Flintshire Boy wrote:

Grabbing hold of someone's wing mirror, however much of a dangerous dork they have been, is emphatically NOT 'de-escalating'!!

I am just using the language that was given in the original road.cc piece on the matter and the language used by the cyclist in the later part of the video on the BBC.

But just remember the average person who will watch the video and read the article will watch up to the point in the video which has the narrative saying when the cyclists caught up with him, or words to that effect.  Which is implying that the cyclists went looking for trouble.  Whereas in reality if the driver had simply went on his way this would have been a non event

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brooksby replied to EK Spinner | 2 years ago
3 likes

EK Spinner wrote:

The BBC also describe his wife as having fallen off her bike, as opposed to being knocked off her bike by the idiots car.

Oh, come on!?  Seriously??

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eburtthebike replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
4 likes

Nigel Garrage wrote:

Roadcc wrote:

The video sparked a debate about who was at fault, with some saying the Range Rover driver's positioning made the situation worse, while others lay the blame solely with the Peugeot driver.

Even the cyclist himself admitted he was partially culpable, so I'm not sure why people wouldn't note that he wasn't cycling in a sensibly defensive position.

However, this case highlights the pathetic SUVs that take up an increasing amount of space on our roads. If Range Rover driver had instead been driving a normally sized car™, then both cyclist and turning driver would have had a clear line of sight and the accident most likely wouldn't have happened.

There really is no need for the vast majority of these kind of cars to be on the roads, and it's high time something was done about them.

Nigel has been kidnapped or is a victim of identity theft.  Where is the real Nigel?

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ktache replied to eburtthebike | 2 years ago
0 likes

There was a very good comment on fake chains too...

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FrankH replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
6 likes

Nigel Garrage wrote:

Roadcc wrote:

The video sparked a debate about who was at fault, with some saying the Range Rover driver's positioning made the situation worse, while others lay the blame solely with the Peugeot driver.

Even the cyclist himself admitted he was partially culpable, so I'm not sure why people wouldn't note that he wasn't cycling in a sensibly defensive position.

However, this case highlights the pathetic SUVs that take up an increasing amount of space on our roads. If Range Rover driver had instead been driving a normally sized car™, then both cyclist and turning driver would have had a clear line of sight and the accident most likely wouldn't have happened.

There really is no need for the vast majority of these kind of cars to be on the roads, and it's high time something was done about them.

When I was sitting on the footpath after crashing my bike avoiding a woman who ran across the road in front of me I blamed myself, thinking "Damn, it I should have anticipated that." But she was still at fault.

The same in this situation. The Peugeot driver was the one who caused the collision. the cyclist blamed himself for not anticipating and avoiding it.

As for the SUV, whether or not cars that big are necessary or not is irrelevant. If it hadn't been there, its place could have been taken by a Transit which would have had much the same effect. I don't like them but if  we banned all the things I don't like it would be a dreary, uninteresting world. (If we banned everything anybody disliked there'd be nothing left.  1 )

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Wingguy replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
8 likes

Nigel Garrage wrote:

Roadcc wrote:

The video sparked a debate about who was at fault, with some saying the Range Rover driver's positioning made the situation worse, while others lay the blame solely with the Peugeot driver.

Even the cyclist himself admitted he was partially culpable, so I'm not sure why people wouldn't note that he wasn't cycling in a sensibly defensive position.

I don't think culpability means what you think it means. Noting that you didn't take every measure possible to defend yourself does not make you responsible for someone else's negligence or criminality. If you really dig into it the people outside Fishmongers Hall could have better protected themselves by wearing stabvests and carrying cans of mace  with them every day, but no one in their right mind would suggest they were culpable for their own murders.

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TriTaxMan replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
2 likes

Nigel Garrage wrote:

Even the cyclist himself admitted he was partially culpable, so I'm not sure why people wouldn't note that he wasn't cycling in a sensibly defensive position.

With regards to the culpability side of it, I disagree.  I think you need to ask yourself one question.

Would any motorist say that a pedestrian had any culpability in a situation where the pedestrian was crossing a road at a pedestrian crossing and a cyclist ran a red light Zebra crossing when the pedestrian was already more than half way across the road and a cyclist collided with the pedestrian?

The answer is of course no!!!  But the pedestrian could have looked and spotted the approaching cyclist and thereby avoided being struck by them. 

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brooksby | 2 years ago
7 likes

On the parking tweet - most (yes, most!) motorists seem to think that they can pretty much park where they want nowadays.  There is so little enforcement, so, hey...

 

(watched some bloke yesterday park on double yellows and on a painted cycle lane, on a narrow road with a junction; he put his big white van's hazard warning lights on, locked up and disappeared for a half hour or so.  He came back, got something out, and went off again.  I watched him go, and he was working in a building on the other side of the main road, maybe 150 metres away.   I mean: he could have used the multi storey car park opposite that building, but...).

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TriTaxMan replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
5 likes

Yep, parking is a nightmare.  I live close to a Deli which has double yellows on both sides of the road about 50m either side of the Deli as there are multiple junctions nearby.  And every single day from about 11am to 2pm there will be multiple cars and vans on the double yellow lines with their hazard warning lights on when they are in the deli.

It's been raised with the council as it is frankly dangerous as one of the junctions is completely unsighted from the main road, and its so easy to come round the corner face to face with a car passing the vehicles parked on the double yellows

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OnYerBike | 2 years ago
3 likes

I'm inclined to agree with "cyclinggrump" - even good cycling infrastructure still has junctions and relies on other road users looking properly and giving way where required to do so. I suppose it's possible that with the right infrastructure the driver might have been more likely to consider the liklihood of an approaching cyclist.

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Awavey | 2 years ago
1 like

What kind of 'proper infra' would have prevented that ?

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Hirsute replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
1 like

Some dutch thing where there is an 'upramp'.

Although I don't think that they are applicable to all circumstances.

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Awavey replied to Hirsute | 2 years ago
0 likes

But I'd assume it's the presumed liability not the ramp itself that's the key to that working ultimately.

I dunno,its just in that bit at least it's already working as 'proper infra' would, the rest of it looks like a car park which seems a bit odd for a dedicated bus lane, but theres no combination of physical barrier or paint on road that's going to stop a vehicle turning across a lane if the driver perceives there to be a gap...IMO.

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Secret_squirrel replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
4 likes

Awavey wrote:

What kind of 'proper infra' would have prevented that ?

Hoverbikes.  On the cycle to work scheme.

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chrisonabike replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
0 likes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyCycle_(proposed_transport_project)

And it would only take 20 years to complete so sounds perfect for hitting Khan's vision zero target (zero road deaths / injuries by the time that the proposer is likely to qualify for a free bus pass - allowing for retirement age inflation).

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chrisonabike replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
0 likes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9ZBLsvqkUA

If it saves one life... Bonus points as they could be forced to stop at red lights, be prevented from filtering and there's space for a licence plate too.

The former Flamingo Land one looks a bit more realistic in there's a chance of falling off.

Coolest one was found by hawkinspeter - from New Zealand?

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chrisonabike replied to Awavey | 2 years ago
0 likes

Realistically there will always be some interaction with motorised vehicles (until they're restricted to motorways and track days...).  Nothing involving humans is infallible - including self-driving vehicles. Seems the keys in design are a) reducing the cognitive load and b) ensuring everyone knows exactly what is expected - so as much standardisation as possible.  Both problematic apparently for many of the designers / powers that be in the UK...

Continuous footway / cycle track: https://bristolwalkingalliance.org.uk/continuous-footways/

The best infra doesn't necessarily mean cycle tracks next to roads - or even cycle tracks at all: http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/search/label/segregationwithoutcyclepaths

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nicmason | 2 years ago
3 likes

Youre on a bike. you have to ride defensively. If you see a car stopped by a junction like that back off a bit . anything could come through.  Its doesnt matter who stopped where if you cant see make it so you can see and have time. Ive ridden motorcycles and cycles for years and thats one of the classic accidents.

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