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“It’s like the aftermath of a Harry Potter battle – broken wands everywhere”: Drivers versus cycle lane ‘protection’; “Scotland leading the way on active travel,” says Cycling UK; Lance v Vino, the rematch; New kit day; Bling bikes + more on the live blog

Happy Friday everyone! Ryan Mallon’s here to count down the hours until the weekend… and maybe share some cycling news and views on the live blog
Fri, Dec 16, 2022 09:27
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“It’s like the aftermath of a Harry Potter battle – broken wands everywhere”: Drivers versus cycle lane ‘protection’; “Scotland leading the way on active travel,” says Cycling UK; Lance v Vino, the rematch; New kit day; Bling bikes + more on the live blogPark Row cycle lane, Bristol (credit - brooksby)
16 December 2022, 16:49
Sliding into the weekend like Mathieu van der Poel
16 December 2022, 16:46
Hooray! Salford’s cycling roundabout is finally complete!

And it’s even madder than I imagined it would be…

> Magic roundabout or tragic roundabout? New "novelty" cycling roundabout hasn't gone down well 

16 December 2022, 16:54
16 December 2022, 09:20
“It’s like the aftermath of a Harry Potter battle – broken wands everywhere”: Drivers versus cycle lane ‘protection’

It’s Friday, so we’re going to kick things off on the blog this morning by returning to an old favourite – Bristol’s infamous Park Row “protected” cycle lane.

Back in September 2021, road.cc reader and Bristol resident brooksby pointed out that the three-foot high plastic orange cylinders installed by Bristol City Council to protect cyclists on the pop-up bike lane in Park Row were, surprisingly, not quite up to the job.

According to brooksby, the easily detachable cones were being constantly being removed by careless (or destructive) motorists, with some even ending up far from the bike lane they were installed to ‘protect’.

Park Row cycle lane wands burial ground (credit - brooksby)

The Great Plastic Wand Burial Ground (credit: brooksby)

Earlier this year, the council decided to act by replacing the orange cones with more permanent, sturdier looking models.

Well, at least those wands seemed more permanent… Until you witnessed this horror film-like scene of utter wand devastation, featured on the live blog in August:

And now, in the run-up to Christmas, I regret to inform you folks, that the motorists are at it again.

In the comments section of the blog, brooksby shared these harrowing images from yesterday lunchtime:

Broken wands on Park Row cycle lane, Bristol (credit - brooksby)
Broken wands and car on Park Row cycle lane, Bristol (credit - brooksby)
Broken wands on Bristol's Park Row cycle lane (credit - brooksby)

Those poor wands...

“Blimey – it’s like the aftermath of a battle in Harry Potter world – broken wands everywhere,” fellow road.cc reader chrisonatrike wrote.

“I think the problem with the Park Row cycle lane is that they didn’t make it long enough,” brooksby argues.

“There’s enough room before it’s protected for cars to go on there at each end ‘for loading’ and then they ‘accidentally’ knock down a wand so the next time someone parks a bit further, then they knock one down, so people can park a bit further, and so on…

“And as long as they haven’t knowingly knocked one down people seem to think that they can just park there (despite the painted cycle symbols and signage).”

Following the revelation that even the ‘permanent’ cycle lane wands can’t stop drivers parking wherever they like, in October Bristol City Council announced that it will install new, segregated cycle lanes on Park Row, along with upgraded bus stops, to “make it easier to walk and cycle in the area”.

As long as someone tells the drivers first...

16 December 2022, 09:51
Scottish Parliament Bike Stands (copyright Simon MacMichael).jpg
“Scotland leading the way on active travel in the UK,” says Cycling UK: Charity welcomes record sustainable travel funding in Scottish government budget

Scotland is “leading the way on active travel in the UK”, Cycling UK has claimed, after the Scottish government yesterday committed to increasing its funding for ‘active and sustainable travel’ to a record £196.5m in its budget for 2023/24.

That’s a £46.5m increase on the pot previously set aside for cycling and walking, and means that 5.6 percent of the overall transport budget at Holyrood will be spent on active and sustainable travel.

However, it still falls short of the Scottish government’s commitment to spend at least £320m, or 10 percent of the total transport budget, on active travel by 2024/25.

> Cycling UK urges next Scottish Government to commit 10 per cent of transport budget to active travel

The use of the term ‘active and sustainable travel’ in yesterday’s announcement has also proved frustrating for cycling and walking campaigners, who have argued that it obfuscates the amount of money set to be spent on those specific activities compared to previous years.

In his speech to parliament yesterday, SNP Deputy First Minister John Swinney said that “decarbonising transport remains one of the key challenges we face in reaching Net Zero” and that the government would “invest nearly £200 million in active and sustainable travel”.

> Scotland’s active travel minister criticised – for not wearing a helmet while cycling

The news has been welcomed by charity Cycling UK, who have described the Scottish government’s new active travel budget as “a welcome increase in investment at this time of financial pressure”.

“As a low-cost form of transport, cycling can help to ease the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on people’s lives,” says Jim Densham, Cycling UK’s campaigns and policy manager for Scotland.

“We know that investing in cycling is incredibly good value for money, as it brings so many benefits for people’s health, the environment, local economies, and for liveable neighbourhoods.

“It’s good to see Scotland leading the way on active travel in the UK and taking steps towards much bigger spending that has been promised for coming years.

“However, it is frustrating that a change in language makes it difficult to make a precise comparison to the previous budget. We want Government to provide an exact figure for spending on active travel, and to provide a more detailed breakdown of their budgets.”

16 December 2022, 16:25
Friday reaction

So, what’s been going on in the comments section today, I hear you cry? Well, Dave Gorman, I’ll tell you…

First up, there’s been plenty of chat about Bristol’s ‘protected’ cycle lanes. road.cc reader Benji 326 reckons that the carnage on Park Row illustrates that “protecting cycle lanes with a few upright sticks is clearly not enough.

“Take a tip from cities with correct cycling infrastructure, Seattle for example. Raised kerbs between cycle lane and traffic, bright green tarmac to denote lane, with the additional uprights if they’re desperate… Better cycling infrastructure is beneficial for all, leaders need to realise this.”

Meanwhile, ShutTheFrontDawes wrote: “Calling Bristol City Council's approach to protected cycle lanes 'half-assed' would be generous.

“No solid white lines, no red tarmac, no physical protection (and no, these boards don't count. They are designed to fold over at the base if hit – they are literally designed to provide zero protection) and no parking enforcement.”

So, how can we improve on these flimsy – and obviously easily removed – wands? Well, cdamian had a suggestion: “They just need to replace one or two with strong metal ones that look the same as the current ones. Maybe also swap them around every couple of weeks.”

So, as the little onion pointed out, basically installing the motoring equivalent of this:

Onto the Scottish government’s active travel budget now which – though praised by Cycling UK (with a few caveats) – hasn’t gone down quite as well with our readers.

“I'm not knocking the increase in Scottish government’s active travel spend,” says Safety. “However I am disappointed that Cycling UK failed to highlight that Polis Scotland are one of only two forces in the UK that are still refusing to introduce a camera footage portal. Not only that but the proposed budget for discussion on a potential possibility of a trial is now under threat due to cuts elsewhere.

“To my mind this is a no brainer cost effective way to make drivers think twice about their behaviour to all other road users not just cyclists. But the powers that be are hell bent on preventing its introduction. Why?”

Chrisonatrike added: “I was pleased when the notion of allocating a ‘reasonable’ sum of the transport budget for active travel appeared.  This is remarkable for the UK. 

“Let's keep our Alans on though – it's a sensible amount to propose but ‘up to ten percent in two years’ time’ is not saying ‘prioritising’. 

“Especially when – after more than a quarter century of ‘encouragement’ – ‘active travel’ is arguably further from the start line than before.”

16 December 2022, 15:40
Lizzie Deignan with Paris-Roubaix Femmes cobble trophy 2020 (Copyright CorVos, SWpix.com).JPG
Lizzie Deignan says “conservative plan” is to return to racing in May – “so no Roubaix next year”

Just under three months since giving birth, Lizzie Deignan is eyeing up her return to the peloton, telling fans on Instagram that her “conservative plan” at the moment is to resume racing in May.

After winning the inaugural women’s Paris-Roubaix in October 2021, the Trek-Segafredo rider spent the whole of this season on maternity leave, as she expected the arrival of her second child Shea, who was born in late September.

During a Q&A session with fans on Instagram, the former world champion was asked about the prospect of once again teaming up with reigning Paris-Roubaix champion and fellow Trek-Segafredo rider Elisa Longo Borghini – and whether their partnership could be rekindled on the cobbles of northern France next April.

> Lizzie Deignan on the Tour de France Femmes, returning to the top after childbirth, her memorable wins, and much more

However, Deignan is sceptical about her chances of making it to the start line of the ‘Hell of the North’.

Lizzie Deignan Instagram reply

“Conservative plan is to start racing in May, so no Roubaix nest year,” she wrote. “But you never know, April is a few months off”.

When asked how having her second child and preparing to return to elite competition compared to the first time she resumed racing after giving birth to her daughter, Orla, Deignan said: “So far I would say recovery has taken longer this time around. Shea was a much harder baby to carry so did a lot less fitness in pregnancy, and we seem to have been fighting [illness] as a family since he was born!”

16 December 2022, 15:16
16 December 2022, 15:01
Rare sightings on the roads
16 December 2022, 14:28
Alex Porter after team pursuit crash at Tokyo Olympics (Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
Australian team pursuiter Alex Porter, who suffered shock crash at Tokyo Olympics after his handlebars snapped, retires from cycling

Alex Porter, the Australian track rider who was the victim of a nasty crash at last year’s Tokyo Olympics after his handlebars snapped during qualifying for the men’s team pursuit, has announced that he is retiring from cycling.

The 26-year-old, who has three world titles and a Commonwealth Games gold medal to his name in the team pursuit, said that stepping away from the sport is “the toughest decision of my life”, while AusCycling have confirmed that he will continue working with the federation as an official ambassador.

2020 Tokyo Olympics broken Australia bike

During the qualifying rounds for the team pursuit in Tokyo, the Aussie men were forced to take to the start line again after Porter’s titanium additive manufacture (3D printed) base bar from Bastion Cycles broke as he rode at the back of the quartet, causing him to smash into the boards of the velodrome.

> Aussie Olympic handlebar failure: inadequate spec and fatigue testing to blame

While Australia recovered to secure bronze in the event, behind winners Italy and silver medallists Denmark, a subsequent investigation into the crash found that it was caused by inadequate design specifications supplied to the manufacturer by the Australian team, as well as a failure to conduct adequate fatigue testing in the lead-up to use in competition.

Following the report, AusCycling apologised to Porter, who suffered a number of injuries in the spill, including friction burns to his face.

Alex Porter injuries (Eurosport)

Announcing his retirement on social media today, the triple world champion said: “This has been the toughest decision of my life, but I have decided to retire from professional cycling.

“After the Tokyo Olympics, it is clear I need to put my health first and this means stepping away from the sport. I am grateful for all the joy it has brought to my life.

“I have an endless amount of people to thank, but I’ll start by acknowledging SASI and AUSCycling for giving me the chance to race my bike across the country, and then all over the world. My family and friends behind the scenes, it wouldn’t have been possible without you all, you have been there for the ups and downs of the sport.

“The Aussie Team Pursuit boys, Kell [O’Brien], Sam [Welsford], Leigh [Howard] and Luke [Plapp]. We have been through a great deal, but to have my last moment in the sport standing arm in arm on the podium with you guys regardless of what step is something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

“Finally, I’d like to thank my coach Tim Decker, your guidance took me from a kid who clip into a bike to an Olympic medallist, and for that I will be forever grateful. Your impact on my growth as a person is impossible to quantify, and I appreciate all of your leadership, guidance and support.

“I’m excited for what the next chapter will bring and one thing I know for sure is I’ll always love riding my bike!”

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner praised Porter’s contribution to Australian cycling, saying in a statement: “We have the greatest admiration for Alex and his resilience, dedication and record of achievement.

“While we’re disappointed that we won’t see him riding in the national colours, his cycling journey is far from finished and we know that as an AusCycling Ambassador, he will be playing a key role in inspiring the next generation of riders and cyclists.”

16 December 2022, 14:18
16 December 2022, 13:20
Proper Bling: Trek reveal Ellen van Dijk’s shiny new TT machine

Now, that’s a world champion’s bike.

Time trial world champ Ellen van Dijk certainly hasn’t held back when it comes to marking her third year in the rainbow jersey, when she’ll be riding this extremely bling, super shiny Trek Speed Concept:

I think I may need a pair of sunglasses just to look at that bike…

16 December 2022, 12:59
David O’Doherty, the Elon Musk of cycling

A topical joke now (on a cycling live blog, who’d have thought it?), for those keeping up to date with the latest incoherent ramblings from our tunnel-loving friend Elon:

16 December 2022, 12:13
Blue is the colour (in the 2023 peloton): More new kits, this time from Quick-Step

It’s fair to say that Quick-Step’s kits over the years have been somewhat hit and miss.

The cool, retro, clean 2010 and 2011 model sported by Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel and co? A classic.

Quick-Step 2010

The weird, ‘is this really supposed to look like a blue wolf on a white background’ kit from two years ago? Not so much.

Julian Alaphilippe wins Tour de France 2020 Stage 2 (copyright Cor Vos, SWpix.com)

Cor Vos/SWpix.com

So, where does the 2023 iteration of the long-running Belgian team – which will be known as Soudal Quick-Step next year (that’ll take some getting used to) – rank on the cycling sartorial chart?

I have to say, I’m not a fan. It’s all a bit busy and Androni-like, especially on the sponsor-laden shoulders and sleeves. A solid if slightly disappointing 4/10.

Though that’s before we get to the colour. While Quick-Step have been wearing blue and white ever since Tulio Campagnolo invented the quick release, the 2023 peloton looks set to resemble a constantly moving river, as Groupama-FDJ, Astana, and now Israel-Premier Tech have all opted for blue so far, with the prospect of more to come from Movistar, Alpecin-Deceuninck, and BikeExchange.

Well, at least it won’t be as bad as that time in the early 2010s when everyone and their granny was wearing black…

16 December 2022, 11:41
From breakaway king to caddy: Jacky Durand’s new career

I’ve heard that golf may be the new cycling…

At least that’s the case for retired French pro Jacky Durand who, after years of relentlessly attacking the bunch, is instead spending this week telling someone else to attack the greens.

1992 Tour of Flanders winner Durand, who now commentates on races for Eurosport, has swapped the bike and microphone for the bib and bag full of clubs in his new role as caddy for Spanish golfer Hugo Esposito at the ongoing Mauritius Open.

Unfortunately for young Hugo, the underdog magic that saw Durand take three stages at the Tour de France doesn’t seem to be rubbing off on the fairways – the Madrid man, born to French parents, is currently five over after 14 holes so far today, leaving him ten over overall and in joint 148th.

Maybe don’t quit your day job just yet, Jacky.

16 December 2022, 11:08
New kit klaxon: Israel-Premier Tech unveil funky new “abstract” kit

They may have dropped down to ProTeam division after ignominiously succumbing to cycling’s first ever WorldTour relegation battle, but Israel-Premier Tech are certainly stepping up a level when it comes to the sick threads they’ll be rocking in 2023 (in this humble writer’s opinion, of course. Your mileage for watered down psychedelica may vary).

Rather than taking inspiration from a Jimi Hendrix solo, Israel-Premier Tech’s manager Kjell Carlström says that the squad’s blue ‘change strip’ for this year’s Tour de France – worn with great aplomb by stage winners Simon Clarke and Hugo Houle – prompted the team to overhaul the rather mundane, business-like white jersey of recent years.

2022 tdf stage 16 hugo houle israel Zac Williams / SwPix.com

Hugo Houle on his way in blue to winning stage 16 of the 2022 Tour de France (Zac Williams/SWPix.com)

“When it came to designing our 2023 kit, we wanted to do something a little different,” Carlström said.

“Our Racing For Change kit at the Tour de France was a huge success and, in our opinion, one of the best kits in the peloton in recent years. So we figured, why not do something a bit different all season long.

“Blue and white, the Israeli colours, are at the core of our identity. But, as we saw in 2022, there was a lot of blue and white in the peloton. So, we wanted to add some additional colour into the mix and create a fresh and modern look that stands out on the bike.

“Particularly on the back of the jersey, where we have replaced the team logo with the monogram of our star and P from Premier Tech so that we can be easily spotted on television. That’s our aim for 2023: stand out in the peloton when it comes to our kit design and the way we race.”

Well, it’s a thumbs up from me. What do you reckon?

16 December 2022, 10:38
Lance and Vino, the rematch: This time, it’s on Twitter

The irony of Astana supremo and convicted blood doper Alexander Vinokourov sacking one of his star riders, Miguel Ángel López, for allegedly being linked to a shady doctor hasn’t been lost on many onlookers.

> Miguel Ángel López sacked by Astana due to doping links, but rider maintains he has “never tested positive”

Including, it seems, one of Vino’s old Tour de France rivals (who you may have heard of):

I hate it admit it, but Big Tex may have a point when it comes to professional cycling’s ex-doper redemption lottery… 

16 December 2022, 10:21
Zwift user tries the gym (and a joke)
Zwift user at the gym (credit - James Evans)

Ach, it’s Friday…

Ryan Mallon

After obtaining a PhD, lecturing, and hosting a history podcast at Queen’s University Belfast, Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.

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82 comments

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to chrisonabike | 1 year ago
2 likes

chrisonatrike wrote:

I was pleased when the notion of allocating a "reasonable" sum of the transport budget for active travel appeared.

But it's "active and sustainable travel" now, isn't it? So could go on buses, or even electric car measures? 

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Dnnnnnn | 1 year ago
1 like

Yep - you can bet the clawback started before the negociations for this.  Nevertheless in the context of the generally hopeless* it was a good start.

Yes - it would have been much better to nail down amounts for cycling (or more likely "walking wheeling and cycling").  I also hate the bullshit of "sustainable" e.g.  "sustainable electric cars" (or even "sustainable buses and trains" - apparently right now, if you believe...)  At best it's currently "emit elsewhere" and that will continue to be true for some time.

Also while this may be (?) approaching continental "spend per head", in places like NL and Copenhagen they're spending that much or more when they already have a working active travel network and much better public transport (or a universal mostly excellent system in NL).

If we were truly serious about it we should commit more like 25% or even larger fractions of the budget for a set period - say a decade or two - to get us up to a similar level as e.g. Copenhagen level.  ("Dutch" everywhere would likely take us quite a bit longer and / or cost more).  At that point 10 - 15% of the current transport budget is what will keep things in good nick and hopefully allow some upgrades also.

* "We can't, because we'll be kicked out at the next election / out of a job".  Or "let's just wait until electric cars, nuclear fusion, Amazon flying drones or the Metaverse fix it / makes this current problem irrelevant".

Avatar
Sanshelmut | 1 year ago
5 likes

Someone needs to get a Beater and start riding into the backs of those parked cars. It's dangerous out there, they should make a protected lane for the cars so they don't get run into.

Avatar
OldRidgeback replied to Sanshelmut | 1 year ago
1 like

I was just thinking the same. Is that 'great minds think alike' or 'fools seldom differ'?

1

Avatar
Argos74 replied to Sanshelmut | 1 year ago
3 likes

By Beater, I think you mean 'tank', no?

Avatar
brooksby replied to Argos74 | 1 year ago
1 like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-fWN0FmcIU

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to brooksby | 1 year ago
1 like

brooksby wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-fWN0FmcIU

That's an armoured car, not a tank.

Avatar
ktache replied to eburtthebike | 1 year ago
0 likes

More like an armoured personnel carrier.

Avatar
brooksby replied to eburtthebike | 1 year ago
6 likes

eburtthebike wrote:

brooksby wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-fWN0FmcIU

That's an armoured car, not a tank.

Who do you think you are? swldxer?? 3

Avatar
richupnorth replied to Sanshelmut | 1 year ago
6 likes

I was thinking more about using a mtb and sticking to the lane, over the roof of the cars

Avatar
ktache replied to richupnorth | 1 year ago
7 likes

With spike tyres because of the cold conditions?

Avatar
Browsie | 1 year ago
1 like

Wouldn't it be fun if there was such a thing as fast growing or replicating wands so as soon as one got knocked over another would instantly take it's place🤔, or perhaps I'm just talking a load of old bollards.

Avatar
the little onion replied to Browsie | 1 year ago
3 likes

Better still, one of those retractable bollards so it spikes the car from the underside

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to Browsie | 1 year ago
4 likes

Browsie wrote:

Wouldn't it be fun if there was such a thing as fast growing or replicating wands so as soon as one got knocked over another would instantly take it's place🤔, or perhaps I'm just talking a load of old bollards.

Retractable steel ones in the ground, set to emerge as soon as plastic ones are knocked over, so any driver knocking wands down to park suddenly finds themselves trapped in a ring of steel.

Avatar
TheBillder replied to Browsie | 1 year ago
0 likes
Browsie wrote:

Wouldn't it be fun if there was such a thing as fast growing or replicating wands so as soon as one got knocked over another would instantly take it's place🤔, or perhaps I'm just talking a load of old bollards.

Could they plant leylandii in the holes they drill for the wands?

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to TheBillder | 1 year ago
1 like

Leylandii?  Even worse than wands - that would really bring the suburban NIMBYs out!

Avatar
TheBillder replied to chrisonabike | 1 year ago
3 likes
chrisonatrike wrote:

Leylandii?  Even worse than wands - that would really bring the suburban NIMBYs out!

Fast growing, carbon sinking, self replicating. And we've all seen pictures of how car vs tree ends. What's not to like?

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to TheBillder | 1 year ago
2 likes

I think you should go for this stuff.  Grows super-quick, surprisingly strong and if someone did manage to break it you can recycle it into bike!

OTOH it might get the pandas crossing the roads again.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to chrisonabike | 1 year ago
1 like

chrisonatrike wrote:

I think you should go for this stuff.  Grows super-quick, surprisingly strong and if someone did manage to break it you can recycle it into bike!

OTOH it might get the pandas crossing the roads again.

Top tip - if you want to grow bamboo, put it in a pot as otherwise it'll take over the whole place.

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
1 like

Argh!  I think you're right - look what happened here.

We'd end up infested with these critters...

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to chrisonabike | 1 year ago
1 like

chrisonatrike wrote:

Argh!  I think you're right - look what happened here.

We'd end up infested with these critters...

Avatar
the little onion | 1 year ago
5 likes

Calling the World Bollard Association - https://twitter.com/WorldBollard

We need some solid, stylish chunks of metal to teach the teutonic vehicles a lesson!

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