"This has got to stop": Met Cycle Safety Team on "outrageous behaviour" towards cyclists; 'Traffic warden' accused of multiple assaults; Row continues over Bournemouth active travel plans; Reaction to Froome and Thomas missing TDF + more on the live blog

It's quite depressing to look at our Twitter feed first thing to be made aware of more outrageous behaviour towards cyclists including assaults and a young girl being injured in a park. Hopefully everyone is ok and getting the support they need. This has got to stop.Stay safe all

— Cycle Safety Team (@MetCycleCops) August 19, 2020

We believe the Met's Cycle Safety Team were referring to the incident we reported on this morning, and also another incident in which a mother claimed her daughter was knocked off her bike by a driver who left the scene - the latter happened in Richmond Park, which has been controversially reopened to rat-running drivers. 

To the woman driver who an hour ago drove her car into my daughter on her bike in Richmond park - and who drove off without leaving your details - you need to contact the police.

— Dr Helen J Williams 🇪🇺#rightfromthestart (@helenjwc) August 18, 2020

Dr Helen Williams left further comments explaining that she was "very relieved" that her daughter hadn't broken any bones after having X-rays in hospital. She also added: "The driver has been traced. But after 3 hrs of statement taking, the police won’t do anything as she doesn’t have the contact details of the (quite a few) witnesses." 

Others have recommended that Dr Williams should try to trace witnesses and launch an appeal. One replied: "I was there yesterday and saw how the cars have zero patience with cyclists and sit behind their wheels getting twitchy and impatient about trying to over take. Hope the parks come to their senses and ban cars ASAP! It was so peaceful without them during lockdown!"

That's absolutely disgusting. @theroyalparks seriously need to reconsider their decision to allow motorised traffic in the park. Hope you daughter makes a swift recovery & the police find the woman responsible 😡

— Merv Charles (@mervcharles) August 18, 2020

A park . With a road . With car traffic . Only in UK would this even be a thing . Disgusting really . Hope she gets well soon

— leicestercyclist (@leicestercylist) August 18, 2020

Sorry to hear about what happened to your daughter. It's a real shame that @theroyalparks created a safe place for adults and children to walk, run, cycle and scoot and then allowed motor traffic back through again. This was sadly bound to happen.

— Richard Edwards (@Rich_Rocks) August 19, 2020

Are the Royal Parks partially to blame for these shocking incidents by allowing motor traffic back into Richmond Park? 

Over the weekend, BCP Council unveiled plans to introduce "experimental traffic measures" at Boscombe Overcliff Drive and Southbourne Overcliff Drive to provide more space for cycling and walking. Beginning on Monday 24th August, motor traffic will no longer be able to use the roads as a through-route, which BCP say "will create a safer environment for those travelling by bike and on foot". The

The Bournemouth Echo reports that the scheme was brought forward using cash from the government’s emergency active travel fund; however a local councillor and a body representing hospitality businesses in the area strongly disagree with the plans. Boscombe East & Pokesdown ward member Andy Jones said: “I was inundated by residents over the weekend who are absolutely livid about this scheme. 

“I’ve had people on the phone and numerous emails questioning where was the consultation. Why are we having something thrust upon us?

“The concerns have been raised about where traffic is going to be diverted up some of the residential roads north of the clifftop area and the resulting congestion along roads such as Beechwood Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and onto Southbourne Grove because clearly traffic has got to go somewhere.

“Bearing in mind how busy those roads are already and this is just going to make it worse.

“With most schemes you tend to find people for and against but I have not come across anybody that thinks this is a good idea.”

The BH Area Hospitality Association said in a statement: “BCP Council (with) another crazy ridiculous scheme which also needs scrapping. 

“Tourism and hospitality brings much needed income into this town and these crazy thought-up schemes are causing headaches for a number of hotel business owners across the conurbation who are trying to focus on keeping their business afloat during these times. Are you aware by closing this road you will also put a negative impact on people arriving for your Bournemouth Beach Lodges.”

Boscombe East & Pokesdown ward councillor George Farquhar admitted there had been a "fair amount of opposition" but defended the trial, saying: “I am not opposed to the scheme itself because it is experimental and I think it will quite quickly show what is actually something we might want to invest in.

“We have these experimental orders. It is not just us in the country, it is all local authorities.

“Depending on the evidence that comes out of these experimental traffic control orders, such as the one on the overcliff at Southbourne and Boscombe, we can actually unlock £1.2million.

“I can understand the concerns by residents that it may be that traffic will start occupying local residential roads but I think that this is only a short-term pain because the nature of the scheme is to prevent through traffic and encourage active travel.”

But if you still enjoy a bit of the old golf, why not do it while reminding yourself where your priorities lie? Alternatively you could gently troll your golfing friends that haven't yet discovered the joy of two wheels...

shop.road.cc/product/road-cc-golf-balls-box-of-3

Ineos TDF Team Announcement @laflammerouge16 pic.twitter.com/hzbrofC1M2

— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) August 19, 2020

“Fancy going wild camping next week then?” pic.twitter.com/QdqD4OcBP5

— Rob Whittle (@PolkaDotRob) August 19, 2020

Plus a suggestion of what the dropped pair could get up to instead.

The road has long proved a source of conflict between drivers and cyclists, with a number of incidents happening over the years in which riders have been subjected to abuse by motorists who believe they should be using the cycle path on the adjacent footway (see above). We reported back in 2018 that Wandsworth Borough Council were consulting on proposals to improve the road for cyclists and pedestrians, but to our knowledge that hasn't happened yet.

Often because the cycle lanes are rubbish. Shared with pedestrians, obstacles, end suddenly, make you give way at every side road etc. No good for fitter cyclists who could otherwise be getting a shift on down the road

— Rob Butterworth (@rob_butterworth) August 18, 2020

Priory Lane wasn’t narrowed and a cycle lane wasn’t built. They took half the pavement away from pedestrians, painted a line, and called it a cycle lane. It used to be a nice route to stroll to the park, and now you can’t even walk side by side!

— bobby ‘bob’ bannerman (@bobbybbannerman) August 18, 2020

Many cyclists object to using the lane, as it's narrow with numerous points that could put them into conflict with pedestrians. If you're a driver like the one in the footage below who thinks it's mandatory to use cycle lanes, see our Monday Moaning feature on the subject. 

Due to the cycle lane?
For the last five years you've failed to announce "due to the road works along the sea front", or "due to the congestion and busses unable to pass on North Street" or "due to idiots parking along Western Road" there's very heavy traffic. Why "due to" now?

— Chris Holden (@blinky465) August 18, 2020

@roadcc @Chris_Boardman Cycle lanes causing traffic? Do bus lanes cause traffic too? Or maybe it’s too many cars?

— Paul Windust (@TriathlonNewb) August 18, 2020

I think you'll find that heavy traffic is due to the number of people driving

— Chris Todd #BuildBackBetter (@ecochris_todd) August 18, 2020

Brighton’s new cycle lane: installed last week.
Brighton’s traffic congestion: constant fixture for more than than the 20 years I’ve lived in/near the city.
Yet guess what’s getting the blame? 🤦♂️

— Clive Andrews (@CliveAndrews) August 19, 2020

The announcement from B&H Buses hasn't gone down very well on social media, with a number of people pointing out that congestion on the road existed long before a new cycle lane was installed on Brighton's seafront. 

Clive Andrews commented: "That’s guesswork and opinion. Stick to facts and information"; while Large Al says: "I think you mean 'due to excessive traffic'. Pillocks."

With three exciting targets in 2020 – let’s hear from @Eganbernal @GeraintThomas86 and @chrisfroome 📽️ pic.twitter.com/8KSMHlpXyi

— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) August 19, 2020

Thomas commented on his job to target the Giro d'Italia: "I enjoy the racing there. I’ve always loved Italy, the roads, the fans, the food obviously.

“It’s a race I’ve always enjoyed anyway... a country I love to race in. I’m certainly looking forward to going back.”

And Froome said: "It’s definitely a readjustment for me moving goalposts from the Tour de France to the Vuelta a España.

"...I think given where I’ve come from through the last year, I’ve had an incredible recovery from the big crash I had last year; but I’m not confident I can really fulfil the necessary job that would be needed of me at this year’s Tour de France. I think it’s a lot more realistic targeting the and get stuck into something that’s deliverable.

"It’s great for me now to have that clarity that that will be my big goal for the season. And I really do just wish the team all the very best of luck for the month ahead. The racing;s going to be brutal but I have every faith in Egan and the team around him that they can deliver the result.”