Kensington MP supports "more cycling” but not through Kensington… Shocker! Police say you CAN drive somewhere to exercise; Should speed limits be cut to ease NHS burden? You have your say; Tour of Flanders: Lockdown Edition; Arnie + ponies + bike +more

On Friday, Royal Parks announced that cycling would be banned in Richmond Park due to the numbers of cyclists who had been riding through.

A Royal Parks spokesperson explained: “It is necessary to suspend all cycling in Richmond Park to protect public safety and ultimately help keep this vital green space open for everyone. Cycling is still permitted in the other Royal Parks, where there is no current evidence of congestion.”

Campaigners including London Cycling Campaign have written asking for the decision to be reversed.

The letter sets out a series of measures that could be taken to ensure responsible cycling, including adding relevant signage, making trails one-way for cyclists or restricting and controlling the numbers riding in the park at peak times.

You can read the full letter here.

"I have received a vast amount of correspondence from constituents on the CS10 proposal," writes Felicity Buchan MP, "the overwhelming majority of which has been critical of this scheme."

The first reason she lists is that 'air quality would further deteriorate'.

Fair to say not everyone was convinced by her reasoning…

Loud angry voices of small minority against CS10 drowning out majority who live in Holland Park and area adjoining the proposed cycle lane ! We Very Much support the cycle lane! Better air quality, safer for cyclist, addresses worry about trees, more foot traffic good for shops !

— London Cubsfan (@Editedversion) April 2, 2020

If only we had some sort of baseline scenario in which lge amounts of traffic was removed from London sts to show how drastically pollution levels could be reduced for the health benefit of everyone if we moved more towards a sustainable transport model... https://t.co/8DzLQRihS9

— Sites Of Newham (@SitesOfNewham) April 2, 2020

The Tweeddale Youth Action (TYA) group's Bike Punks project has abandoned a plan to offer deliveries on e-bikes during the coronavirus pandemic.

A spokesperson told the Peeblesshire News the hope had been to make a contribution through the provision of the cargo e-bikes.

"However, as the trustees continued to reflect on the evolving situation, they came to the conclusion that people’s health and well-being was paramount and that they were not prepared to be responsible for putting anyone at risk.

"For this reason, the decision has been taken to withdraw the offer of the cargo e-bikes.

"Trustees were disappointed that the service would not now be provided but hoped that the public would understand that protecting the health and well-being of staff, volunteers and young people has to be the number one priority.”

TYA hopes to restart its e-bike delivery service later in the year.

We don’t want to present this as a green light to drive up to the Lake District or anything, but new police guidance clarifies that people should NOT be punished for driving a “reasonable distance” to exercise.

In recent days social media posts from police forces across the country have often implied that people have been ignoring the rules about avoiding non-essential journeys.

Derbyshire Police used drones to highlight people exercising in the Peak District, while police in North Yorkshire even went so far as to set up checkpoints to stop people and enquire about their destinations.

The Guardian reports that new guidance issued by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) advises officers stopping vehicles that enforcement actions such as arrest or the issuing of a fine should only be used as a last resort.

“Use your judgment and common sense,” it says. “For example, people will want to exercise locally and may need to travel to do so, we don’t want the public sanctioned for travelling a reasonable distance to exercise. Road checks on every vehicle is equally disproportionate.

“We should reserve enforcement only for individuals who have not responded to engage, explain, and encourage, where public health is at risk.”

Seeing as we'll probably only get a virtual Tour of Flanders this year, we thought we'd have a look back at one of the biggest surprises of last year.

Despite showing glimpses of form the year before, not many would have picked Alberto Bettiol at the startline.

This behind-the-scenes film from Rapha shows the emotion of winning one of the biggest bike races of the year.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has recommended an emergency reduction of all national speed limits to 50mph, and to 20mph in urban areas.

The publication argues that while the public it working to “flatten the curve” of covid-19 and the NHS is exploring all options to increase its capacity, the nation is “missing a trick” by not also working to lower the baseline demands placed on the NHS.

“In England alone there are around 35,000 non-fatal admissions to hospital every year related to road traffic accidents; more than one in 10 of these are serious and likely to require intensive support, including anaesthesia and surgery.

“Evidence from around the world shows that lowering speed limits can lead to major reductions in injuries. In Canada, for example, lowering the speed limit from 40km/h to 30km/h was associated with a 28% decrease in pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions and a 67% decrease in major and fatal injuries.

“This measure would be particularly important in supporting those who follow government advice and avoid non-essential use of public transport in order to maintain social distancing. We therefore suggest that the government urgently explore an emergency reduction of all national speed limits to 50mph, and to 20mph in urban areas.

“These policies are already supported by the Road Safety Management Capacity review, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

“We expect that the public would support this proposal for a limited time period if it was communicated appropriately in relation to the current NHS emergency.”

Not an April fool. Unless they’re a day late.

The real Tour of Flanders has been postponed for the time being. However, they’re going to run a one-hour virtual edition this Sunday.

“In a closed tour reserved exclusively for professional cyclists, 13 pros will be competing during the last 32 km of the Tour of Flanders – on their home trainers.”

Further details will burble out via social media in the next few days. We’ll keep you posted.

Speaking a couple of weeks ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger said that getting out on his bike was, “the only way I’m leaving the house.”

Here he is chasing his ponies, Whiskey and Lulu, because “they need exercise too.”

 

 

 

 

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Whiskey and Lulu need exercise too

A post shared by Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger) on Mar 27, 2020 at 3:49pm PDT

“We cannot control the virus but we can control our fitness,” he says.

Astana’s Davide Martinelli has volunteered to deliver food and medicine in his home town of Lodetto in Brescia.

Lodetto doesn’t have supermarkets or chemists, so Martinelli’s heading into nearby Rovato on his bike to pick stuff up for the elderly and vulnerable.

He says the efforts were started by a cousin of his and some friends.

“I have heard various stories that touched me about people who are unable to travel to our capital and who have solved their problems thanks to these volunteers.

“Over the years I have received so much from my community, but I have hardly had the opportunity to repay it because of a life that often leads me to be away from home.

"I am very attached to Lodetto, a community of just over 1,500 people, where unfortunately there is neither a chemist nor a grocery store. I thought it was a chance to make myself useful and repay the many people who have always supported me over the years, and to help those who need it right now.

“I have a bike, two legs – now not very trained – and a backpack and nothing more. Today I had the honour of being able to go to the chemist to collect medicine for an elderly couple.

In total 30 minutes and about 10km – nothing special for an athlete, but when I delivered them to their door – obviously with the necessary precautions (mask and gloves) – I felt a thank you, which still echoes in my head.

“I am the happiest man in the world, cycling is beautiful, everything is beautiful, but being useful to others is priceless.”

.@Davide_Marti93 is delivering shopping and medicals to elder people in his town, Lodetto. The town has no supermarkets or pharmacies there so people had to go to the nearest town (Rovato) to buy them. 👏👏👏https://t.co/eSvUJ8K17J pic.twitter.com/rCNqlEHupI

— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) April 2, 2020