Sick of close passes from drivers? Create your own ‘laser’ cycle lane; Urška Žigart goes agonisingly close at Tour de Suisse… only to be referred to as “Pogačar’s girlfriend” by Belgian newspaper; Cycle lane double parking + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“Thank goodness she’s dating a famous cyclist, otherwise how on earth would anyone have identified her?” Urška Žigart goes agonisingly close at Tour de Suisse… only to be referred to as “Pogačar’s girlfriend” by Belgian newspaper
75 metres… 75 metres was all that separated Jayco AlUla’s Urška Žigart from a maiden WorldTour win at the Tour de Suisse yesterday.
“What a sprint!” 😲
21-year-old Elonora Gasparrini wins Stage 3 of the Tour of Switzerland in an epic sprint to the finish! 🏁#TourdeSuisseWomen 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/zsbojz8ika
— Eurosport (@eurosport) June 19, 2023
The 26-year-old Slovenian attacked her breakaway companions with just under 13km to go and looked set to pull off a stunning solo victory, only to be heartbreakingly swamped by the peloton within touching distance of the finish in Ebnat-Kappel, as UAE Team ADQ’s promising Italian sprinter Eleonora Gasparrini took her own breakthrough win after a couple of years of knocking on the door in the bunch kicks.
(Gasparrini’s victorious sprint also ended SD Worx’s incredible, and slightly bonkers, month-and-a-half-long winning streak, which we’ll chat about later today on the blog.)
So, how did Het Nieuwsblad – you know, the Flemish newspaper that actually runs its own men’s and women’s spring classic – report on this dramatic finish at the Tour de Suisse?
By referring to Žigart simply as “Pogačar’s girlfriend” in their headline, of course:
Sigh…
Understandably, removing Žigart’s name entirely from their headline about her racing exploits prompted something of a backlash on Twitter:
Isn’t it great when a female athlete who almost wins her first UCI world tour race loses her own name and only goes by “girlfriend of Pogačar”?
— José Been (@JoseBeenTV) June 19, 2023
Thank goodness she’s dating a famous cyclist otherwise how on earth would anyone have identified her? 🙄
— Katy M (@writebikerepeat) June 19, 2023
Time Machine to the 1970s? Ridiculous reporting by them
— ChrisC (@proper_job) June 19, 2023
I know he doesn’t. I am sure he was in front of a tv, phone, laptop cheering his lungs out
— José Been (@JoseBeenTV) June 19, 2023
I for one can’t wait for Het Nieuwsblad’s “Žigart’s boyfriend wins Tour de France” headline next month…
And if you needed a heartwarming antidote for the weird, sexist headlines in the Belgian press, Slovenia’s cycling power couple were on hand to provide it:
Why don’t cyclists use the cycle lanes? Part 2,491
Some classic cycle lane double parking from Belfast here, the land that active travel forgot (or should that be the land that forgot active travel?)…
Cycling home from town yesterday. Not unusual to see cars in the bike lane but first time Ive been physically blocked. I stopped, took photo and then cycled towards cars till one reversed a little to let me past. Is it really true that @deptinfra @PSNIBelfast cannot enforce? pic.twitter.com/RnczQZK3Nx
— mauricycle (@mauricycle) June 18, 2023
Climate charity Justdiggit pledges to regreen dedicated area in honour of Gino Mäder
We’re deeply moved by the immense support our organisation received from the cycling community following the tragic passing of @maedergino. To honour him, we’ll regreen a dedicated area at a later-to-be-announced location with your heartfelt donations. https://t.co/FtRkpWQfDH
— Justdiggit (@justdiggit) June 19, 2023
Nice touch here from the regreening charity, for whom the late Swiss rider raised thousands of pounds while raising awareness of the need to combat climate change.
“That Gino Mäder touched many hearts and minds all over the world with his actions, became apparent to us over the last few days. We received over 700 donations that were done out of his name from fans honouring his legacy,” Justdiggit announced yesterday.
“We’re deeply moved by the immense support our organisation received from the cycling community following the tragic passing of Gino. To honour him, we’ll regreen a dedicated area at a later-to-be-announced location with your heartfelt donations.”
“Mike van Erp is out to get you”: Spectator article tells drivers to beware of the rise of the “vigilante cyclist” and “lycra-clad informant”
They’re about a decade late to the party, I suppose, but this morning the Spectator turned its attention to camera cyclists who, apparently, are “out to get you” (“you” in this instance referring to law-breaking drivers, of course).
The article, written by the paper’s assistant features editor Robert Jackman, follows yesterday’s, ahem, interesting take on 15-minute cities and class politics from the New Statesman, and another Spectator columnist’s self-congratulatory stance on Italy’s “crackdown” on cyclists last week.
Jackman’s piece, it must be said, is rather more balanced than those two rants, and features quotes from Cycling Mikey (who else?) and other camera-using cycling activists regularly reporting law-breaking drivers. He even admits that drivers frequently break the law, and that the use of mobile phones behind the wheel can be as fatal as drink driving.
However, there are still classic anti-cycling bingo references to “vigilante cyclists” and “lycra-clad informants” (and no reference whatsoever to motorists with dashcams), as well as philosophical mutterings about whether camera cyclists should be so “enthusiastic” about “shaming” drivers breaking the law.
“I first became aware of the phenomenon of lycra-clad informants some months ago when an acquaintance was fined for using her mobile phone at a red light,” Jackman writes.
“She was told that the footage had been recorded by a cyclist who reported her to the police. Legally, she was bang to rights. But it made me think: how many motorists are aware they could end up reported by their fellow road users – and with such enthusiasm?”
On the subject of phone use, he offers this contradictory thought: “Around two cyclists a week are killed on British roads and a further 84 are seriously injured, with distracted drivers being the most common cause of death. But while someone using their phone in stationary traffic may well be distracted, are they really risking lives?”
“Awareness is one thing, but is public shaming really justifiable?” he later asks. “I’m not so sure. Some of the videos seem to blur the line when it comes to shaming. In April, one cyclist posted footage of a driver, who was wearing a wedding ring, browsing an escort website. Can the cycling reporters really defend that?”
And his last take on this “thriving subculture”? “Bad drivers be warned, then. That careless scroll might prove more costly than you think – and potentially in more ways than one.”
Laser cycle lanes, Dr Evil edition
Excellent but now can I please have actual, metal-melting, paint-annihilating, Austin powers lasers. https://t.co/9ys9VaIAYa
— Helen Baron 🧡 (@helencbaron) June 20, 2023
Now that would certainly be one way of ensuring drivers stay 1.5 metres away when overtaking cyclists – I’m just not sure how successful the application for research funding would be…
Fesshole x Ned Boulting: Dream commuting commentary
“It’s over! But, my word, they made the peloton work hard…Fesshole has been off the front, into a headwind, with diarrhoea, and in their pyjamas for 200 kilometres – or to put it another way: since Tuesday!”
That OK?
— Ned Boulting 🏳️⚧️ (@nedboulting) June 19, 2023
Right, Carlton, over to you now…
SD Worx’s frankly ridiculous 20 race winning streak finally comes to an end
As I noted earlier today on the blog, SD Worx’s phenomenal, unprecedented, frankly ridiculous winning streak – which lasted for 20 races and over 43 days – finally came to a halt on stage three of the Tour de Suisse yesterday, when Blanka Vas could only (only, I say) manage fourth in the sprint behind Eleonora Gasparrini in Ebnat-Kappel.
Yep, that’s right – to find the last time SD Worx started a bike race and one of their riders didn’t win, you have to go all the way back to 7 May, when world champion Annemiek van Vleuten controversially secured the overall win at the Vuelta Femenina by just nine seconds from Demi Vollering (who, ironically, won that day’s stage to Lagos de Covadonga).
Vollering and Kopecky on the Strade Biance podium after another SD Worx one-two ((Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
Since then, the Dutch team have simply been untouchable, winning every stage and the GC of the Tour of the Basque Country, the Vuelta a Burgos, the six-stage Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour, as well as the first two stages of the Tour de Suisse and two one-day races, the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic and Dwars door het Hageland.
During that remarkable run, Demi Vollering (five wins), Lotte Kopecky (four), Marlen Reusser (three), Lorena Wiebes (three), Blanka Vas, Lonneke Uneken, Mischa Bredewold, Barbara Guarischi, and fittingly, a team time trial success all contributed to the streak.
In a sport where 150-odd riders and 20 teams line up the start, and where the slightest detail can decide the result, a run like that is extremely rare, even from the most dominant teams.
And it’s not like SD Worx only kicked on at the Vuelta either. The Dutch team dominated the spring, securing nearly all the big classics – Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Gent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and many more besides – courtesy of the world-class quartet of Vollering, Kopecky, Wiebes, and Reusser.
With the Giro Donne and the Tour de France coming up, don’t rule out SD Worx adding to their 35 wins already this year. Although, for entertainment’s sake, let’s hope they don’t put together another month-long winning run…
Swapfiets launches ‘bike amnesty’: Swap your old, unwanted bike for a first-month-free pedal or e-bike subscription
According to the Dutch bike membership company, bikes can be brought into Swapfiets’ stores in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, and Copenhagen, between June 3 and July 3, where they will then be recycled and turned into community bike racks.
Swapfiets’ co-founder and director of sustainability Richard Burger said the brand wants to “encourage Londoners to recycle their old bikes, and help declutter London’s local communities”.
Read more here: > Swapfiets launches ‘bike amnesty’
Ineos Grenadiers youngster Ben Tulett set to leave team at end of the season, according to reports
Promising 21-year-old Ben Tulett could be on his way out of the Ineos Grenadiers after just two years with the British team, reports in Italy have suggested.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio, Sevenoaks-born Tulett – who turned pro with Alpecin-Fenix as an 18-year-old in 2020 before joining Ineos last year – could be set to join rivals Jumbo-Visma in 2024.
UAE Team Emirates were also rumoured to be in contention to sign the former junior cyclocross world champion, but have denied any links. Bora-Hansgrohe could also be a possible destination if Tulett doesn’t pen an extension with Ineos.
Tulett in action at last week’s Tour de Suisse (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
After some steadily improving results since joining Ineos at the start of 2022, the 21-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough May, taking second overall at the Tour de Hongrie before winning the stage and the GC at the Tour of Norway two weeks later. At last year’s Giro d’Italia, the only grand tour of his young career so far, Tulett finished fifth on both time trial stages and secured a top 40 place overall while working for Richard Carapaz’s pink jersey bid.
Would Ineos be foolish to let Tulett – one of its precocious young stage racers – go, especially to a Tour de France rival, as the British team aims to rebuild for the future?
Uno-X announce exciting Tour de France lineup
There may still be 11 days to go until the biggest race of the year, but it looks like the squad selections are starting to trickle out…
We are ready 🔥
Selected riders for Tour de France 2023.
Alexander Kristoff (NOR) 🇳🇴
Tobias H. Johannessen (NOR) 🇳🇴
Torstein Træen (NOR) 🇳🇴
Rasmus F. Tiller (NOR) 🇳🇴
Søren Wærenskjold (NOR) 🇳🇴
Jonas Gregaard W. (DEN) 🇩🇰
Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) 🇳🇴
Anthon Charmig (DEN) 🇩🇰… pic.twitter.com/yYZxIZCQt3— Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (@UnoXteam) June 20, 2023
Johannessen, Tiller, Wærenskjold, and the grand old man Kristoff – based on that impressive group, could Cycling Twitter’s favourite team nab a very popular stage win next month?
“I’m not a vigilante cyclist!”
Looks like the Spectator’s article from this morning on “lycra-clad informants” with cameras has prompted something of a reverse cycling Spartacus on social media…
I’m not a vigilante cyclist, clearly The Spectator clearly don’t own a dictionary.
Four years ago I was blue lighted to St George’s for life saving surgery due to an inattentive motorist. If I can get just one driver to change their habits I’ll be happy.https://t.co/csnA9ehuHM— 4 Chords No Net (@4ChordsNoNet) June 20, 2023
I’m not a vigilante cyclist.
A few years ago I was hit which fractured my arm and left me battered and bruised by a motorist who admitted they didn’t look. Could have been worse. Which is why I now run a camera. https://t.co/8OJc1rUOOq
— CyclingInASkirt (@CyclingInASkirt) June 20, 2023
I’m not a vigilante cyclist, but I have a camera following a few incidents of people deliberately driving at me and the police being unable to take action due to lack of evidence.
— Name cannot be blank (parody) 🦒 (@AracerRacer) June 20, 2023
I’m not a vigilante cyclist either, & mostly off-road to avoid non-vigilant motorists. BUT if I had had a bikecam a couple of weeks ago I could have got a pic of the owner of two loose Rottweilers, one of which bit me on the leg. As I didn’t cops said there was no point reporting
— Howell Harris (@trefeca) June 20, 2023
I don’t consider myself a vigilante. I’m just a middle-aged woman trying to get to work who’s not going to roll over submissively when people threaten my life with dangerous driving. I want safe roads for children to cycle on so I don’t hesitate to report. https://t.co/S4QVwvWnVs
— Cathie (@PurpleMouse) June 20, 2023
Tour de Suisse: SD Worx’s Back in Fisher-Black, as Marlen Reusser secures overall win at home tour
🏆 NIAMH FISHER BLACK 🤩
Our young kiwi takes her first World Tour pro victory! #wesparksuccess
📸 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/VcLKu6ZqC3
— Team SD Worx (@teamsdworx) June 20, 2023
Well, that didn’t take long.
After their 20-race undefeated streak came to an abrupt halt yesterday, SD Worx didn’t waste any time in getting back to winning ways at the Tour de Suisse, as New Zealander Niamh Fisher-Black outsprinted Kasia Niewiadoma to take her first career World Tour stage win and teammate Marlen Reusser secured the overall victory at her home race.
Fisher-Black latched onto the rampaging Niewiadoma’s attack with 50km to go, sitting on the Canyon-Sram rider’s wheel as she roared into the virtual race lead.
However, a concerted chase from Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini (whose third place on the podium was also threatened by the attacking Polish rider) reduced the gap to Niewiadoma. And with 25km to go, Reusser launched her own solo move, which in the end proved enough to comfortably hold onto the yellow jersey for a popular GC win (while Vollering followed up her domestique efforts by winning the group sprint for fourth, ensuring SD Worx a by now emblematic 1-2-4 on the day).
They did it again! (@teamsdworx ).
🥇 @N_FisherBlack
🟡 Marlen Reuser#UCIWWT #tourdesuisse2023 pic.twitter.com/dz8KyxEKWH— UCI_WWT (@UCI_WWT) June 20, 2023
It would be double disappointment as well for Niewiadoma, whose brave long-range attack fell short of securing a place on the podium and served only to tee up the 22-year-old Fisher-Black for a breakthrough career win.
And who knows, maybe Fisher-Black and Reusser’s wins will mark the start of another long unbeaten spell?
Sick of close passes from drivers? Create your own ‘laser’ cycle lane: Student creates touch-activated bike lights and ‘laser lane’ to “increase the visibility of cyclists and to improve communication with other road users”
Now, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed over the years, but here at road.cc we tend to talk a lot about close passes committed on cyclists by distracted, poor, or just downright dangerous drivers (believe it or not, there’s actually a whole series dedicated to this very thing. Who knew?).
And we also chat quite a bit on the live blog about the need to introduce more, and better, cycling infrastructure to protect riders from this kind of perilous driving.
> “Paint isn’t infrastructure”: Are unsegregated bike lanes more dangerous for cyclists?
Anyway, an undergraduate student at Brunel University London reckons he’s come up with the perfect solution to these classic road.cc problems: by creating the ‘laser cycle lane’.
Laser Lane, the (admittedly not very original) brainchild of 23-year-old Ibrahim Cam, a final-year Industrial Design and Technology student at Brunel, allows a cyclist – through the touch of a button on their handlebars – to create two beams of light on the road 1.5 metres either side of them, indicating to passing drivers the recommended overtaking distance as noted in the Highway Code.
Cam’s product, which was unveiled at last week’s Made in Brunel exhibition, showcasing gadgets and devices designed by final year students at the university’s Design School, also features touch-activated indicators, as well as front and rear lights.
“The laser lane is intended to increase the visibility of cyclists and to improve communication with other road users,” the student says.
“The capacitive touch-activated front and rear lights are on the end of the handlebars so drivers can tell the true length of a bike, and the laser will show motorists the clearance that they must give cyclists.
“The front lights are white and the rear lights are red, so drivers can tell if they are looking at the front or the rear of a bike. There is also a capacitive touch-activated indicator, so cyclists can clearly indicate when they are turning a corner.”
> Almost all drivers agree that close passes of cyclists put lives at risk
Cam says he was inspired to design Laser Lane after he started driving last year, when he says he struggled with overtaking and interacting with cyclists on the roads.
“I tried to give cyclists as much space as possible, but seeing how other drivers interacted with them made me think about it more,” he said. “I saw drivers overtaking cyclists around corners and not giving them the 1.5m that’s required. Many drivers don’t respect the 1.5m rule, and the wind of a vehicle alone can be detrimental.”
Though he recognises dedicated infrastructure is the way forward, Cam believes that making cyclists more visible to motorists – which he believes will aid drivers’ “judgements” – will improve their safety and perhaps encourage more people to get on their bikes.
“Drivers have air bags, seat belts, and metal between them and the roads, but cyclists have nothing. They just have their bike, their helmet, and the tarmac beneath them,” Ibrahim notes.
“There have been times when I haven’t seen cyclists in my blind spot until the last moment, and my heart sinks when I realise what could have happened.
“By helping to give drivers better judgements, cyclists will feel safer on the roads.
“Less experienced cyclists might not feel confident enough to cycle at the moment, but if they feel safer on the roads, then they will cycle.”
“Getting more people to cycle will reduce their carbon footprint and result in less congestion on the roads,” he adds. “The increase in fuel prices is making driving economically unsustainable for people, and cycling could now be an option for them.”
What do you reckon? Could Laser Lane provide a useful reminder to motorists to pass safely when there’s no cycling infra nearby? Or would a red line on the road be ignored just as readily as the Highway Code?
I sense a new slogan coming on: Laser beams are not protection…
Help us to bring you the best cycling content
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.
64 Comments
Read more...
Read more...
Read more...
Latest Comments
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
Obree had some actual talent in his legs though, in addition to his bike/aero engineering talent.
Малко като опит за доказване е излязло... Никой няма нужда от толкова голям въртящ момент и мощност на шосеен велосипед с тънки гуми, които дори трудно ще предават тази мощност върху пътя. А ако има и ограничение от 25 км/час е още по-безмислено.
Not sure how informative that is. I imagine for all most of us know it could be Europe's only 'volumetric modular building'. 🤷♂️
Yes, but they're copying the adults of today...
Indeed - but alas I think this is an effective argument for very few folks indeed. As for push-back, what else could we expect *? I think there are ways of selling this but we're far more likely to see headlines about the problems, while the successes are relegated to footnotes, because at that point it just works and there's nothing to see... * Given that this time there aren't politicians being persuaded to overlook thousands of deaths and the demolition of property by the billions from the motoring trades (and the excitement of being able to drive out with the bright things for a party at a roadhouse). Nor are we as tolerant of "accidents". (And noting that publicity about the cases of a handful of people killed by cyclists continues to reach the media; deaths related to motor vehicles not so much).
That rather ignores that the children of today are the adults of tomorrow.
@belugabob Arguably it's easier this way - we don't actually need to do anything to the streets except stop drivers driving down every scrap of tarmac. Where I live, a few well-placed bollards would make walking/cycling/scooting the quicker option and safer, while maintaining 100% vehicular access - just not allowing through routes in every direction.
Sweet dreams from Bike@bedtime! Thank you for featuring this classic beaut.
64 thoughts on “Sick of close passes from drivers? Create your own ‘laser’ cycle lane; Urška Žigart goes agonisingly close at Tour de Suisse… only to be referred to as “Pogačar’s girlfriend” by Belgian newspaper; Cycle lane double parking + more on the live blog”
I don’t want to rain on Mr
I don’t want to rain on Mr Cam’s parade but this concept has been around at least a decade:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2012/oct/22/red-laser-light-bike-lane
And you can pick up lights with lasers that create your own bike lane for less than a fiver on eBay.
Rendel Harris wrote:
I was going to say I had a cheap Ebay light that did this – it was shite but it did throw two lines on the road if you looked closely and it was dark with no street lighting.
Came here to say the same
Came here to say the same thing. I’ve seen multiple vairations of this over the years. Never became a big succes, as this new version won’t either.
I think a professional writer on cycling stuff should know that – or at least check if – such things already excisted (as almost everything has already been invented before in cycling). It’s amateurish and irritating when they write about this as if it is someting completely new.
Also, and maybe even more important, the reporting on stuff like this should be more critical. Don’t just rehash the promo talk of the student, but actually think if it will work, have a realistic look at it.
I had a rear light with built
I had a rear light with built in laser beams more than a decade ago.
It was useless on a dark wet night, like what we get in the winter. Will it make a difference against someone looking at their phone. Nope. Not in the slightest.
A single bright steady rear light would help more
Whilst not bothered about the
Whilst not bothered about the laser line, for a straight bar bike, I like the idea of having bar end lights being red to the rear and white to the front.
I use the Moon Aerolite to
I use the Moon Aerolite to get eactly this on my right hand side of my winter bike, I like it because it marks my outer width rather than my centre line.
I can also use it under my TT extensions as a front light, or it can be helmet mounted for high level red and white.
They’re selling off old
They’re selling off old versions of the L-Bow light cheap, so I’ve ordered one. I’m hoping it’ll make my bike look a bit wider and drivers will give me a bit more room.
If that L-Bow light was 1.5m
If that L-Bow light was 1.5m long, with a spike half the length of the handlebars, it would do the job nicely
Tom_77 wrote:
Worth a try definitely.
I will admit to fitting a 1.5 metre white plastic pipe to my seat post, perpendicular to the top tube, to help the spatially challenged understand the minimum acceptable passing distance. That’s an investment of about one pound for 15mm pipe and gaffer tape for a solid but non-structural attachment. It looks odd, and that’s deliberate as attention and observation are required.
Safe Ride..
Tom_77 wrote:
Never come across these before. This mounted onto my offside pannier stay would give great visibility. Thanks Tom.
Damnation, would have
Damnation, would have definitely been up for a couple of those at that price; unfortunately went there this morning and they’ve got no stock of seconds or the regular versions, according to the chat “we were completely cleared out last winter, we’ll have new stock in 2-3 months.”
I used to have the Tacx Lumos
I used to have the Tacx Lumos. It was the crapiest component ever bought. Replaced them under warranty every few months, until I got tired. Now have rear red only, they may sometimes start working on their own but not that bad as Lumos.
I would definitely like something like Lumos but reliable, I am very surpised that we have 1000 computer mounts available and not something like that.
cyclisto wrote:
Have a look at the Cateye Orb Bar End light set, I have them on the winter bike, nothing to complain about, they just work.
https://www.wiggle.com/p/cateye-orb-bar-end-set
https://road.cc/content/review/236881-cateye-orb-bar-end-set
Thanks for your suggestion, I
Thanks for your suggestion, I will keep them in mind if mine go fully bad, now in summer fortunately the day is long, so maybe in winter.
It would be really handy though if there was a light system that had also front LED too, like Lumos. If they were strong enough to light the road, they would be perfect and would happily ditch my main light.
cyclisto wrote:
There’s much to like with the Garmin Varia Radar and Rear Lights.
Good warning of approaching vehicles and light flash to match. Decent operation time and easy fit or removal. I would not want to be without mine.
Only complaint is lack of automation on breaking as some devices will react to breaking, which is a potential collision.
Seems great but costs more
Seems great but costs more than 50% of my bicycle when new
The Cateye now discovered that it takes coin batteries, that i think there are no recharchable options, so I will have to take care my existing ones
mark1a wrote:
I was looking at these earlier today. They look good. I was just reticent about showing a red light to the front. Better that than not being seen though I suppose. For my commute route, it’s definitely visibility from the rear that is paramount. Thanks Mark, appreciate the suggestion.
cyclisto wrote:
They look great. Shame about the reliability and unfortunately not for straight bars, which I have on my commuter as my route is both road and trail.
Shouldn’t those lasers be
Shouldn’t those lasers be marking out a 1.5 metre passing distance? As it is, they seem to be marking out a particularly narrow/cr@p cycle lane…
brooksby wrote:
Indeed, and the guidance suggests ‘passing like you would another vehicle’.
So the other lane is what should be used, when safe to do so, for a safe overtake.
I will admit to fitting a 1.5 metre white plastic pipe to my seat post, perpendicular to the top tube, to help the spatially challenged understand the minimum acceptable passing distance but the correct overtake is not in my lane but the next one.
Zigart and Pogacar are quite
Zigart and Pogacar are quite the pairing. Shame on the Nieuwsblad reporters!
Unless these lasers are
Unless these lasers are powerful enough to slice the
wingdoor mirror off a close passing vehicle, I’m not interested.Re: Laser Lane.. yes I know
Re: Laser Lane.. yes I know it’s not a new idea.. and I know practically it’s not been achieved very well thus far.. BUT imagine if there was a was to project lines like this, at a distance of 1.5m on each side of your bike.. now imagine that we could submit close passes based off it.. and if you have a really good imagination then imagine that the system of uploading close passes was easy, effective and that there were penalties enforced…. sorry I’ve just wasted everyones time none of that is likely to will happen in my lifetime.
I like the idea very much but
I like the idea very much but I doubt it could be made to stand up in court due to calibration issues: to prove that the line was in fact exactly 1.5M from the bike both light and cameras would have to be supported by some sort of gimbal or gyroscope system to cope with the movement of the bike, variations in road camber et cetera, and it would have to be proved that they were calibrated correctly and regularly.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Irrelevant. 1.5m is “purely advisory” in any case.
No. 1.5m is now prescribed in
No. 1.5m is now prescribed in law, as per the 2022 changes to the Highway Code. However, the laser line is not likely to be designed to be, nor used as, an enforcement tool. It is only likely to be used as a reference guide, and only obvious flouting would be punishable.
1.5m is indeed now in the
1.5m is indeed now in the Highway Code (Rule 163), but it is guidance; not law.
quiff wrote:
“Purely advisory” guidance, as per Rendel ‘Have Your Cake And Eat It Too’ Harris.
quiff wrote:
From personal experience of a road traffic incident that I reported I can assure you that the sound of the victim being struck by a motor vehicle is compelling evidence of Careless Driving, conviction, fine, points.
I will admit to fitting a 1.5 metre white plastic pipe to my seat post, perpendicular to the top tube, to help the spatially challenged understand the minimum acceptable passing distance, and audiovisual recording on a Cycliq camera. So the police, CPS, and judge had no doubt that unsafe behaviour did happen.
No measurement nor calibration required.
lonpfrb wrote:
You strapped a pipe to your bicycle so that in the event that a car passed you closer than it should have it actually hit you, instead of nearly hit you?
Yep, no doubt on the “unsafe behaviour” there.
ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:
No, obviously not. They hit the plastic pipe which makes a good noise but doesn’t endanger control of the bicycle.
lonpfrb wrote:
No, obviously not. They hit the plastic pipe which makes a good noise but doesn’t endanger control of the bicycle.— ShutTheFrontDawes
Jesus wept. Please don’t vote or breed.
Gosh. You just can’t help
Gosh. You just can’t help yourself with the nasty comments can you?
ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:
No, obviously not. They hit the plastic pipe which makes a good noise but doesn’t endanger control of the bicycle.— lonpfrb
Jesus wept. Please don’t vote or breed.— ShutTheFrontDawes
I have the right to protect my person by reasonable means consistent with the law.
The feedback I have had from the Police was positive as they recognise that right and prefer avoidance to attending road traffic incidents, hospital emergency or relating death / serious injury to family.
If you are too stupid to defend your right to freedom of navigation don’t be surprised if the motards take that away from you. It’s a confirmation bias of ‘normal people ‘ and the vested interests of the Auto and Oil industries.
#fonops
Rendel Harris wrote:
Leaving aside the petty squabbling, the fact that the 1.5m is guidance, not statute may make the issue of calibration less important. It would be an indication, not proof (as, for example, would be needed for speeding).
As I have posted before,
As I have posted before, inspector Kev’s force will use a still of you on your bike with a mat with distances on from your camera.
Then they use this when reviewing the footage.
Needs to be part of a national standard.
Gdpr
Gdpr
Came across this
https://twitter.com/WilliamNB/status/1670868129285537800
After the exchange I had today with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, I will be VERY surprised if police forces continue to use the GDPR excuse for much longer!
Andy cox
Will, the guidance is clear. We can update reporting people
Awaits wtjs case with the ico. !!!
Awaits wtjs case with the ico
Awaits wtjs case with the ico. !!!
It’s actually the case against the Commissioner at the Information Tribunal EA/2023/0271. Dealing with ICO is like dealing with the police: whatever it is, they refuse on principle. Therefore, everything has to be appealed at the Tribunal, then the Commissioner complains about how busy they are- they have been granted an extension until 18th August to reply to the appeal.
I will be VERY surprised if police forces continue to use the GDPR excuse for much longer
I won’t- not where Lancashire Constabulary is concerned. They still give pride of place on OpSnap Lancs to: you should be informing the public that they are being filmed and should have some form of notification on your mode of transport as you have responsibilities under the Data Protection Act /UKGDPR. They have declined the Tribunal invitation to join the appeal and are sticking to ‘we can’t even tell you that we know what was done about that case where the Traveller’s Choice bus had a go at you and we wrote to you saying that we were taking action, so we’re definitely not going to tell you’. Tribunal oral hearing (video link) date not confirmed, although they have asked for my availability 24th September to 5th November.
Articles like that from the
Articles like that from the Spectatore might as well have the headline: “Watch out, ways to break the law in peace!”
Quote:
I’m sure that they have a citation for that, and aren’t just making it up…?
Nope, I saw the video.
Nope, I saw the video. If it was 4k camera, then it would be very clear.
No idea where on twitter, could be a retweet.
I suspect the reason it was
I suspect the reason it was filmed was because the driver was browsing the website on a phone / tablet whilst sitting in a queue in his car. So yes, I can justify why they were filmed Mr Reporter Man.
I can add to the “I’m Not A
I can add to the “I’m Not A Vigilante Cyclist” response thread.
But four years ago I got hit by a car which ran a red light. I only had minor injuries and I only had slightly bent wheels.
The driver was apologetic and sincere and admitted fault when he replayed his own dashcam footage. There was no evidence he was distracted when he assumed the lights changed to green. He was kind enough to pay for the repair bill from LBS and check on me a few days later to make sure I was healing.
Overall I consider myself very lucky in the incident, because had the driver not been so honest, who knows what would have happened next? Other drivers of vehicles at the junction showed no interest in the incident either, so witnesses were happy to turn a blind eye.
As anyth8ing we do, and that
As anything we do, and that certain motorists think we should do, to increase our safety and visibility, dehumanises us in the eyes of those motorists, I think we should all pass on creating our own cycle lanes
redimp wrote:
Clearly infrastructure is neither quick nor affordable so Attitude and Behaviour must change.
Rather the change must be enforced starting with the mainstream and social media that must be compliant with the Road Collision Reporting Guidelines http://www.rc-rg.com by law. The Department of Culture Media and Sports to enforce protected status for vulnerable road users who travel on foot, by bike or horse. Only then will Active Travel be a meaningful change of the nations health and fitness.
Helen Baron: “Excellent but
Helen Baron: “Excellent but now can I please have actual, metal-melting, paint-annihilating, Austin powers lasers.”
Seconded here, Helen.
I keep thinking a jersey that
I keep thinking a jersey that is very visibly sponsored by Nitromors and Super-Soaker might increase the passing distance well beyond the legal minimum.
Radioactive Waste Removers
Or a small canister on the back of a bike labelled “Nuclear Materials – Biohazard”
Actual fricking sharks with
Actual fricking sharks with actual fricking laser beams attached to their heads? Is that too much to ask?
Matthew Acton-Varian wrote:
The US military have spent many millions of tax payers money on directed energy weapons and power upgrades to their fleet of ships and aircraft to enable them.
Sadly no ebike can run a KW never mind a MW power system so we will have to do without for the foreseeable.
The Cree company has been successful at increasing the light output of LEDs to painful lumen levels however the law is that road users must not carelessly dazzle one another. Ride safe.
The Cree company has been
The Cree company has been successful at increasing the light output of LEDs to painful lumen levels
Those of us who had to suffer those heavy Ever Ready lights which bounced out of the bracket and didn’t show the road ahead thank the LED industry!
lonpfrb wrote:
depends for, how long? For a few nanoseconds, why not?
[quote[
“You give us your bike, and
“You give us your bike, and we’ll give you ours… for one month”
Swapfiets are a company, so
Swapfiets are a company, so they’re not actually about cycling. They’re about profits.
“Oooh, if you are speeding be
“Oooh, if you are speeding be careful because some lycra clad loony might report you.”
How about being careful so you don’t kill a human being you sociopath?
But drivers are always 100%
But drivers are always 100% totally law abiding, and if they do accidentally bend the rules then they’ll never ever do it again, as this blog from confused.com shows
https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/top-motoring-convictions
DaiHoss wrote:
A sobering report, including:
“It seems fines aren’t an effective deterrent for committing a motoring offence. Over 1 in 3 (31%) convicted drivers admit to reoffending. And more than 3 in 5 (63%) offenders said they weren’t put off committing offences again after being convicted.”
I’m sure the comprehensive review of road laws will sort it.
I’ve got a Dashcam in my car,
I’ve got a Dashcam in my car, does that make me a Vigilante Driver?
Only if you also report
Only if you also report things it captures, apparently.
Laser lane .. is there
Laser lane .. is there something that prevents the devices from being angled to shine in someone’s eye?
Say … an aggressive driver who tries to bully past on pinch points?
What has been done to reduce the risk to other road users from poorly installed and angled devices?
And … my fish needs a bicycle…
One to follow on the sentence
One to follow on the sentence
A 30-year-old Suffolk man who sent a text immediately before he was involved in a fatal collision with a cyclist in Bury St Edmunds is facing a jail sentence after being convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23601868.newmarket-man-alexander-martin-guilty-dangerous-driving/
“Cross-examined by Mr Carter, Martin said he didn’t believe the time that records showed he had sent the message was the time at which he had composed it and pressed send.”
“He also told the jury that he hadn’t seen Mr Lawrence before he collided with him as he had been “completely blinded” by the glare from the sun.”
BUT
“After his arrest, Martin claimed that Mr Lawrence had hit the kerb or for some reason had swerved in front of him immediately before the collision.”
and
“a windscreen wiper on the driver’s side of the Qashqai was broken and the windscreen had been “extremely” dirty.”
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23587045.newmarket-driver-allegedly-whatsapp-fatal-crash/
Thankfully the jury didn’t believe his lies.
Hirsute wrote:
New sentencing guidelines come into force on the 1st July. Not sure whether the effective date is the date of the offence, or date of sentencing.
https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/causing-death-by-dangerous-driving-2/
If I remember correctly…
If I remember correctly… Lezyne came out with a product called ‘Laser Drive’ in 2017 that was a rear light that fired lasers at the ground that marked out your own cycle lane. Not really done much good has it? Its more of a gimmick than anything else.
Afaik the Lezyne product was refreshed in 2021. If people are going to be dickheads while out on the road. lasers on the ground isnt going to be much of a deterent… UK law and Justice system isnt much of a deterrent either for that matter.