How do you solve a problem like close passes?; “Battle of Britain’s cycle lanes”? More anti-cycling nonsense in the Times; Cycle like the Dutch and save the planet; Bike lane or picnic spot?; Jumbo-Visma play swapsies at the Vuelta + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
‘Why don’t cyclists ride in cycle lanes?’, part 1,325: Picnic edition
Now, here’s a bike lane obstacle you don’t see every day:
Please don’t be a selfish git and use the cycleway as a personal picnic spot for you and your horse sized dog. pic.twitter.com/YvQdQILqC9
— Real Gaz on a proper bike (@gazza_d) August 21, 2022
I have cycled past someone BBQing on that path – literally a disposable BBQ alight on the path with the “owners” perched in the boot of their car.
— Alison Stenning (@alisonstenning) August 21, 2022
Good grief.. then people moan because cyclists avoid using the cycle path
— Real Gaz on a proper bike (@gazza_d) August 21, 2022
Exactly the same issue on a brand new extended cycle path in North Ayrshire. Yet @Ameyplc and @AyrshireNPolice won’t act on this type of parking, and cyclists are getting shouted at from these drivers when passing the cars. pic.twitter.com/jF3xcLUnML
— David (@pedalpower72) August 21, 2022
The Interneter of the Day award, however, surely goes to Bazza, for replying to Gaz’s tweet with this very topical and pointed pledge destined for the Mail’s front page (some of which he’ll later backtrack on, I’m sure):
It’s been brought to my attention that some breeds of dog can achieve 40mph.
They need speed limits as well.
Imagine a dog doing over double the speed limit in a 20mph zone!?
Think of the children/etc. pic.twitter.com/wG972Fvy9o— B:a.zza (@mcbazza) August 21, 2022
Rishi Sunak will be along any minute now, telling us that he’s ready to end the ‘war on cats’…
Bike-friendly bus drivers
In happier news, thanks to a bike-friendly bus driver, transport journalist and road.cc contributor Laura Laker was able to make her meeting after all. More of this, please…
I met such a kind (laid back) bus driver in Scotland. I’d cycled 30 miles failing to realise there were really *no* trains back during strikes, and briefly panicked because I had a meeting looming. This bus angel let me wheel the big pink ebike onboard with zero bother 🙏 pic.twitter.com/QuNGo1Jf6h
— Laura Laker (@laura_laker) August 22, 2022
I thought initially he was driving a coach, and the bike would go underneath, so when I saw it was a regular bus I asked him, where would it go? He said, ‘good question! We’re not busy at this time of day, just wheel it on board’ It was just a case of making it work. Lifesaver.
— Laura Laker (@laura_laker) August 22, 2022
The Mail: “Let’s whip up some anti-cycling hysteria”; The Times: “Hold my steering wheel”
It seems, from where I’m sitting, as if the Times and the Mail have been engaged in a race during the past week to rush out as many articles designed to whip up anti-cycling fervour among their car driving readership as possible.
During the past week, both papers prominently covered Grant Shapps’ pledge to introduce tougher cycling laws, albeit with slightly different approaches to reporting what the Transport Secretary actually said…
> Grant Shapps: Cyclists should have number plates, be insured and subject to speed limits
And you may have noticed yesterday – through reading road.cc, obviously – that a reporter from the Mail on Sunday spent a fair chunk of his Wednesday morning counting cyclists outside Buckingham Palace, in a bid to paint them as the red-light jumping scoundrels, or indeed ‘rats’, that they undoubtedly are in the eyes of the right-wing cognoscenti.
When he reported his findings through the medium of dog whistle, however, a number of cyclists on Twitter claimed that they were passing Ma’am’s house at the time of the Mail’s scientific survey, and pointed out that the road was closed to traffic and that some police officers told them to ignore the lights (as long as there were no pedestrians crossing, of course). None of which made it into the Mail’s article, of course.
> Cyclists blast Mail on Sunday’s “manufactured” and “dehumanising” ‘red light rats’ story
Well, not to be outdone, the Sunday Times offered a slightly different take on the whole ‘people not in cars are dangerous nuisances’ agenda, by aiming to divide and conquer the users of Britain’s “already crowded” cycle lanes.
I see The Times is now trying the old divide and conquer approach. Desperate tactics from hackneyed old bastards pic.twitter.com/kxVMF2fJua
— Real Gaz on a proper bike (@gazza_d) August 21, 2022
Appealing to the kind of patriotic, flag-waving motorist who reminisces about the Second World War despite being born in 1972, the Times dubbed the so-called fractious relationship between those on two wheels the “Battle of Britain’s cycle lanes”.
Rather than focus on the need for an expansion of the country’s safe cycling infrastructure, the Times – which, ten years ago, launched an award-winning campaign to make Britain’s roads safer for people on bikes – claims that delivery, e-bike and e-scooter riders are “causing problems” and are “putting riders and pedestrians in danger”, despite the founder of cargo bike company Zedify pointing out that the UK’s narrow and “disjointed” cycle lanes have forced their employees to ride on the road.
Well,yes, I mean delivery drivers shouldn’t be in the cycle lanes, so that’s a given. And, er, ebikes are also pedal pushers so are we arguing with ourselves?
— Julie C (@JulieDuchess) August 21, 2022
Anyone I have ever met whilst using cycle infra, tbh most of which is shared access, have been great. Had a chat with a guy using an e-scooter, had a chat with a mtb group, 1 had an e-bike. All pleasant
— ᗩᑎᗪY ᗪEᖇᗷYᔕᕼIᖇE (@Andrewbanshee) August 21, 2022
Maybe the solution is too widen the cycle- scooter- pedestrian lanes….
— Gavin Brown (@gbexfal) August 22, 2022
Sure beats battling parked lorries and maintenance vehicles.
— Sam Clifford (@samclifford) August 22, 2022
Will it ever end?
Vuelta weekend roundup: Bennett roars back, Valverde complains, and Jumbo-Visma play swapsies
Seven thirty seven comin’ out of the sky, won’t you take me down to the Basque Country on a midnight ride?
By now, the pro peloton will be well and truly sick of grand tour ‘travel days’, as they leave the Netherlands for Spain after the third foreign grand depart of the season.
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
😍@Sammmy_Be – @BORAhansgrohe📸 @SprintCycling #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/HqihdakKml
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) August 21, 2022
Sam Bennett and Bora-Hansgrohe, however, will be able to relax and enjoy the 1,300-kilometre trek to tomorrow’s start town of Vitoria-Gasteiz, following a successful opening weekend on the Dutch flatlands.
The Irish sprinter put a difficult 12 months behind with a stunning return to form on the Vuelta a España’s opening weekend, finishing off lead-out man extraordinaire Danny van Poppel’s impressive work to storm to two consecutive sprint wins, beating former world champion Mads Pedersen into second on each occasion.
Finish to that stage was rather enjoyable. Very happy for Sam Bennett, who is now the Irish rider who has won a Grand Tour stage in the most countries: 4
Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands#LaVuelta22
— Cillian Kelly (@irishpeloton) August 20, 2022
While Bennett had plenty to smile about, the grand old man of cycling Alejandro Valverde wasn’t happy with the opening few stages of his last ever Vuelta attempt:
Valverde not a fan of today’s route. ‘You’d better let me shower before I talk about it. The route, come on… If I say what I think… I’d better not speak because I’ll only get wound up. Good job we’re great bike handlers.’
Pretty sure there’s a José Mourinho meme for this. https://t.co/8l2QswILEb
— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) August 21, 2022
The 42-year-old criticised the technical and potentially dangerous nature of the route in the Netherlands, after Stef Cras and Michael Woods were forced to abandon the race after two hard crashes on stages two and three respectively.
“We’ve had a lot of scares in general, because, well, the route… Better first I have a shower, then we can talk, because if I say what I think now, better I say nothing,” Valverde said after the stage.
“Fine, we’ve got through it, and now we’re going to Spain, so bien.”
When asked what specifically annoyed him about the route, the Movistar leader replied: “The route? The route? Hey, come on, don’t fuck with me. Nope, I’m not doing to say anything because I’m going to get hot under the collar. Bien, that’s it.
“No, man, these kinds of circuits just can’t be. It’s as if we’ve gone through the same village seven times. I don’t think there were any more villages out there that we could have gone through… I’ve said more than enough.”
Another rider affected by crashes, Ineos Grenadiers’ outgoing GC hope Richard Carapaz, dismissed Valverde’s argument that the stages were overtly dangerous.
“I’m fine, it was quite a quick stage and a little bit dangerous, but we got through it okay and now we’re heading for Spain, which is territory we know a little better,” the Ecuadorian former Giro winner said.
“Sometimes the stupidest crashes are the worst, but this time I was fine, nothing bad happened at all, it was just a scare. The team could get me back up to the peloton fairly quickly. The important thing is that I’m feeling fine and we’re heading for Spain.
“At the end of the day, all the Grand Tours have a few stages like this. Sometimes you just have to get through them as best you can.”
Most GC leaders from a single team in a single Grand Tour edition:
4:
US Postal (Vuelta 2004)
France (Tour 1957)
Galindo (Vuelta 1946)3:
JUMBO (Vuelta 2022) and many others¡ Venga @JumboVismaRoad ! @lavuelta_stats #Vuelta #vuelta2022 #LaVuelta22
— CyclingCols (@cyclingcols) August 21, 2022
Meanwhile, as their rivals do their best to avoid crashes and misfortune, Friday’s TTT winners Jumbo-Visma are having a whale of a time passing the red leader’s jersey around the team bus…
#LaVuelta22
Jumbo-Visma be like: You get a red jersey, you get a red jersey, EVERYBODY GETS A RED JERSEY!— 314 days to TDF 🍀✨💛🖤 (@Chmura212) August 21, 2022
If Oomen doesn’t get the red jersey in the next stage I will be very disappointed.
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) August 21, 2022
‘A red jersey for you, Robert Gesink, a red jersey for you, Mike Teunissen, one for you, Edoardo Affini, four for you Glen Coco…’
Now, wouldn’t it be very Jumbo-Visma of the team to hold the jersey all the way to Madrid?
“Please tell me more about how number plates stop wrongdoing…”
Pavement blocked on both sides of the road, but please tell me more about how numberplates stop wrongdoing pic.twitter.com/y7ygB9QLS5
— Dave McCraw (@david_mccraw) August 22, 2022
The perks of being a directeur sportif
When you’ve got a plane ticket while the rest of the staff has to drive 1300 km to Spain. #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/lrc4Mwdp0M
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) August 21, 2022
Gateshead micropub regulars organise whip-round so Peruvian bikepacker could stay at hotel
Love this #FeelGoodStory from @MicrobusG this morning on @bbcnewcastle – listen here 👇
( Warning ⚠️ – You may feel even prouder that you’re from the North East ❤️)https://t.co/iTJtb1n6uS pic.twitter.com/QZAMYljt8p
— Kelly Scott (@KellyScottRadio) August 21, 2022
Drinkers at a recently opened micropub in Gateshead all chipped in to ensure that a cyclist from Peru, currently in the middle of a bikepacking tour of the UK, had a comfortable stay in the north east thanks to some world-renowned Geordie hospitality.
Gary Moore, the owner of Microbus on Wellington Street, said his punters raised £108 on the “spur of the moment” so cyclist Philippe could get a good night’s kip at the Hilton after spending most of his tour sleeping on hammocks and in bus stops.
“One of our regulars apparently bumped into the cyclist on the Tyne Bridge, who had stopped to take some photos, and asked him where he was going,” Gary told the Chronicle.
“They got talking and he brought him in for a drink. [The cyclist] got chatting to some of the regulars in the pub and they asked him where he was staying for the night.
“He asked where he could put a hammock and I looked at one of the regulars, Dennis, and knew exactly what he was thinking. On the spur of the moment, we had a whip-round in the pub for him.
“He was overjoyed and very surprised. He said he had slept in a lot of churches, bus stops and had his hammock up on trees. He said no one had ever been so nice to him on his trip and was quite emotional.
“He said he would remember how people in Gateshead were really nice to him. He had a really positive, nice experience and we were chuffed [to do that for him].”
If everyone cycled like the Dutch, global carbon emissions would drop by nearly 700 million tonnes a year, new study says
A new study from researchers at the University of South Denmark has found that if cycling was embraced across the globe as it is in the Netherlands, global carbon emissions would drop by almost 700 million tonnes per year.
According to the study, which has compiled the first global dataset for bicycle ownership and use by country from 1962 to 2015, Dutch people cycle 2.6 kilometres a day. If that level of cycling was repeated worldwide, annual global carbon emissions would fall by 686 million tonnes.
The study also demonstrates that annual bike production has increased by over 100 million in the last sixty years – however, cycle journeys still account for just five percent of daily trips worldwide.
While recognising that not everyone lives in a bike-friendly place, the researchers have called for an “urgent” expansion of cycling infrastructure across the world.
“Lessons learned from successful experiences in countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, particularly on the city level such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam, would be essential,” the authors argue.
“These include but are not limited to, for example, proper bicycle lanes planning and construction, pro-bicycle education and culture, and policies to discourage car use through tax.
“A worldwide pro-bicycle policy and infrastructure development enabled modal shift like the Netherlands and Denmark can lead to significant untapped climate and health benefits,” the paper concludes.
Ineos makes almost £500 million profit as energy prices soar
Ineos, the petrochemicals giant and sponsor of the 4×4 advertisement/pro cycling team formerly known as Sky, has made almost £500 million in profit thanks to soaring energy prices.
According to the Guardian, Ineos’ oil and gas division reported a profit of £474 million in 2021, compared to a loss of £226 million in 2020.
The company, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, said that it has benefited from average gas prices rising by 264 percent to 91p per therm during that period, with prices continuing to rise since then.
No wonder Sir Jim has been recently angling to expand the Ineos sporting empire by potentially purchasing Manchester United from the much-maligned Glazer family – it’s not as if he’s lacking the funds.
Perhaps he could donate a few of Geraint Thomas’s gilets to anyone struggling to heat their home this winter?
Rising British star Thomas Gloag takes Tour de l’Avenir stage and yellow jersey
🏆 Thomas Gloag wins this crazy stage of #TDAV22
📸 Anouk Flesch pic.twitter.com/9KUAutNMOj
— Tour de l’Avenir (@tourdelavenir) August 22, 2022
After Leo Hayter’s dominant ride at the Baby Giro, 20-year-old Thomas Gloag continued British cycling’s remarkable run of success at the big U23 races this year by taking the fourth stage and the leader’s jersey of the Tour de l’Avenir, the annual proving ground for the stars of the future.
Gloag, who joined Jumbo-Visma as a stagiaire earlier this month, outsprinted yesterday’s stage winner Adam Holm Jørgensen on the uphill drag to the line in Chaillac to move into the yellow jersey by three seconds ahead of German hope and fellow Jumbo-Visma rider Michel Hessmann.
🎙 Thomas Gloag:#TDAV pic.twitter.com/weP0ssq9ui
— Tour de l’Avenir (@tourdelavenir) August 22, 2022
“It’s been a tough year for me and we have an incredible selection of talent, so I’m really fortunate to be here today,” Gloag said after the finish.
Return of the MVDP
Mathieu van der Poel returns to racing at Druivenkoers this Wednesday. First race since he abandoned the TDF https://t.co/pwHcBwxiB8
— José Been (@TourDeJose) August 22, 2022
‘Why don’t cyclists ride in cycle lanes?’, part 1,326
‘Excellent’ Bristol cycling infrastructure latest: pic.twitter.com/AZFtuAWTc4
— Benjamin Nathan (@foxbenbath) August 17, 2022
“Chapeau of the highest order to this cyclist”: Now that’s one way to avoid close passes…
While doing my best to continue scrolling past the litany of tweets lambasting the Mail for its committed and oh-so-shocking anti-cycling editorial line (more on that later… maybe, if I feel like it), I stumbled across this post from active travel campaigner Adam Bronkhorst, which showcased a rather ingenious method of enforcing the Highway Code’s 1.5 metre passing guidelines:
Chapeau of the highest order to this cyclist.
(Look closely at the photo) pic.twitter.com/heTqyqKJr8
— Adam Bronkhorst (@AdamBronkhorst) August 21, 2022
Although, for safety reasons, I would probably warn against this particularly pointy alternative solution to the same problem:
You wouldn’t catch me doing a silly thing like that…….. ahem pic.twitter.com/2DHzaEn5RD
— Paul (@FinchettsBrook) August 21, 2022
Unsurprisingly, Adam’s tweet reeled in (geddit? Fishing rod, reeled in? Yeah?) a few of the usual suspects, after they had finished digesting the Mail’s latest scandalous revelations, of course.
Thankfully, the phones and thumbs of Cycling Twitter were at the ready with some well-rehearsed retorts:
Cyclists don’t need to do this stuff. All it does is annoy. At some point someone is going to think it’s great fun just to clip that, throws you off balance you crash and then a family is grieving for no reason. Why antagonise? Drivers will go round you. Stop this battle
— Pnr8 (@rast8) August 22, 2022
Some will yes and not because they hate us, this will end in a terrible accident for zero good reason.
— Pnr8 (@rast8) August 22, 2022
I do that all the time. However a driver has never pulled over when there is traffic to let me ( a faster moving vehicle) past. When was the last time you pulled over to let a cyclist past in traffic?
— Adam Bronkhorst (@AdamBronkhorst) August 22, 2022
If you want to talk about safety, then there are 10 other things that keep anyone on a bike safer than an unregulated polystyrene hat that will not withstand a fall at more than 10mph. Let’s talk the other 10 safety initiatives first
— Noon (@Noonkemp) August 22, 2022
— David S (@Pionir) August 22, 2022
Distance radars and bike lane camping: Today’s reader reaction
Following this morning’s example of a new Highway Code-regulating overtaking wand, road.cc reader mattw came up with another potential Dragons’ Den pitch:
Remembering that Dr Ian Walker had an instrumented bike for his close overtaking studies, what are the chances of a ‘distance radar’ to combine with cameras to document close passes for PC Copper?
I can see it annoying all the right people.
Is one of the normal excuses for NFA the difficulty of judging close passes from the camera angle?
Kickstarter?
Dogless says that he “often thought about using one of those wand things but always a bit too scared. Every time I get a close pass off someone while riding with one of my kids on the back of my bike I vow to do it.
“What I did do was print out pictures of my small children and stuck them on the back of the child’s seat with a request to pass safely. Don’t know if it worked but hopefully made at least one person stop and think before squeezing past to get to the queue of cars up the road.”
“On the close passing thing,” brooksby writes, “As the tweeterer says, motorists will pass you. Unfortunately that person is missing the point, that when they do pass you it will be at clearance of two feet or so and above the safe speed limit…”
The cyclist’s 1.5m wand (Ooh, Matron!) also sparked a touch of nostalgia among some of our readers. Safety said: “I’m old enough to remember a safety campaign on an Esther Rantzen TV show (70s?) which prompted an, admittedly, small wand for bikes.”
“I remember those,” replied Rendel Harris. “Lots of my contemporaries cycling to school had them (I didn’t because I didn’t want to spoil the look of my beloved Raleigh Record Sprint!), orange wand with a round end with a red reflector? IIRC they were on a hinge so they would fold in if hit. Never see them these days though.”
Meanwhile, IanMK had a confession to make, prompted by the picture of the campervan driver (and his dog) enjoying the peaceful environs of the cycle lane:
When I was a nipper doing the Interrail thing, me and mate got to Dunkirk station late. We decided to walk to the ferry terminal sleep, there and catch the first ferry home.
After walking along the road in pitch black we gave up. Headed down the embankment, found some flat stoney land to pitch the tent and settled down for some kip. Woken in the morning to the sound of a cycle bell. We’d literally pitched on a cycle path.”
Now, that’s a good Interrail story…
22 August 2022, 08:46
22 August 2022, 08:46
22 August 2022, 08:46
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Latest Comments
I can tell you those are already happening with alarming frequency. Probably less likely to be experienced by those who do most of their running in parks, though, so I'm not sure how they're relevant here.
@polainm responding to tone is a waste of your time and mine. If you have an argument, I'm happy to respond.
@Rendel Harris inappropriate speed is the better term. This comes from poor skills and attitudes. 93mph on a clear motorway kills nobody. 65mph in bunched traffic with poor observation, distracted, following too closely, no escape route planning etc etc kills many. Speeding kills nobody. It's simply the act of exceeding a number on a sign. Skills and attitudes lead to setting a safe speed, which is the concept to focus on. This is what saves the lives of cyclists.
If anyone reading this article is looking for reasonable alternatives Decathlon sell a range of bum bags including one with a bottle holder that comes with the bottle all of which are less than £20. I've got a bum bag I bought a few years ago to replace a North Face bum bag that has lasted really well including commuting and cycle touring that was only £10 and that doesn't seem to have any of the drawbacks of the pack on review.
@Borisface The frameset is similarly priced to e.g. Condor aluminium framesets such as Italia RC Integrato so it doesn't look too far off the mark. Obviously if you dress any old frame up with Campag Record 13 wireless and some decent wheels the final price is going to be somewhere north of £5k.
@Freddy56 @hotspanners Hi, just for for starters I didn’t boycott the race, if you read to the end of the article you’d have seen that I decided I was going to attend and try and implement a positive change… Just for clarity, if it helps with the credibility of my words and something I didn’t include in the blog for brevity and fear of willy-waving here’s an incomprehensive list of cycle events I’ve helped organise over the years - all Brighton Big Dog MTB events (about 12 i think), three league CX races and one Singlespeed CX Euro Champs (niche, i know), a few SAMS MTB races - maybe three or four it was a while back now, a Morvelo City Cross, I’ve stood on a corner in a high-vis vest at quite a few MTB, CX and road races too, and just helped wind up tape at last weekend’s CX race. I’ve also had the privilege to design logos, draw images, and create one-off pieces of artwork and give away prints as prizes for enough races and events for me to forget how many, all for free as part of ‘doing my bit’… Also if you made it through to the second half of the article you’ll have read that I have every sympathy for event organisers because of the experience of all the above and also from having conversations with various organisers on a regular basis so I am acutely aware of all the challenges faced. I chatted today with the future local CX race organiser mentioned, face to face in a field, and he has a similar hatred of AI and is more than happy for me to create a hand-drawn image to promote that race and also help out on the ground where possible… Might even draw a duck in there somewhere for giggles…
@Borisface Not entirely sure why some alleged good times set in the last century validate the silliness and ignorance of your rejection on the grounds of materials and weight of a bike that the reviewer (who, if you look at his bio above, has rather a lot of experience himself, not only of riding bikes but of engineering too) describes as "absolute perfection in every aspect". Thanks for the unrequested permission but I'm not actually looking to spend 6k on a bike at the moment; if I was, on the basis of this review and the photographs I'd certainly be putting this on my shortlist and looking for a test ride. But then in this area at least I have an open mind, you see.
@Freddy56 as the article says, Jo boycotted our race because he thought we’d used AI to design our flyer. I’m with him 100% but he got the facts wrong. People don’t like AI slop. It’s lazy and generic. But you’re right - these grassroots events run off volunteering. I wave flags, design kit and artwork, ferry things to our lockup etc - perhaps Jo could be the change he wants to see. He could volunteer to the London and SE CX league that he races in to help them out with artwork - he created Mint Sauce!
Currently riding home powered by this for the last 6 months after someone stole my SeeSence beam, LOVE it. super durable and batter life gets me home on full beam for 55 minutes
Comments and an article by people who organise NOTHING! Promoting an event is mostly by volunteers and an AI poster done at midnight after sorting the British cycling insurance, the toilets, the Marshalls, the council and a landowner is so draining. The effort is massive for usually a small team. Grab a flag and help rather than moaning about a generated image...o look the image is eye catching so it must work .
56 thoughts on “How do you solve a problem like close passes?; “Battle of Britain’s cycle lanes”? More anti-cycling nonsense in the Times; Cycle like the Dutch and save the planet; Bike lane or picnic spot?; Jumbo-Visma play swapsies at the Vuelta + more on the live blog”
On the close passing thing:
On the close passing thing: as the tweeterer says, motorists will pass you. Unfortunately that person is missing the point, that when they do pass you it will be at clearance of two feet or so and above the safe speed limit…
I’ve often thought about
I’ve often thought about using one of those wand things but always a bit too scared. Every time I get a close pass off someone while riding with one of my kids on the back of my bike I vow to do it.
What I did do was print out pictures of my small children and stuck them on the back of the child’s seat with a request to pass safely. Don’t know if it worked but hopefully made at least one person stop and think before squeezing past to get to the queue of cars up the road.
That’s a bit like the naivity
That’s a bit like the naivity of “Child on Board!” warnings, which presumed that somehow people consciously chose to drive like idiots and thought about their driving – and usually highlighted that you had a distracted, incompetent driver in front anyway (not that I am suggesting an analougous occurrence for cyclists mimicking of course 🙂 ).
They are there for the
They are there for the emergencu services, to remind them in the eveny of an accident to look for a little person in the back seat, not just a driver. The idea was good, just long since passed into obscurity now…..
Been chatting around this
Been chatting around this this morning a little.
Remembering that Dr Ian Walker had an instrumented bike for his close overtaking studies, what are the chances of a ‘distance radar’ to combine with cameras to document close passes for PC Copper.
I can see it annoying all the right people.
Is one of the normal excuses for NFA the difficulty of judging close passes from the camera angle?
Kickstarter?
mattw wrote:
I remember that bit of research he did.
Basically the result was that whatever type of bike you rode, whatever type of clothing you wore (normal to super high viz), whatever strategy of riding you took, there was a persistant minority of motorists (1-2% I think) that would always close pass you.
Essentially, there’s nothing you can do.
Although, less dangerous
Although, less dangerous close passes if you wore a long blonde wig.
I have some anecdata that
I have some anecdata that suggests I get less close passes when cycling with the wife, who has long blonde hair(not a wig).
For that close pass research
For that close pass research – it could be be skewed by a cultural memory which links long blond hair plus beard with “viking”?
For clarity, my wife also has
For clarity, my wife also has no beard.
Well, I guess that’s just the
Well, I guess that’s just the fashion these days.
ChrisB200SX wrote:
My 16 yr old daughter has long blonde hair. She informs me that when she cycles, drivers are generally idiots.
PRSboy wrote:
hawkinspeter wrote:
Boris the squirrel; I can tell because he’s lying.
In replying to EddieBs
In replying to EddieBs message that nothing can be done, I have a suggestion. With the radar operated system incorporate a radar operated spray paint nozzle to dispense a line of orange paint. This would make them think.
And speed camera’s with paint
And speed camera’s with paint ball guns!
There is not much that an
There is not much that an individual can do, that is true. There is something that can be done though and that is actually implement a “war on dangerous drivers” instead of just frothing up non-actions as a war on motorists.
For instance:
Using your car as a weapon should be assault with a deadly weapon at least and come with prison time and a lifetime, unappealable, driving ban.
Leaving the scene of an accident should be treated as it is, an admission of guilt or wrongdoing or an attempt to evade breathaliser testing, it should come with prison time and a lifetime ban.
Prosecutors should stop settling for lesser charges and push for causing death by dangerous driving as the default charge in cases where drivers cause death by driving dangerously.
The number of points before losing your license should be lowered with retraining and retesting for those who go over being available in order to improve standards of poor drivers.
Mandatory retesting every 5 years for all drivers should be implemented.
Driving without a license or insurance should be grounds for vehicle seizure for first offenders and prison time for repeat offenders.
Average speed checks, the only speed monitoring which actually slows drivers down in my experience, should be implemented in more areas where collisions are prevalent.
People should be able to use the roads without fear of bad drivers.
And if you wore a helmet,
And if you wore a helmet, they tended to pass closer.
The Times used to be quite
The Times used to be quite sympathetic to cyclists after one of their journalists was very badly injured while riding her bike.
I guess that everyone in the news room who knew her has now moved on (obviously not to the Mail) or retired, though, as they no longer want to see people on bikes as people.
The cycle lane camp site….
The cycle lane camp site…. At least they are a equal opportunites blocker and left the camper van on the road rather then also parking that on the cycle lane.
‘Why don’t cyclists ride in
‘Why don’t cyclists ride in cycle lanes?’, part 1,325: Picnic edition
Clearly he’d been moved on from picnicking on the motorway.
Confession Time. When I was
Confession Time. When I was a nipper doing the Interail thing, me and mate got to Dunkirk station late. We decided to walk to the the ferry terminal sleep there and catch the first ferry home. After walking along the road in pitch black we gave up. Headed down the embankment found some flat stoney land to pitch the tent and settled down for some kip. Woken in the morning to the sound of a cycle bell. We’d literally pitched on a cycle path
Two right wing newspapers
Two right wing newspapers keeping the focus on Cyclists following Grant Shapps non-commital on number plates and cycle lanes.
It’s like that they are trying to distract the public from the more pressing matter of the RMT, balloting for strike action. Which surely must be a priority for the ministry of transport?
lllnorrislll wrote:
And the barristers strike, the port strike, cost of living crisis, NHS on its knees etc, etc; in fact the complete failure of the tory government for the past twelve years.
eburtthebike wrote:
Come on, it’s not a complete failure. They got Brexit ‘done’
hawkinspeter wrote:
Thanks for pointing out my glaring omission. I’m just off to frolic with the unicorns in the sunlit uplands where Felinfoel Double Dragon runs from the fountain and there are no cars, only bicycles.
You clearly haven’t been
You clearly haven’t been paying attention, none of the current sh!tstorm of issues is anything to do with the Tories, just ask Liz and Rishi, they both know how to solve it all, if only they were in power…
SimoninSpalding wrote:
Just read that Rishi will make “political” prosecutions illegal or impossible, because those nasty people at GoodLaw keep showing them up for the shysters they are. This is fascism, along with Dorries calling for the inquiry into Boris misleading parliament to be stopped, because it’s a “witchhunt”.
eburtthebike wrote:
Well, at least we can go and protest…
hawkinspeter wrote:
Until Priti gets her bill through. Another fascist.
Soon you won’t be able to protest about the government banning people from questioning government decisions, and the two prospective leaders have said they’ll crack down on the right to strike too.
Matt Hancock was on the radio this morning, explaining why there are so many vacancies in the NHS; it’s because they’re hiring so many people.
Re the wand, I’m old enough
Re the wand, I’m old enough to remember a safety campaign on an Esther Ranson TV show (70s?) Which prompted an, admittedly, small wand for bikes.
Are ready made items like this still available?
I see a couple around me,
I see a couple around me, often on the bikes of ‘older’ people. Not a full 1.5m but maybe 50cm or so?
Safety wrote:
I remember those, lots of my contemporaries cycling to school had them (I didn’t because I didn’t want to spoil the look of my beloved Raleigh Record Sprint!), orange wand with a round end with a red reflector? IIRC they were on a hinge so they would fold in if hit. Never see them these days though.
You mean one of these bad
You mean one of these bad boys?
That’s the ones, thanks.
That’s the ones, thanks.
I don’t mind sharing the
I don’t mind sharing the cycle lanes with vehicles that have a legal right to be there. It is the illegal unrestricted Just Eat / Deliveroo bikes and scooters that I have a problem with.
I wonder if that was who The Times were trying to aim at and badly missed with the article wording. I mean delivery drivers use vans don’t they so of course we would clash with them when they decide to “not block the traffic” by pulling across the cycle lane, usually without looking.
To be fair, the ‘delivery
To be fair, the ‘delivery drivers’ bit is just the headline writer not bothering to read the article properly, which is actually talking about delivery cyclists.
By the by, I’ve been chatting
By the by, I’ve been chatting to a colleague today who (I found out) used to work for Grant Shapps. Apparently his wish for cyclists to be required to have insurance is not a new thing; he was banging on about it back in 2015.
Finally! A genuine
Finally! A genuine “conviction politician”!
Not really surprised. However I still think the “why now” is “because regime change” and he needs to distance himself from the old regime. Or possibly get onside with Conservative Party members for future career reasons.
chrisonatrike wrote:
As distinct from a genuine convicted politician we have nominally in charge at the moment!
Was one of his alter-egos
Was one of his alter-egos looking to make money by selling advice on how to make money from selling insurances to cyclists?
My colleague also told me a
My colleague also told me a story about the alter-ego thing, but I can’t repeat that, I’m afraid.
Steve K wrote:
Teaser.
“…..world-renowned Georgie
“…..world-renowned Georgie hospitality….”
I don’t know who Georgie is, but I’m fairly positive that you’ve not endeared yourselves to those lovely folks in the north-east.
Damn Word autocorrect feature
Damn Word autocorrect feature! (And my failure to check the thing over first of course)
Is one of the normal excuses
Is one of the normal excuses for NFA the difficulty of judging close passes from the camera angle?
The bent, idle b******s at Lancashire don’t bother with excuses- OpSnapLancs just never responds at all. How difficult is it to judge this without the aid of side-scan radar?
not wholly convinced the
not wholly convinced the Times piece is quite the anti-cycling article its being made out to be
“If everyone cycled like the
“If everyone cycled like the Dutch, global carbon emissions would drop by nearly 700 million tonnes a year”
Great story and I’m sure the DM and Times will be all over it, massive headlines on the front page, with details of the health benefits of cycling and why the government is promoting it on a centre page spread.
Shurely “Some say if everyone
Shurely “Some say if everyone cycled like the Dutch we’d all be happier. We expose the cynical lies propping up this conspiracy to take away people’s rights, turn them into dependent paupers and ultimately reduce house prices”. Followed by a selection from here:
https://cyclingfallacies.com/en/
Fridays live blog says
Fridays live blog says remember me ?
“I’ll just leave this here and grab the popcorn…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11123967/Cycling-mile-day-cut-global-carbon-emissions-414-million-tonnes-year-study-claims.html “
Awavey wrote:
No idea what the Friday live blog reference is about, but publishing something on the DM’s website, where 99% of the readership will ignore it is hardly comparable to 96pt front page headlines.
I posted the link to the Mail
I posted the link to the Mail covering that specific story on Friday in the live blog, we even got the direct link to the original piece in Nature, in the debate/discussion that followed from it.
Maybe you just missed it because it wasnt in a 96pt headline style, but whilst you can criticise the DM for many many things, they did print & cover that story.
Hit and run, but no jail time
Hit and run, but no jail time?
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/derbyshire-bricklayer-who-broke-cyclists-7385554
“In mitigation, defence
“In mitigation, defence barrister Miss James said McIntrye believed he had clipped a car”
He knew exactly what he had done and drove off hoping to get away with it.
But yeah, dangerous cyclists.
but 10 points on his clean
but 10 points on his clean licence, so he can continue driving?!
I braved the BTL comments and
I braved the BTL comments and surprisingly just about all are complaining about the lenient sentence.