Broken ‘Banksy bike’ WASN’T stolen after all; Incredible Belgian bike path in the trees; Nigel Havers complains of cycle lanes ‘causing gridlock every day’; Tao’s Route; ‘Example No.465 of how not to do cycle infrastructure’ + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
'Example No.465 of how not to do cycle infrastructure': Is this Britain's most dangerous cycle lane?
Example No.465 of How Not To Do Cycle Infrastructure:#cycling #cycleinfra #highways #activetravel pic.twitter.com/Fpzymp3ieX
— Alex Romankiw (@russiankiwi3) November 21, 2020
A high-speed dual carriageway isn’t the safest place to ride your bike, however this cycle lane in Bedfordshire leaves you little choice. It’s well surfaced at least, but that’s where the positives end. The so-called cycleway abruptly forces cyclists onto the Dunstable Bypass with just a very narrow white line for protection. We’re not entirely sure where pedestrians are meant to go either.
For those wanting to see what happens next….Cycle route used to be a road but this was diverted onto the bridge over the new dual carriageway – cycle route built on old road to access the dual carriageway as the motorway junction is to the right, designed with no cycle access. pic.twitter.com/ta8Rdtt7Kd
— Alex Romankiw (@russiankiwi3) November 22, 2020
Yeah we also painted “slow” for the cyclists to address the real issue of them joining the dual carriageway at, uh, more than 70mph pic.twitter.com/ciPatwyRuM
— Alex Romankiw (@russiankiwi3) November 22, 2020
The Grand Fondo that climbs the height of Everest
At 242km long with an elevation gain of 8,848m, Tour des Stations is one tough day in the saddle. The new route for the event’s fourth year challenges those brave enough to climb the height of Everest in one ride on August 6 next year. Surrounded by the backdrop of the Swiss Alps and taking in the vineyards and high mountains of Valais, the mountain bike Ultrafondo route ascends nine major climbs finishing at Mayens-de-la-Zour.
There are three shorter courses, as well as an e-bike route, however even the shortest 34km option takes in 1,950m of climbing.
Bike goes missing from Banksy's latest artwork
The bike from Banksy’s hula-hooping girl artwork went missing before being replaced by a different bike hours later. The graffiti artist’s latest piece, on a wall in Rothesday Avenue in Nottingham, features a girl hula-hooping with a bike wheel behind a bike missing it’s rear wheel. But yesterday the rest of the bike disappeared too.
A local resident Tracy Jane found the bike was gone on Sunday morning. She told the BBC: “The artwork records an important part of Nottingham’s history, Raleigh bikes. My late husband worked for Raleigh until it closed in 2002. He died at age 48 in 2017. It’s such a shame if someone has stolen the bike. It’s sheer disrespect and saddens me very much.”
However, in another twist, it appears to have been replaced this morning by a different Raleigh bike…
It was gone and now it’s back. The #Banksy bike. Except that it’s a different bike! #Nottingham pic.twitter.com/IwrhW387rj
— News Mutt 🎙 (@NewsMutt) November 23, 2020
Tao's Route and Beryl Burton Way: The London cycle routes to be renamed after Britain's famous cyclists
Possible and Brompton have teamed up to launch a campaign to rename London’s cycle routes and some of the UK’s great cyclists have been nominated. After thousands of people submitted suggestions the public are now being asked to vote for their favourites.
The CS1 could soon be renamed ‘Tao’s Route’ in honour of Tao Geoghegan Hart’s recent Giro d’Italia win. The route which connects Liverpool Street with Tottenham via Tao’s home borough of Hackney is one of three cycleways that could soon have familiar names.
Legendary British cyclist Beryl Burton, who missed out on competing at the Olympics because women’s cycling wasn’t added until 1984, could appropriately have the CS2 from Aldgate to the Olympic Park in Stratford named ‘The Beryl Burton Way’.
While Maurice Burton, Britain’s first black cycling champion, has been nominated for the CS7 with the proposal reading: ‘In recent interviews, he has said that his career might have been limited by prejudice. Including his name on the route and emphasising his achievements might start to counter that prejudice and encourage more inclusive participation in cycling – from commuting to sprint racing – in the capital.’
While the proposals have generally been welcomed, some cyclists have questioned whether naming routes after professional riders will help encourage non-cyclists to use bikes more often.
TBH as much as there are so many great UK cyclists, we should be looking towards normal people cycling and not confusing transport with sport. This is what cyclists should be looking like, and will when there is enough infrastructure: pic.twitter.com/muu6x3eBUu
— ⚫ CyclingMikey #BlackLivesMatter 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇿🇼 (@MikeyCycling) November 22, 2020
MP who suggested a referendum was the only way to settle LTN debate hits back at 'Lycra brigade'
“I’ve been lobbied on Syria bombing and Brexit in my time but nothing has inflamed like LTNs”- excellent piece by Labour MP @RupaHuq https://t.co/ic1ItLda7X
— Allister Heath (@AllisterHeath) November 22, 2020
Labour MP Rupa Huq has hit back at the “Lycra brigade” who she described as “surprisingly vicious”. In a column for The Telegraph, the MP for Ealing Central and Acton explained that she has received abuse and death threats and that she’s “found the Lycra brigade surprisingly vicious”.
Huq said: “I’ve been vigorously lobbied on Syria bombing and Brexit in my time but nothing has inflamed like this.”
Having outlined her own history of commuting by bike as a child and at university, Huq continued: “Post-LTN, however, I’ve been labelled a petrolhead by the Lycra brigade, and warned that I am going to hell for passing on the concerns of my constituents.”
The column was branded “embarrassing” and “riddled with inaccuracies and clichés” by pro-cycling councillor Jon Burke. Last week Huq suggested that a referendum would be the only way to settle the debate over LTNs.
1/ Just read Rupa Huq’s anti-LTN piece in the Telegraph.
Absolutely riddled with inaccuracies and clichés.
Worst of all, it claims policy should be evidence-led, but that irrespective of how well LTNs work, the only test we should apply is popularity. 🤔
Embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/gKpLYh4nwT
— Cllr Jon Burke (@jonburkeUK) November 22, 2020
When people like @RupaHuq use the term ‘Lycra Brigade’ this is who they’re harming.
My daughter cycles to school & faces bullying tactics by motorists who want to cut her up, drive too close and honk her.
Because discriminatory people like this put her in an ‘out’ group. pic.twitter.com/iTtMWmcPDe
— Just Darren 💚 (@darrenmoore) November 23, 2020
'Scenes of utter havoc': Nigel Havers rants about cycle lanes 'causing gridlock every day' in front of empty Kensington High Street
Gridlock everyday? But he’s stood next to a road that isn’t gridlocked?! Come on @DailyMailUK at least wait for a picture where the roads are gridlocked!! #amateurs pic.twitter.com/9WYENoEYrB
— Howard Crompton (@CromptonHoward) November 22, 2020
In an article for MailOnline, actor Nigel Havers complains about the empty cycle lanes on Kensington High Street and blames them for “causing gridlock everyday”. Havers is pictured above, by the Mail, in front of an empty Kensington High Street, bar one Range Rover… and with his feet angrily planted in the wheels of the painted bicycle (we’re not sure what the significance of that is really).
Havers wrote: “As my wife and I strolled down our local high street with our dog Charlie early one morning last week, the November air was clogged with fumes. The smell of pollution wafted from hundreds of cars, vans, lorries and buses which were stuck nose-to-tail in a horrendous traffic jam.
“It never used to be like this. We used to relish our brisk morning walks down Kensington High Street where we have lived on and off for the past 40 years. It was one of life’s simple pleasures. But that all changed almost overnight after my local council – without any notice – installed these dreaded new cycle lanes which have caused havoc across the country.”
Havers’s article goes on to complain about cyclists riding “like they are in the Tour de France peloton”, red light jumping and empty cycle lanes. Some people on social media suggested it was hypocritical for Havers, a convicted drink driver, to be commenting on road safety issues.
“Every minute, a car idling its engine pumps out enough toxic air to fill 150 balloons,” says convicted drink driver Nigel Havers in today’s Mail on Sunday.
— Carlton Reid (@carltonreid) November 22, 2020
On the other side of the pond, Kevin Smith expressed his ‘love’ for cycling this weekend…
Every morning while I hike, I see someone biking and think “Wow. I should get a bike again.” Then I remember how I spent my teenage bike-riding years desperate to drive a car – something I have been doing for the last 34 years. At that point I’m like “Now I remember. Fuck bikes.” pic.twitter.com/JclaCdRQld
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) November 21, 2020
Low turnout for anti-LTN group
The mood of the majority in Ealing is really starting to shift now people are living with a fair trial for LTNs.
Here on the anti-group you can see that despite previously having 2800 people on the group there aren’t even 20 who are prepared to be activists.
Buyers remorse? pic.twitter.com/bCY0s16HDi
— Just Darren 💚 (@darrenmoore) November 20, 2020
An anti-LTN Facebook group were left pretty disappointed by this response to a post asking for help handing out flyers… In October Ealing council won a vote that could have seen LTN’s implementation suspended across the borough.
Wout van Aert looking forward to renewing rivalry with Mathieu van der Poel
Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel have taken cycling to the next level since migrating onto the road from cyclocross. Van Aert won two stages of the Tour de France, Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo in 2020 but it was Van der Poel who got the final laugh, winning the Tour of Flanders in a head-to-head sprint.
The pair are set to renew their ongoing competitive rivalry on the familiar muddy tracks of cyclocross. Van Aert’s Strava account shows the 26-year-old is training hard for the season ahead. The Belgian went on a four hour training ride yesterday morning followed by an 11-mile run in the afternoon.
Speaking to his sponsor Red Bull, Van Aert said: “I’m definitely looking forward to taking on Mathieu in the mud. I don’t think it is any easier for me in cyclo-cross, everyone also knows Mathieu’s ability on the bike. Even if I have very good legs, it’s still difficult to get close to him, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll give up trying.
“I haven’t been able to show myself in cyclo-cross very much in recent years due to injuries or just a lesser form but I still want to get back at my best. This year I’ve come out of the road season very well and there is really nothing to indicate that it would go less in the field.
“I hope to get back to my old level and be at my best in January, especially at the World Championships, so I can compete again with Mathieu and the other riders.”
Van Aert and Van der Poel are due to renew acquaintances on December 23 at the X2O Trophy round in Herentals.
Behind the scenes with EF Pro Cycling at the Giro d'Italia
These behind the scenes videos from Grand Tours are becoming more popular with Jumbo-Visma, Team Sunweb and Deceuninck-Quickstep all releasing in-house videos doucmenting their time at the Giro and Vuelta in the past few weeks. Now it’s EF Pro Cycling’s turn. The film captures the riders’ reactions to their special one-off Palace kits and both the team’s stage wins from another succesful Grand Tour for the men in pink.
Incredible 700m bike path takes you into the canopy
This is pretty cool. A bike path in Limburg has been shortlisted for infrastructure project of the year at the Deezen Awards 2020. Aptly named ‘Cycling Through The Trees’, the bike path stands ten metres above the ground and is almost 700 metres long. Deezen say that the structure was built using a single crane to reduce the impact on the forest and no concrete was used in the construction.
Landscape architechture company BuroLandschap’s founder, Pieter Daenen, said: “The most important thing for us was to build a structure with the lowest possible impact on the environment and the sensitive nature present.
“The nice thing about the construction is the round spiral shape. Cycling around in combination with cycling in height has something magical. It seems as if visitors are becoming children again. You often see visitors who drive around several times. Moreover, the ride of 600 meters is quite pleasant and not too hard, even if your condition is not too good.”
The famous broken 'Banksy bike' wasn't stolen after all and is "safe and well", according to Nottingham Project
Bike from Banksy’s latest artwork https://t.co/7PTy5ZOKVM
— MTB seagate29er (@nicolazanardi) November 23, 2020
The Nottingham Project, who are behind plans to rejuvenate Nottingham city centre, have responded to earlier reports of the bike that appears in front of a Banksy mural being stolen as false.
Their statement reads: “Over the weekend it was reported that the Raleight bicycle that formed part of the Banksy artwork that appeared in our city last month had disappeared.
“Well we have some good news.
“The bike has been moved and is in very safe keeping. The action was taken to remove any risk to it remaining in its original location.
“We are working with Nottingham City Council and the property owner to safeguard the future of the artwork, including the bicycle, as an important asset for Nottingham’s cultural and creative future.
“We will be releasing more details of the work to protect the artwork in coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, it appears a Good Samaritan has replace the original bike with a new one in the last few hours (above), so the piece as a whole still makes sense.
23 November 2020, 09:25
23 November 2020, 09:25
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Latest Comments
People do ridicule cyclists for wearing helmets though They certainly do! I remember being mocked with shouted abuse for wearing a helmet (I had been after one ever since I saw Americans wearing Bell helmets some time before) on Maryhill Road in Glasgow in 1976. Somebody brought one back for me after a holiday in the USA.
You are correct, I was commenting on what the author said, not responding to Mr. Blackbird. Using the threaded view clearly shows replies versus separate comments. We are all entitled to our opinions, which is all I was giving in response to the article. I was also indeed only commenting on the Grenadier vehicles and the “wannabe Land Rover” term and not on the company or Jim Ratcliffe personally.
"My father undertook post mortems and attended coronors inquests until his retirement and early death. He saw the riders who died in accidents. He built up decades of observed experience. He made us wear a helmet." That is the very definition of observation bias. Did he also do post mortems on people who had died from obesity and diabetes because they didn't ride a bike? If so, he would have seen massively more of them than cyclists.
Don't know about you but when I've been hit by a motor vehicle I've fallen off my bike, and wearing a helmet intended to protect me if I fall off has mitigated my injuries.
They do exist, but they're expensive and they look something like this:- https://www.freepik.com/free-ai-image/war-zone-with-tank_67396907.htm
What a marvelously apposite name for someone taking on helmet-related cases.
700, 1000 and 1400 lumen flash modes. How to annoy the feck out of the International Space Station. The steady beams have only been increased to 650, 950 and 1350 lumens, respectively. Maybe increased run time would have been better.
"This is invaluable in so many unthinkable ways." I can think of several ways in which insurance might be useful. How do you know "so many of the ways" are 'invaluable'? -- if you can't think them, you can't count them.
Been using a Decathlon screw mount alloy one for many years. Cheap, secure and bomb proof. Just make sure you use a silicone jacket on your phone 'cos it may crack the glass - especially the rear. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/cycling-smartphone-mount-metal/325682/c1c227m8587962
Why has this site swallowed my line breaks? Where has the 'Preview' box gone, and the Edit button? Has it been enshittified?
68 thoughts on “Broken ‘Banksy bike’ WASN’T stolen after all; Incredible Belgian bike path in the trees; Nigel Havers complains of cycle lanes ‘causing gridlock every day’; Tao’s Route; ‘Example No.465 of how not to do cycle infrastructure’ + more on the live blog”
well at least it’s downhill
well at least it’s downhill to keep speed up. But as far as I can tell, once commmited to this dual carriageway there is no possibility of exit for 2.5km. meanwhile the road paralell to this ‘cycle lane’ is perfectly servicable.
I just can’t understand why this has been surfaced and marked as a cycle lane. Luckily there are no signs directing people onto it at the other end, so no one should ever get tricked onto this motorway.
Based on the tweet “Cycle
Based on the tweet “Cycle route used to be a road…” the reason is that there is a right of way there. Motorists can now use a new route via a motorway junction but they need to provide something for cyclists, and what they have provided is as good as what was there before. The fact that only a very small number of crazy cyclists would have used it before or after is beside the point.
Although looking on
Although looking on Streetview, it seems that the motorway junction is not itself under motorway regulations, so it is legal (if not sensible!) for cyclists to use it, so I don’t see why they would have been required to provide a cycle lane here.
I’ve used the B5790 to cross
I’ve used the B5790 to cross the M1, it was fine and replaces the previous road. No reason to use the A5 dunstable bypass or motorway junction.
Yeah, I think most motorway
Yeah, I think most motorway junctions aren’t covered by Mway regs due to the perpendicular through road taking precedence. Possibly some just south of Preston on the M6 covered by Mway regs?
Also, what’s a ‘fast’ dual carriageway, as stated on the blue rectangular sign? It’s almost as tho’ the road designers realised that there was a danger, sorry I mean problem, and that the sign somehow alleviates the issue
That cycling ‘infrastructure’
That cycling ‘infrastructure’ is insane. Who would have been responsible for making such a patently idiotic suggestion? Was there supposed to be a separated pathway running down that grass verge which was ‘engineered out’ due to cost?
wow, that is spectacular. It
wow, that is spectacular. It will of course be super safe, as nobody will use it. By the way, this is the only story I can see in this blog – despite the headline offering others. I suspect SANFUs.
Eynsham wrote:
That seems to happen a lot at the moment – the live blog headline being well ahead of the blog itself.
Funny how diabolical
Funny how diabolical permanent cycling infrastructure stays, but useful temporary infra has to be removed. Doubtless this cost £10000s and the council has ticked the cycle provision box, demonstrating how cycle friendly they are and how much they are prepared to invest in it.
Coincidentally, I’ve just seen a fb post from the Telegraph claiming that each new cyclist costs £5,000, but damned if I’m signing up to that rag to read it.
They are quouting researchers
They are quouting researchers from the Economics & Human Biology journal (no,me neither) who have published a study ‘Determinants of bicycle commuting and the effect of bicycle infrastructure investment in London : evidence from UK census microdata’.
From what I can make out via the abstract,as I’m not paying to read it,they appear to have taken census data about cycling to work,applied location & determined nearby cycling infrastructure & used the costs of that infra to determine some per cyclist cost and rate of increase based on that spend.
All seems a bit shaky science imo. But so that was the Telegraphs 4th weekend anti cycling story. I know the Daily Mail gets people more excited about this stuff but this constant campaigning against cycling/cyclists is just as damaging in the Telegraph.
To read the Telegraph:
To read the Telegraph:
Browser: dolphin (an example of one where you can change the user agent)
User agent: googlebot
Srcw wrote:
Thanks, but my objections are more ethical than anything else; even free, I don’t want to pollute what little mind I have left.
eburtthebike wrote:
Unpleasant though it may be, it’s information and not ethics.That’s the only reason why I still go and take in some of the more strident pseudo-science brigade and right-wing political outlets and personalities – it’s better to criticise someone for what they actually said rather than what you imagine they did.
Should probably delete this
Should probably delete this comment
eburtthebike wrote:
The government spends £10 billion/year on the roads. Is that money wasted if it attracts only another 2 million motorists. I wonder?
1. That new cycling
1. That new cycling “infrastructure” is nuts. Who the hell signed off on that?
2. Totally agree with Cycling Mikey on the renaming of the CS network. Should we rename the M1 Lewis Hamilton Way? Keep the utilitarian numbering for the utilitarian use for which they are intended. There re better things to name after sporting heroes.
I don’t agree with Mikey at
I don’t agree with Mikey at all.
I bet a lot of the people who cycle to work or to the shops also do road rides, and like watching bike racing. What’s wrong with that? I seem to remember that the Walking & Cycling Commissioner in Manchester did a couple of bike races.
True and many of the names on
True and many of the names on the final the shortlist of 3 for each are people who lived along the route who just happened to be cyclists – as well as some that aren’t even cycle-related.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
Some will. I’ll bet most won’t
The main A63 road into Hull
The main A63 road into Hull is named Clive Sullivan Way as soon as it hits the city boundary (named after a local Rugby League legend who played for both Hull FC and Hull KR and was the first black captain of any British national sports team).
Renaming local roads after local heroes (sporting or otherwise) is something I definitely approve of. Not sure anyone has suggested renaming any national motorways or trunk roads.
And Rupa Huqs opinion piece
And Rupa Huqs opinion piece makes it 5 articles in the Telegraph this weekend promoting anti cycling opinions as facts.
Who in Telegraph towers have we cyclists annoyed so much for them to editorialise constantly on this ?
“Lycra brigade”
“Lycra brigade”
While appreciative of them, the “Lycra Brigade” is the one group of cyclists that in all honesty, wouldn’t be particularly affected by LTN’s as for the most part, they will often use the most direct route i.e. main roads and so on.
Don’t these Labour MP’s think before they write for these dodgy right wing rags? Don’t they realise that they disagree with almost everything else they say and so maybe, just maybe they are wrong here too?
I don’t ever wear lycra.
I don’t ever wear lycra. Does that mean my opinion actually counts, Rupa Huq?
brooksby wrote:
Same here, only the best hessian/horsehair blend grundies in my my knicker drawer.
And she’s really upset to be
And she’s really upset to be labelled a petrolhead. So upset that I’m sure she herself will never resort to labelling people.
Renaming the Cycle
Renaming the Cycle superhighways is just silly in my opinion.
My nearest route is Cycle Superhighway 7, but generally it is referred to as CS7. The three options to name it after are Maurice Burton, Olive Morris (black cycling activist) and the MV Empire Windrush (a boat that brought workers from Jamaica). Not long ago Saqid Khan said he wanted to name things in London to represent our diverse “culture”, so I guess this is really part of that plan.
Will we soon start renaming the hundreds of A roads after people. Can you imagine? How do I get to X from Y? Well, you go on the Donald Trump bypass for five miles, then onto the Mo Farah Road and at the second junction exit onto Wiggins Way.
Your example doesn’t really
Your example doesn’t really bear up to logical examination.
I go to town along Beech Grove and Victoria Avenue, and park my bike in Princes Square. Do we have to change that to Grove 1, Avenue 5, Square 12?
New York grid system 54th st
New York grid system 54th st. 5th ave etc.
That’s the first time I’ve
That’s the first time I’ve ever heard Olive Morris referred to as a black cycling activitist. Most people know her for her activism on squatters’ rights and the Brixton Black Women’s Group.
markieteeee wrote:
I suppose (at the risk of being pedantic) she was an activist who was black. If it can be shown that she sometimes rode a bike, then everything’s cool…..
Unless it has to be shown that she was doing all three simultaneously….
Some old street names should
Some old street names should be changed. For example, Dundas St in Edinburgh is named after Henry Dundas, a nasty piece of work who tried to stop the UK from abolishing slavery. He certainly doesn’t deserve having a street featuring some of the finest Georgian architecture in the UK named after him.
Why shoudn’t cycle superhighways be named?
When Nigel Havers was going
When Nigel Havers was going for a stroll down his local high street, was he walking in the cycle lane?
I don’t get the complaints about pop-up protected cycle lanes at all – most of them seem to have already been there and the wands or other protection is the pop-up element.
If a motorist is therefore complaining about it, they’re admitting that they drove in the “unprotected” cycle lanes…
Come off it, Nigel. Forty
Come off it, Nigel. Forty years ago I used to commute to college along Kensington High Street. It was clogged then.
Rod Marton wrote:
You have to wonder how old he is and how long ago he wandered down that street when it wasn’t clogged. My guess is 1925.
He lives there, you don’t.
He lives there, you don’t. Why not just respect his opinion and disagree?
Nigel Garrage wrote:
You are Socraticycless and ICMFP.
Nah, if not a new torally
Nah, if not a new torally random person I had him pegged as BooBooMcGoo.
Nigel Garrage wrote:
Ooooh, I think Havers’ opinion is being given more than due respect…
Plenty of roads are named
Plenty of roads are named after people, don’t see why cycle ways shouldn’t be. Maybe they could name one after Nigel Havers.
Near me there’s the Dani King cycleway, although it’s not much more than a few blue signs on the pavement.
Tom_77 wrote:
I doubt the residents along the way will want to live on Cockwomble Avenue.
Anyway they can’t have Beryl
Anyway they can’t have Beryl Burton Cycleway, that name is already taken.
I’m increasingly seeing Road
I’m increasingly seeing Road CC posting Daily Mail articles. This simply drives traffic (no pun intended) to their website. Their web analytic tools will pick up on where the visitors originated from and they will continue to search for similiar rubbish (in our case anti cycling) articles to generate more web traffic.
Web visitors may also click on adverts which will generate income for this racist, hate funding publication, funding them to digitally print more rubbish.
Please stop quoting their articles and just ignore them.
This racist, hate funding
This racist, hate funding publication? Bit harsh on road.cc!
Well I must say the whole LTN
Well I must say the whole LTN thing really has brought out the cock womble in people..
Not sure if I’d fancy doing
Not sure if I’d fancy doing Tour des Stations on a MTB as the post title suggests
The right wing press is
The right wing press is having a propaganda drive to influence any proposed consultations.
The Left Wing press (i.e. all
The Left Wing press (i.e. all large media outlets) is not allowing any alternative views.
Yeah, those pinkos at the
Yeah, those pinkos at the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Murdoch Times, Barclay brothers’ Telegraph, Sun. Right on. Keep telling like it is NZVR. Don’t let the facts put you off…
Where do you live where all
Where do you live where all large media outlets are left-wing?
NZ Vegan Rider wrote:
You’re obviously not talking about the UK press.
The Guardian is the only MSM outlet talking up the benefits of LTNs and cycling infrastructure. It’s very mildly ‘left wing’ in the UK spectrum but may appear more extreme because most other outlets are the mouthpiece of increasingly flag-waving, pro-Tory, pro-Brexit extremists terrified by the possible erosion of their monopolistic power that the provision of cycling infrastructure represents.
People like Farage, Liddle, Havers and Huq are paid to provide clickbait ‘opinion’. They are typical of the self-important ‘columnists’ who have no responsibility to be factual and know they can get away with maligning an out-group with impunity. After all, “it’s just a joke, like on Top Gear”.
They’re playing to their dead
They’re playing to their dead tree audience, which is dying off.
Personally I’m sick of MPs who haven’t the decency nor the guts to stick up for the truth, thinking that it will lose them the next election or see them deselected by the enthusiasts in their local party. Frankly in most constituencies you could put up a gerbil named Norman and the same party would win as last time, +/- national swing.
So Ms Huq, you can make as many lazy assumptions about people as you like, write shite for the Hellograph daily, turn every park into an airport or every road into a flowerbed, and still about 55% of your electorate will vote against you or abstain, and you’ll still get in. It won’t matter except to your conscience and the planet.
NZ Vegan Rider wrote:
You mean the Guardian and the Mirror? combined circulation of less than 3/4m
What exact planet are you on?
Captain Badger wrote:
What exact planet are you on?
— Captain BadgerNowadays page impressions, interaction on social media (especially Faceache) and no. of shares are far more relevant statistics.
The Guardian and Mail websites each gets around 60 to 70 million unique users per month. On Facebook the Guardian has 8.4 million likes and 8.5 million followers while the Daily Mail has 16.5 million likes and 19.9 million followers. It would be interesting to see their social interaction stats and online advertising/promotion spending figures.
Paywalls on much of the content produced by the Times and Telegraph may have had an impact on each site’s online readership figures (and possibly advertising).
Dead tree numbers don’t count for much any more. 🙁
The belgians have been
The belgians have been inspired by UK cycle infrastructure and built their own cycle path that goes nowhere.
Still better than ours
Hmmm…. In the past,
Hmmm…. In the past, whenever a Banksy artwork has “gone missing” its usually popped up at an auction somewhere a few million miles away from its original location.
RoubaixCube wrote:
You mean… on Venus?
Captain Badger wrote:
Only the female ones. The males go to mars.
Captain Badger wrote:
More a case of it ended up in the USA somewhere… I think it was last year (or the year before) where a local council cleaved a Banksy out of the wall it was painted on and sold it in the U.S for a few million dollars.
I wonder if Nigel has given
I wonder if Nigel has given up acting and changed career to comedian?
I suspect most of the people on the anti-LTN group are either bots or live hundreds of miles away. Still, it does rather demonstrate the recent reports of anti-car, anti-cycling measures people being few but loud. Empty vessels we called them in my day.
Thing is, he’s standing in
Thing is, he’s standing in the middle of the cycle lane. If a cyclist hit him, you know full well he’d blame them. Man’s a tool..
I wonder if Nigel is trying
I wonder if Nigel is trying to raise his profile for a quick cash boost for his flagging career. I suspect he had a “lucrative” panto appearance scheduled pre-Covid.
Secret_squirrel wrote:
I wonder how much the DM/Torygraph pay for a good anti-cycling rant?
Where’s that chuffing cyclist
Where’s that chuffing cyclist…he’s behind you, and he’s not dinging his bell.
From Wikipedia:
From Wikipedia:
In Scottish English, haver (from the Scots havers (oats)) means “to maunder; to talk foolishly; to chatter,” as heard in the song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers.
Nominative determinism at its finest.
Why not have a national
Why not have a national referendum on LTNs? If everyone is so sure that the silent majority back them then it will settle the argument. Personally I think you’d lose about 80-20.
Why a national referendum?
Why a national referendum? This would include people who don’t live in them and/or people who have zero experience of them. It would also include motorists who want to race through residential areas in the hope of shaving a few seconds off their journeys because their satnav has found them a route away from main roads.
Because the laughable myth on
Because the laughable myth on this website is that the majority of people nationally are in favour of LTNs
Practically all surveys state
Practically all surveys state that they are, but it’s kind of irrelevant who’s in favour nationally anyway. They are local solutions to local issues, they aren’t even on most people’s radar. People who live in them are overwhelmingly in favour. So, your theory is that a national referendum will get them voted out by people who they are an irrelevance to; at the expense of those who benefit from them.