Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Good Morning Britain asks should cyclists have to wear a "hi-vis uniform" to ride a bike? (+ Mr Loophole makes the case for mandatory helmets); Danny MacAskill doing Danny MacAskill things; But cyclists; One day 'til the Classics + more on the live blog

Happy Friday! The weekend is just around the corner, Dan Alexander will be bringing it home with your final live blog of the week

SUMMARY

No Live Blog item found.

24 February 2023, 09:21
Stanley Johnson vs Cristo Foufas: Hi-vis debating

Am I agreeing with... St...Sta...Stanley Johnson?! What's the world coming to? He was doing pretty well until the final few second of this clip...yep, it's the sequel to the poll nobody asked for — Johnson vs Foufas...

24 February 2023, 16:47
One. More. Sleep.

Until next time, folks... have a great weekend whatever you're up to (as long as it's cycling-related)... 

24 February 2023, 15:47
Simon MacMichael: What can Thamesmead – once the 'Town of the Future' – teach us about 15-minute cities?

Whatever its opponents may claim, it categorically has nothing to do with some global conspiracy aimed at restricting movement, of forcing people to remain within a mile or so of their home.

No-one's saying you can't drive to the next town to do your weekly supermarket shop, or go into the centre for a night out.

But what it does do is give people the choice of whether or not to do that by having options available to them locally, while at the same time making the areas they call home more liveable, more attractive, and more human.

Is that really such a bad thing?

> What can Thamesmead – once the 'Town of the Future' – teach us about 15-minute cities? 

24 February 2023, 15:27
"Keep yer clean air! We don't want it!"

He's back...

> Tory MP attacks 15-minute city concept with known conspiracy theory 

24 February 2023, 15:03
How big?! Victor Campenaerts to use Classified rear hub with 62 TOOTH chainring at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

These god damn time trialists are at it again...

Race against the clock specialist turned Classics contender Victor Campenaerts is taking an innovative approach to the Opening Weekend, and is set to become the first pro to race one of Classified's rear hubs. Oh, what's more, he's reportedly pairing it with a 1x 62t front chainring...

 The tech from Classified does away with the need for a front mech, effectively allowing riders to run a 2x set-up while enjoying the benefits of 1x (one front chainring rather than two). In short, and hopefully without boring you, there are aero gains from running just a single chainring, plus efficiency gains to be had from a larger number of teeth up front.

> REVIEW: Classified Powershift Kit & Wheelset

But how does it work? Well, the hub has a two-speed gear system that gives you 100 per cent of whatever chainring you have fitted, and then a reduction gear of around 70 per cent of that chainring, essentially doing the job of your 'missing' smaller chainring. So it's like having your front derailleur hidden away in your rear hub. Still with me?

According to Wielerflits, Campenaerts could run a 62 or 63-tooth front custom-made chainring and was spotted using the eye-catching set-up during Lotto Dstny's recon of the route this week.

The only thing that remains to be seen is if his hoods are turned in so far they actually touch...

24 February 2023, 12:47
Cav gets closer but Groenewegen wins UAE Tour sprint

18th yesterday, eighth today. One more sprint tomorrow to crack that first Astana win? 

24 February 2023, 11:19
Spring Classics Eve: One day 'til the cobbles

It's almost time for proper racing. Keep your UAE Tour and early season stage races, this is what it's all about...

Women's and men's race both tomorrow, there's no excuse to leave the sofa all day, except maybe for snacks and to refill your glass. There are plenty of savage bergs to be conquered before the finishing double-header of Muur and Bosberg. Will anyone escape? Will there be a sprint? Van Vleuten, Bäckstedt, Kopecky, Vollering, Wiebes, Balsamo, Longho Borghini...

 Pidcock, Van Baarle, Asgreen, Wright,  Campenaerts, Stuyven, Mohoric, Kristoff, Sagan, De Lie, Wellens, Küng, Stewart, Pollit, Meeus, Van Avermaet, Naesen, Lampaert, Ballerini, Benoot, Laporte...

Who are your favourites?

24 February 2023, 11:06
Are we the baddies?
24 February 2023, 10:45
But cyclists

Make sure you've got your hi-vis on...

24 February 2023, 10:08
Mr Loophole makes the case for mandatory helmets

It's a live blog full house this morning. The radio and TV producers of the world have hit a brick wall, must be a slow news day because all the greatest hits are on repeat... (he loves us really)...

BBC Three Counties Radio joined the party, getting Mr Loophole on to talk about helmets...

"Cyclists are so vulnerable," he told Jonathan Vernon-Smith. "They are exposed to massive dangers on the road from motorists, from the road surface itself and it just seems to be common sense to say you need to wear these items to protect yourself.

"I've been talking about this for a long time. What's astonishing to me is why anyone's astonished that anyone would suggest this because we get into a car which is a mass of metal, you're protected and you have to wear a seatbelt because it makes you safe... how can you possibly get onto a bicycle with that degree of vulnerability and say 'I don't really want to protect my head and I'm not that bothered about being seen'.

"What sort of mindset enables you to have got that thought process? If you have that thought process, is it right that society, the NHS or whoever should pick the bill up?

"This isn't just about cyclists. Motorists have to play a roll as well but while we are talking about cyclists it just seems to make common sense to do what you can to protect yourself and if you're not going to I'm sorry but we're not going to give you a choice.

"It's going to be a mandatory requirement because as Dan Walker very happily said, it saved his life. Irrespective of blame. We all make mistakes when we're cycling, we all make mistakes when we're driving, but if those mistakes could be fatal and that could be avoided by simply wearing something then surely as a society we have no choice, we have to adopt that."

24 February 2023, 10:01
Danny MacAskill doing Danny MacAskill things

Oh look a bicycle... just gone 10 and that's the first one of those the live blog has seen this morning...

24 February 2023, 09:52
Deal.
24 February 2023, 09:32
But what should GMB be debating if they really care about road safety?

Plenty of replies to point GMB's producers in the direction of future discussions that might be a more useful use of everyone's time...

24 February 2023, 08:51
Good Morning Britain asks should cyclists have to wear a "hi-vis uniform" to ride a bike?

It has been one of those weeks — helmet talk, claims cyclists should be made to use cycle lanes and now another old favourite... mandatory hi-vis...

Courtesy of the (self-dubbed, might I add) UK's most talked about breakfast television show, but maybe that's the point; stir the pot with 'debates' and hot topic discussion points, get the people going and watch the calls and social media coverage roll in?

Anyway, we'll be on the look out for if the topic appears on GMB this morning to watch it so you don't have to. And while someone will probably tell us just to ignore it, like Chris Boardman said: "Don't give it air time. Don't answer stupid questions" when these silly comments about cycling pop up, but this isn't just your usual anonymous Twitter troll spouting off... it's one of our biggest broadcaster's headline breakfast show. 

Then again when you've got national police forces making headlines such as this...

> Police ask pedestrians to wear hi-vis following spate of road deaths in Scotland

Maybe we shouldn't be surprised...

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

Add new comment

90 comments

Avatar
PRSboy replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
6 likes

Stop... you'll have them going on about how its cycle lanes that have increased congestion!

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
3 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

London is firmly in first (last?) place for journey times etc. and it's getting worse as it's up (down?) 1m 50s since 2021.

36 minutes 20 seconds to travel 10km.

I've never been a great runner, but my 10km PB is 40:09.
I have many friends who can easily run 10km quicker than 36 mins.
It shows that private motorvehicle is not the way to travel across London.

Avatar
KDee replied to ChrisB200SX | 1 year ago
8 likes

Maybe London needs more of these...so one doesn't arrive late or looking like a soggy explosion.

 

Avatar
AidanR | 1 year ago
10 likes

My personal view on helmets, hi viz, daytime lights etc:

1) It is a sensible personal choice to make yourself visible and protect your head, based mainly on the precautionary principle.

2) It would be terrible policy to make this mandatory, as it will put many people off cycling, with detrimental impacts on public health etc which would far outweigh any potential safety gains.

Avatar
Steve K replied to AidanR | 1 year ago
10 likes

AidanR wrote:

My personal view on helmets, hi viz, daytime lights etc: 1) It is a sensible personal choice to make yourself visible and protect your head, based mainly on the precautionary principle. 2) It would be terrible policy to make this mandatory, as it will put many people off cycling, with detrimental impacts on public health etc which would far outweigh any potential safety gains.

On 1 there are the arguments that even seeing other people dressed in hi viz and armour reduces cycling level as it sends a message that cycling is dangerous (and so has the same impact as your point 2).

But, notwithstanding that, I agree with you.

Avatar
Bentrider | 1 year ago
15 likes

I'll wear a helmet when one is invented that makes drivers pay attention to what they're doing and Hi-Viz once every motor vehicle has been re-painted the colour of a Post-It note!

Avatar
Backladder replied to Bentrider | 1 year ago
5 likes

I'd prefer it if they were quiet, comfortable, cool (in the sense of temperature) and cheap, oh, and effective against vehicle collisions might be good as well.

Avatar
Rezis | 1 year ago
12 likes

With the number of vehicle to vehicle collisions in mind, should all cars have to be painted dayglo yellow or orange?

Avatar
Rik Mayals unde... replied to Rezis | 1 year ago
1 like

What always amazes me is collisions on a motorway. How on earth can vehicles, travelling in the same direction, still collide with each other?

Avatar
OnYerBike | 1 year ago
8 likes

Is it groundhog day? It feels like groundhog day because the same "debates" seems to come up again and again.

(Also, for a bit of Friday morning fun, try googling "groundhog day"). 

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to OnYerBike | 1 year ago
7 likes

OnYerBike wrote:

Is it groundhog day?

I'm not sure that calling Cristo a groundhog is pc.  Or particularly fair to groundhogs.

Avatar
mark1a replied to OnYerBike | 1 year ago
4 likes

OnYerBike wrote:

Is it groundhog day? 

It's been Groundhog Day all week in the comments threads. q.v. Dan Walker & lights "discussions"

Avatar
the little onion | 1 year ago
12 likes

In Bradford on Wednesday, a driver ploughed into a queue of people waiting at a bus stop, killing one and seriously injuring another. Arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving. 
 

clearly pedestrians and bus stops need high vis.

 

also, looking at the local news, the driver was in a black car. Wouldn't have happened if the car was luminous yellow.

Avatar
Cyclo1964 replied to the little onion | 1 year ago
7 likes

Is it me or is there a marked increase of pedestrians being killed by motor vehicles whilst on the pavement or protected walkways ?

I know there was a survey out there that had an average of around 40 to 50 per year but it feels like this is increasing ?

If it was cyclist it would be a full on attack by the usual red tops but these incidents almost seem accepted ?

Avatar
Doctor Darabuka replied to Cyclo1964 | 1 year ago
2 likes

"Police ask pedestrians to wear hi-vis following spate of road deaths in Scotland" - Feb 2023 

https://road.cc/content/news/now-police-ask-pedestrians-wear-hi-vis-299283

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to the little onion | 1 year ago
6 likes

the little onion wrote:

In Bradford on Wednesday, a driver ploughed into a queue of people waiting at a bus stop, killing one and seriously injuring another. Arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving. 
 

clearly pedestrians and bus stops need high vis.

Is anyone calling for the pedestrians to wear helmets as it would have "saved thier life"?

Avatar
ChrisB200SX | 1 year ago
13 likes

Cristo has created lots of straw men there, but no actual cogent argument for his cause. Sadly, all of his false statements were left unchallenged...

"dressed all in black and appear out of nowhere" - No cyclist has the ability to appear out of nowhere.

"No lights on" - motorvehicles have headlights so the driver can see what is there. Pedestrians, cyclists, houses, deer, trees, kerbs, etc. all do not need lights to be seen.

"The onus should only be on the cyclist to be seen" - cyclists cannot control drivers' eyeballs and cyclists are not invisible.

He then tries to claim that not wearing a helmet is virtuous. Utter illogical nonsense.

They only invite these brainless morons on because they no longer have the credibility to get experts on. Or maybe it's deliberate to stoke hatred and get views that way. Cause-effect maybe.

Avatar
Surreyrider replied to ChrisB200SX | 1 year ago
3 likes

I'm not sure what else you'd expect from someone so utterly ignorant and unintelligent. But there you go.

Avatar
Hirsute | 1 year ago
11 likes

New vehicles weigh almost 2 tonnes now.
I did not realise that helmets were rated for this.

It's dangerous cycling on the road
Solution: PPE

Avatar
Simon E replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
6 likes

hirsute wrote:

It's dangerous cycling on the road Solution: PPE

No it is not dangerous cycling on the road - that is, until you introduce selfish people in big, powerful metal cages.

THAT is when the problems start for everyone, whether it's due to collisions, air pollution (including from vehicle tyres), damage to buildings and infrastructure, noise pollution, aggression and threats of violence, pavement parking... the list is a long one.

Avatar
marmotte27 replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
2 likes

At 2t cars are 150 times more dangerous than a cyclist.

Avatar
KDee replied to marmotte27 | 1 year ago
2 likes

Isn't it the driver behind the wheel that's the danger, not the inaminate object they're (not) in control of?

Avatar
morgoth985 replied to KDee | 1 year ago
0 likes

I suspect that was the point of the original post

Avatar
andystow replied to marmotte27 | 1 year ago
0 likes

marmotte27 wrote:

At 2t cars are 150 times more dangerous than a cyclist.

A baby cyclist?

Avatar
TheHungryGhost | 1 year ago
14 likes

If we all have to take responsibility for our own health and safety, then it follows that all journeys that could be made using active methods must be made that way. This would reduce obesity, heart disease and diabetes, improve mental health and reduce pollution.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to TheHungryGhost | 1 year ago
8 likes

TheHungryGhost wrote:

If we all have to take responsibility for our own health and safety, then it follows that all journeys that could be made using active methods must be made that way. This would reduce obesity, heart disease and diabetes, improve mental health and reduce pollution.

As long as they don't take more than 15 minutes

Avatar
Awavey | 1 year ago
9 likes

I've never got the appeal of these breakfast news shows, do people really want to watch all this faux angst outrage whilst eating their cornflakes (or insert breakfast option of choice) every morning ? Or are they just watching because they want to know what the weather will be like today and check WW3 hasnt started overnight.

And is this why people are always grumpy on the roads in the morning ?

Avatar
perce replied to Awavey | 1 year ago
5 likes

Porridge for me. With blueberries. And banana.

Avatar
ktache replied to perce | 1 year ago
5 likes

Cake, breakfast of champions.

Avatar
perce replied to ktache | 1 year ago
3 likes

Agreed. I also do like a cheese and tomato sandwich for lunch. Cheese and turnip not so much.

Pages

Latest Comments