Andrew Marr aims bizarre ‘testosterone and Lycra’ dig at cyclists; “My front wheel hit the pothole and exploded instantly”; Anti-LTN MP criticised for banging on about bike lights and helmets; Mr Loophole finds another loophole + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“My front wheel hit the pothole and exploded instantly,” says junior European champion, as calls intensify for urgent improvements to roads
Another day, another ‘cyclists crash due to the awful state of the UK’s roads’ story…
While this winter has proven that there is indeed a ‘pothole crisis’ sweeping the nation – with potentially serious, tragic consequences – the problem appears particularly acute in the New Forest, where cyclists have intensified their calls for urgent improvements to the area’s roads.
> Is there a pothole crisis on Britain’s roads?
Last weekend, two cyclists enjoying a Sunday group ride – including current European junior points race champion Izzy Sharp – crashed after hitting a pothole just outside the Hampshire village of Pilley.
The pothole, which was several inches deep and obscured by a puddle, caused one of the riders, Oliver Berney, to suffer a broken wrist, as well as concussion and a chipped tooth, while Sharp sprained her wrist and wrecked her bike.
“My front wheel hit it and it just exploded instantly and indented my rim. It sent me on to the grass,” says 17-year-old Sharp, who – along with her European title – enjoyed a successful 2022, picking up worlds medals on the track, as well as a top five at the junior Gent-Wevelgem and tenth in the junior time trial at the road worlds in Wollongong.
Berney, who hit the pothole right after it sent Sharp sprawling, told the BBC: “I looked ahead and thought I recognised my friend sat by the side of the road and that’s the last thing I remember because I hit the same pothole she had done.
“The most significant thing is the concussion – I can’t look at screens and no exercise for a couple of weeks.”
Criticising the state of Hampshire’s roads, Berney continued: “I’ve raced all over the world – there is a noticeable difference in the quality of roads abroad to here, and a noticeable difference in the roads in the New Forest to the rest of the country.”
While one thoughtful cyclist placed a cone over the pothole to prevent further injuries, Hampshire County Council said that the road would be fixed immediately.
The local authority claimed that the recent increase in road defects was the result of prolonged spells of heavy rain and freezing temperatures and that it was “prioritising the most urgent, including those that pose a safety risk”.
“We can confirm that repairs have been ordered and these should be completed by the end of the week,” a spokesperson said.
> “Same question every winter”: Cyclists slam “disgraceful” state of Britain’s pothole-covered roads
While the council’s response may appear immediate, cycling lawyer Rory McCarron pointed out on Twitter yesterday the defect on Pilley’s Bull Hill which caused the two riders to crash last week was actually first reported to the council way back in January 2021:
The great thing about the internet these days is there is so much available information to refute arguments about knowledge of defects existing etc. A simple search on Google and FixMyStreet shows the historical problem here… pic.twitter.com/OhwRkNhar0
— Rory McCarron (@CyclingLawLDN) January 23, 2023
Speaking of potholes that need urgently sorted…
Hey @thameswater this is flowing out from the hole in the rd and not anyones property. Can you please visit again urgently it is frozen on the pavement so a falls risk. The hold is deep and dangerous @Royal_Greenwich please take action as this is a deep dangerous hole. pic.twitter.com/ktceZEXmnQ
— Nicola 💙🏃🏼♀️🚴♀️🇺🇦 (@Thackers_78) January 23, 2023
“It’s the job of local authorities to create roads that are safe for these children to cycle on”: Anti-LTN MP criticised for banging on about bike lights and helmets in parliament
It’s the answer not the question that is important here. The government is clearly stating that it supports children cycling on roads in the UK. They have created a website. It’s the job of local authorities to create roads that are safe for these children to cycle on. pic.twitter.com/QmVQDdn03l
— Jo ❤️ Balham (@JoRigby_Balham) January 24, 2023
Independent MP and prominent anti-LTN campaigner Rupa Huq has been criticised by local councillors and cyclists for – once again – bringing up bike lights and helmets in parliament.
Yesterday in the House of Commons, the MP for Ealing Central and Acton – who in 2021 used viral footage of a tree falling over in a London suburb to call for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods to be scrapped – asked the Secretary of State for Transport “whether he has taken recent steps to help encourage cyclists to (a) wear helmets and (b) turn on bicycle lights when cycling in the dark”.
Avid readers of the live blog will recall that this is not the first time that Huq has spoken out about cyclists not using lights.
In January 2021, she responded to a Twitter user pointing out how many people had been out cycling, walking, and scooting in an LTN in Ealing by bizarrely tweeting “Bully for you! Hope they all had lights – been pitch black other [sic] there for a good couple of hours”.
> Anti-LTN MP criticised for directing hate with bizarre cyclists need lights tweet
The MP (who is currently suspended from the Labour party after referring to then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng in September as “superficially black”) has long been a vocal critic of LTNs – which she claimed should require a referendum – and other active travel schemes, and once described the “Lycra brigade” as “surprisingly vicious”.
Responding to Huq’s question, Jesse Norman, a minister in the Department for Transport, said: “The THINK! road safety campaign promotes best practice in cycling, including wearing helmets and the correct use of bicycle lights.
“The THINK! website also provides educational resources for children, such as Tales of the Road, which encourages helmet-wearing and reinforces the importance of using bicycle lights from a young age.”
According to Labour councillor, and active travel activist, Jo Rigby, Norman’s response should be the end of the matter.
“It’s the answer not the question that is important here,” the Balham councillor tweeted. “The government is clearly stating that it supports children cycling on roads in the UK. They have created a website.
“It’s the job of local authorities to create roads that are safe for these children to cycle on.”
While Rigby argues that Norman’s response is more important than Huq’s rather predictable question, the suspended Labour MP’s “out of touch” stance on active travel still came in for some criticism:
MP campaigning to take away safe cycling infrastructure can always say ‘but helmets are pretty good when you get hit by a driver’.
— Jo ❤️ Balham (@JoRigby_Balham) January 24, 2023
Jo, it’s shockingly grim around Ealing. Clogged up main and residential roads, no safe/ any cycling infrastructure, high levels of pollution and the council doesn’t seem to care about active travel. Rupa, Peter, Deirdre… all on the wrong side of history.
— Alexandra (@whyteshome) January 24, 2023
Why is MP Rupa Huq so out of touch with national active travel policy and how it affects her beat?
— Le Bête de Londres. (@BastieVelo) January 24, 2023
Drivers: ‘You’re blinding us with your helmet light!’ Also drivers:
Drivers: You’re blinding drivers with your helmet light!
Also drivers: https://t.co/m3xFs3srtl
— Travis Nelson (@ihaverottenguts) January 24, 2023
Mr Loophole finds another loophole
Another example from yesterday’s Daily Mail of everyone’s favourite road safety lawyer (and snazzy jumper wearer) Nick Freeman fighting the good fight:
In today`s @MailOnline why I believe postal strikes could provide scope for speeders to avoid justice. It`s a loophole the Government needs to close pic.twitter.com/GAnf57Fqcp
— Nick Freeman (@TheMrLoophole) January 23, 2023
So basically: ‘We’re definitely not saying do this – in fact it’s terrible the government hasn’t done anything about this seemingly quite easy way to avoid a ticket. We really need to close this loophole that people like, I don’t know, our readers could use themselves…’
> Mr Loophole tells drivers to make giving cyclists more room their New Year’s resolution
“It would not be on my list of things that would make cycling safer”: Readers divided over calls to allow cyclists to ride through red lights
Yesterday – just in case you missed it – we reported on a discussion currently ongoing between Scotland’s cycling campaigners concerning the road safety implications of potentially allowing cyclists to ride through red lights.
> Should cyclists be allowed to ride through red lights? Campaigners split on safety benefits
Well, judging by the reaction to the story, it seems that the possibility of allowing cyclists to continue through red lights (after giving way to pedestrians) has not only divided Scotland’s cycling groups, but our readers as well.
Here’s a selection of some of your thoughts on Twitter:
I’m not convinced by these calls to allow people on bikes to roll though red lights and treat them as give ways.
It would not be on my list of things that would make cycling safer.https://t.co/VFpEXOaLXG— Real Gaz on a proper bike: gazza_d@toot.bike (@gazza_d) January 23, 2023
Me neither but there’s lots of junctions where the cycle desire line or lane doesn’t conflict with the opposing traffic that’s on a green. With correct road design, traffic lights on many cycle lanes could be removed.
— Alan (@AlinHull) January 24, 2023
How about bikes can go on red/amber. Get a bit of momentum and at a time when all pedestrians should have crossed and the “red man” should be displayed. All seems like a crap measure instead of having better infra
— GrowLaughLearn (@growlaughlearn) January 23, 2023
Those calling for separate cyclist lights, they’ve had to cover the new one in Newcastle as the car drivers see any green light and go, even cycle shaped ones! I was nearly taken out a few times by drivers to my right turning left as I cycled straight ahead! pic.twitter.com/BJlmpvQyoi
— Catherine Laing (@cedavies79) January 23, 2023
When I lived in Paris, it was good not having to stop at every light if it was clear. It works well there. I think it’d need proper signage though and an education campaign here to stop cyclists making unsafe turns that conflicts with other traffic and to inform drivers.
— Riviera Rider (@RiderRiviera) January 23, 2023
But it would put the onus on drivers to be ultra cautious, with the added bonus that many would give up on driving altogether as being just not worth the hassle, so gets a thumbs up from me.
— Lee Jones (@leeroyjones73) January 23, 2023
And finally, after all that hypothetical discussion, someone bumps us back down to earth:
But it’s not going to happen in a million years is it?
— Jitensha Oni @jitensha_oni@mastodon.online (@jitensha_oni) January 23, 2023
Soudal Quick-Step boss questions Mark Cavendish’s decision to carry on racing and accuses Julian Alaphilippe of “hiding behind” injury and illness
Soudal Quick-Step’s notoriously outspoken boss Patrick Lefevere has continued his annual tradition of aiming parting shots at outgoing riders while lambasting his current stars with a few well-prepared snipes in the press.
After all, this is the man who once claimed that his green jersey winning sprinter Sam Bennett represented the “pinnacle of mental weakness” and that the Irish rider’s return to Bora-Hansgrohe was “like women who return home after domestic abuse” – so we shouldn’t be too surprised when he crops up with yet another self-manufactured controversy in the Belgian media.
This year’s victims of Lefevere’s publicity-hungry remarks are Mark Cavendish and, surprisingly, two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe.
Cavendish in his new Astana colours after leaving Quick-Step
Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws at the weekend, the Soudal Quick-Step manager seemed sceptical about Cavendish’s chances of success at his new Astana team, and revealed that he warned the British champion about continuing his career after leaving the Belgian outfit.
“Some people listen, others don’t. Cavendish’s story is that he still can’t do without the racing bike. That’s his right. But I don’t know if that’s wise”, he said.
Credit: A.S.O./Gautier Demouveaux
In another interview published today, this time with Sporza, Lefevere also claimed that he held crunch talks with one of his star riders, Alaphilippe, following the 30-year-old’s difficult 2022.
The usually dazzling French star endured a torrid season in the rainbow jersey, punctuated by high-speed crashes at Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Vuelta a España, as well as a bout of Covid-19.
However, Lefevere seems to have dismissed what he regards as Alaphilippe’s “excuses” in a face-to-face meeting held over the winter, though the Frenchman has recently denied that any such encounter took place.
“He says we didn’t have that conversation, I say we did. His wife and his manager were there,” Lefevere told Sporza.
“I told him I was not happy at all. I understand his illnesses and falls, but you can’t keep hiding behind that. It was the cool truth.
“Everyone knows that I do not attack injured riders, but if there is a high price tag attached to it, then I can respond.
“Last year he won two times, the years before three and four times. I didn’t take him into the team for that.”
Ah, I really wish the half bike had caught on…
14-speed cassettes, wireless everything, endless crowdfunders… reminisce about some of best, worst and weirdest bike innovation ideas of recent years. https://t.co/awHhm9LUVO #cycling
— road.cc (@roadcc) January 24, 2023
Protesters who blocked Tour de France stage receive suspended €500 fine
The six climate activists who brought the Tour de France to a stop on stage 19 from Castelnau-Magnoac to Cahors – the third and final environmental protest of the 2022 Tour – have received a €500 fine, suspended, from a court in Auch, La Depeche reports.
🇫🇷 #TDF2022
once again the race has been neutralized because of some protests. pic.twitter.com/ouJNPMeEUu
— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) July 22, 2022
The Dernière Rénovation campaigners could have faced two years in prison for disrupting the race by blocking the road, but in November prosecutor Jacques-Edouard Andrault requested a €500 fine, €300 of which would be suspended, as the activists’ “unexpected action could have been dangerous for cyclists and motorcyclists”.
Speaking in court, one of the defendants, a student named Nicolas, justified the group’s actions by pointing to the current climate emergency.
“Nobody wants to do this,” he told the court. “But the situation is so catastrophic. I don’t can’t project myself into a world that continues like this.”
But cyclists…
“Now do drivers”: Cyclists respond to Andrew Marr’s bizarre “too much testosterone” and “too little Lycra” tweet
Agree. Too much testosterone squeezed into slightly too little Lycra tends to prove explosive https://t.co/cJ0O2TBcvW
— Andrew Marr (@AndrewMarr9) January 19, 2023
It seems that Andrew Marr’s completely unprovoked, and frankly bizarre, dig at cyclists on Twitter hasn’t gone down too well with other bird app users.
Replying to Daily Telegraph columnist Nick Timothy’s claim that “pumped-up angry cycling man is the worst of London”, the broadcaster and former host of the long-running Andrew Marr show on BBC One tweeted: “Agree. Too much testosterone squeezed into slightly too little Lycra tends to prove explosive.”
Needless to say, many Twitter users aren’t impressed with Marr’s attempt at anti-cycling bingo:
What about pumped up angry Mercedes road raging man? He’s not uncommon, btw. I have hundreds of drivers doing this same move. https://t.co/g45yJdNLk8
— CyclingMikey (@MikeyCycling) January 24, 2023
What do you think of women in tight lycra?? @AndrewMarr9
— mistress of hellvetica (@sexandtheswiss) January 24, 2023
I agree Andrew. I can’t stand footballers in football kit, cricketers in whites, swimmers in wetsuits: running gear, boxing gloves, walking boots etc etc. A pathetic prejudiced comment from someone I had respect for. You’re like Cl*rkson to me now. I’ve blocked you from my radio
— Pete Smart (@petermsmart) January 24, 2023
Remember when you cycled through London on a tricycle – good times, hold that thought. Don’t be bitter
— Rory McCarron (@CyclingLawLDN) January 24, 2023
As opposed to incandescent rage safely encapsulated within a 2-tonne metal box. I know which one I think is more dangerous.
— Pedro (@pedro118118) January 20, 2023
Now do drivers.
— TK421 (@TK421VELO) January 24, 2023
While many of those responding to Marr’s tweet expressed their shock at the broadcaster’s apparent anti-cycling attitude, he has voiced similar opinions in the past – especially when it comes to the implementation of active travel measures in London.
While interviewing the city’s mayor Sadiq Khan on LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr show in March last year, the former BBC host responded to Khan’s aim to encourage people to use bikes instead of cars for shorter journeys by saying: “All very well if you can cycle.”
“If you can’t cycle it’s really hard to get around London,” Marr continued.
“Bit by bit you’re trying to get ordinary car users out of London, and it seems to a lot of people that there is an underlying, secretive plan to get cars out of London.”
Hmmm, that tweet is starting to make some sense now…
Andrew Marr takes up anti-cycling bingo
Agree. Too much testosterone squeezed into slightly too little Lycra tends to prove explosive https://t.co/cJ0O2TBcvW
— Andrew Marr (@AndrewMarr9) January 19, 2023
Welcome to the live blog, Mr Marr…
24 January 2023, 09:52
24 January 2023, 09:52
Will you be sticking with Strava?
"Our intention was not to hide these changes": Strava apologises for price hike controversy
The ride-tracking app admitted its messaging was "very confusing" and more information should have been given to users
24 January 2023, 09:52
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Latest Comments
@andystow yeah, apparently four needed, two for each pedal: one visible from rear, one from front. (Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations I believe). For several reasons I'm technically stuffed on the recumbent. Although I guess I could strap an extra pair of pedals with them to the sides (they'd be like epaulettes). I'm guessing amputees who opt not to bother with one of the pedals also don't legally have a leg to stand on...
@andystow Illegal if sold without a bell, but quite legal to use without said bell, I understand.
I would assume Starbucks have video cameras. Although it will just show someone in a grey hoodie.
@flowboy just keep cycling! And if you're not cycling and still have time, online there are the blogs / videos of bicycledutch, notjustbikes (also "urbanism" and general transport), "a view from the cycle path" (David Hembrow), or more locally to you hedgehogcycling (from Harrogate, posts here)... oh, and road.cc! If you prefer a book, check out Peter Waker's "Bike nation - how cycling can save the world", Carlton Reid's ouvre (dives into particular cycle-related points in history eg. "Bike boom", "Roads Were Not Built for Cars" etc), or there's Laura Laker's "Potholes and Pavements" about the UK's NCN. If you want to be social IRL your city / region may well have a local cycling campaign group...
@chrisonabike only illegal at night without them, right?
I work in the city and go home from Paddington, east to west. I used to go through Oxford street years ago but it was a nightmare of buses and oblivious pedestrians. Then I found the cycle superhighway and never went that way again. It’s really easy not to use Oxford street. Why are the council being such twats?
@andystow and was it sold with pedal reflectors?
@Mr Blackbird ah, but you've no idea how badly decapitated they would have been if they hadn't been wearing a helmet!
@mark1212123 "you’ll have to dispense with thinking your small thing is a massive thing while cycling to work in the winter?’" I find things tend naturally to shrink in the cold... Having "the big debate" with any given person is almost always pointless. We've all got our to-do list for that day/week/year that we're struggling to get through, using the familiar transport tools we spent time and money to acquire. And if we could really introspect we might find out that a shocking amount of life is delegated to autopilots or essentially reacting to external prompts. But - *given* that someone is at a point to actually discuss (rare!) - I think the Chris-Boardman-style works eg. "are you happy with (the congestion / your kids not being able to get themselves to school / all the cars parked all over your road and the pavement / hearing that the local authority can't afford to fix stuff)?" And "if you are, fine - your area, you own the consequences, good or bad (but ... it likely won't get better). If you're not, tell us about one of those pain points and let's work together to explore some solutions". (And no, those aren't going to be a personal bypass which takes you in your car past all the other traffic and yet doesn't cause your nice street to become a motorway. Because everyone else wants that *their* way not yours and anyway we can't afford it).
One definite conclusion to be drawn from the lab tests is that no cycle helmet can protect against decapitation.
83 thoughts on “Andrew Marr aims bizarre ‘testosterone and Lycra’ dig at cyclists; “My front wheel hit the pothole and exploded instantly”; Anti-LTN MP criticised for banging on about bike lights and helmets; Mr Loophole finds another loophole + more on the live blog”
Councils would get less grief
Councils would get less grief from cyclists regarding potholes if they just built proper cycling infrastructure that was never touched by vehicles that weigh over 10x more than the average cyclist and bike. Cycling does not cause potholes.
Just cycle around them
Just cycle around them
Excellent advice which we
Excellent advice which we
cyclocross fanaticsEdinburgh* transport cyclists use every day.(* Other towns and cities are available).
ChuckSneed wrote:
Troll off troll.
ChuckSneed wrote:
Oh look, the cunt is back.
Much as I may disapprove of
Much as I may disapprove of the language you use, I do rather enjoy your directness and your consistency.
Yeah, when most drivers
Yeah, when most drivers barely give 1.5cm when overtaking instead of the advised 1.5m, me slaloming my way down the cratered strips of rubble my local authority calls “roads” to avoid potholes seems like such a good idea.
Seriously, you do your best to avoid them (who wants to buy a new wheelset every week), but sometimes drivers (or weather/light conditions) give you little choice.
The damage of the round is
The damage of the round is proportional to the 4th power of axle weight. So you double the weight, you multiply damage by sixteen times.
I believe that a typical medium sized family saloon car causes about 40,000 times more damage than a typical bicycle plus rider. And substantially more than this for a large SUV – potentially a million times more.
the little onion wrote:
Yes, but bikes have really thin tyres, so all the weight is concentrated in a very small area, rather than spread across the width of four big tyres – so clearly bikes cause way way more damage.
Wasn’t that someone’s argument on here?
Steve K wrote:
Ah. That would explain why my patio exploded this morning after a sparrow landed on it.
Bike tyres must cause more
Bike tyres must cause more damage even than commercial airliner wheels because of higher pressure I think was their position. It was then pointed out that planes were noted for needing special places to land / take off and further tended to be accelerating / decelerating quite quickly. Can’t recall what distraction they pivoted to next. I don’t think they cared either, it was all about keeping the attention…
Um, I weigh less than 100kg
Um, I weigh less than 100kg with my bike. The average new car in 2022 was 1900 kg, and they are only getting heavier. 10x?
Daveyraveygravey wrote:
Yes, my [BMW] MINI with a full tank of fuel and me in it weighs about 15 times me on my bicycle fully loaded for touring.
Someone tell me this is a
Someone tell me this is a spoof
Just what every responsible parent needs for the school run …
https://twitter.com/greenmattbfd/status/1617573027918626817
.
.
The vehicle is called the
The vehicle is called the Vengeance … because of course it is.
https://www.rezvanimotors.com/rezvani-models
Words fail me.
Words fail me.
Me too, it’s an extra $6,500
Me too, it’s an extra $6,500 to get it in right hand drive. I couldn’t find the pepper spray/ smoke screen options on the configurator though…
Edit: found it now, it is part of a $62,000 security package
I suspect that a car designer
I suspect that a car designer somewhere has been watching too much eighties sci-fi…
Wiki seems to indicate the
Wiki seems to indicate the company’s designer (for some of the vehicles at least) designed vehicles for computer games initially.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
It shows…
brooksby wrote:
straight from robocop.
The 3000SUX no doubt.
The 3000SUX no doubt.
Most of the extras can’t be patented as they are prior art – see Magnavolt!
Apparently it is a Cadillac
Apparently it is a Cadillac Escalade underneath, which is hardly any less appropriate for most people’s needs.
“Did I run someone over? I
“Did I run someone over? I didn’t notice”
Look at the fucking windows
Look at the fucking windows on it! It’s a mobile blind-spot. You’d be wiping out pedestrians left and right and you’d have no idea.
That’s what the pepper spray
That’s what the pepper spray is for! It is to ensure that pedestrians keep out of your blindspots!
At last! Those adverts from
At last! Those adverts from Robocop movies are finally becoming reality!
I’ll buy that for a dollar…
I’ll buy that for a dollar…
It’s increasingly difficult
It’s increasingly difficult to tell the difference between humorous irony and reality. If this is real, someone is insane.
Pepper spray for the school
Pepper spray for the school run? The weaponised SUV set to terrify America’s streets
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jan/25/pepper-spray-school-run-apocalyptic-suv-reznavi-vengeange
brooksby wrote:
Now if it was pepper spraying the SUV drivers that terrorise the school run, we might be on to something.
brooksby wrote:
Company name a containing very lightly disguised anagram of “Nazi”, which seems highly appropriate.
One of my good cycling
One of my good cycling friends partner does some consulting, they recently did some work for/with a local council, there’s a few stories which came out about how inefficient they work, how protective they are of their roles and basically how the worst jobsworth type stereotypes are mostly spot on, but the one which stands out is getting a pothole fixed.. it’s apparently a farcical process, which only got worse when they last looked at it and put in a 30day time limit to respond internally to pot hole reports, there’s obviously an outside contractor involved to do the actual work, but the joke is that once the 30day time limit process/procedure was put in place instead of it making things more efficient it almost automatically slowed down the process by you can guess it.. 30days..
I’d imagine most local councils have their own differing processes but I’d also imagine that most local councils are full of useless people who spend more time protecting their jobs rather than looking for efficiencies.
So the most effective way to fix a pot-hole appears to spray a giant penis around it..
peted76 wrote:
If there’s one person you can trust, it’s a highly paid consultant.
People getting upset by
People getting upset by potholes should just keep their eyes on the road. I have never hit a pothole because I’m not blind
ChuckSneed wrote:
Perhaps your eyesight isn’t as good as you think it is as you obviously missed the bit in the Izzy Sharp story about the pothole being obscured by a puddle?
As Awavey says “but theres a
As Awavey says “but theres a reason you avoid puddles like the plague at this time of year on roads anywhere around the world.”
hirsute wrote:
and when the puddle stretches the entire width of the road?
Not forgetting the hostility from drivers in their 2 tonne metal raincoats if a cyclist should dare to go around a puddle and impede them?
Funnily enough, that what I
Funnily enough, that what I had last week. There was no pavement either, just a waterlogged verge.
I came to a stop and went very slowly through what I judged to be the highest point of the road.
That’s nothing! We’ve folks
That’s nothing! We’ve folks on this forum who in 40 years of driving and cycling have never had any incidents, never experienced close passes and have never told a fib!
Even the previous “best”
Even the previous “best” rider on here has indicated they hit a pothole in the road because of a puddle. They obviously then used the opportunity to take money from tax payers. I’m glad the new “best” rider is Chuck who seems totally different to the previous one(s).
Yeah, I was wondering too…
Yeah, I was wondering too…
No dash cam uk so far this year
Quote:
From a community post.
Being slow reflexed, I have
Being slow reflexed, I have hit various minor potholes, the scariest though being a longitudinal pothole many meters long. Surprisingly I didn’t fell and I attribute this to my heavy wheels.
I know all cyclists crave light wheels, but heavy wheels have the benefit of keeping you upright easier. So next time you feel your wheels and wallet heavy, maybe think twice.
Although the other worry with
Although the other worry with the longitudinal ones are the shredding of the sidewall or even the tyre being taken off the wheel, plus the bike path being changed from the one you planned. The other worst bit about those ones are normally they are smack bang in the middle of the carriageway so awkward when overtaking on single lane or filtering on dual carriageway.
ChuckSneed wrote:
sure, because there is definitely not a correlation between potholes and puddles, so no pothole will ever be hidden in bad weather. /sarcasm.
Whilst I’m sure it’s just to
Whilst I’m sure it’s just to illustrate the story, crisis? what crisis ? What exactly does Twitter user Nicola expect to happen next there ?
If you see a pothole that needs fixing, record the location, size and follow the official mechanisms for reporting them so the council have a proper record of it.Royal Greenwich have an online form via their official website.
Nothing will likely happen just by complaining about it on twitter to a social media team.
As for the Euro junior, maybe age/experience caught them out, but theres a reason you avoid puddles like the plague at this time of year on roads anywhere around the world.
Finally the lawyer input, chances are the pothole was reported in 2021, and fixed, but has broken out again, because that’s basically how the majority of potholes end up.
The “nicola” twitter one.
The “nicola” twitter one. Whilst you think nothing would be doneby the Social Media team and be reported via proper channels, they contacted her within 9 mins for a location and indicated the information has been forwarded to the correct team. Assuming she took the picture, tweeted it and carried on her journey, she probably got it actioned faster then trying to use the website on a mobile or a proper computer when she got home. People usually find the publicity of a tweet gets items done faster then the private reporting options depending on the organisation.
Wait to see if it gets fixed
Wait to see if it gets fixed first. And if all the social media team was fill in the same form…
People complain on twitter because they think things get done quicker, because of “bad publicity”, councils & utilities dont work in that sphere.
Id always recommend reporting it correctly so there is a formal record of it, rather than jumping on social media first about it.
Quote:
I don’t disagree, just pointing out that there was a response (which you thought wouldn’t happen) and probably a faster start of potentially getting it fixed. As for the wait and see if it is fixed, I’m not following Nicola to confirm this happens, however more people would know about the presence of pothole AND that the council “know” about it to be able to see if it gets a pretend layer of tarmac filler then would know if she hadn’t tweeted.
You could also argue wait and see on normal reporting options, but only “you” would know it has been reported and might not go down that street again for several months.
I would also argue most organisations, including councils /utilities use Twitter as a “helpdesk” rather then just an information stream. As you state, they probably fill in the web page anyway similar to if you rang a helpdesk number.
Awavey wrote:
And you can use Fill That Hole, CUK app that reports it to the council and keeps an independent record.
https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/
eburtthebike wrote:
And you can use Fill That Hole, CUK app that reports it to the council and keeps an independent record.
https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/— Awavey
You can also use https://www.fixmystreet.com/ although it seems to be for more general issues not just potholes.
eburtthebike wrote:
And you can use Fill That Hole, CUK app that reports it to the council and keeps an independent record.
https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/— Awavey
The CUK Fill That Hole app was last updated in July 2014. Not sure it even works on current Android versions. An opportunity missed.
Not a Labour fan boi by any
Can we get the LTN article corrected pls?
Not a Labour fan boi by any stretch of the imagination but loopy Rupa is currently sitting as an independent after being suspended for accusing Kwasi of being “superficially black”.
Theres no sign she’ll be invited back anytime soon either.
https://members.parliament.uk/member/4511/contact
“Superficially black”???
“Superficially black”???
brooksby wrote:
I believe the non-pc term is coconut; black on the outside, white on the inside.
The non -pc term is actually
The non -pc term is actually choc ice.
I think it was an incredibly
I think it was an incredibly clumsy way to say that he was part of the elite and has little understanding of everyday folks struggles. Could be said about all of the cabinet without mentioning colour/race/religion.
hirsute wrote:
you mean a racist way?
Why is it OK to suggest that people of colour cannot be part of the elite and must be part of the “every day folk” with “struggles”?
I think the second sentence
I think the second sentence answers that.
brooksby wrote:
Checks Google definitions:
[I]Superficial
1. existing or occurring at or on the surface.[/i]
Well, I’m pretty sure we’re all the same colour inside.
Secret_squirrel wrote:
Good update Jack! Bonus points for including the Kwasi reference.
Jack?!
Jack?!
Ryan Mallon wrote:
Whoops
“Berney continued: “I’ve
“Berney continued: “I’ve raced all over the world – there is a noticeable difference in the quality of roads abroad to here…..”
Yes, but abroad hasn’t had the benefit of twelve years of the tories.
Fill that hole seems to be still running, so when you find a hole, report it. That way, if someone sustains damage, they will be able to sue the council for not filling it in.
https://www.fillthathole.org.uk/
eburtthebike wrote:
And to play devils advocate, when you are racing all over the world you are generally on or near a pre-prepared road race surface thats been filled or resurfaced. Training locally not so much….
I take it you’ve not raced in
I take it you’ve not raced in this country recently.
Cycle Hangers Lambeth
Cycle Hangers Lambeth
https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/documents/s143333/Appendix%20E%20-%20Consideration%20of%20Objections%20Outside%20CPZs.pdf
“I do not want to look out of my window at this eyesore, or have the noise* of bikes
going in and out of it at all hours.“
“I also think it will encourage a higher level of crime and burglaries to have bikes out in the street en mass like this (that might be unfounded but that’s how I feel)”
* “The hangar door has a gas assisted spring mechanism to ensure soft closing.”
Mr Loophole has been
Mr Loophole has been ploughing the postal strike angle since the strikes began last year
I also believe theres case law, from a case which tried that loophole in the past, where the defendant was still found guilty, but I cant be bothered to look it up.
The cynic in me would argue
The cynic in me would argue he is angling for business with his “warning”.
However if his closing the loophole is him arguing that NIP’s should have several months of actionable time rather then 14 days from the offence being recorded, count me in. However his answer seems to be “send to an email” or “send to a mobile phone” which means more personal data collected then needed, and even more ability for loopholes like “I lost my mobile phone” or “it went into my spam folder”.
I recently reported a pothole
I recently reported a pothole to my local council after whacking it with the front wheel of my van. The report website has an option to upload a photo to help establish the exact location, but I didn’t have an actual photo so I thought I would screenshot street view. To my amazement the exact same pothole is actually visible in street view, apparently taken in May last year! It has now been ‘temporarily patched’.
Will Rupa Huq be calling on
Will Rupa Huq be calling on the authorities to take action against all those motorists driving around with one or no working headlight? Or who seem to have forgotten that they are still only in daylight driving mode or something so they have rear lights but nothing at the front?
I was beginning to think that
I was beginning to think that the one working headlight thing was some kind of guerilla marketing campaign.
“……the former BBC host
“……the former BBC host responded to Khan’s aim to encourage people to use bikes instead of cars for shorter journeys by saying: “All very well if you can cycle.”
He’s been trained by the institutionally anti-cyclist BBC; ’nuff said.
Ah, that’s a shame about
Ah, that’s a shame about Andrew Marr. I thought better of him.
Likewise. And he is one who
Likewise. And he is one who has not enjoyed the best health. I would not want to presume about his particular case, but even so I’d have thought that he would be sympathetic towards activities which promote health and wellbeing.
Sriracha wrote:
He probably is but that sympathy doesn’t extend to CYCLISTS … especially those in LYCRA!
He’s seen too many 24 hour
He’s seen too many 24-hour news cycles?
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
I’m not surprised. If you look beyond the ‘sound, reasoned fellow’ veneer of his BBC image I suspect he’s not all that he’s cracked up to be.
I don’t choose to ride in lycra / not in lycra to please condescending clowns like him. What I want to wear while riding my bike is none of his business.
But the most pathetic aspect of this distorted view is that people riding bikes are far more often victims of ‘testosterone-fuelled’ male aggression than the aggressor, invariably by car or van drivers, as demonstrated by another of today’s stories – Driver assualted cyclist for questioning mobile phone use.
Marr. Hmmmmm….
Marr. Hmmmmm….
He sounds like a lobbyist. But who does he serve??
I don’t know where Marr, Huq,
I don’t know where Marr, Huq, et al have been. But there is a reason why the mayor is trying to reduce motor traffic in London, the pollution is killing people!
Legin wrote:
That’ll be the cycle lanes and LTNs – didn’t you get Rupa’s memo?
https://cyclingfallacies.com/en/38/cycling-infrastructure-causes-pollution