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“Oops, bike lane was a mistake… Good luck cyclists”: Commuter protests “worst cycle lane in the world” with homemade signs; Peter Sagan and Thibaut Pinot’s (very different) Tour de France farewells + more on the live blog

Another week of exciting racing on the roads of France AND another week on the live blog? Ryan Mallon can’t believe his luck…
Mon, Jul 24, 2023 10:22
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“Oops, bike lane was a mistake… Good luck cyclists”: Commuter protests “worst cycle lane in the world” with homemade signs; Peter Sagan and Thibaut Pinot’s (very different) Tour de France farewells + more on the live blogValencia Street cycle lane signs 2 (Danielle Baskin)
24 July 2023, 08:10
Valencia Street cycle lane signs (Danielle Baskin)
“Oops, bike lane was a mistake… Uh, good luck turning right”: Commuter protests “worst cycle lane in the world” – which runs down the middle of the road and was designed “just to save 20 parking spots” – with homemade signs

From the boulevards of Paris to the sunny streets of San Francisco… Never say I don’t take you anywhere on the live blog.

Well, over in San Fran (that’s what they call it, isn’t it?), a controversial cycle lane – which runs, for some reason, up the middle of a main city street – and the “dangerous, ridiculous” construction signs which currently run along it, have inspired one bike riding commuter to install her own, cutting bike lane signs.

Valencia Street cycle lane signs 4 (Danielle Baskin)

The new cycle lane on the Californian city’s Valencia Street runs down the middle of the road, with traffic passing on either side.

Cyclists using it are protected by the odd plastic bollard and small rubber kerbs. They have also had to, for the last three months, navigate the large construction signs currently lining the centre of the bike lane for its duration.

Mission Local reports that plans for the cycle lane were approved, despite lukewarm support, in a bid to avoid removing delivery spaces on either side of the road. As the bike lane has been built, several cyclists have crashed – including into the signs – and traffic experts have been scathing of the scheme, describing it as “an abomination” and the “worst infrastructure I have ever seen anywhere in the world”.

Over the past week – in a bid to highlight the absurdity of the cycling ‘infra’ – a local cyclist has launched her own protest by swapping out the much-derided constructions signs with satirical ones of her own making.

Valencia Street cycle lane signs (Dylan Hunn, Twitter)

Nine new signs appeared along the cycle path last week, each highlighting the problems with the lane’s layout.

“Uh, good luck turning right,” read one, while another said: “LOL IDK how you will merge.”

Others included: “We regret this bike lane”, “Good luck cyclists”, “LMAO We didn’t think this thru”, “If fire truck comes IDK”, and ““Oops bike lane was a mistake”.

The anonymous jokester, who commutes on Valencia Street every day, told the local paper that she installed the homemade messages because she finds the original signs “pretty ridiculous”.

“They’re an obstruction to cyclists, and also extremely confusing,” she said, noting that on one of her rides she saw one of the signs cracked in half after a cyclist hit it. That inspired her to make slogans lampooning the “dangerous” nature of the signs themselves.

Valencia Street cycle lane signs 3 (Danielle Baskin)

Explaining her “good luck turning right” sign, she said: “If you have a green light and the cars have a green light, there’s this little square you have to wait in, but you don’t have much time. You have to make eye contact with drivers and let them let you make a right turn.”

Meanwhile, her fire truck-related sign was a result of the local authority’s decision to also make the cycle lane the designated lane for emergency services.

“Imagine you’re on your bike and there’re cars on both sides, and then the fire truck comes down. Where do you go?” she asked.

Valencia Street cycle lane signs 2 (Danielle Baskin)

Despite encountering some opposition from the local authority – who promptly took the signs down – the cyclist returned over the weekend to keep spreading the message.

“Ultimately, I don’t think it’s the best vision for Valencia Street,” she said of the much-maligned cycling infra.

“They did all this just to save 20 parking spots. It’s frustrating because Valencia would be such a nice street, if the focus was on bikes and pedestrians.”

24 July 2023, 15:41
Liane Lippert wins stage two, 2023 Tour de France Femmes (GCN)
Liane Lippert powers past Lotte Kopecky to take breakthrough win after tense, chaotic Tour de France Femmes stage

German champion Liane Lippert timed her sprint to perfection at the end of a difficult, tense, and chaotic day at the Tour de France Femmes, powering past yellow jersey Lotte Kopecky on the tough drag to the line in Mauriac to secure the biggest win of her career so far.

The 25-year-old, whose victories have been confined to her home championships since winning the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in February 2020, has been knocking on the door of a breakthrough success for some time now, recording a plethora of top tens at the world championships, the classics, and at the biggest stage races.

And if the ever-increasing weight of expectation wasn’t enough, she was forced to overcame a spill in the neutralised zone and a later crash that also brought down her Movistar team Annemiek van Vleuten, before navigating the tricky, rain-soaked final kilometres, that saw several riders, including Uno-X’s Maria Giulia Confalonieri and Jumbo-Visma’s breakaway rider Eva van Agt, hit the deck hard.

Lippert then remained cool amidst a flurry of attacks on the final climb – with Kasia Niewiadoma responsible for most of the pressure exerted on the dwindling bunch – and then expertly followed the wheels as SD Worx’s Demi Vollering (who, for most of the stage had been showcasing her best Pogačar-Vingegaard impression alongside Van Vleuten) hit the front to string things out in the final kilometre for the comfortable looking Kopecky.

But the German’s uphill sprint proved too strong for the yellow jersey, who she surged past in the closing metres to secure the first of what may now prove to be many, many victories on the biggest stage.

“I think it might take a while to realise it, and I’m really happy and proud,” Lippert said after the finish. “I crashed twice, in the neutral and on the climb, so there was a bit of stress. But the team did so well, and everyone was a big part of this.

“We came back after the crash and stayed calm in the rain. But I always stay calm in the rain, so I was actually happy when it started.

“I’ve been waiting so long for a win, and to win at the Tour de France, I couldn’t wish for more.”

Her team leader, and the defending Tour champion, Van Vleuten was more succinct about what this victory will mean for Lippert’s career: “Once she starts winning, she won’t stop.”

That’s a prediction I certainly wouldn’t bet against.

24 July 2023, 16:29
When your cyclocross skills come in handy

2019 European champion Yara Kastelijn putting her ‘cross tekkers to good use on the kind of slippery corner normally reserved for British town crits… 

24 July 2023, 15:16
Classic British weather at the Tour de France

Lovely. 

24 July 2023, 14:26
Annemiek van Vleuten down in crash which sends Elisa Longo Borghini off the road

Scary moment for the defending champion here, though she’s now safely back in the bunch as the pace ramps up towards the increasingly tough and hilly finale.

24 July 2023, 13:42
Josh Quigley (BBC)
“I hope this will give others hope and help people have open conversations about suicide and mental health”: New BBC documentary on Josh Quigley set to air on Friday

A new documentary on Scottish ultra-cyclist and mental health campaigner Josh Quigley – a former seven day cycling distance world record holder and persistent round the world rider – will air on BBC One this Friday evening at 7.30pm, chronicling the Livingston man’s battle with depression and how riding a bike gave him a “new lease of life”.

The programme ‘Cycling Saved My Life’ follows Quigley as he (ultimately unsuccessfully) attempts to represent Team GB at next month’s cycling world championships, and details how he grabbed a second chance at life after a failed suicide attempt, following a battle with alcoholism, in 2015.

“I know from my intense battle with depression how isolating it can be. I hope my story can inspire others to find their purpose, and show it is possible to come back from the brink,” the 30-year-old, who discussed his struggles with mental health on the road.cc Podcast in 2021, says.

Josh Quigley celebrations Guinness World Record (Image credit: Josh Quigley/Twitter)

> Riding 2,179 miles in a week: Josh Quigley interviewed on the road.cc Podcast

“It was exposing my life for six months, but I completely trusted Jordan [Laird, director] to tell my story in a positive way that could impact others. I hope this will give others hope and help people have open conversations about suicide and mental health.”

Despite only taking up cycling a few years ago, in 2021 Josh completed an around-the-world ride at the eighth time of asking and broke the world record for the most distance cycled in a week, covering a staggering 2,179 miles.

Those amazing feats came after five years of extraordinary ultra-cycling frustration. He abandoned a 2016 attempt after riding more than 10,000 miles, and his run of bad luck ramped up in 2019 when he was fined £75 for cycling through Bedford Town Centre towards the start of his trip.

Just weeks later he had his bike stolen in London, and after buying a new bike and making it to Australia, he found himself having to fly home to get a new passport and fly back again because he had damaged his old one with sweat.

Just a month later after resuming his trip, Josh was hit from behind at 70mph by a driver in Texas, suffering a fractured skull, ribs, pelvis, and ankle as well as a punctured lung.

Josh Quigley seven-day cycling world record attempt (via Josh Quigley/Twitter)

> Josh Quigley breaks North Coast 500 record

Following his arduous recovery, Quigley set a new North Coast 500 record in September 2020, raising funds for the Baylor Scott and White Medical Centre in Texas, where he was treated after the 2019 incident, in the process.

In January 2021 Josh then suffered multiple fractures while training in Dubai, coming off his bike while descending at around 35-40mph. Just a few months later he made his first attempt at the seven-day world record but was forced to abandon due to injury... before returning to the same course to finally take the world record later that year in September and bury those past demons.

Josh Quigley in New York City via Twitter

> Josh Quigley completes round-the-world ride – two years after driver almost killed him

“Cycling is my purpose now, and I’m giving it absolutely everything,” he says. “I’ve missed out on the Championships in Glasgow, but like every setback in life, that’s only made me stronger.  I won’t stop until I make it to the Tour de France.”

The documentary’s director Jordan Laird added: “There’s a moment in the documentary when Josh talks about looking at a pint of lager and asking: ‘There must be more to life than this?’

“That brought home how universal this story is. Josh could have been one of my mates, I know so many people feel like him, who experience mental health issues but don’t talk about it. Any of us could have been in that situation. While it was cycling that Josh found purpose in, it could have been anything.

“This is a story of the transformative power of sport, of how sport can save someone’s life. It’s a story of resilience, determination, and ultimately, survival.

“It’s a regular guy putting every ounce into something. Watching him has had a huge impact on my life and I think his story will have a huge impact on others. It’s been a long time in the making, and I can’t wait for people to see it.”

Our Lives: Cycling Saved My Life will air on BBC One at 7.30pm this Friday. It will then be available on the BBC iPlayer.

24 July 2023, 13:06
Trial to begin of twin brothers accused of murdering charity cyclist after drink-driving collision
Anthony Parsons in Glencoe Village (via Police Scotland)

The murder trial of Alexander and Robert McKellar, accused of hitting charity cyclist Tony Parsons while driving under the influence before murdering him and disposing of his body on a country estate, is set to get underway at Glasgow's High Court today.

Mr Parsons — who was 63 when he was reported missing while on a 104-mile charity bike ride from Fort William to his home in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, in September 2017 — was last seen at around 11.30pm on the evening of the 29th outside the Bridge of Orchy Hotel in Argyll and Bute. 

Read more: > Trial to begin of twin brothers accused of murdering charity cyclist after drink-driving collision

24 July 2023, 12:25
“It’s to get more people riding bikes, it’s not necessarily to create the next world champion”: Ten days to go until the Scottish world championships

The men may be just waking up in Paris, bleary-eyed and exhausted, while the women are currently racing through the Massif Central, but don’t forget – there’s just ten more sleeps until the inaugural Mega Worlds kicks off in Scotland next Thursday!

And, if you forget about the potential strike action, locals complaining about road closures, and dodgy road surfaces, it is shaping up to be a cracking celebration of all things cycling…

And, as someone who’s planning to spend most the 11-day long championships cramming in as much bike race spectating as is physically and emotionally possible, I for one can’t wait…

24 July 2023, 11:49
Lotte Kopecky wins stage one, 2023 Tour de France Femmes (A.S.O./Thomas Maheux)
Tour de France Femmes stage two: GC contenders set to come to the fore on hilly stage through the Massif Central

After Belgian champion Lotte Kopecky upset the sprinters with a devastating attack on the Côte de Durtol to solo to the first yellow jersey of her career – with Lorena Wiebes winning the sprint behind for a wholly predictable, but still scintillating, SD Worx one-two in Clermont-Ferrand – today’s second stage of the Tour de France Femmes could see a GC battle that already began to crackle yesterday explode into life.

Tour de France Femmes 2023 stage two

After Clermont-Ferrand ensures it gets its money’s worth with yet more stage hosting duties this month, the riders will take on a constantly lumpy trek through the Massif Central, where the short, sharp climbs should suit classics specialists such as race leader and double Tour of Flanders winner Kopecky.

However, the final climb of the Côte de Trebiac – 3.4km at 5.8 percent – tops out at just 1.4km from the finish, which also features a last-minute kick to the line in Mauriac, and could draw out the punchier of the overall contenders, like Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, and possibly even the pre-race big two, Annemiek van Vleuten and Kopecky’s teammate Demi Vollering.

Stage one, 2023 Tour de France Femmes (A.S.O./Thomas Maheux)

(A.S.O./Thomas Maheux)

Or maybe Elisa Longo Borghini, who looked so strong before her crash at the Giro Donne and who was perfectly ensconced near the front of the fracturing chase behind the rampant Kopecky yesterday, could storm away on the final run-in and make it two for two for national champs at this year’s Tour?

In any case, we may have a more telling indication of who’s got what it takes to don yellow in Pau by the end of today…

24 July 2023, 11:20
Something, something, Mondays, something
24 July 2023, 10:51
And now on to the most important part of the post-Tour analysis…

With the men’s Tour over for another year, and as the Paris hangover begins to slowly dissipate, it’s time to turn our attention to what these last three weeks were really all about…

Yep, that’s right, the road.cc Fantasy League!

And it was a pretty spectacular Tour for your resident live blogger, who secured an impressive victory in the road.cc staff league, smashed the family competition, topped the Northern Ireland charts, and battled Guillaume Martin-style to tenth place overall (although the whole system malfunction thing before stage 19 might have played a part in that particular lofty position. And before you ask, it was nothing to do with me… Or was it?).

Fantasy League 2023 results

Anyway, congrats to road.cc reader dborgbrant, whose team Egan sealed a commanding victory with a whopping 3,109 points.

Because that’s what this Tour thing is really all about, isn’t it?

24 July 2023, 10:30
Cyclist charged over pedestrian’s death in riverside footpath collision

Thames Valley Police have confirmed the man was charged with causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving in relation to the death of an 81-year-old pedestrian in Oxford last year.

Iffley Lock, Oxford (David Hallam-Jones / Iffley Lock, South Oxford / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Read more: > Cyclist charged over pedestrian’s death in riverside footpath collision

24 July 2023, 09:59
Merci Thibaut Pinot (sha la la la la la la la, Thibaut Pinot)

Meanwhile, on the complete opposite end of the emotional spectrum, another member of the much-vaunted Class of 1990 bowed out of the Tour de France – a race in which Thibaut Pinot has experienced, and forced basically every cycling fan in the world to experience with him, the most thrilling highs and crushing lows – with another rendition of his song (what else?) ringing in his ears…

I’m not crying, you’re crying…

And while we’re all getting teary-eyed at Thibaut bidding the Tour adieu, let’s soak in one more time that moment on the Petit Ballon on Saturday:

That’s the way to bow out of the Tour de France. Merci, Thibaut.

24 July 2023, 09:33
Peter Sagan celebrates never having to ride the Tour de France again

And off he goes, 12 stage wins and seven green jerseys later, with all the nonchalance of a man who would be happy if he never saw a pair of dropped handlebars again in his life…

Of course, the soon-to-be-mountain biking three-time world champion couldn’t bow out of the race that helped define his career without treating us to another classic Sagz moment, delivering a refreshingly honest assessment of his relief at never having to ride the damned thing again.

“Finally, I’m so happy, so glad that it’s the last one. I’m tired,” he told Eurosport, and basically any other broadcaster who tried desperately to probe a tear, or even some degree of reflection, from the Slovakian star on the Champs-Élysées after yesterday’s final stage.

“It’s the last one, so what? Life continues, the show must go on. I’ve had a good time in cycling, in the Tour de France… But I’ve had enough. I’m happy it’s the last one.”

Now, that’s the kind of inspiring parting message I’d want to see on a t-shirt…

Ryan Mallon

After obtaining a PhD, lecturing, and hosting a history podcast at Queen’s University Belfast, Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.

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6 comments

Avatar
Rome73 | 1 year ago
0 likes

Those satirical signs were good, very clever.  

Avatar
NOtotheEU | 1 year ago
1 like

I can't decide if the 'watch out for signs' sign is official or homemade 😁

Avatar
Awavey | 1 year ago
2 likes

Lotte Kopecky won stage 1 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift...in case you wondered

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
8 likes

That cycle lane is ridiculous - they value parking spaces over people's well-being.

Avatar
brooksby replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
13 likes

Who do they think they are?  Kensington & Chelsea?? 

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to hawkinspeter | 1 year ago
2 likes

Putting the cycling down the middle of the road - between the motor vehicles - is probably right up there with sticking a blue bike sign on a narrow footpath and calling it infra.  Inconvenient AND unpleasant - probably even less safe than the latter.

We can only hope that someone over here doesn't point to this and say "let's copy"!

Being a cycling advocate in the US doesn't look like a rewarding way to spend time though - unless you're a rhino-skinned contrarian e.g. John Forester.

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