"I don't think the cab driver did anything wrong": CyclingMikey defends taxi driver seen pulling into cycle lane (and attracting cyclist's anger) to let fire engine pass; Cat Ferguson wins again; Decathlon helmet recall; Cleat chat + more on the live blog

This video is doing the rounds this morning, attracting more than a million views on a certain social media platform...

Someone might want to remind this cab driver of Highway Code Rule 219. Nowhere does it say that if you see/hear an emergency vehicle, then pull into the cycle lane and slam your brakes on. pic.twitter.com/WqNXpc4rVH

— Chapona Bike (@ChaponaBike123) September 24, 2024

It's certainly got people talking and was uploaded with the caption, "Someone might want to remind this cab driver of Highway Code Rule 219. Nowhere does it say that if you see/hear an emergency vehicle, then pull into the cycle lane and slam your brakes on." 

For context, that Rule 219 in question states:

Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic.

Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.

The cyclist involved also shared the London Ambulance Service's advice, which states: "If there is no safe place for you to pull into, rather than immediately stopping, it is better to continue as you were at a safe speed until there is a safe place to pull in or until the ambulance vehicle can safely overtake. Please avoid pulling into bus lanes or cycle lanes."

The video, the rider's reaction and stance online since has not been a popular one and it has attracted plenty of comments and replies, including some from people saying they are fellow cyclists, questioning the complaints and defending the taxi driver pulling in to let an on-call emergency service vehicle through.

CyclingMikey re-shared the footage, writing: "I think this is the time to brake and stay out of the ambo's [fire engine's] way. I don't think the cab driver did anything wrong."

Sky Sports broadcaster Sanny Rudravajhala also weighed in: "Ok, so I ride my bike and even have a cycling podcast. But… this sort of post makes things worse for all of us.

"There are some on here who seem to have zero understanding of hazard perception. The law and its real life application may be different. And I don't think the taxi has done anything wrong here and is not a 'f*cking lunatic'. An ambulance [fire engine] is coming through and in good time, with enough space they've stopped out of the way. It's not like you wouldn't be aware of a blue light vehicle coming from behind.

"The cyclist could easily have also slowed or moved over for the ambulance too, cycle lane or otherwise. All this does is detract from actual bad drivers. More than 100 cyclists a year die on our roads in the UK, and many more are injured. The close shaves are countless. What this sh*tposting does is embolden the gutter people of the culture wars. Sorry."

However, not everyone agreed. One account, named Cycling Bob, wrote: "It's a fire engine. It's a solid white line. It's a dedicated cycle lane. You can not break the law just because there's an emergency vehicle behind you. Many red light infringements have been upheld when drivers move out of the way of emergency vehicles. This is no different."

Thoughts?

Challenging times at Simplon are continuing, the Austrian bike brand having had its management replaced at the end of 2023, before this year suffering revenue hits as the bike industry's recovery remains slow. Bike Europe reports the brand, Austria's second-largest bicycle manufacturer which employs 155 people, has applied for Chapter 11 status, meaning it can proceed with the 'debtor-in-possession restructuring procedure'.

It is believed this will maintain its operations and solvency, with the company also getting 90 days to continue discussions with possible investors.

"We embarked on a sustainable restructuring course and have been involved in intensive negotiations with several interested investors for some time," CEO Jakob Luksch said in a statement. "The outlook of these discussions are very promising as Simplon is known as a brand with a strong reputation and great potential for the future.

"As a team and through our joint efforts, we have renewed around 40 per cent of the product portfolio and rejuvenated our brand message. Thanks to a strategic realignment of sales, we have been able to expand the dealer network and gain major premium retail chains as customers. We have also achieved a significant reduction in the costs of staff. In addition, the existing shareholders have made great financial efforts to further secure the future.

"Simplon's business has recently developed consistently and in line with the sales forecast but only until the first half of this year. After that, the market experienced a downturn which was not expected. Like many other market players, Simplon is also feeling the pressure of increasing costs."

Cycling in the UK in the last week of September...

Decathlon Sports Limited Ireland has ordered a recall of ROCKRIDER Helmet MTB EXPL500 and ST500.

The brand stated the product "presents a risk of injuries" and a defect has been identified on the plastic part at the back of the helmet holding the chinstrap. It is believed there are 121 affected products in Ireland.

"This can compromise the helmet's ability to stay securely on your head which may lead to the risk of injury in the event of a fall," a statement on the Competition and Consumer Protection Comission says. 

The full list of affected batch/item codes can be viewed here, with the recall urging customers to stop using affected products immediately and to return their product to their nearest Decathlon Store for a full refund.

It was one of the stories of the Tour de France this summer... climbing times set by Marco Pantani more than 20 years ago being absolutely obliterated by today's best, Tadej Pogačar putting minutes into the times of the last rider to do the Giro-Tour double.

Well, speaking to AS, Alberto Contador reckons the faster times can be easily explained...

"Regarding the climb you mentioned [Plateu de Beille], simply because of the watts saved on bearings, the watts saved with tubeless tyres compared to the tubular used by Pantani… Pantani's bike would also have been a bit heavier, but it's not just that, we're talking about clothing, helmets, the road, and we're talking about how it was done like a team time trial.

> Comparing the Tour de France bikes that won on the Plateau de Beille in 1998 and 2024: Marco Pantani's Bianchi Mega Pro XL vs Tadej Pogačar's Colnago V4Rs

"First, with Kelderman, then Jorgenson, who was a rider who was in the top-five in the Tour, and he took over for four kilometres. Then he was taken over by the second strongest rider in the world, Vingegaard, so he's not going to hold the record… In Pantani's case, when he started, he started in the peloton, there was still a group of 50 riders, when they had climbed four or five kilometres, then he started and went off alone. So, it's all very relative. That doesn't mean that he didn't climb incredibly, but that four minutes isn't as much as it seems."

> Over 3,000 cyclists waiting for bike hangar space, as council aims to deliver parking infrastructure "suitable for larger bikes and cargo bikes"