Jeremy Vine on penny-farthing sparks pointless helmet row; Cargo biker turned away from recycling centre; “Deathtrap” Belfast cycle lane causes outrage; Mandatory high-vis because drivers have “less than perfect eyesight” + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Temporary cycle lane pops up on the A56 in Manchester
Great work. Protecting the precious space on public transport for those that don’t have a car is essential.
If people ride or walk where possible we can prevent overcrowding on 🚃 🚆 🚌 which would risk a second peak. Measures like this make them fee safe enough to do that. https://t.co/Pp70OA38I6
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) May 27, 2020
The major route into the city centre is now safe for cyclists, which gets the Chris Boardman seal of approval.
"Have a word, will you?": Ned Boulting writes to Sunday Times about Rod Liddle 'piano wire' article
.@thesundaytimes Hello. I wrote your editor a letter. It’s the first time I’ve ever done that in my life. But you won’t publish it, so I will. (And it’s not even about Cummings). pic.twitter.com/jqyB8wypeV
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) May 26, 2020
The broadcaster’s words sum up the frustration and disappointment felt by many of those who were unfortunate enough to stumble across Liddle’s Sunday Times article over the past few days. He also said: “Even as I post this, I am aware that it’s probably echoing in a chamber. The most important thing we can do it spread this simple message to other folk who may not cycle or even care about it, but need to get from A to B on our roads.”
Bristol councillor receives overwhelmingly negative response over potential pop-up cycle lane
A South Gloucestershire councillor took to a community Facebook group to ask residents for their opinions on a new pop-up cycle lane on a busy ring road in the Bristol suburb of Bromley Heath; with the overwhelming response from residents being negative.
The councillor wrote: “They (the council) wish to temporarily convert the inside lane of the Ring Road between Bromley Heath roundabout and the Hambrook traffic lights to a cycle lane. Their reasoning behind this was that traffic flows have decreased and cycling has increased significantly. Buses are not able to run anywhere near capacity so public transport is limited. There is a pinch point on the cycle lane in this area which makes the volume of cyclist and walkers difficult to manage. They would be looking at implementing this at the end of this week/ start of next week. We have raised several points and concerns about the scheme this morning but wanted to open this up to residents views before we give our final view to officers.”
Many of the comments expressed concerns about the levels of traffic increasing as the lockdown begins to lift, and the lane would simply be a case of too little, too late. Others say that it should have been done a month ago, with one commenting: “Crazy idea, wait a few months when everyone is back to work just for the winter when cycling drops off and nobody wants to take the bus.”
The councillor later commented: “The concerns raised echo the ones that we raised this morning with officers. Our view was that this scheme should not go ahead but I did not want to state that initially so that residents could comment with an open mind. We are committed to increasing the use of alternatives to car travel and that this must be done in a safe and sustainable way.”
With the government encouraging commuters to cycle and walk where possible and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps delivering a funding boost for temporary cycle lanes, many would argue that the need for social distancing post-lockdown will remain for some time… what do you think?
"Many motorists have less than perfect eyesight": Reader letter in Aus newspaper ridiculed for proposing mandatory high-vis
“So many cyclists are thoughtless with their clothing choice regarding visibility by motorists. What they don’t understand is many motorists have less than perfect eyesight.” https://t.co/jpfUflZC8O
— Michael O’Reilly (@MichaelOReilly_) May 27, 2020
The letter in Adelaide Now says: “So many cyclists are thoughtless with their clothing choice regarding visibility by motorists. What they don’t understand is many motorists have less than perfect eyesight and light conditions affect visibility.
“I would like to see mandatory hi-vis vests compulsory for motorcycles and bicycles, just as helmets are. Motorists are victims, too, because having to live with causing an accident because you didn’t see is traumatic.”
Wow. “I can’t operate this machine safely so you’d better protect yourself from me”. We know this is how people think, but it’s rare to see it said
— Ian Walker (@ianwalker) May 27, 2020
It’s not my job to worry about your eyesight. There is a licensing department for that. Also a motor vehicle is a responsibility that you should take seriously so if you aren’t fit to drive fix it or stop driving.
— Nathaniel Offer (@nathanieloffer) May 27, 2020
It’s difficult to decipher which sentence is more absurd, with many pointing out that a driver who cannot see a cyclist in less-than-perfect conditions should probably consider if their fitness to drive may be more of a problem than the clothing worn by those around them.
Perhaps a trip to the UK (more specifically Barnard Castle) to check the eyesight before driving would be a sensible idea*…
So, not irony? Or written by Dominic Cummins?
— AlburyBibleChurch (@AlburyBC) May 27, 2020
*Definitely not a sensible idea.
Is this the new Specialized Tarmac in the wild??
New Specialized Tarmac SL7? pic.twitter.com/xXb8vH0s6z
— david arthur (@davearthur) May 27, 2020
Here’s what looks to be a Spesh Tarmac with a completely clean front end and blingy new paint job – has their revamped flagship all-round race bike been leaked? In any case, wise to make use of that Sheffield stand rather than leaning it against a tree for too long before it attracts the wrong kind of attention…
Beacon Blue: Ricky Ross says "worst thing about lockdown" is "new cyclists with no lights and no clue"
Worst thing about lockdown is a whole generation of new cyclists now cycling with no lights and no clue.
— Ricky Ross (@rickyaross) May 26, 2020
Following on from the popular topic of drivers’ eyesight, now the lead singer of the once-popular pop rock band Deacon Blue says that “a whole generation of new cyclists” are now riding without lights and have “no clue.” Not everyone agrees, or believes this is feasible…
It’s not really, though, is it, Ricky? It’s not in the top 100. But it’s pretty close in many people’s to being literally the ONLY good thing.
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) May 27, 2020
Who are all these people that are cycling FOR THE FIRST TIME without lights between the hours of 9.44pm and 4.45am that are getting Ricky so riled up?
“Fancy a 2am ride Johnny?”
“Well I’ve not ridden in years and I’ve not got any lights but, fuck it, why not?”— Michael Crebbin (@swissmikey) May 27, 2020
If you’re concerned about safety, there are about 500 other issues that you could have highlighted as the worst thing about lockdown. It’s a total fail on safety evidence & sense of proportion of what’s happening here & globally. Hence the replies to you.
— Simon Munk (@psimonk) May 27, 2020
In a later exchange with presenter Ned Boulting, Mr Ross said he “totally gets” the positives of cycling and meant no harm with his comments, but others have pointed to the reported spike in anti-cyclist behaviour as the potential consequences of expressing such views on a public forum.
Then you should know better than to tweet anti-cycling dogwhistles to a big audience. You make it sound like there are thousands of people swarming the roads after dark – really how many new cyclists are going out after 10pm?
— Hannah 🚲 (rage ➡️ watts) (@theeyecollector) May 27, 2020
"Deathtrap": terrifying new cycle lane on Belfast dual carriageway causes outrage
Resurfacing was successfully completed on the Sydenham Bypass and adjacent cycle lane over the weekend between Dee Street and George Best Belfast City Airport pic.twitter.com/MpfgXrCi6G
— Dept Infrastructure (@deptinfra) May 27, 2020
When more cycling infrastructure was promised during and after the pandemic in many parts of the UK, this is probably not what Belfast residents had in mind – the cycle lane is separated only by paint and is placed next to a two-lane dual carriageway. The tweet from the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland has provoked a furious response.
Imagine tweeting this like you’re proud of it.
What an embarrassment.
— Gordon Struth 🐑 (@gordon_struth) May 27, 2020
If your paint works, ask yourself why architects don’t paint guardrails into buildings, why do we insist they provide physical balustrades?
Once you’ve answered that, have another look at what you’ve just done.
— Michael – Test, Trace, Isolate (@baoigheallain) May 27, 2020
That looks like it’s specifically designed to get people killed. Have a word with yourselves. Deathtrap.
— Henry Sugar (@glintingframe) May 27, 2020
That cycle lane! 😬😬😬 thats terrifying. I want to cycle round Belfast more but I won’t be using that death trap 🙃
— erin audrey (@ferris_erin) May 27, 2020
Would you ride on it?
*When we first published this post we described the cycle lanes pictured as ‘two-way’ , but we’ve since learned it is one-way. Apologies for the confusion.
Man who arrived by cargo bike to recycling centre turned away because he wasn't in a car
I’ve just been turned away from the recycling centre because I’m not in a car!?! I don’t own a car @DevonCC.
What greater risk do I pose than a driver? What I do help alleviate is the queue of polluting cars waiting to get into the recycling centre. pic.twitter.com/jswnrKDRpo
— Caspar Hughes (@countcaspargh) May 27, 2020
Caspar Hughes says he was turned away from an ECC recycling centre in Marsh Barton, Exeter because he arrived by cargo bike rather than a car. He also added: “I asked to speak to the boss and he came straight up to me, without respecting any social distancing. I had to take a step back.”
I just clarified this through my councillor with @DundeeCouncil and they are fine with me showing up at the recycling centre with my freight bike, so clearly at least one local authority doesn’t see a problem.
— Peter Clinch (@pj_clinch) May 27, 2020
Had the same happen in Dewsbury @KirkleesCouncil – privately run site, turned away due to h &S, despite being in hi-viz and helmet. probably more visible than on site workers.
— Ian_b (@Ian_in_Spen) May 27, 2020
Numerous people replied to say they have been allowed into their recycling centre when arriving by bike, while the reasoning for turning away bikes are reportedly because of visibility, or the current pandemic – neither of which it seems would pose more of a risk than driving onto the site.
So far it doesn’t appear anyone from Exeter City Council has responded. Have you had a similar experience at your local tip?
Mad Max, pushbike edition
Jeremy Vine rides up new look Park Lane on a penny-farthing... and is wrongly 'accused' of not wearing a helmet
I believe I’m the first person to cycle up the redesigned Park Lane on a penny farthing pic.twitter.com/3cSfSyFK0W
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) May 27, 2020
The broadcaster is well known for posting his various trials and tribulations of cycle commuting around London… and now he claims to be the first person to take to Park Lane’s new pop-up cycle lane on a penny-farthing. Is he though? Our news editor Simon spotted this fella and a couple of other around the Hyde Park area recently, so there’s a possibility that might not be the case…
And that’s not the only thing that needs debunking from this video. A number of people in the comments appear angry at Mr Vine for not wearing a helmet…
You just show how irresponsible cyclists can be. No helmet and videoing yourself whilst stirring with one hand. 😡
— Debbie (@pots1005) May 27, 2020
However, the chin straps under what looks like a flat cap on his head reveal that he’s wearing what we believe to be a rather fetching Tweed Helmet Cap from Beg Bicycles. He’s also criticised a number of times for filming himself while riding; and while it takes a certain level of confidence to do so on a penny-farthing, this is not illegal in the United Kingdom.
27 May 2020, 08:54
The paper have now defended the controversial columnist after a big backlash
Sunday Times says Rod Liddle “piano wire” column “not intended to be taken seriously”
Newspaper excuses anti-cyclist piece with exact phrase that Cycling UK had said would be an “inappropriate” defence of column
27 May 2020, 08:54
You couldn't make it up etc etc...
Cycle campaigners urge council to STOP building cycle lanes
Camcycle says pop-up infrastructure in Cambridge makes roads more dangerous for cyclists and does not meet government guidance
27 May 2020, 08:54
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38 Comments
Latest Comments
Halfords in Milton Keynes has space to lock up a grand total of two bicycles outside it's shop. That's how committed they are. I looked at stuff there, at a time it wasn't busy, then went to Decathlon's cycling department and that was heaving with customers. They seem to focus on car stuff these days, they may be better off dropping cycling.
@shufflingb I agree. I switched off the voice control on my GoPro when it’s on the bike. It would randomly switch on and off when I was talking to my riding buddy. Who needs voice control on the bike, in wind and traffic?
@Rendel Harris If was the passenger, I'd have got out at the petrol station, taken the keys (if possible) walked away and phoned the police.
surely the shopping carrying dilemma at Oxford Street is no worse than at places like Bluewater?
@Rendel Harris absolute scum..no other words
Something I learned the hard way going down the south side of the Col du Parpaillon in the mud and rain on a loaded touring bike was to ride across the ruts not in them.
Trainers with steel toe-caps?
Not sure I trust myself to comment on this one, so I'll just give the facts: guy ran over a cyclist, a 56-year-old headteacher, with his 4x4. Dragged him a mile with the passenger still able to hear him moaning in pain. Stopped to try and pull him off the car, couldn't so got back in and drove off again, slaloming to get rid of him. At least he's on trial for murder, which is something. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c674p0l8925eo
Weak fork not necessarily weak. I did the same once, not so dramatically as here, but the fork was still toast and I cracked a wrist bone. Mechanism is, if the tyre catches the mudguard, the guard can start rotating with the tyre. The mudguard stays instantly dig into the tyre, because geometry, the front wheel locks completely solid in about a quarter of a revolution, and the rider gets brutally thrown off the front while wondering what just happened. This is why front mudguard stays need a breakaway fitment.
38 thoughts on “Jeremy Vine on penny-farthing sparks pointless helmet row; Cargo biker turned away from recycling centre; “Deathtrap” Belfast cycle lane causes outrage; Mandatory high-vis because drivers have “less than perfect eyesight” + more on the live blog”
In other news, a South
In other news, a South Gloucestershire councillor took to social media to ask local residents whether the council should shut the stable door now that the horse has bolted.
Yes, developing plans for pop up infrastructure should have been encouraged by the govt from first day of lockdown when the roads were empty but 3 weeks since Schapps announcement and councils are still pissing about getting nothing done.
I used to live in South
I used to live in South Gloucestershire, where they thought about putting in a cycle lane just as restrictions are ending, and “too little, too late” is in fact their mission statement for cycling. They are full of praise for it of course, and have any number of glossy documents and policies, but anything that might actually be useful or take away space from drivers is firmly rejected, despite being supported by all the same documents and policies.
As far as active travel goes, SGlos is pretty much the definitive case of cognitive dissonance.
BTW, SGlos is definitely not Bristol!
All those Bristolians (of
All those Bristolians (of which I am one) are missing the point – with the unavoidable reduction in public transport there’s not enough capacity unless significantly more people get on bikes or walk.
What would you rather have? Gridlock for all vehicles or gridlock for motorised vehicles with bikes & pedestrians moving smoothly? That’s basically the choice – not some fantasy world where motor traffic can function like it used to.
They miss gridlock.
They miss gridlock.
It reminds them of the Before Times…
The ‘Before Times’. The.
The ‘Before Times’. The. Before. Times? Nope, sorry.
(Do you find that your memories of browsing in a bookshop at lunchtime abnd buying a take-out coffee are starting to fade into a dream? Or is that just me?)
Not just you – the internet
Not just you – the internet was down in the pharmacy this morning and I had to hand over actual cash to pay for something – it was a very weird experience.
mdavidford wrote:
“Cash”? OMG.
Cash is now just that thing you say you don’t have when a homeless person asks you for it…
Not just Bristolians. Nobody
Not just Bristolians. Nobody will set foot on a bus any time soon unless they reaaalllly have to. People would still rather sit in their cars, even for hours and hours in gridlocked traffic, rather than use ‘active travel’.
good message from Ned, I
good message from Ned, I thought there.
According to this Twitter
According to this Twitter thread, the manchester A56 bike corridor is just the first:
Overwhelmingly negative
Overwhelmingly negative response from Bookface community group – but the comment with the most ‘likes’ only has 14 of them. That’s a small sample.
This isn’t the same as a proper consultation, and we don’t know what kind of community group it is. It may not include many people who ride bikes, so the responses could be from people who don’t care if it’s safe to ride or not.
My favorite post on the
My favorite post on the Twittter thread on the Australian thing.
Thank goodness we live in a
Thank goodness we live in a country where responsible people take their families on 60 mile round trip car journeys to check that their sight is OK before embarking on longer excursions.
I’m feeling quite stubborn
I’m feeling quite stubborn about the green and yellow tops I own. Maybe I’ll wear them, but Not for this reason, Mr Magoo.
Publicly, my position to drivers, (various on Sunday) is “you pose the risk, don’t expect me to manage for you”. I would defend the “stealth” head to toe black brigade.
Privately, and in reality, not wishing to get squished, I wear a coloured top and ride at times assertively so as to be noticed, and at times defensively, when I can see a driver is distracted/ incompetent / about to cock something up / hasn’t looked/ is an aggressive nob – and I don’t want to be near when whatever is coming next happens.
Meanwhile Ricky Ross has
Meanwhile Ricky Ross has started a whole thread of prejudiced anti-cycling bingo.
He seems to like complaining about cyclists. ‘He never lets on but I know ’cause he once told me.’
Who’s Ricky Ross?
Who’s Ricky Ross?
Deacon Blue. (I’m old enough
Deacon Blue. (I’m old enough to remember). And now an occasional BBC radio presenter I believe.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
His mate and band drummer is an extremely keen cyclist too….
Quote:
Now remember, boys and girls,
Now remember, boys and girls, it’s dangerous to ride on the hard shoulder. Hmm, wait a minute…
Belfast: Wow!! Just wow!
Belfast: Wow!! Just wow!
With no effort whatsoever, the Department of Infrastructure have rocketed straight to the top of Crap Cycle Infrastructure chart. With a complete negation of every single bit of guidance and advice, they have literally made cycling a suicidal activity. If there is any collision involving a cyclist on that road they should be held liable and sued.
I used to live in Belfast, and it was pretty bad then, with lots of traffic and no cycle infra at all, and the department was extremely resistant to suggestions about improving things, and IIRC they said something like “We don’t want to encourage cycling as it would increase the KSI numbers of cyclists.”
Whoever designed, approved and allowed this staggeringly awful, insane thing to proceed should be sacked for failing to ensure the safety of road users and wasting taxpayers’ money.
I’m not sure on how long ago
I’m not sure on how long ago you lived there but the cycle lane has been in place for years. It used to have a red covering at one point which appears to have been removed in the recent refresh which probably makes it slightly more dangerous then before.
The below is dated 2008 just after they created it.
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.6169027,-5.8659365,3a,75y,48.1h,80.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWhmC6TddjjQkTWWpy5nEbQ!2e0!5s20080801T000000!7i13312!8i6656
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
I was there in 1990, so a bit before that, but I had the very wonderful experience of seeing Billy Bragg there on the day Maggie resigned; unforgettable.
I’m not sure on how long ago
Double post
There’s nothing worse than
There’s nothing worse than people saying “the worst thing about…” and then saying something completely innocuous. 😉
I doubt that Belfast cycleway
I doubt that Belfast cycleway will pose a danger to anyone cycling in it. Judging by most roads in NI it will be full of parked cars in about 5 minutes flat anyway.
that belfast dual carriageway
that belfast dual carriageway… just who thought that was a good idea >.<“
what they really need is to rip it all out and start over!! I want to see 7 criss-crossing cycle lanes paved in solid gold and glass in checkered pattern. what could possibly go wrong lol
“*When we first published
“*When we first published this post we described the cycle lanes pictured as ‘two-way’ , but we’ve since learned it is one-way.”
So have they explained what the dotted white lane marking is for? Why would you paint a lane marking in a cycle lane if it was one way? Or are they just panicking and trying to find any excuse, no matter how implausible?
Do I post too many questions?
Is it a dual carriageway
Is it a dual carriageway cycle lane(s)?
Right hand lane for overtaking, provided you want to be right next to the (ahem..) 50mph vehicles?
Might be. When I posted the
Might be. When I posted the google maps previously I never looked on the other side and there is one there as well.
I’ve only ever travelled that route on a shuttle bus to and from the Airport and it is pretty much a motorway in all but name and feeds directly into the M3. I don’t think I ever saw one cyclist and who can blame them.
Of course ! Any fool can see
Of course ! Any fool can see that !
These cyclists need to mamil up !
loving the Aus letter :
loving the Aus letter : “motorists are victims too”. You couldn’t make it up – or could you?
the cargo bike tip issue came up on here a few days ago – a guy in Herefordshire. My view is that the Council is failing to provide the service to its residents, in the way required by law.
David9694 wrote:
They used to run a poster campaign on railway platforms against opening carriage doors before the train stopped (slam-door coaches) showing a picture of a woman on the platform being taken out by a man who opened a door on the arriving train. The byline was “A moment’s impatience, a lifetime of remorse.” You can be a victim of your own making. And not everyone is perfect. It does no harm to allow for the failings of others and make yourself perhaps that bit more visible than ought to be necessary. The guy could have worded it better but I have no argument with the basic idea.
The boots were approaching
The boots were approaching again. The door opened. O’Brien came in.
Winston started to his feet. The shock of the sight had driven all caution out of him. For the first time in many years he forgot the presence of the telescreen.
‘They’ve got you too!’ he cried.
‘They got me a long time ago,’ said O’Brien with a mild, almost regretful irony.
Oh goody, a pointless helmet
Oh goody, a pointless helmet row. I’ll sharpen my pencil.
Where? Where? lemme at it!
Where? Where? lemme at it!
David9694 wrote:
Behind you! Just to the left of the invisible man wearing hi-viz.
The Belfast bike lane has
The Belfast bike lane has been in existence since the 1930’s!!
When the Sydenham Bypass was built, it included a bike lane on either side. The original plan was for it to cover the full route from Bridge End in Belfast where the original flyover is at the bottom of the Newtownards Road right through to Bangor. They only managed to get as far as the Knocknagoney junction outside Holywood before WW2 started. At this junction there was a really well laid out infrastructure for cyclists which actually took you under the junction of Sydenham Bypass and Holywood Road. I’ve attatched a couple of pics that you can see the underpasses.
After the war this project was not resumed due to regeneration from the Blitz and then The Troubles threw a spanner in the works. All this coupled with the rapid growth of car ownership, people moving out of the city has resulted in the bike lane being totally neglected. I’m actually very surprised that the DOE didn’t commandeer the lane to convert to a third lane for motorised traffic.
My dad used to cycle regularly to Bangor in the 50’s making use of this infrastructure until he moved to another her part of the country. He told me all about the plans a lot of years ago.