Comedian Rob Beckett says he has ‘never seen a cyclist smile’;15mph speed limit to be introduced in City of London next year; Police officers conduct patrols on bicycle due to lack of fuel; Hundreds of cyclists rave in tunnel + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Yorkshire Police conduct patrols on bikes due to lack of fuel
Police officers in North Yorkshire had to abandon their vehicles and conduct patrols on bicycles this weekend due to the lack of fuel in petrol stations.
Officers covering the Scarborough District revealed on Twitter that when they arrived at a station forecourt on Sunday night they could not refuel their vehicle, The Yorkshire Post reports.
The Government announced yesterday that it will suspend competition law to help secure fuel deliveries to petrol stations across the country.
Deceuninck - Quick-Step auctions a unique S-works Tarmac SL7 to support climate change project
World Tour team Deceuninck – Quick-Step is auctioning off a one of a kind S-Works Tarmac SL7 with the proceeds going towards a new climate change initiative in France.
The frame is raw carbon, and instead of paint, the texture is drawn on by hand.
The bike also has the message #ItStartsWithUs mirrored in chrome supposedly to ‘force the person looking at the design to reflect on themselves and remember that they too play a role in the fight to save our planet’.
If you want the chance to get your hands on this unique bike (although it is only in a 56cm frame) then you can enter here.
Based in Brittany, the climate project is one of the first ‘Label bas Carbone’ climate action initiatives in France.
This scheme reduces the carbon footprint by ‘sequestering CO2’ and planting more than 3000 local tree species by the end of 2021.
Owain Doull joins EF Education-NIPPO from Ineos Grenadiers
Welsh pro cyclist Owain Doull has announced he will join EF Education-Nippo from next season.
The 28-year-old said: “I always like doing my part for the team and that’s one of the things I find so attractive about joining EF. There’s a mixture of opportunities I’ll have and I’ll be able to explore my limits more.”
He added: “The Classics will be a big goal. Obviously the team has a great pedigree in the guys they’ve got there already but hopefully I can add to that… A different style of racing completely, I think that’s the thing I’m most excited for.”
Very excited to announce that I will be joining @EFprocycling for the next 2 years. It’s a team I have always admired and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together https://t.co/oRWiUuSGD3
— Owain Doull (@owaindoull) September 27, 2021
CCTV shows just how quickly bike thief is able to cut through lock
CCTV released by North Yorkshire police shows how easy it is for thieves to cut through cheap bicycle locks – even in broad daylight.
This theft took place in Lendal, York, at 2.45pm on 14 August. The bike stolen was a Carrera Vengeance electric bike, which is grey with red stripes.
PC Jamie Gibson said: “The victim has secured their bike to a cycle rack with a lock, however the lock is cut and the bike is stolen within seconds.
“The CCTV footage demonstrate how thieves can quickly steal a cycle which has a cheap or poor lock. To help deter opportunistic criminals, we strongly recommend using an approved locking device.”
Author Tim Moore able to see the funny side of negative comments about latest book
Cycling author Tim Moore was able to see the funny side of some rather negative comments left below the road.cc review of his latest book.
Clearly, this road.cc reader was not a fan of Moore, or his style of writing, and said he thought he was a ‘w*****r of the highest order’.
The author’s latest book, Vuelta Skelter, is out now and details the exploits of Julián Berrendero in the 1941 Spanish Tour alongside Moor’s own re-tracing of the route.
I’m a winner of the highest order! pic.twitter.com/EZYmgxoGIR
— Tim Moore (@mrtimmoore) September 27, 2021
Comedian Rob Beckett claims 'he has never seen a cyclist smile'
Comedian Rob Beckett has come under fire after he posted a Tweet claiming he has ‘never seen a cyclist smile’.
He was immediately challenged by lots of cyclists who pointed out if riders didn’t look happy on the roads it was probably because they had just narrowly avoided being wiped out by an SUV.
I’ve never seen a cyclist smile.
— Rob Beckett (@robbeckettcomic) September 28, 2021
While some questioned whether the Tweet was meant to be ironic, one man, Dave Walker, commented: “Hi Rob. We’re quite a happy bunch really. But around town look serious as we’re concentrating on not being hit by a wayward driver.”
Mate, we’ve been laughing non stop for the last 5 days pic.twitter.com/PkF6dImfjT
— John Lamb (@sheffieldlamby) September 28, 2021
Another, Chris Day, said: “Hi Rob, 99 per cent of the time I’m riding my bike I’m really happy – I’m getting fresh air, endorphins, it’s keeping me slim and healthy, plus I’m saving a shedload of money. The 1 per cent I’m not happy is when I get cut up or close passed by angry, impatient motorists. I hope this helps.”
Cyclists also flooded the thread with lots of photographs of happy, smiling people on bikes – including a nice one of Beckett himself.
There you go. pic.twitter.com/hAUWHEfeHp
— John Smith (@JohnMwep) September 28, 2021
Jasper Stuyven gets 'chocolate medal' after missing out at World Championships
Jasper Stuyven’s uncle has made him a chocolate medal after the Belgian rider finished just outside of the podium at the World Championships.
His uncle Ivan, who runs a chocolate workshop with Stuyven, posted on Instagram after the race showing the detailed design.
He said: “Now we have the chocolate medal [for] ourselves.
“Such a shame, but still so proud.”
Hundreds of cyclists rave in a tunnel in the heart of the City of London
Drum & Bass On The Bike was out on the streets of London this weekend with hundreds of cyclists turning up.
Hundreds of Cyclists Rave in a tunnel in The City of London. @domwhiting pic.twitter.com/FEJpDUbDQt
— Subject Access (@SubjectAccesss) September 26, 2021
Cyclist killed in hit-and-run on the edge of the Surrey Hills.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a cyclist was killed in a suspected hit-and-run crash on the edge of the Surrey Hills.
It happened in Horsham Road, Cranleigh, at 18:05 BST on Monday, when the rider was struck by a white vehicle which failed to stop.
The cyclist was treated by paramedics but pronounced dead shortly afterwards. His next of kin have been informed.
Police are searching for the driver and have appealed to any witnesses or people with dashcam footage to get in touch.
Did you see fail to stop collision 6.05pm today in Horsham Rd #Cranleigh?
Cyclist sadly died following collision w/white vehicle, search underway to locate driver. Rd closed in both directions. DM us w/info ref PR/P21208623 pic.twitter.com/coR9WPWQua— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) September 27, 2021
15 mph speed limit to be introduced in City of London next year
The City of London is planning to introduce a blanket 15mph speed limit to ‘save lives’, according to a planning document due to be discussed in a transport committee next month.
Bruce McVean, acting assistant director of transportation at the City of London Corporation, said: “A request for in principle support for a 15mph speed limit will shortly be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport.
“If this is agreed, we will begin work on an experimental traffic order (ETO) to introduce a City-wide 15mph limit, with the aim of having this in place before the end of 2022.”
“Through the Transport Strategy we have committed to eliminate death and serious injuries on the City’s streets by 2040.”
As well as introducing a 15mph speed limit the City of London also aims to widen pavements in a “Pedestrian Priority Programme” that will “give more priority to people walking.”
There will also be an expanded cycle network with links from Aldgate to the protected cycleway on the Thames Embankment, Forbes report.
The City of London previously planned to introduce a 15mph speed limit in 2019. At the time, AA president Edmund King said it would not make much difference because motor traffic in the Square Mile has “moved no faster than a horse and cart for 100 years anyway.”
Indeed, as the author of the latest article, Carlton Reid, pointed out, 15mph is actually about double the speed most vehicles travel at in London.
London’s planned 15mph speed limit would be about double the current average car speed. #BetterByBike https://t.co/b2guyLBGTW pic.twitter.com/D0KNZYEwwE
— Carlton Reid (@carltonreid) September 28, 2021
Reaction to Fair Fuel UK boss having his house marked as petrol station
One of the big stories on road.cc over the last couple of days was the tale of the Fair Fuel UK boss having his house marked as a petrol staion on Google Maps – allegedly by who he described as ‘Militant cyclists’.
The head of Fair Fuel UK, which lobbies the government over fuel duty, says he has been inundated with calls from panic-buying drivers after an unknown person listed his home as a petrol station on Google Maps.
After reading the story, one road.cc reader commented: “Perhaps he should have bought some fuel and given it away to needy folk who arrived at his house….that would have been the charitable thing to do…or bought fuel and sold it a high mark up to fund his lobbying.”
Another reader added: ‘Militant cyclist sounds cool.’
Philip Cower also offered his opinion: “I think we should say his address is a highly successful coffee shop.
“Imagine his face when about 30 cycles rock up all at once.”
28 September 2021, 07:56
Social media users ask why no arrest made; crowdfunder launched to pay victims’ medical bills
Outrage as teen driver who hit six Texas cyclists as he deliberately blew exhaust fumes at them remains free
Social media users ask why no arrest made; crowdfunder launched to pay victims’ medical bills
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Latest Comments
@mitsky The police allegedly have better things to with their time than ignore millions of speeding reports. Why even allow the car to exceed the speed limit in the first place? For context: "under UK law, all new cars manufactured since July 2024 must be fitted with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems. These systems use cameras and GPS to detect the speed limit and will trigger an audio, visual, or haptic alarm when you exceed it. While these alarms can be temporarily turned off via the infotainment screen or steering wheel buttons, the system automatically resets and turns back on every time you start the car. "
Anything that improves safety is a plus. Whether it will make a real difference is another matter: it's not because the system correctly detects a dangerous situation that you'll be able to do anything about it, or that you'll have the time to react, such as with a parked car opening a door without looking (keeping your distance is still the best strategy there). It's a bit like my Garmin Vario rear light: 90% of the time the radar adds nothing, 10% of the time what it displays is really helpful and I guess that once every couple of years or so it might really make the difference between nothing happening or an accident. Still worth it imo.
An incredible feat, hat off to her!
@mdavidford clearly. Children congregate around schools. Once they have left the area around the school they are completely safe from twats in cars.
@Smoggysteve oh god don't mention any speed lower than 20mph to drivers. They will have an aneurism as they formulate their anti 20mph for safety arguments. Usually something along the lines of "well, why don't we all drive at 2mph with someone in front of us waving a flag, then deaths will be 0". Obviously a well thought out and brilliant argument against lowering speed limits in built up areas.
@chrisonabike Don't forget that cars simply aren't designed to go at 20mph.
@Motivated I think that pointing at a single data point doesn't prove a point. Women do seem to be very well suited to these ultra endurance events and I believe that in running they are similarly exceptional. We need to be careful with this sort of discussion however because the amalgamation on mens and womens sports would do women absolutely no favours. I appreciate the sentiment and the encouragement this gives women in sport but competing with men shouldn't be how we try to sell women in sport.
If we follow the logic that 20mph drivers are more dangerous than say 30mph drivers, how deadly are they when driving 5mph in congestion?
"We have the technology..."
Aside from that ridiculous argument (phone use when under 20mph), I wonder if modern car software can be programmed so that anytime a driver exceeds a speed limit for a specific road, the system automatically sends a report to the police... (The sat-nav systems can be updated with all roads' speed limits.)
54 thoughts on “Comedian Rob Beckett says he has ‘never seen a cyclist smile’;15mph speed limit to be introduced in City of London next year; Police officers conduct patrols on bicycle due to lack of fuel; Hundreds of cyclists rave in tunnel + more on the live blog”
Shouldn’t take a fuel
Shouldn’t take a fuel shortage for them to get out on their bikes. If they cycled more, they may realise they need to police close passes better
And they might spot one hell
And they might spot one hell of a lot more “distracted” driving.
I hope none of the police
I hope none of the police were caught up in this: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/police-mock-drivers-who-spent-5979493
Evening all, reporting for
Evening all, reporting for duty.
chrisonatrike wrote:
Maybe we should see a major return to policing on bikes? Silent, swift, approachable, effective and above all, cheap.
hawkinspeter wrote:
could also see an uptick in detection of drug drivers. The standard issue nose being reasonably effective at detecting when drivers are using while driving, once it is not located within a seperate car.
Unfortunately sometimes it
Unfortunately sometimes it appears to be a bit too sensitive when dealing with a certain demographic…
https://road.cc/content/news/268777-metropolitan-police-officer-does-stop-and-search-black-cyclists-network-founder
you mean they get upset by
you mean they get upset by the racist made up story by the coppers? If he was smoking a dooby, I’m sure he would have said fair cop
Nooo! You’ve completely
Nooo! You’ve completely misunderstood me – I was taking the piss out of the coppers whose noses were apparently so sensitive that they managed to smell weed on a black guy out on a training spin with his mates, a smell that had miraculously disappered after they had stopped and searched him after he had the nerve to respond to a telling off. Totally on Mani’s side.
hawkinspeter wrote:
What???? but then the police wouldn’t be like us motorists….
Aaah but then those varmints
Aaah but then those varmints would be able to get away! At a Critical Mass ride last Saturday one guy got his bike trashed by kids on scrambler bikes – very fortunately no-one hurt. They were roaring up and down a busy main street (and pavements). So what would your bikes do about that…?
…but of course police in cars couldn’t attend speedily (because other cars) and on another occasion I’ve seen a similar gang wheelie rings around nervous-looking officers on foot too. So yes I think having bikes which can approach subtly, take shortcuts, don’t get “stuck in traffic” and are unlikely to kill bystanders in a pursuit would be a very useful addition to their toolkit.
chrisonatrike wrote:
Police Scotland are not allowed to pursue illegal motorcyclists due to the danger to the riders. So police Doc Martens / bike / car are all ineffective. Helicopter is a possibility but the cost is hundreds per hour.
I have just this moment realised that a police Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the ideal crime fighting accessory.
It was a tricky situation as
It was a tricky situation as there were several yoof on bikes. (They looked short but had full face helmets so couldn’t see – it could have been professional jockeys letting off steam I guess). The street had lots of traffic, plenty of pedestrians on both pavements so high risk from bikers to the general public. But also plenty of potential for collateral damage even if there were no concerns about liability for the bikers.
Drones with nets!
Or do you mean one of these?
I wonder how quickly the Govt
I wonder how quickly the Govt will reimpose competition laws once this particular ‘crisis’ has passed…
Well I’ve never smiled at a
Well I’ve never smiled at a Rob Beckett joke, maybe he just needs to be funnier
He seems to be overestimating
He seems to be overestimating how many of his audience are cyclists.
> Comedian Rob Beckett claims
> Comedian Rob Beckett claims ‘he has never seen a cyclist smile’
Let me fix that for you…
“Comedian” Rob Beckett claims ‘he has never seen a cyclist smile’
> Comedian Rob Beckett claims
> Comedian Rob Beckett claims ‘he has never seen a cyclist smile’
It only hurts when I smile.
“do you really need to brim
“do you really need to brim your tank” Is that a euphamism? I’ll get my coat……..
Gus T wrote:
Ew
If rob becket is only seeing
If rob becket is only seeing unhappy or angry cyclists, then he’s probably a bad driver.
wycombewheeler wrote:
Mind you, I feel the same way about joggers/runners. When did you ever see someone jogging or running who looked like they were enjoying themselves?
Oddly, I often find myself
Oddly, I often find myself laughing when running, as I listen to comedy podcasts. None of which feature Beckett, which may have something to do with it.
brooksby wrote:
I really enjoy running, but if I ran along smiling then people would think I’m crazy.
Either that or all of the
Either that or all of the cyclist are listening to a Rob Beckett podcast
Obviously Rob didn’t see me
Obviously Rob didn’t see me on my morning commute early last week, as the mist lifted as I was riding down the canal tow path. Enchanting it was.
Or the week before when the dew was caught on all of the tiny spiders webs being lit by the low sun…
I couldn’t see any cyclists
I couldn’t see any cyclists in the brainteaser puzzle, until I got out of my car. Then they were everywhere!
Is one lying under the HGV?
Is one lying under the HGV?
chrisonatrike wrote:
I can’t see them cos they’re not wearing hiviz
Getting through bike locks –
Getting through bike locks – I think everyone must know the limitations by now but if you want to watch the
worldlock burn the Lock Picking Lawyer’s “destructive” video series is an excellent no-fat video collection (all locks not just bike specific). Particular awards go to the makers of Ottolock / LiteLok who are politely and mercilessly roasted for overselling their security.chrisonatrike wrote:
Those videos just depress and worry me! On the Litelok one, I do wonder in the real world when a bike was locked to something whether you be able to get the purchase, leverage and angles he does to break it so easily, but even so, it’s pretty scary how quickly he gets through it.
Sidewalks?
Sidewalks?
hirsute wrote:
Lazily copied from the source Forbes article.
I’m very much not convinced
I’m very much not convinced by the proposed 15mph limit across the City of London by the …checks diary… end of 2022?
As Greta Thunberg aptly puts it – it’s just ‘blah blah blah’.
It’s a tiny area and 15mph is
It’s a tiny area and 15mph is faster than the average speed on surrounding streets anyway. They score very highly with healthy street measures, perhaps an easier task as it’s not really a residential area. They’ve wanted to do this for years, if it’s do-able anywhere, it’s here.
If it’s camera-controlled it
If it’s camera-controlled it will certainly make things nicer on weekends, when the children of oligarchs get bored with ripping it up round Mayfair and Kensington they’re not averse to bringing their Ferraris round there on a Sunday morning for a bit of stupid driving to put on Instagram.
Let’s hope.
Let’s hope.
I thought hp’s point was not
I thought hp’s point was not that it couldn’t be done, but the opposite – that it’s a tiny meaningless gesture in the scheme of things, and unambitious to only be looking to do it by the end of 2022.
Exactly.
Exactly.
We’ve known about climate catastrophe for decades and our ‘leaders’ just keep on stating how important and critical it is, yet there’s very little action and even the action that does happen takes forever.
I also didn’t think he meant
I also didn’t think he meant that it couldn’t be done either and agree that the timeline is far too slow. The City of London, however, only have the square mile to deal with and can hardly aim wider than the area they are responsible for, so it’s not necessarily unambitious unless you want them to invade Westminster or something (not necessarily a bad idea). If all local authorities replicated their tiny meaningless gestures then we’d be much further forward in the scheme of things.
If they’ve wanted to do this
If they’ve wanted to do this for years, they should have done it years ago.
Here in Bristol, we’ve got a 20mph limit on most roads and that’s been in place for a few years already – it shouldn’t take another year to implement speed restrictions in the City of London.
Completely agree – definitely
Completely agree – definitely should have been done years ago. Oddly, one (presumably not insurmountable) hurdle is that our speed limits go in increments of 10mph, so they have to apply to someone/somewhere or make special orders to make it happen rather than just imposing it. Does anyone know anything about this? It sounds odd to me – presumably drivers can count in 5s as well as 10s (my eight year olds can).
markieteeee wrote:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/2733/setting-local-speed-limits.pdf
“Any speed limits below 30 mph, other than 20 mph limits or 20 mph zones,
require individual consent from the Secretary of State.”
Cheers Tom.
Cheers Tom.
I think Rob Beckett has a
I think Rob Beckett has a point. Lots of miserable fellow cyclists out and about in Devon, mainly those who don’t nod or wave! I have even commented on it on it as a Strava title in the past.
Jigzy99 wrote:
While conversely, people who feel the need to complain multiple times about imagined slights by total strangers are the happiest people 😉
Bob has of course got a smile
Bob has of course got a smile that would light up a room (probably more than one if the walls are thin). One is confident that he also is no stranger to the superior conveyance. He would, it may be observed, need no front light after dusk….
Not my own but one Tweet
Not my own but one Tweet summed up Rob Beckett’s comment rather pithily: “This has a strong vibe of ‘In my experience women don’t enjoy sex’ about it.”
Sounds to me like RB needs to
Sounds to me like RB needs to get better material.
“Cyclists say “If only Rob
That’s odd Rob, I’ve seen hundreds of cyclists laughing their heads off as they ride past the queues of frowning, miserable drivers outside the petrol stations.
And I split my sides at this
And I split my sides at this one:
“Drivers queue for three hours to get into petrol station – which was closed“
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/drivers-queue-three-hours-petrol-21694982?fbclid=IwAR3jaNVudGVTUH3N4NUeyLT5_PBNI70pW2rLYSyzxdtIPtW5crg5ZSwWSP0
And another one to tickle Rob
And another one to tickle Rob
Man who tailed tanker driver angry he didn’t stop to say he wasn’t carrying fuel
Drum and Bass on the Bike is
Drum and Bass on the Bike is urgently needed in Melbourne Australia.
Melbourne is being crushed by a Dictator who has closed parliament and enforced the world’s longest and harshest Lockdown on its 5 million citizens, at 240 days +. Melbourne is a Bio-medical Police State in desperate need of saving.
Any form of protest is illegal, Victoria Police enforce this with utmost violence (riot police ran through the CBD on the weekend shooting plastic bullets and throwing flash grenades). People posting comments on Facebook have been arrested for ‘incitement’, and non mainstream journalists (who question the Dictator or otherwise don’t follow the Government spin) are ‘visited’ by Victoria Police at their homes.
A Jewish Synagogue was ‘visited’ by Victoria Police during Rosh Hashana, > 10 police and undercover detectives stood guard outside for 2 days to ensure no one could attend worship, with the Riot Police horses on the street outside for extra intimidation.
Nightime curfew is in place, all restauarants and pubs are closed (take away service only), all schools are closed and kids’ sport is banned also. Mental health in children has skyrocketed, all while there has not being a single death amongst children from Covid in Melbourne. Councils have placed concrete blocks and stones in skate parks/bowls, playgrounds are banned for children >12 years old, and basketball hoops have been removed from all courts. All gyms are closed also.
The Dictator Dan Andrews has used ’emergency powers’ to ban any unvaccinated people from working in certain industries (ie. construction), and the unvaccinated will be banned from entering pubs or restaurants, sporting events, etc. The fine for not wearing a mask in public is $1,500, and $5,900 for being caught more than 10km from home without a valid reason (there are 4).
This is despite there being not one death from Covid in the state this year, less than 400 people in hospital due to Covid, and 80% of the population (16 yrs + older) having already had their first vaccinations.
The only problem is cycling is banned more than than 10km from your home, or with another person. Cycling bunches are regularly scolded for visiting cafes after a ride, I had a Covid Karen take a photo of my bunch for her Facebook group no doubt. The Melburne equivalent of the Stasi is made up of the Dictator’s acolytes and Covid Karens all happily scolding ‘rule breakers’ despite the overwhelming health benefits of cycling and fact of zero Covid cases being transmitted outdoors.
Would love to see someone copy the Drum and Bass dude in Melbourne though, the people are being crushed and need some outlet…
Very concerning that they’re
Very concerning that they’re planning to triple London’s speed limit to 15mph. This will cost lives.