Motorist pulls out on bike lane, tells Jeremy Vine to “f*** off”, drives through no-entry signs; Soudal-Quick Step pro almost taken out by quad rider during beach race; Farmer’s bizarre “Lycra-clad” cyclist rant; Hinault for MEP? + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
The random pro cycling content compilation video you’ve all been waiting for
Grab a mid-morning coffee, sit back, and enjoy…
Cycling Out of Context Highlights | 2023 Season
Thank you all for the memories. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/AtQDWAS56I
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) December 4, 2023
Want a bike from the local recycling centre? Well, you have to drive: Recycling centre tells customers looking to purchase a bike that they can only access the shop by car
Way back in February (I know), we reported on the live blog that Essex County Council was accused of introducing “discriminatory” and “car-brained” measures against cyclists and people who use cycles as mobility aids, after the local authority announced that, as part of a new trial booking system for recycling centres in the county, people cycling to the skip would be asked to leave their bike at the gates.
Our car is broken. So I’m experiencing how frustrating it is for non car users where we live. Earlier, we decided to walk to #Earlswood Community Recycling Shop at Earlswood Dump to buy our 8yo a new bike.Only to be informed that you can only access the shop if you come by car…
— EcoEarlswood 💚 Rachel (@EarlswoodEco) December 3, 2023
Now, over in Surrey, another cyclist has criticised the “frustrating” experience of using the local tip without a car, as she sought to purchase a bike for her eight-year-old child from the recycling centre’s shop – only to be told that it wasn’t possible to access the shop on foot.
“Our car is broken. So I’m experiencing how frustrating it is for non-car users where we live,” Earlswood-based Rachel wrote on Twitter at the weekend.
“Earlier, we decided to walk to Earlswood Community Recycling Shop at Earlswood dump to buy our eight-year=old a new bike. Only to be informed that you can only access the shop if you come by car…
“Feeling very frustrated, I put a post on my Instagram story to see if any car users could help. And hallelujah, I get a reply from the lovely Angie, who came to our rescue and drove us in. We popped in, bought a bike for £40 and walked back out with a very happy child.
“But my question is this: How does a recycling shop that only caters for car users exist? Is there not scope to include a pathway entrance to get to the shop? I queried this with the recycling shop and they said people mostly get cabs there!
“It was such a shock to be told no because we didn’t have a car. So backwards!”
Cycling campaign group bemoans “huge disappointment” as cycle lane and Dutch-style roundabout plans scrapped
A cycling campaign group in Harrogate has called the withdrawal of plans to build safe cycling infrastructure as part of an £11.2 million ‘Station Gateway’ project, including the construction of a Dutch-style roundabout, a “huge disappointment” with “the worthwhile elements” for cycling now “stripped out of the scheme”.
North Yorkshire Council has pulled the plug on many of the infrastructure proposals – after a judicial review launched by commercial developer Hornbeam Park Developments temporarily halted the work – with cycle lanes, a reduction to the width of the road, and plans for a Dutch-style roundabout now scrapped permanently.
What happened to the Badger? Bernard Hinault backs out of plans to stand for ‘Rural Alliance’ at next year’s European elections – due to fear of social media backlash
While we’re on the subject of farmers and cyclists, probably the most famous farming/cycling crossover of all time, Bernard Hinault, says he won’t be standing for election to the European parliament next year – because the five-time Tour de France winner is wary of the negative reaction he’ll receive on social media.
Yes, you read that right.
According to France Inter, Hinault was approached to join the potential-MEP list of the Rural Alliance, a new loosely-based political coalition organised by Willy Schraen, the head of the National Federation of Hunters in France, and advisor to President Emmanuel Macron on rural matters.
[Simon Wilkinson/SWPix.com]
The Alliance, which aims to appeal to a broad spectrum of rural voters, and not just France’s one million-odd active hunters, also includes former French international rugby player Louis Picamoles.
Its policies appear to be based around current disgruntlement in the countryside over fuel prices, the lack of 3G coverage in certain regions, immigration, environmental policies, and the EU itself, while Schraen’s support for Macron could also see the group emerge as a challenger to Marine Le Pen’s National Rally.
However, despite forging his reputation on a stubborn and innate desire to fight anything placed in front of him (from Tour rivals and teammates to striking dockyard workers and podium crashers), it appears that Hinault has finally met his match – in the form of social media.
When contacted by France Inter, the 69-year-old confirmed that he had initially joined the Rural Alliance list before throwing in the towel, citing his fear of an “avalanche” of negative online reaction.
Le Blaireau – what happened to you?
Active travel campaigners “disappointed” at apparent bikes on trams trial delay in Greater Manchester
Cycling and walking campaigners say they are disappointed by Transport for Greater Manchester’s decision to delay a pilot scheme enabling people to take bikes on trams, despite mayor Andy Burnham promising that the trial would be in place by the end of 2023.
While folding bikes are currently permitted on Metrolink trams, unfolded bikes are not allowed (though they are permitted on trains). As part of his 2021 election manifesto, Burnham committed to introducing trials that would allow dogs and bikes on trams, with dogs being permitted to travel on Greater Manchester’s tram network from August this year.
And at an event organised by Walk Ride Greater Manchester in January, the Labour mayor reiterated that the bike trial would commence “by the end of this year”.
“I made a commitment that we would have it, we said we’d do it with dogs and we did do that last year and that’s now in,” Burnham told the event.
“I think it was a manifesto commitment from me last time, and I think it wouldn’t be right to not deliver it in this term. By the end of this year, the pilot will have started.”
However, with no signs of the pilot in sight as 2023 draws to a close, Transport for Greater Manchester has now confirmed that the trial will not take place this year.
“We are currently reviewing proposals for a pilot of non-folding bikes on trams,” a spokesperson said. “An update will be brought to the Bee Network Committee in the New Year.”
“We are disappointed to hear that the bikes on trams trial promised by the end of this year has been delayed,” Walk Ride Greater Manchester’s Cazz Ward told the Oldham Times upon hearing the news.
“We again reaffirm our position that bikes on trams must be trialled in order to facilitate the Bee Network’s multimodal transport ambitions. The trial needs to be on an existing line with members of the public.”
Back to the Future
A supermarket in Britain, 1979. Note the many practical bikes parked right outside, fitted with racks and crates for carrying shopping home. This was once normal!
(I’m particularly fond of that tartan zip-up rear bag)
From this video: https://t.co/vf1h499nW4 pic.twitter.com/YOadBcqjfN
— The Alternative Department for Transport (@AlternativeDfT) December 4, 2023
‘Can you believe all the things these cyclists are demanding? Even things that were deemed standard back when Jim Callaghan was in charge! Pah!’
“They did warn me it was going to get cold”: Groupama-FDJ’s David Gaudu finishes second at legendary 78km icy trail running relay race
So it seems that David Gaudu took one look at Andreas Leknessund’s -24 training ride in Norway (complete with frozen eyelashes) and thought: “Hold my ice cold beer”.
Because the hipster’s favourite French rider prepared for his Groupama-FDJ team’s Spanish training camp this week by taking part on Sunday in the ASICS SaintéLyon, an iconic two-man relay trail running event that covers 78km of epic, freezing cold, snow-covered hills, featuring 2,000m of elevation, between Saint-Étienne and Lyon.
The 27-year-old, no stranger to trail running having taken part in events in his home region of Brittany over the last few winters, joined forces with friend and former French national trail running champion Alexandre Fine for the event.
Setting out in the early hours of Sunday morning, Gaudu – who said his aim was to “not leave Alex too far from the lead at the relay point” – suffered a fall at the start of his 34km stint, but recovered well enough to ensure the pair were sitting in fifth at the handover, before Fine’s blistering run saw them secure the second spot on the podium, nine minutes down on the winning duo, Eloi Guigon and Augustin Kerhardy.
Not too shabby at all, and a strong addition to our ‘cyclists who run’ list…
“[It was] a challenge between friends,” Gaudu told L’Équipe of his reasons for getting into snowy trail running.
“It gets me off the bike, it’s good for my head because I’ve always loved running, and it works the muscles a little. Thibaut [Pinot] always did cross-country skiing in winter, it’s his passion. For me, it’s the trail!
“I think trail running is the closest thing to cycling in terms of effort. It’s a fight against yourself, like in a mountain pass. There are adversaries, of course, but above all, it’s about pushing your limits, you only rely on yourself.”
> Cyclists who run: From Pidcock and MVDP to Yates, Ovett, and, naturally, Chris Froome
And it seems that Gaudu isn’t through with pushing himself to the limit this winter, having already eyed up the 165km Diagonale des Fous trail running race on Reunion Island and the frightening 171km UTMB event around Mont Blanc.
That’s unless Marc Madiot has a word at this week’s FDJ camp, of course…
If it rides like a road bike, and also like a gravel bike, what is it? Cervélo’s first-ever e-bike!
More coppers on borrowed bikes
Northamptonshire Police has praised the “quick-thinking” and “good old fashioned policing” of one of the force’s officers after a cycling copper, who borrowed a bicycle from a bystander, set off after a drug dealer on two wheels, before ramming them to the ground, arresting the suspect, and ultimately helping to see them jailed.
“There will be four big champions on four different teams”: Tour director Christian Prudhomme admits he was worried about Soudal-Visma merger rumours
While it seems as if every cycling fan, rider, pundit, team boss, and their dog shared their opinion on the cycling story of the late autumn – the rumoured and ultimately unsuccessful merger between Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-Quick Step, the biggest and most drawn out ‘will they, won’t they’ saga since Ross and Rachel – Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme waited until this week to admit he was concerned about the creation of a new mega team with the firepower to turn his race into a damp procession for the foreseeable future.
In a recent interview with AS, Prudhomme said he was initially worried that the hording of three potential Tour winners – Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Primož Roglič – would have a stifling effect on the Tour, the collapse of the merger plans, and Roglič’s subsequent transfer to Bora-Hansgrohe, leaves next year’s race wide open.
(Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
Asked whether the constant difficulty of the 2024 Tour route – which includes a very early trip to the Alps and the Col du Galibier – could potentially lead to the race being decided long before its groundbreaking finale in Nice, Prudhomme said: “I don’t think so. We’re lucky to have exceptional riders, who attack when it’s expected, but also when nobody imagines it.
“Tadej Pogačar attacked on the Champs-Elysées [at this year’s Tour]. He knew he wasn’t going to win the overall, but he was still trying.
“We had a fortnight of spectacular fighting between Pogačar and Vingegaard, and Evenepoel has said that he will make his debut in the race in 2024. What he did at the Vuelta was great: despite everything, he didn’t give up.”
(Cycling Creative Agency)
He continued: “What did worry me a bit were the rumours about the Jumbo and Soudal merger, with Jonas and Remco in the same team. But instead, there will be four big champions – Pogačar, Vingegaard, Roglič and Evenepoel – on four different teams, which could make for a really good Tour de France.”
Psst, nobody tell Geraint Thomas about Prudhomme’s ‘four big champions’ comment…
By far the Frenchiest thing you’ll see today: Groupama-FDJ’s review of 2023 (featuring lots of Pinot)
« 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑧 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒 𝑒́𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑝𝑒 » pic.twitter.com/hiUc0LdxU5
— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) December 5, 2023
Thibaut’s speech on the bus, “Take care of this team”, “Now the baton is being passed” – I’m not crying, you’re crying…
See.Sense’s latest crowdfunding campaign for new Agile light doubles its target
Belfast-based bike technology company See.Sense has launched a new crowdfunding campaign for its latest light, the Agile, already reaching more than double the original £18,000 target with three days to go.
According to See.Sense, the light boasts 120 Lumens in the rear and 150 Lumens in the front, while retaining the company’s patented ‘reactivity’, providing heightened visibility on the road by dynamically detecting and adjusting to the cyclist’s movements, flashing brighter and faster at moments of high risk such as filtering in traffic, approaching junctions, or navigating roundabouts.
Recognised as the preferred bike light supplier to British Cycling and Cycling Ireland, See.Sense say the Agile is scheduled for dispatch in February, with early-bird backers able to purchase the Agile Rear for £35 (down from the RRP of £50) and the set for £68 (down from £100).
> Backers of See.Sense bike tracker Kickstarter project still waiting three years on
Earlier this year, one road.cc reader told us of their frustration at what they claimed was three years of waiting and “backtracking” concerning another See.Sense crowdfunding campaign, for its bike tracker Kickstarter.
However, the company told us that after pandemic-related delays, changes to the technology used, component shortages, and extensive testing, See.Sense will not ship the product until it is right and remains confident it will be well worth the wait.
Peter Sagan-less TotalEnergies swap Specialized for Enve for 2024
> Enve bikes join pro peloton with Team TotalEnergies riding the Melee in 2024
“My instincts told me there’d be trouble”: Farmers versus Cyclists? Farmers Weekly columnist launches bizarre, cliché-laden (and probably fictional) “Lycra-clad” cyclist hedge cutting rant
It’s safe to say that, in the past few years anyway, farmers have been unfairly maligned by the professional cycling world – Contador and tainted beefgate immediately springs to mind, as does Toon Aerts’ recent attempt to take on the entire Normandy dairy farming industry…
But sometimes, farmers – irritated by the sullying of their reputations by desperate, excuse-scavenging pro cyclists – get their own back by taking aim at us normal folk just riding our bikes on the roads.
Last May, for instance, a particularly foul-mouthed tirade went viral on the Farmers Against Misinformation Facebook page, which lambasted cyclists – colourfully described as people who enjoy “slipping into a Lycra suit and impaling yourself on a cock-shaped bike seat” – for not stopping to allow oncoming tractor drivers to pass.
“Do not just continue at full speed and then piss and moan as you go past because if it goes wrong you’ll end up being pressure washed off a tractor wheel,” the post said. “Cars, horse riders, and runners are capable of it, I seem to be missing something with cyclists, I presume either you don’t want to get your special bike dirty, you’re trying to beat your PB, or more than likely you’re just a complete cock in general.”
Charming.
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> Foul-mouthed anti-cyclist rant from farmers’ Facebook group goes viral
And, speaking of farmers and anti-cycling tirades, Farmers Weekly – the longstanding British farming magazine – has now decided to follow in the angry online tracks of illustrious predecessors like the Spectator, the Mail, and GB News by devoting one of its columns to a cliché-packed, almost certainly manufactured (or at least exaggerated) rant about Lycra-clad, middle-aged cyclists.
The column, penned by Welsh beef cattle farmer and opinion writer Will Evans and titled ‘The one where the cyclist meets the hedgecutter’ (coming soon to a Channel 5 Christmas movie marathon near you), inevitably begins:
Out of my peripheral vision I saw the fluorescent Lycra-clad man come hurtling round the bend. My instincts told me there’d be trouble.
Will, did your instincts also advise that you had a column deadline in a few hours, and precisely no ideas for what to include in it?
Anyway, Will continues: “Powered by pedals and righteous indignation, he flew down the road towards me, slowed, crossed over, and stopped just a few metres in front of the tractor bonnet with a face like thunder, a bulldog chewing a wasp and a smacked arse combined.”
Following that paragraph of mixed metaphor purgatory, Will goes on to detail how much he hates cutting the hedges along this particular narrow, twisting stretch of road, due to the vast number of “speeding cars, dog walkers, and pedestrians around”.
One of those things is not like the others, but go on…
Back to the Mexican standoff I unexpectedly had on my hands.
It crossed my mind as I waited to see what he’d do next that it was a good job it wasn’t my old man on the tractor, as the bike – and possibly its rider too – would be flat by now.
The thought of this, and the absurd situation I now found myself in, made me begin to giggle.
This only seemed to anger him further, and he began furiously flinging his arms around, gesturing at the hedge, then pointing angrily at me and the road while unleashing a profanity-laced tirade.
I apologise to any cyclists who happen to be reading this (and I’ve been known to occasionally don the gear and head out for a few miles myself, by the way).
But how on earth is anyone supposed to keep a straight face when confronted with a profusely red-faced, slightly rotund middle-aged man, dressed from head to toe in figure-hugging fluorescent Lycra and a bike helmet, windmilling his arms and frothing at the mouth with rage while trying desperately not to topple over on a bike?
(Thank God that he didn’t, or I genuinely might have died laughing.)
Ah, it seems that Will is learning fast from his heroes over at the Spectator, being careful to mention that he rides a bike too, you know, while also making light of running a cyclist over with a tractor. Classic.
Evans eventually concludes by claiming that his response to the cyclist’s rant – for which no reason was given in the column – involved a Travolta-esque dance routine, designed purely to wind the rider up even further.
“Perhaps he was just having a bad day,” Will concludes, with that oh-so necessary hat tip towards balance. “As my daughters seem to have an uncanny aptitude for finding multiple thorns with their bike tyres, I had some sympathy for the man.
“But those roads and pavements would be even more unsafe if the hedges weren’t cut. Who’d be a farmer, eh?”
And who’d be a cyclist? I know who could sort all this out… Who has Bernard Hinault’s number?
From geese to quads: Tim Merlier almost gets taken out by quad rider on final corner of beach race – but still manages to win in epic photo finish
You can keep your 2009 Milan-Sanremo – how’s that for an epic finish line photo?
While David Gaudu’s alternative pre-season prep took him to the icy running trails of the Massif Central, Soudal-Quick Step’s riders instead opted for the beach this weekend – but in true Belgian style, the beach in question was a snowy, freezing patch of sand in West Flanders, for a spot of cyclocross. Naturally.
With Tim Declercq and Yves Lampaert also on the start line of the Bredence Sand Race at the weekend, it was sprinter and ‘cross dabbler Tim Merlier who took the spoils, ahead of second-placed journalist/racer Thijs Zonneveld (don’t worry, your resident live blogger has no intentions of joining them anytime soon… Alright, maybe next year).
But while it was all a bit of good fun, Merlier’s win wasn’t without its drama, however.
Just like the cyclocross riders who were forced to avoid a pair of geese that rocked up on one of the corners at Sunday’s World Cup in Flamanville, the former Belgian champion’s path to victory was almost blocked by an errant quad rider, who drove straight into Merlier’s path as he rounded the final corner, forcing him off his bike and into a desperate run and lunge to see off the late-charging journo Zonneveld.
Insane finish line footage of Strandrace van Bredene to compliment the equally insane finish line photo shared by King @thijszonneveld 🤯
Re Tim Merlier – “You can take the boy out of CX, but can’t take the CX out of the boy” 🤯#skillz
🎥: https://t.co/GVu3yLhxyn https://t.co/z6AkoXL1Vp pic.twitter.com/3hXIF0maYm
— Atlanta Rouleur Collection (@AtlantaRouleur) December 4, 2023
Jeez, if that’s the drama and controversy we’re witnessing at fun pre-season events on beaches, what’s next year’s classics season going to entail?
“I was unsure whether to throw my bike or just stick it forward, and it ended up being the latter,” Merlier told Sporza after the action-packed finale.
“The finish photo showed that I won by 10 hundredths of a second.”
Merlier, who also won the beach race in De Panne a few weeks ago, added: “We can chat about it for a whole year. We are not paid for it and of course, a road race is more important than this, but it is just fun for morale. For the atmosphere. It is just more fun if you have won here.”
Classic sprinter mentality…
“Alexa, can you show me how many traffic violations it's possible to fit into 30 seconds of driving?” Motorist pulls out in front of Jeremy Vine on cycle lane, tells him to “f*** off”… then drives through no-entry signs
It’s December, which means only one thing – it’s time for Jeremy Vine’s Terrible London Driving Advent Calendar!
And there’s a real cracker behind today’s window…
Cycling along King Street, Hammersmith, yesterday. IT’S ALWAYS THE SECOND CAR pic.twitter.com/kVFzoXyCBC
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) December 4, 2023
After pulling out on the pedalling broadcaster on King Street’s cycle lane in Hammersmith – and clearly perturbed by Jezza’s toot of the bike horn and rather understated wave as he moved onto the road to avoid the car – our friendly motorist responded by shouting out the window: “Of, f*** off. Typical f***ing cyclist. I stopped, didn’t I?”
Well, that’s one way to apologise, I suppose. And surely Jeremy, you should be grateful that he stopped and didn’t let you slam into the side of his car?
Anyway, the clearly attention to detail-oriented motorist compounded matters by concluding his drive-by rant… by heading straight through no-entry signs the wrong way down a one-way road.
“Interesting that this petrosexual stops without hesitation when he’s faced with an oncoming car. When it’s a cyclist, he abuses them.”
Alexa, can you show me how many traffic violations it’s possible to fit into 30 seconds of driving?
Thanks Alexa….. pic.twitter.com/96bzoKSWV5— Bob (@Cycling_Bob) December 4, 2023
I for one can’t wait to find out what’s behind tomorrow’s advent calendar window… Maybe Ruud Gullit sitting on a shed?
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Latest Comments
It would appear that going forward, the Definition Integrale version will be the only model available, meaning that electronic groupset is the only option. There’s still stock available of the Definition 3.0 as of now and I’ve just ordered one with mechanical 105 to replace my aging winter sh*tter.
This is why genuinely I only expect my front and back time stamped bike cameras to ever be used in the event of my death on the road, that is if I don't get killed as pedestrian on a crossing with these bloody taxi drivers who keep stopping on the crossing... as I'm crossing it. It seems to me someone is going to have to take extreme and over the top measures for this constant harassment to been seen as the public danger it is, I'm not saying I or anyone else should do it but it would be great to see a bad driver leave court with a conviction with the word 'kryptonite' embossed backwards on their face... just a hypothetical...
I usually wear a folding helmet - a Hedkayse ONE. What I've learnt from this report is that the Newlane with MIPS is one of the best helmets around. But that's not what the headlines say. It would be a shame if miselading headlines led to yet another folding/alternative design for commuters disappearing from the market (Hedkayse no longer make the ONE and Hovding - the airbag alternative - went bust).
I bought one of these in 2015 and I still ride it. Bought specifically for Paris-Brest-Paris (which I had just failed) and I rode this bike (successfully) in the 2019 edition. Then I changed the tyres on it to 38mm and rode North London Dirt very happily on it a couple of months later. Super versatile. The only box it fails to tick these days is the aero one, but I can live with that. I keep thinking I need a new bike and I list what I really need - fast enough, mudguards, comfortable, disc brakes and think I should buy a Defy or Synapse, then I realise I already have that bike! 15mm front axle and QR rear is a total PITA - you can sleeve the front to 12mm bit even so. Luckily it is flat-mount so there is an upgrade path on the groupset - I have upgraded groupset once and I think only the seat post is original now, but a great find from Genesis' heyday. I had a flyer about this time too and loved that as well.
@eburtthebike Well there's (at least) a third thing - we're letting too many people drive who should never have been on the roads in the first place.
@chrisonabike Something to do with existing in a liminal world between cooperation and competition where every action has multiple meanings, even to the same person, perhaps?
I have given my thoughts on this in the forum thread "Derbyshire: action on close pass reports only in “exceptional circumstances”". My first attempt with links was submitted on 30/10/26 and is STILL AWAITING MODERATION so I resubmitted replacing the links with descriptions. It is copied below : Gloucestershire Constabulary is way ahead. They never took any action on close passes but in September 2024 they started sending out advisory letters to close passers. Note that in Gloucestershire an advisory letter merely asks the driver to refresh their knowledge of the highway code and is not a warning letter. search : close-pass-isnt-offence-says-police-officer on roadcc for the article I have had action taken for a close pass since. In one I am convinced that action was taken because an oncoming driver was inconvenienced. near-miss-day-of the day 946 In the other I suspect someone on the team slipped up and the driver was sent a NIP. I was told afterwards that the driver was going to go to court to challenge the decision but changed their mind when shown the footage. near-miss-day-931 The link also shows that a very similar close pass a year later was back to advisory letters and I have had many similar outcomes since. Some on here think advisory letters are a waste of time and I agree that for some drivers it will be as water off a ducks back, but I have noticed a distinct improvement in driving around me since the policy started. I think most drivers genuinely think they have done nothing wrong but a letter from the police is a real wake up call. In answer to your question then in Gloucestershire someone has to be inconvenienced for action to be taken. Inconveniencing an oncoming driver is one possibility but having to swerve or brake to avoid being hit is another. Obviously this rarely happens with a close pass, especially those at speed which are the most dangerous, you simply don’t have time to do anything. As far as I can make out being frightened out of your skin doesn’t count as inconvenience either. They now seem to have stopped sending even advisory letters for close passes as they are short staffed.
If the police are overwhelmed with evidence showing dangerous driving, then that shows that the dangerous driving is endemic: the graveyards and hospitals are full of the victims. If it is endemic, then one of two things must be true, or both: the detection rate is not high enough, and/or the punishment is not sufficient to deter. So in this case, we have the victims providing the evidence, in most cases all the officers need to do is view that evidence. If the officers don't have time, then the process should be automated, possibly by AI. If the driver disputes it, then a real person could view it, but if they consider the driving to be dangerous, the driver should pay for the officer's time. Then we have the lack of punishment, or punishment which doesn't fit the crime, because it does not deter people from offending. The current system of points and fines is clearly not working, and something rather more effective has to be done, like confiscating the car for instance. ".......the Chief Inspector recommended that road users use a rear-facing camera and evidence their own speed at the time of the overtake." I fail to see what the speed of the vehicle being overtaken has to do with the overtaking vehicle passing too closely. Would it be ok if you were doing 5mph, or 25mph? Baffling.
In principal, driverless cars have the potential to be much safer than human drivers, by virtue of the fact that they should be intent on following the rules of the road, nor driving whilst drunk/drugged, never be tired, frustrated, irrational etc, etc. Another advantage is that mistakes can be corrected and rolled out across the entire fleet (try that with humans. Add to that the resulting reduction in car ownership, increased car sharing, and the sheer amount of street space given over to parked cars will plummet. The key factor, however, is how much of those principles the owning companies are prepared to commit to. (Altruism isn't their strong point)
I'm going to take a close look at some of the lights mentioned. For reference: I extensively used the following: - Nightrider lumina (don't recall the exact model): horrible temperature control and after 18 months it bricked up on me and they refused to honour the warranty, will never buy anything from them ever again; - Lezyne 1600 XXL, two issues, firstly the strap that attached it to the handlebar never kept in place really well over rough terrain. Secondly: a cop stopped me and although -to me riding the bike- it appeared well adjusted, he claimed I was blinding oncoming traffic. He actually held the bike so I could check for myself from inside his car and he was simply right: the light level on the ground was ok but indeed, I was blinding oncoming traffic. That's a hard no, it had to go even though he didn't fine me. I don't want to annoy/be a risk to other road users; - Then the Lupine: solid as a rock, mounted on a GoPro mount, USB-C charging, StVZO compliant...but alas not enough oomph considering terrain and desired speed; Thinking back, it somehow seems like a light I had on my bike back when I was riding long distance events (Audax, crazy distances but lower average speeds) might have been ideal, that was a Son Edelux and it ran on a Son hub dynamo. But I don't want to install a dynamo and again, lower speeds.
57 thoughts on “Motorist pulls out on bike lane, tells Jeremy Vine to “f*** off”, drives through no-entry signs; Soudal-Quick Step pro almost taken out by quad rider during beach race; Farmer’s bizarre “Lycra-clad” cyclist rant; Hinault for MEP? + more on the live blog”
Today is the day, fellow live
Today is the day, fellow live blog commenters, where we finally don’t waste time and energy failing to change each other’s minds about politics on a cycling website!
Typical Tory/leftist
Typical Tory/leftist deflection. I trust you’re being paid well for this.
Why bring politics to a
Why bring politics to a cycling website. Says the person with the explicitly political username.
politics_is_for_losers
Too late! Already bloody
Too late! Already bloody Tory farmers / socialist broadcasters / treehugging professional cyclists here (is this right)?
You sound like Mr Starmer
You sound like Mr Starmer telling me what I should think…..
(gets bike out of shed and rides off quickly…. 😉 )
essexian wrote:
Is that the Mr Starmer who’s been advised by his publicity wonks to tell everyone how much he doesn’t hate Thatcher?
Thank god we have apolitical
Thank god we have apolitical commentators like you here to bring balance..
Car Delenda Est wrote:
I don’t claim to be better, I am one of the worst for feeding the trolls. The above is for me as much as everyone else hahaha
Ah my apologies I thought you
Ah my apologies I thought you were one of the “all cycling media should be 100% sports and 0% politics” gang.
Typical brexiteer…
Typical brexiteer…
Patrick9-32 wrote:
It’s a cycling website?
Left_is_for_Losers wrote:
You know, at times, you actually make me laugh.
Thanks.
Left_is_for_Losers wrote:
Given the time it takes pages to load, I’m not sure which word you’re emphasising for comic effect there.
https://www.theguardian.com
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/dec/05/could-you-pass-england-scotland-and-wales-driving-theory-test-take-our-quiz
Ten out of 14 correct… I got two wrong regarding the cost of driving tests (I think it was 25 bob when I took my test) and with regards to overtaking…. being a BMW driver, I never do that anyway.
Interested in your scores….
essexian wrote:
I got 11 out of 14 correct, but some of them were lucky guesses – I’m not a driver so have never taken the test for real.
Are you responsible for
Are you responsible for writing some of the answers:
14.You come across a sign which is a circle with a red border and other than that it is completely white. What does it mean?
The road is closed ahead
No vehicles allowed past this point
National speed limits now apply
Danger – invisible squirrels
SimoninSpalding wrote:
I couldn’t possibly comment
Full house for me, knew the
Full house for me, knew the ballpark on the test costs from when my son applied a few years ago, had to think on the stopping distance one, remembered the 70mph in feet and mentally convert to metres
Well done.
Well done.
I got the stopping distance correct too although aren’t those distances hopelessly out of date now what with ABS etc?
essexian wrote:
Almost certainly, reaction times won’t have changed of course, but they were probably based on a Ford Anglia or similar with drum brakes & cross-ply tyres. That said, something like that weighed 750kg not 1500kg, that will make the difference smaller though.
mark1a wrote:
Disc brakes are no better than drum brakes, you just lock the wheels up, with more power. And they look rubbish, and they might slice someone up in a crash.
Be quite, you’re showing
Be quite, you’re showing yourself up being that stupid!!!
Krd51 wrote:
I believe the word you meant to use was quiet.
The overtaking question is
The overtaking question is daft anyway, it says which of these things is not on the list of things you must do before an overtake (make sure the road is clear ahead, make sure there is sufficient space to go back in, make sure nobody is overtaking you and indicate your intentions), but actually they all are, the first three things are, admittedly, in a single group in the Code and then the last is included later, but they are still all on the list of things you should do before pulling out.
Also, it’s a long, long time since I took my motorcycle theory test but does it really now include questions about how much the theory and practical test cost? Absurd if so, how does that come under the heading of information you need to know to drive safely on the road?
Rendel Harris wrote:
Not AFAIK, this is just a quiz devised by the Grauniad. An example of the real thing is here:
https://www.gov.uk/take-practice-theory-test
Rendel Harris wrote:
I got those wrong
As did I. Presumably if I’d
As did I. Presumably if I’d actually been sitting the test I would have known how much it had cost me to do so.
(I was one of the first to sit the theory test, in exam conditions in a test centre. Just before it started, we were asked if we had any questions. Someone put up his hand and asked ‘what do we do if we can’t read?’)
Exactly my thoughts, too.
Exactly my thoughts, too.
I only got 8/14, all the ones
I only got 8/14, all the ones I guessed, including costs of tests. That’s not something than anybody needs to know unless they’re about to pay for one, so rather irrelevant, I thought.
I got ten and am not in the
I got ten and am not in the UK.
Some of those questions are really bad examples. I don’t care whether or not another driver knows how much a test costs, what year rear seat belts became mandatory, or whether the rules were updated one year ago or two.
I do care whether they know what road signs and striping mean.
As mark1A notes below, this
As mark1A notes below, this seems to be a lazy effort by the Graun who’ve just made up questions rather than bother researching what the theory test actually contains. None of those examples you mention would appear in the actual test – as you say they would have no relevance to good driving.
A farmer pulled out on me
A farmer pulled out on me during a 50mile TT. I stopped between the tractor and trailer and said something like “oh do be careful you could have killed me.” His answer…”No one will care, you are dressed like a prick.” I did have pink overshoes on and a pointy hat, so he was probably right.
I mean, as much as we are all
I mean, as much as we are all cyclists, there is a kernel of truth to some of the whinges about cyclists. There are a small set of us that take our position as vulnerable road users to mean that everyone should accomodate us completely and we shouldn’t have to lift a finger to apply the brake.
I have plenty of shitty encounters with motorists but some cyclists seem to have their bar set incredibly low for rage inducing incidents. Mine tends to sit somewhere around “that was really dangerous” rather than “you did something you shouldn’t and I had to slow down or stop”.
No you shouldn’t have to stop because someone has pulled out from a side road and blocked the road. Yes it would be nice if farmers/the council cleaned the roads after they have cut the hedges but in the grand scheme of things they aren’t very important. Annoying yes, important? Not really.
There is some vague merit to some comments saying that cyclists need to calm down at times.
I apologise to any cyclists
I apologise to any cyclists who happen to be reading this (and I’ve been known to occasionally don the gear and head out for a few miles myself, by the way).
Oh dear, nothing says “I really don’t know what I’m talking about” more than the “I’m a cyclist myself, but…..” explanation for your ignorance Will.
COP28, eh?
COP28, eh?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/05/record-number-of-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-get-access-to-cop28-climate-talks
brooksby wrote:
It’s truly disgusting how we have fossil fuel interests dominating over the interests of people around the world. People who decry the activities of Just Stop Oil in favour of political protests are not seeing the bigger picture. We have unelected politicians (e.g. Sunak) that are just pushing forward with destroying the planet for profit whilst they can.
Maybe it is good to get the
Maybe it is good to get the fossil fuel lobby into public view so folk know who they are. This may be the only tangible outcome of COP28
levestane wrote:
It’d make more sense to me to not let them be responsible for running our international decision making on how to move away from fossil fuels.
hawkinspeter wrote:
IAF it was a bit of a joke allowing a major petrostate to host COP28 in the first place… And don’t get me started on the comments that have been
linked(edit) attributed to the chair.Having the UAE host COP28 is
Having the UAE host COP28 is a bit like having [insert any 70s BBC DJ here] babysit your kids.
I was a farm worker many
I was a farm worker many years ago riding bikes to work & fetching cows for milking on said bike, a Falcon & since my retirement cycled thousands of miles, mainly Wiltshire and I would like the farmers to cut the hedge more often not just the lower grass bank that the Council do just twice a year because of the butterflies etc, briers & thin bush branches are the main problems. But these hedge cutting machines come without the deflectors that can guide the cuttings back into the hedge, which is wrong they should be part of the machine at the first cost of purchase. In my pre-teens, I with my uncle used to trim the very narrow local lanes on the edge of Dartmoor with just a sharp sickle and a hazel stick and clean up the road as we went,
“Alexa, can you show me how
“Alexa, can you show me how many traffic violations it’s possible to fit into 30 seconds of driving?”
Here’s one I like to call “4 failures, 1 overtake”. All in one manoeuvre. Resulted in a course.
A fair number of commenters
A fair number of commenters blaming Vine’s lack of awareness for causing the problem. Seemed to me he would have been able to stop, but what if that car had arrived 3 seconds later?
One of the earliest top tips I learnt on the advanced driving course I did was to approach junctions slowly to give yourself time to look. Typically then you can adjust your approach to a give way and account for approaching vehicles, at roundabouts especially it gives more chance of interleaving with other traffic.
Our over excitable friend has approached at high speed and clearly is only considering looking for cars. He is also unable to see as the street furniture is partially obscuring his view. This is of course a reason for the driver to approach the junction with more care, but it seems our driver has gone for the “I looked, I didn’t see anything so there can’t be anything there” approach.
Twitter has declared that shit driving is par for the course so it must be the cyclist’s fault for expecting to ride down the road without planning for incompetent lunatics.
IanMSpencer wrote:
Yes you could ride cautiously past every side road and double your journey time.
I think he means approaching
I think he means approaching a junction where you have to Give Way, rather than every side road you pass.
When I was learning to drive, I was told to treat other drivers like they were homicidal maniacs. Something that is becoming increasing appropriate as I interact with vehicles while cycling.
I think the advice these days
I think the advice these days should be to expect that every driver is distracted by their mobile phone. Honestly, in town it’s not so far from the truth (saw five today on my walk home – that’s only counting the ones where I could see the screen myself – plenty others driving by with their eyes in their lap)
Sriracha wrote:
You should visit the countryside, I can’t remember the last time I saw a tractor with the driver not on the phone!
Re: the recycling centre only
Re: the recycling centre only allowing access via car
I’m surprised someone doesn’t raise a discrimination claim against them as surely that’s discriminating against a disability if someone is not allowed to drive due to a medical condition.
It’s the same where I live,
It’s the same where I live, you need a car to access the recycling centre. Walking in is strictly forbidden, yet strangely it’s ok to get out and walk around the skips once you’ve run the gauntlet of the ANPR automated barrier.
The council argue that it’s not discrimiating, because you can arrange for a ‘bulky waste collection’ from your house. Although you have to pay an undisclosed fee for it and they don’t accept some waste that the recycling centre would take. They won’t collect a car battery for instance. So if you found yourself in need of recycling a car battery, but sans car, I assume you’d have to chuck it in a ditch (I’m basing this on observing the contents of the ditches local to me).
HoarseMann wrote:
They used to only allow motorised vehicles in our local recycling centre too, but I think they changed it a couple of years ago. It was probably around the time that there was a huge problem with a long line of cars waiting to get into the dump that were blocking local businesses. They did change it to alternate days for even and odd number plates, but I think the current situation is that you book a time slot. Of course, letting in the occasional bike can only help the traffic congestion and should be more convenient for small disposals.
About “Motorist pulls out in
About “Motorist pulls out in front of Jeremy Vine on cycle lane”… Well, to be honest, it looks more like the cyclist overreacted and put himself in even more danger by not stopping. Motorist did something that quite often happens even in much more cycling-friendly cities like Amsterdam. Also, the road is wet and covered with leafs but he releases one hand, looks elsewhere and cares more about telling the Motorist that he is not right than about safety.
You’re joking. The car doesn
You’re joking. The car doesn’t stop at the giveaway and blocks 80% of the cycle lane. It’s not an over reaction to be upset when someone puts your life in danger
Being upset does not sound
Being upset does not sound like a good reason to put yourself in more danger. In Amsterdam, things like that happen to me once per month or two and I am annoyed every time it happens, but the first thing to do is always to stop and then, in necessary, express indignation. It never even crossed my mind to move in the front of a car that any second is about to move forward and turn, (unless, in some cases, I have clear eye contact with the driver). The worst can happen to a drivercar is a fine, the worst can happen to a cyclist is broken legs and ruined bike. It is just not worth the risk.
But he didn’t. The car
But he didn’t. The car stopped, he rode around it.
The Farmer’s Weekly story
The Farmer’s Weekly story reads like the “profusely red-faced, slightly rotund middle-aged man, dressed from head to toe in figure-hugging fluorescent Lycra and a bike helmet” should get some sort of award for balance if he truly was “windmilling his arms and frothing at the mouth with rage while trying desperately not to topple over on a bike.” That is the description of one hell of a track stand. I can’t last long with my hands on the bars. How many can keep it upright while windmilling and frothing? OK, Peter Sagan, maybe; Danny MaCaskill. But how many “slightly rotund, middle-aged men” can do it?
I remember a story some years
I remember a story some years ago where a motorist claimed that a cyclist was riding alongside her car at “nearly 25 miles an hour”, banging on the window with one hand, making obscene gestures with the other hand, and at the same time kicking her door. It was before I started reading road.cc so I don’t know if it was on here but I do recall there were lots of comments on the local newspaper website where I read it saying that the cyclist should be signed up by a pro team as a domestique!
25mph cruise speed? Sounds
25mph cruise speed? Sounds like Nigel’s celebrated courtesy and politeness finally reached breaking point…