“I was just playing on my phone”: driver’s excuse when cyclist asked why he’d stopped; Gumtree ‘entrapment’ thief arrested; More nails spotted on mtb trail; ‘Costagate’ continues; Council get serious over planter removal + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Police in London increase patrols to enforce 20mph and 30mph limits, and encourage use of headcam footage
With changing transport now & after Lockdown. To support safe #Cycling Traffic 👮♂️ patrols intensified in Urban Roads. Extreme speeding enforcement increased
➖20mph 1,167%
➖30mph 151%
We encourage #Headcam use & reporting traffic offences; improves #TooCloseForComfort awareness. pic.twitter.com/tlfGypTcDK— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 5, 2020
Superintendent Andy Cox says that patrols have increased to support safe cycling, with headcam footage of traffic offences encouraged to deal with the problem.
Want tips on getting decent camera evidence to the police? We have a guide for that.
Schwalbe reveal limited edition Ultrabite gravel tyre with olive sidewall
If your gravel bike has a very appropriate earthy green-coloured frame, then you’ll be wanting these tyres with an olive sidewall to match – the limited edition G-One Ultrabite Gravel tubeless tyre will be available from specialist bike shops this month, in a 40mm size and priced at €59.90 (we don’t have a UK price yet).
Costagate: the redemption of Adam
Thanks, was a pretty mad day – was my fault, I gave the incorrect info. Won’t make that mistake again ^Adam
— Costa Coffee (@CostaCoffee) June 5, 2020
The coffee chain’s Twitter account manager received a fair bit of backlash yesterday for claiming that the reason cyclists weren’t allowed to use their drive-thru service was because they aren’t “taxed and insured to be on the road”… however Costa Adam later admitted he got it wrong, assuming this was the reason why, and later said he believed it was because of “strict health and safety guidelines”.
It’s still not clear what those health and safety guidelines are and why it’s safer to use a car over a bike to use a drive-thru coffee service; although Adam does claim that the drive-thru lanes are “designed for motor vehicles”, and that the speaker to place an order is somehow triggered by a motor vehicle when it pulls up.
I was wrong, you are correct – apologies. I thought it was a requirement of a vehicle being roadworthy within the drive thru lane ^Adam
— Costa Coffee (@CostaCoffee) June 5, 2020
Whilst it really wasn’t good on their part, at least @CostaCoffee admitted they messed up and retracted it. Leave it at that, and if you still want to buy coffee from them, so be it. The people at my local are really rather nice tbh. https://t.co/mwtOijzr66
— James Gleave (@mobilityguy2) June 4, 2020
I think it’s just a standard policy with all drive thru operators – I’m trying to find some more information on our policy and if it can be reviewed ^Adam
— Costa Coffee (@CostaCoffee) June 4, 2020
The beleaguered social media manager is still batting away negative replies this morning, and has even promised to look into the policy to see if it can be reviewed; and for that, in our view it’s time Costa Adam got credit where credit is due. In the meantime, it looks like cyclists who really want Costa Coffee will have to skip the drive-thru and use one of their reopened takeaway stores instead…
We have a further 181 stores reopening for takeaway today, taking us up to a total of 501 stores open. A massive thank you to all of our team members for their hard work and passion to get these stores reopen. You can find all open stores here: https://t.co/Fe1ZNOV8UA pic.twitter.com/8CycwojiTt
— Costa Coffee (@CostaCoffee) June 4, 2020
Time for bus stops to wear high-viz?
When will bus stops learn to use hi viz? pic.twitter.com/jIDPaSeyle
— London 🚲 Rider (not a scourge hoodlum in lycra) (@LondonBicyler) June 4, 2020
Has it never heard of ‘be safe, be seen’? And while we’re here…
PAY ROAD TAX pic.twitter.com/NTWC1HkHOQ
— 🏴 Martin Porter 🏴 (@TheCyclingScot) May 27, 2020
Maryland cops looking for cyclist who was caught ripping away George Floyd protest flyer from a child
Police say they are looking for a cyclist seen on video assaulting and cursing at activists who were posting flyers along a trail in Bethesda, Maryland.
No one was seriously injured. https://t.co/MnAg4Yirnl pic.twitter.com/0pseuh04qH
— ABC News (@ABC) June 5, 2020
The shocking scenes were captured on 1st June in the Maryland-National Capital Park, with police now searching for the cyclist who became aggressive when he spotted the group putting up flyers in support of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Despite being told to leave the young girl alone as he approached, the man then forcefully tears what looks to be a flyer from the young girl’s hands. He then runs at a man filming the incident while pushing his bike, and can be heard saying “take these signs off” towards the end of the clip.
No one was seriously injured, but local police are appealing for anyone with potential information on the suspect.
Council get serious in response to planters being moved
And now fixed, with extra planters, all fixed to the ground! Thank you! pic.twitter.com/JcQEp1mBPU
— HammersmithBridge.org.uk (@HammersmithBri1) June 5, 2020
The road under this bridge in London has been closed to motor traffic, but it appears some didn’t want to play ball and decided to move the planters intended to stop cars from getting through… so the council added a couple more, including a great big massive one with a tree on it in the middle. Chapeau to those responsible!
Skills up to 11
On a scale of 1 to 10, How much do you rate that skills🥰 pic.twitter.com/MY0KA59aCy
— Awesome Cycling 🚵♀️🚵♂️ (@AwesomeCycling) June 4, 2020
More nails on bike trails: horrific trap spotted on Cannock Chase mountain bike route
The latest example of mind-boggling stupidity in the form of traps that appear to have been set up to harm cyclists is this one from a trail on Cannock Chase in the West Midlands.
Originally shared on a local Facebook group yesterday, the person responsible for setting the trap near the village of Brocton appears to have taken considerable time and effort, with spikes carefully embedded into a large tree root. One person wrote: “Someone took hours to do all that. What a spiteful potential danger to walkers, children and animals, not to mention bikers!”
It’s not the first example we’ve seen, and unfortunately probably won’t be the last, of cyclists spotting and sometimes falling victim to traps; late last month a cyclist was injured when he rode into a wire trap on a trail in South Wales, and three weeks previously two pensioners admitted on camera to laying branches across a trail in North Yorkshire in a warped attempt to stop cyclists from using it.
Gumtree bike theft 'entrapment' row... Superintendent Andy Cox intervenes, and the thief has been arrested
My brilliant neighbour Joey is a mental health nurse.
Last night her bike was stolen.
It turned up on Gumtree – but when she gave police the name and address of the thief, they said they couldn’t help because her investigative work would make it entrapment.
This is NUTS. pic.twitter.com/AmyxsWGzWi— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 3, 2020
@theJeremyVine I am keen we resolve this for Joey and provide an appropriate level of service. Please can you send me the relevant details including reference numbers and I’ll make sure the matter is looked into. Thank you.
— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 3, 2020
We reported yesterday that a mental health nurse named Joey had her bike stolen after a 12-hour shift on Wednesday. The theft was caught on CCTV and she found it for sale on Gumtree, which appears to be more than enough for police to trace the offender… but bizarrely, officers told her it would be ‘entrapment’ if they intervened because of her prior investigative work into the crime (which is completely false, just in case anyone wasn’t aware). Gumtree also refused to take the ad down.
As you’ll see above Joey’s neighbour Jeremy Vine intervened, and then eventually Superintendent Andy Cox intervened…
Further update……
A male suspect has been charged with theft and has been remanded in custody awaiting a first court hearing today.
I will look into initial response and consider any potential learning needed. https://t.co/NhqwX35qxJ
— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 5, 2020
And this morning, Superintendent Cox said that a male suspect has been charged with theft and has been remanded in custody. He also suggests that police colleagues who might need to do some brushing up on the law may be getting a talking to…
Hannah Rhodes sets new women's Everesting world record
Another day, another Everesting record falls… this time it’s the women’s mark that has been smashed, after Hannah Rhodes ascended Kirkstone Pass enough times to complete the 8,848m of elevation required in 9:08:31. She rode just over 100 miles (163km) in the process, and the record has already been made official by Hells 500. You can check out the evidence and details on Rhodes’ Strava.
The men’s everesting record fell twice in a week last month, with pro mountain biker Keegan Swenson taking seven hours and 40 minutes to complete the feat on Friday 15th May… this was less than five days after former pro road racer Phil Gaimon lowered the record to 7 hours 50 minutes.
Drivers turn cycle lane into glorified car park
Noooo pls us parking space not bike lane
Hahaha car go vroom vroom pic.twitter.com/t5AbBueckk
— maidstoneonbike (@maidstoneonbike) June 5, 2020
Hopefully a fine and/or police caution will be winging its way to the drivers of these vehicles blatantly left on a London cycle route.
'Postponed' L'Étape du Tour finally cancelled
In another episode of ‘how has it not been cancelled yet?’, the organisers of the L’Etape du Tour de France sportive have finally called it a day and released what can only be described as a quite convoluted statement that confirms the cancellation of the 2020 event. A full story will follow shortly in which we shall try to make sense of it…
Cyclist killed in collision with Ford Transit van identified as Merseyside police inspector Graeme Rooney
Graeme Rooney will be hugely missed across our communities. All of us held him in the highest regard; a decent, kind man and dedicated public servant. I am so saddened to think of his family’s unimaginable heartbreaking loss.https://t.co/QE91YCq0dU
— Dan Carden MP (@DanCardenMP) June 5, 2020
The incident occurred on 2nd June near Altcar in West Lancashire when Inspector Rooney was out on a bike ride with friends, and he was pronounced dead at Aintree Hospital shortly afterwards. Tributes have now been laid at the scene, including flowers and water bottles.
Chief Constable Andy Cooke said in a tribute statement: “Following the sudden and tragic death of Inspector Graeme Rooney on Tuesday evening I wanted to take time out to pay tribute to an officer who was respected across the board and served the force impeccably for more than 27 years.
“Many of you will have heard the phrase ‘an officer and a gentleman’, and this sums Graeme up perfectly.”
Police say that the Ford Transit Tipper van that Inspector Rooney collided with was travelling in the opposite direction, and are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information can call 101, quoting log number 1405 of June 2nd.
The Paris-Roubaix pavé squad are prepping some pain for October
Back to work 👊 pic.twitter.com/hBvJJVCc0j
— Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix (@A_ParisRoubaix) June 4, 2020
The rearranged classic will now take place on the 25th October, which means those responsible for maintaining the brutal cobbles on route are back after some time out due to the pandemic.
If you weren’t aware, Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix are a volunteer organisation formed in 1983, who work year-round to preserve the pavé so it’s rideable in time for Paris-Roubaix each year; if it wasn’t for them, it’s unlikely the race would feature many of the cobbled sections at all.
Miami's bike response specialized unit actually rides Trek
They may be elite at something but cycling ain’t it. https://t.co/PvL76QLgNy
— John Galloway (@VelocastJohn) June 5, 2020
There’s a lot to be said about this cringey 14 second clip featuring some rather unimpressive skids, not least that the name ‘specialized unit’ is perhaps ironic considering Specialized are the main US rival of fellow bike brand Trek. Also reminds us of something…
— The Dynaslow 🚴♂️🐈👨👩👧 (@TheDynaslow) June 5, 2020
"I was just playin' on me phone": driver's "cracker" of a response when asked why he'd stopped in the middle of the road
“Sorry, I thought you were letting me past”
“No, I’m playing with my phone! ” (proudly shows me his phone). Right-o. pic.twitter.com/ZCodclRzsv— Joolz Pedals (@JoolzPedals) June 5, 2020
It would be highly amusing if it wasn’t so dangerous, as the driver of this trailer-towing Ford Ranger seems to think playing on your phone is a reasonable excuse for crawling along a country lane, before coming to a stop and then moving off again.
According to the cyclist who shot the footage it happened near Kittochside in East Kilbride, where she was faced with the vehicle moving very slowly on the country lane. It then comes to a stop and the cyclist thinks he is letting her overtake, but then the vehicle starts to move. She said to the driver “I thought you were letting me past”, to which he cheerfully replied: “No, I was just playing on my phone.”
The cyclist claims he then proudly showed off his mobile to advertise the fact. After hearing the driver’s explanation, the cyclist can be heard saying: “Absolute cracker”. Not the sharpest tool in the box and one that hopefully can be prosecuted with a number plate clearly visible…
5 June 2020, 08:36
Showers, bike storage, cycling policies... could increased levels of cycling cause a headache for companies who haven't prepared for the influx?
The four big cycling challenges companies face post-lockdown
The anticipated post-lockdown surge in cycle commuting is massively positive, but it's not without its challenges for the companies that commuters will be riding to
5 June 2020, 08:36
5 June 2020, 08:36
Incredibly satisfying to watch after the initial dangerous overtake...
Near Miss of the Day 420: Instant karma as driver makes close pass on cyclist - and immediately gets pulled over by police officer following him
Our regular series featuring close passes from around the country - today it's South Lanarkshire
5 June 2020, 08:36
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Latest Comments
@Paul J Van Schip certainly seems a bit of a dick, but he's a European and multiple World Champion on the track, pretty sure you don't get there without having some talent in your legs.
Poor Vincent cannot get over the simple fact that given the choice people prefer dedicated cycling spaces, rather than pretending to be cars like vehicular cyclists.
What is the point of the fancy air sensor if it can't account for changing weather conditions?? If all you care about is a delayed approximation of aerodynamic watts in steady conditions, you don't need any special sensors for that. Just your speed on a decently flat course is enough to approximate rolling resistance and drivetrain losses. And the rest must be aero. If you assume a less aero body position at the same watts, your speed will drop while rolling resistance also drops, which means approximated aero watts goes up. And that's enough to demonstrate what you've shown in your testing protocol ("I sat upright and the number went up a little while later").
Your correction is accurate - it's almost always been "the (lack of) thought that (doesn't) count". "Massive" - less than a billion a year spent on active travel (trying to catch up / building a network across the entire country) Not massive - 6 billion every year (2026-2030) spent on road *maintenance* of existing "already built, goes everywhere, very convenient" road network for inactive travel Ultimately the reason "cycle infra" is *needed* is those unbelievably colossal amounts spent every year (and for more than a century now) on making mass motoring not just viable but apparently the "best choice" for most journeys. As the Dutch and others have shown, the majority of people *are* prepared to cycle and even mix with very light, slow local motor traffic *if* cycling is also made safe and convenient for the whole of their journey (including secure parking at both ends). (The history of the financial drivers of the current situation are a complex topic but note that while people complain about "crumbling roads" and underfunded motor infra - with some reason - by us continuing the fuel duty escalator freeze (for example) we're actually helping motorists pay *even less* for that activity / subsidising more of the cost of driving than ever.)
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
Obree had some actual talent in his legs though, in addition to his bike/aero engineering talent.
Малко като опит за доказване е излязло... Никой няма нужда от толкова голям въртящ момент и мощност на шосеен велосипед с тънки гуми, които дори трудно ще предават тази мощност върху пътя. А ако има и ограничение от 25 км/час е още по-безмислено.
42 thoughts on ““I was just playing on my phone”: driver’s excuse when cyclist asked why he’d stopped; Gumtree ‘entrapment’ thief arrested; More nails spotted on mtb trail; ‘Costagate’ continues; Council get serious over planter removal + more on the live blog”
He’s doing cyclists a favour,
He’s doing cyclists a favour, we deserve better coffee than Costa
Their coffee always seems a
Their coffee always seems a bit weak and watery to me and although I’m an outlier in liking very strong coffee, I’m always surprised when people say that they prefer Costa to other coffee shops. I even prefer Charbucks to Costa.
I’m the opposite, much prefer
I’m the opposite, much prefer Costa to Starbucks
Gus T wrote:
In descending order of preference :
Costa -> Costa Machine -> Cafe Nero -> Pret -> Starshucks. Gotta be pretty desperate for Prets and Starbucks burnt offerings though.
Independent if I’m feeling flush or on a weekend bike ride.
No Sir! Nero is better than
No Sir! Nero is better than Costa. Pret 99p Filter is OK on a cold morning.
Costa is horrid. Independents are the best – I agree. I remember reading somewhere that coffee is one of the most profitable commodities on the planet (not for the farmers obvioulsy) Why are we in a situation where burnt milk, boiling water, weak coffee in a paper cup costs upwards of £2.50. I have almost stopped buying it on principle – and donate the money instead. I don’t mind paying money but it’s invariably terrible, milky, boiled crap.
Everytime I go to Italy (for example) I am ‘surprised’ how a 1 Euro coffee in a service station tastes better than any £3 coffee in London.
In descending order of
Dispatch War Rocket Ajax to bring back his body.
Im with you I prefer Costa to
Im with you I prefer Costa to Starbucks, Starbucks always tastes burnt to me, though I relent at Christmas because Starbucks make the better gingerbread lattes, whilst Nero I dont know what they put in their coffee but it tastes horrible.
the problem is whenever people say oh you must use local independents instead, and I do where I can, but so few of them do really big coffee sizes, and I need big coffee size, not espresso only size.
Costa might pay their tax.
Costa might pay their tax.
Costa might pay their tax.
Costa might pay their tax.
I have lived opposite one for 7 years, only time I went in was to try and warn a cyclist that they might not have locked their bike up as they had wanted.
No on makes tea like I can make my tea.
And tea out is shockingly expensive, too close to the outrageous coffee prices.
Davydesign wrote:
I’m just curious if they’d serve me at Costa if I turned up on my classic motorbike – insured yes of course, but no need for VED or an MOT any more.
Mind you, I don’t really do takeaway coffees except when I’m away for work.
He’s doing cyclists a favour,
(Ajax error)
In descending order of
Dispatch War Rocket Ajax to bring back his body.
Secret_squirrel wrote:
OK – you win the Internet today
I feel a bit sorry for Costa
I feel a bit sorry for Costa Adam…
Would this work?
Would this work?
He does seem to have been
He does seem to have been hung out to dry by Costa.
Yes his was a daft thing to say too, but it was Sam on their twitter feed that started the nonsense idea that Costa’s insurance policy mandated a VED, Insurance and MOT (roadworthy) check before they could serve a customer.
Sam though seems to have got off scott free and is having nothing to do with the storm of responses.
Have you got incriminating pictures of the boss, Sam? ?
He does seem to have been
Double post
My current pair of G1 Bites
My current pair of G1 Bites are doing just fine but those olive-skinned ones… lusting after tyres for their sidewall colour is daft, but those are really nice.
Anyone see the Jeremy Vine
Anyone see the Jeremy Vine Show on Channel 5 this morning, Jeremy inadvertantly announced that he has a hidden tracker on his bike, the reaction by his assistant / co-host Storm is brilliant, was at about 10:30, sorry I don’t have a video or link
On the ‘More nails on bike
On the ‘More nails on bike trails’ story – O. M. F-ing. G.!!! Is that real??
Haven’t seen this mentioned
Haven’t seen this mentioned yet – James Hayden is raffling his TCR winner’s jersey with the money going to the Stephen Lawrence trust, described as his “most treasured possession”:
https://twitter.com/JamesMarkHayden/status/1267721266963918854
https://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/support-us/donate/
As for the Costa debacle, I’d not insult my taste buds with chain coffee. Independents rule on that front.
But this twitter thing shows the depth and breadth of ignorance that we’re up against. Costa is a huge multinational and I’m amazed that such inaccurate and irrelevant comments can appear on the company’s official social media channel. And what sort of poorly-educated sap thinks that mouthing off about ‘road tax’ is an appropriate way to communicate with the public?
Great to see the cycling
Great to see the cycling policeman – he’s got his high viz, on I see, but what else readers, is wrong with this picture?
Also liked the tax evading cow and demolished bus shelter – the sun was in my eyes, must have had my music blaring…
David9694 wrote:
[quote=David9694]
Great to see the cycling policeman – he’s got his high viz, on I see, but what else readers, is wrong with this picture?
No pedal reflectors?
No cycle clips
No cycle clips
He has his right trouser leg
He has his right trouser leg bloused to stop it catching, I think
Possibly. I also did not want
Possibly. I also did not want to use the H word.
You’re getting warmer…
You’re getting warmer…
meawhile, I notice he’s got a bell – does it go ting-a-ling, neee-naw, or whooo-oooo?
could we all take it in turns to do his shift for him?
Well, he’s not cross chaining
Well, he’s not cross chaining, which makes him OK by me.
Stood blocking a cycle lane?
He’s on double red lines.
He’s on double red lines.
(I hope the quiz master’s answer does not involve reflectors).
I know – he’s only got a
I know – he’s only got a cable lock – that bike’ll be up for sale on eBay as soon as he turns his back on it.
No chance of getting it back
No chance of getting it back without using entrapment.
Re: cows on roads
Re: cows on roads
Source: “Angry People In Local Newspapers” on twitter
Can we extend the drive thru
Can we extend the drive thru campaign to include McDonalds?
This apparently their policy:
The rules state: “McDonald’s drive thru is for people in motor vehicles only – bicycles are not permitted on our drive thru due to the health and safety policies we have in place.”
Mopeds and motorbikes are allowed, and so are road-legal mobility scooters.
So they don’t have a 2 wheels bad policy, just a ban on non polluting 2 wheel vehicles as apparently the Health and Safety on human powered transport is worse than that on internal combustion emissions.
It’s bikes that are dangerous
It’s bikes that are dangerous?
There are many images of crashes, mostly slow minor ones in the UK, but quite large ones in the states (of course).
I think the horrible Ajax thing may be over!
ktache wrote:
— ktacheI’d like to think that it’s the result of a thorough testing and contact tracing regime 😉 … unlike our government’s woeful (and disastrous) response to Covid-19.
I would never have gone up
I would never have gone up the side of that trailer.
Get their attention first if you think they have stopped, otherwise you could be crushed.
Is the cycle policeman
Is the cycle policeman wearing the specially reinforced Met Police headgear instead of a cycle helmet?
Glad to see him not wearing a
Glad to see him not wearing a styrofoam hat. Helmets don’t save lives, but cycle friendly cities do.
Anyone tried taking a
Anyone tried taking a velomobile through a Drive Thru?
They’ve found the Marlyland
They’ve found the Marlyland cyclist who assaulted the people putting up BLM posters https://wjla.com/news/local/mystery-solved-police-arrest-kensington-man-in-alleged-assault-on-capital-crescent-trail
The LPL has a go at the Altor
The LPL has a go at the Altor SAF, picking with a pick not made by Bosnian Bill
And as I seem to be able to
And as I seem to be able to post pics and post without Ajax
I was tempted in a Guardian piece about the super rich buying madly expensive properties (I will probably never get to buy a home) in the New Normal.
This is a 15 and a bit million pound property, reduced from 16 and a bit, bargain.
It is not a particularly wide property, but notice that the stupidly large vehicle is longer than the stupidly expensive house is wide.