“Allowing cyclists to ignore 20mph zones makes a dangerous situation so much worse”: Mr Loophole calls for “kamikaze cyclists” to be forced to adhere to 20mph speed limits and wear number plates; The great garish TT helmet poll + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
“It looks like discrimination”: Disabled cyclists’ campaign group calls relaxing of planning laws to allow bike storage units in front gardens “very worrying”, if larger designs for adapted cycles are not allowed
Some reaction to the government’s plans to relax planning laws to allow bike sheds in front garden, which disabled cycling charity Wheels for Wellbeing has warned could possibly lead to “discrimination” against those with larger, adapted cycles unable to fit within the planned permitted measurements:
> Disabled cyclists’ campaign group calls relaxing of planning laws to allow bike storage units in front gardens “very worrying”, if larger designs for adapted cycles are not allowed
Cyclists slam council’s “biased survey” asking “how much of a nuisance and danger e-bikes” are to residents
A London council has been accused of running the “most biased survey ever” and “completely wasting time” on an anti-cyclist “PR exercise”, the backlash coming after the local authority shared a short online survey asking residents for their views on “how much of a nuisance and danger e-bikes and e-scooters” are.
Read more: > Cyclists slam council’s “biased survey” asking “how much of a nuisance and danger e-bikes” are to residents
No biased surveys around here, anyway…
Belfast still has just two miles of protected cycling infrastructure, report finds – despite majority of residents wanting to cycle more and drive less, as number of motorists in the city soars
It’ll come as no surprise to regular readers of this live blog that Belfast – a city where bins and parked cars clog up ‘protected’ cycle lanes, where the lack of change in cycling casualty figures over the past decade has been branded “shameful”, and where exasperated councillors plea with the government to devolve powers to them so they can “bloody” install some cycling infrastructure – boasts just two miles of segregated cycle lanes.
Sustrans’ Walking and Cycling Index for 2023 has revealed that the number of protected bike lanes in Belfast has not changed in five years – despite the majority of the city’s residents being in favour of more segregated infrastructure and dealing with the car-dominance and pavement parking that defines Belfast’s streets.
In August, Green councillor Anthony Flynn was scathing about the government’s lack of delivery on its cycle network plans, which he described as “incredibly frustrating” and “ridiculous”.
“With £700,000 they have delivered 2.8 kilometres in the last two years. And on another project £245,000 on an active travel funding upgrade,” Flynn said.
“I am exasperated with that, to be honest. We had the Belfast Cycling Network Delivery Plan two years ago – there was an £11 million budget, and again we are left with little to no delivery, which is incredibly frustrating.”
And according to Sustrans’ latest survey, thanks to this active travel inertia perpetuated by the political standoff at Stormont, active travel numbers have dropped by two per cent since 2021, while driving numbers have risen from 44 per cent to 51 per cent.
However, a third of those surveyed said they would like to drive less, while 47 per cent said they wanted to cycle more and 65 per cent said they would support more protected infrastructure in the city.
Meanwhile, in a result that will shock controversialists across the UK and on GB News, 77 per cent of Belfast residents said they’d also be in favour of the creation of 20-minute neighbourhoods in the city.
“In the 10th year of the Index, we are delighted to be able to spotlight the realities and ambitions of the people of Belfast regarding active travel,” Claire Pollock, head of Sustrans in Northern Ireland, said in a statement following the index’s publication.
“The responses to the independent survey show that the majority of people would like to see less car dominance and more active travel options available.
“Investment in such infrastructure would go a long way towards tackling physical and mental health issues, as well as cut carbon emissions in a cost-effective way which would benefit everyone living in, working in and visiting Belfast.”
The politician responsible for investing in this infrastructure, Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd, said he “welcomed” the report, and that “it is encouraging to hear that more people would like to get out of their car and make the switch to active travel journeys.
“I plan to turn that into a reality by investing in more and better active travel infrastructure. Infrastructure is the starting point for a more prosperous and productive economy; as well as a better quality of life for our communities.
“I want to create people-centred cities, towns and villages which look and feel cleaner and greener and that create a thriving, healthy environment where people can live, work, shop, visit and invest.”
If I’m honest, John, I won’t be holding my breath…
Breaking News: Visma-Lease a Bike time trialist crashes into building on London’s Oxford Street – Oh, wait…
New Oxford St shut due to bus driving into building. #London pic.twitter.com/psCggJrnsk
— Cityintel (@Cityintel1) March 5, 2024
Alright, I promise that’s the last one… Actually, I don’t promise anything.
Laura Kenny has “slim chance” of competing at Paris Olympics, says British Cycling’s performance director
Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female Olympian, has only a “slim chance” racing at this summer’s Paris Olympics, according to British Cycling’s performance director Stephen Park.
The 31-year-old gave birth to a second child, Monty, in July last year, and has not raced since the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Kenny is also continuing to train on her own, away from the rest of GB’s track endurance squad, and does not currently have the UCI points required for Olympic qualification, with April’s Track Nations Cup in Canada her last opportunity to secure a potential spot at the Paris Games.
“She has a slim chance of being in Paris,” Park told reporters at the Manchester velodrome today.
“The first challenge is for her to be in a position where she feels that she is going to be competitive, and therefore put herself and if you like put her hand up to be selected for events that will allow her to qualify herself as well as qualify in the team.
“Both of those are fairly significant hurdles because you need to be able to get to the right events on an individual level to qualify, and secondly she’s got to be competitive in a team that’s more competitive than it’s ever been.”
(Alex Broadway, SWpix.com)
Nevertheless, Park says the five-time Olympic gold medallist is “optimistic” about returning to form in time for October’s world championships.
“The time is approaching fairly quickly where she’s going to have to be pretty clear as to whether she wants [to race at the Olympics], otherwise she’ll perhaps miss the opportunity,” GB’s performance director added.
“The first big piece is about her having the confidence, nobody knows better than Laura about what you need to do to win a medal in women’s track.
“I’ve got no doubt that if she decided that she was going to absolutely put her mind to it and felt that she was physically and mentally in the right place, she would do. [While] she’s getting herself back into that place, she doesn’t want to be in the situation where she is affecting the training of the others as well, she’s really conscious of the progress they’re making too.”
(Alex Broadway, SWpix.com)
In November, Kenny told Team GB’s The Journey documentary series that she remained intent on securing her spot in Paris, for what would be her fourth Olympics.
“I obviously want to compete in the next Olympics,” she said. “I know everyone thinks I’m absolutely mad in saying that, but if I don’t try, I’ll never know.
“I would hate to be sat here thinking, ‘well I never even gave it a go, to see whether I could make it possible’.”
And in truly shocking, abhorrent, earth-shattering pro cycling news…
This got a mention on here a few days ago, I think, but got confirmation this morning that Groupama-FDJ briefings this week at Paris-Nice have been in ENGLISH.
In other news, Hell has frozen over, unicorns are tap-dancing across the plains of northern France etc. etc.
— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) March 4, 2024
Groupama-FDJ meetings taking place in English? Groupama-FDJ? FDJ, FDJ? The team of Marc Madiot, Thibaut Pinot, beautiful Tricolore national champs kits, and emotional roadside breakdowns?
In English? English?!
Thomas De Gendt’s right, we should all just pack up and head home.
The game’s gone…
“A great result for our enforcement teams”: Cyclist ordered to pay £500 for riding bicycle through town centre
In yet another episode in the long-running battle between the local authority’s “zero-tolerance” policy and people riding bikes in Grimsby’s pedestrianised zones, a North East Lincolnshire councillor has hailed a “great result for our enforcement teams” after a 60-year-old cyclist was fined and ordered to pay £500 after breaching a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) by cycling through the town centre.
Read more: > Cyclist ordered to pay £500 for riding bicycle through town centre as councillor claims hefty fine is “great result for our enforcement teams”
Gravel series Grinduro offers free entries to those affected by bike industry lay-offs
As lay-offs continue to hit the struggling bike industry, especially in the wake of Mike Ashley’s purchase of Wiggle, gravel series Grinduro has come up with a “small gesture” to those recently made redundant – by offering them a free entry to any Grinduro event.
“As we all know, the bike industry has been hit by hard times recently. Many of those good folks have been on the receiving end of a redundancy notice. Some of our closest friends who have previously staffed booths at Grinduro events in the past are unfortunately now out of work,” Grinduro, established in 2015 and now owned by UK-based Northern Consultancy Co., said.
“As a small organisation, we wish we could do more to help than just send them virtual hugs. So, we did some thinking. What can we do? Many of these guys and gals have stood on booths on their weekends, watching others ride, no doubt wishing they were out there too on their bikes.
“It’s a small gesture, but Grinduro wants to say thank you to those industry folks recently made redundant by offering them a free entry to Grinduro. Any Grinduro.”
Laid-off industry workers can claim their free ticket for any Grinduro event – with the series set to visit Germany, France, Italy, the US, and Japan this year – by emailing industry@grinduro.com, and providing proof of their involvement in the cycling industry by sharing a business card or a LinkedIn profile, and a rough date of when they were made redundant.
“We don’t wanna be nosey, but you can bet someone will try it on for a free ticket,” the series said. “We look forward to seeing you on the trails and the dance floor!”
Let the hyperbole flow: More groundbreaking tech news as Look unveil “lightest power meter pedal on the market”, as Rapha releases its “fastest ever jersey”
> Look’s new Keo Blade Power is “the lightest power meter pedal on the market”
> Rapha unveils “fastest jersey” it’s ever produced as part of latest Pro Team collection
Well, they’re not going to say their shiny new product isn’t the lightest, fastest, coolest thing ever, are they?
Jasper Philipsen cruises to Tirreno-Adriatico sprint win ahead of Tim Merlier
It may not have been the most straightforward of opening road stages to Tirreno-Adriatico, courtesy of the litany of pinch points, crashes, and spots of argy-bargy during the run-in to Follonica, but boy did Jasper Philipsen make it look oh so easy.
After a series of crashes, one of which saw Chris Froome awkwardly hold his wrist, and an ill-timed mechanical for Mark Cavendish, Soudal-Quick Step’s in-form sprinter Tim Merlier decided to take matters into his own hands by divebombing into the crucial final corner with 250m to go.
Double denim delight for Jasper Philipsen 😎
The Alpecin–Deceuninck rider dominates the Stage 2 sprint finish at Tirreno-Adriatico 💪 pic.twitter.com/uP1jorZi13
— Eurosport (@eurosport) March 5, 2024
Unfortunately for the big Belgian, the presence of Uno-X’s rapidly fading lead-out in that very corner ever so slightly robbed him of the speed required to carry his surge to the line.
Merlier continued to carry out his tactical plan, however, but soon became resigned to acting as an impromptu, if very fast, lead-out for Alpecin’s double denim-clad Philipsen, who burst clear for a comfortable first victory of the season, as Merlier clung on for second, a lightyear behind in sprinting terms.
Meanwhile, even further behind the nonchalantly explosive Philipsen, a sea of calm amid the chaos, Biniam Girmay took third – but the spot of bumping and barging with Axel Zingle, and Girmay’s clear deviation across the Frenchman’s line, has prompted the commissaires to relegate the Eritrean. Cycling VAR working quickly and effectively – who knew?
Uh oh, here comes the “in-depth analysis”: UCI says it will review helmet design rules following Visma-Lease a Bike controversy and trend for “ever more radical designs” – as Specialized snood set to be outlawed from April
And there it is.
Never one for waiting until the technological horse had bolted before shutting the regulatory door (promising to look into hookless rims “as a matter of urgency” only after Thomas De Gendt’s tyre exploded at the UAE Tour being one notable recent example of that fashionable lateness), the UCI has woken up, stretched, made a coffee, checked the morning papers and their coverage of Visma-Lease a Bike’s revolutionary helmet, and then decided to release a statement about it.
Promising an “in-depth analysis of the regulations governing the design and use of time trial helmets”, the governing body’s statement seeks to clarify its position amid “ever more radical designs”, noting that while Visma and Bahrain’s latest helmet looks are currently legal, they raise “a significant issue concerning the current and wider trend in time trial helmet design, which focuses more on performance than the primary function of a helmet, namely to ensure the safety of the wearer in the event of a fall”.
Oh, and while they’re at it, the UCI has also announced that Specialized’s infamous head sock will be banned from 2 April, in a move that will certainly annoy the Manchester City team of the early 2010s.
Read more: > UCI to review design rules in light of Team Visma-Lease a Bike helmet and “ever more radical designs”
All these attempts by the UCI to clamp down on groundbreaking, slightly weird, and quite ugly tech – have I travelled back in time to the mid-1990s?
Paris-Nice: UAE Team Emirates win the battle of the helmets, as late afternoon showers open up unexpected gaps during hilly team time trial
🥇🔥 UAE Team Emirates 🇦🇪 wins team time trial at #ParisNice 🇫🇷.
Well done, guys!👏👏👏 #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/Fjpd5Ra3J6
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) March 5, 2024
Now before we get to the results of this afternoon’s ‘first across the line counts’ Paris-Nice team time trial – the kind of modern cycling innovation lost in the recent news cycle – first things first. And no, I’m not talking about helmets.
During Eurosport’s coverage, I was shocked – shocked – to learn that Rob Hatch, while chatting about the online discourse surrounding Giro’s new, potentially soon to be outlawed helmet, pronounces ‘memes’ as ‘mayms’.
I don’t think I’ll ever recover.
🙌 Teamwork makes the dream work! 🚴🏻♂️
👏 @TeamEmiratesUAE #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/uXdrI5nEpe
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 5, 2024
Anyway, back to the racing, where UAE Team Emirates, and their slightly bulky but largely inoffensive helmets, took advantage of the lighter skies and drier roads during their hilly 27km trip around Auxerre to secure the win, 15 seconds ahead of Jayco-AlUla and 20 clear of POC-wearing EF Education EasyPost, catapulting Brandon McNulty into the yellow jersey.
A late afternoon downpour meant that the last few teams were forced to deal with some wet roads on the descent back into town, having a clear effect on the rankings, and opening up potentially bigger gaps than were expected between the GC favourites.
The rain appeared to have the biggest impact on Primož Roglič and his new Bora-Hansgrohe team, who despite crossing the first checkpoint in second, just three seconds off the pace (with the Slovenian drilling it on the front in what was then dry conditions), finished in Auxerre 54 seconds down on UAE, and in 11th.
Likewise, Remco Evenepoel’s Soudal-Quick Step team led the way at the first checkpoint with almost a full complement of riders, but were forced to settle for fourth, 22 seconds down.
🇫🇷 #ParisNice
UAE Team Emirates wins the TTT. We finish in 6⃣th position.⏱️ pic.twitter.com/D8KhEPH58g
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) March 5, 2024
While Ineos Grenadiers – who put Josh Tarling under pressure halfway through, so you know the pace was high – finished in fifth on the same time as Soudal, Visma-Lease a Bike continued their trend of putting in devastatingly average performances in their new helmets, finishing sixth, 38 seconds slower than UAE Team Emirates.
And the owners of the other new helmet on the block, Bahrain-Victorious? They managed tenth, 42 seconds down.
Maybe there’s something to be said about traditional designs…
The people have spoken – and they’ve told the helmet designers and aero nerds to rein it in a bit
Who needs wind tunnels, months of engineering and testing, and the real-world results of a Paris-Nice team time trial, when you have the views of a smattering of road.cc live blog readers?
Though if the tech nerds are still desperate, of course, I know of a particular time trial look that is surely due a comeback and would keep the punters happy at the same time:
When going AERO meant just sticking a disc in your road bike and nearly riding at 50kph average…. #tthelmets #TirrenoAdriatico2024 pic.twitter.com/e8POzVnfx9
— Paul Kane (@Kaner1972) March 4, 2024
Well, they don’t call him the King for nothing…
The great garish helmet poll: What classic sci-fi inspired, aero gains hunting, style-be-damned time trial lid is your favourite?
In what I’m now suspecting to be a calculated move, designed to take the attention away from rival Tadej Pogačar’s otherworldly, fear-inducing ride at the weekend, Visma-Lease a Bike and Giro’s startling new helmet design has dominated discussion in the cycling world – for better or worse – over the past 24 hours.
No, you can’t use this in Time Trials.
It’s not a rule or anything, but just in the interest of taste. https://t.co/Ji2a949vtm
— Scottish Cycling (@ScottishCycling) March 4, 2024
> Is Jonas Vingegaard’s latest time trial helmet one step too far?
But considering the trajectory of helmet design – both in time trials, and increasingly worryingly, on the road – in recent years, should we really be surprised when a team rocks up with something more closely resembling what a bored child might draw at the back of class than your standard, mid-noughties pointy-tipped aero lid?
Team time trial day @ParisNice pic.twitter.com/lUFjZDoUDP
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) March 5, 2024
So, ahead of today’s team time trial at Paris-Nice – when we’ll be treated to the sight of those helmets, and their illustrious, aesthetically questionable predecessors, all lined up in a row of seven, like they’re about to invade an alien planet – I thought I’d run a small poll.
Of all the mad TT helmet designs of the past few years, which is your favourite?
Is it the OG of mad, bad out-there design, the POC Tempor?
Or Kask’s ski goggle-esque visor, with oversized wings (and superfluous gilet as an optional extra – thanks, Geraint)?
Or maybe it’s Spesh’s groundbreaking bucket and snood combo?
Though maybe your loyalties lie with the helmet that walked so Visma could run: Uno-X and Sweet Protection’s mega flared bumblebee look and bonkers middle vent (for some reason)?
Or has Giro’s “innovative” – and one sole rider in the top 20 of a Tirreno TT achieving – design stolen your heart?
Or maybe, just maybe… it’s Bahrain-Victorious and Rudy’s new winged effort, cruelly overshadowed by their Visma counterparts yesterday?
Of course, your choice can be made based on aesthetics, aero capabilities, or just that you prefer your time trial helmets to be as mad as possible. Get voting!
“Allowing cyclists to ignore 20mph zones makes a dangerous situation so much worse”: Mr Loophole calls for “kamikaze cyclists” to be forced to adhere to 20mph speed limits, amid renewed call for cycling number plates
After yesterday’s blog – and its focus on the “plagues of two-wheeled vermin” swarming around Box Hill, at least according to one oddly furious, tuba-playing student – reminded us that vicious anti-cycling invectives can cut across the generations, we’re now diverting our attention back to one of the anti-cycling OGs, ‘Mr Loophole’ himself, Nick Freeman.
It’s been a while – over three months in fact – since Freeman, a lawyer famous for obtaining not guilty verdicts for celebrities charged with driving offences, last popped up on our timeline, calling for cyclists to be required to fit registration plates on their bikes, or be subject to speed limits, and penalty points… And not so much on phone use behind the wheel, but you get the point.
But this week, he’s back doing what he does best, appearing in the Express to complain about “kamikaze” cyclists dangerously “overtaking and undertaking” motorists in new 20mph zones “with impunity”.
The widespread implementation of 20mph zones, Freeman says, is a “contradiction in terms” because it doesn’t apply to cyclists – who are constantly zooming about at over 20mph of course (now, don’t bring up time trials, okay?).
Oh, and he also slotted in his personal favourite – arguing that any legislation to require cyclists to adhere to speed limits “will lack teeth if cyclists remain anonymous”, and that any road traffic law which “applies to motor vehicles apply to cyclists and e-bikes too.”
All the hits, then.
“There is so much fanfare about how roads with 20mph limits will be so much safer,” Freeman said in the Express. “But how on earth can cyclists safely share road space with cars on 20mph roads when those on bikes don’t have to observe the limit?
“How can you have a speed limit which claims to protect all, yet which doesn’t apply to certain road users? It is a contradiction in terms.
“Because of this disparity, we see legally compliant cars crawling along at 20mph while kamikaze cyclists dangerously undertake and overtake these vehicles with impunity – because there is no law to stop them from doing so.
“How on earth is this supposed to advance the cause of road safety?”
Ah yes, that classic dichotomy – a motorist travelling at 20mph is “crawling along”, while a cyclist riding at the same speed is “dangerous”. Might want to think that one through a bit more, Nick.
And it’s not just those pesky kamikaze cyclists motorists have to be worried about in the 20mph zones.
“At present drivers in a 20mph zone are constantly having to focus on their speedometer which is a distraction in itself,” Freeman adds.
“But they also have the additional responsibility of looking out for kamikaze cyclists. It’s such a dangerous situation and one the government either overlooked or didn’t consider when drafting legislation for bikes and cyclists on our roads.
“The number of accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians is increasing exponentially – which is why there is an urgent need to legislate to ensure cyclists obey the speed limit.
“Roads with a 20mph limit are already causing massive congestion whilst motorists are distracted by the constant need to brake. Allowing cyclists to ignore the limit simply makes a dangerous situation so much worse.”
And don’t worry, he’s about to mention number plates now.
“Any legislation will lack teeth if cyclists remain anonymous,” Freeman says of the means of clamping down on ‘speeding’ cyclists. “They must be required to display a form of identification – say a registered tabard or registration plate – and have a licence or insurance.
“Otherwise it is hard for those who break the law to be caught. In other words, make the same road traffic law which applies to motor vehicles apply to cyclists and e-bikes too.”
Of course, Mr Loophole has been a longstanding proponent of cycling number plates – to no great effect – with his 2021 petition on the issue limping across the 10,000-signature threshold for an official response from the government, only to be decidedly rejected by the Department for Transport (a stance consistently repeated since then).
But, sure if this latest campaign fails, he can always get a job as a ‘young reporter’ at This is Local London, right?
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See Hambinis recent you tube video on the quality of BMC frames.
Jetmans Dad "Food delivery riders in particular are riding overpowered 'eBikes' that are basically mopeds … powered only via the throttle without pedalling at significantly more than 15mph. Problem is they look like normal bikes/ebikes and not like mopeds so that is what people describe them as." Indeed, mistaken identification of e-motorcycles as bicycles is a significant problem because different regulations and training apply, so different enforcement. Even worse are the illegaly modified e-motorcycles that are not operated as such, without training, insurance and compliance generally. Zero hour employment contracts and employers taking no practical responsibility make it worse yet. Then there's the health impacts on customers that fall on taxpayers through the NHS.
I might be cynical about Police re-organisations but how many new senior officer posts will be created in this re-organisation.
I have to put it back into mode eight so rarely that I will have to open up the manual. Normally when I stick it on the bars when I had to send my r4 back to Hope. Or if it seemed to go a bit weird. Can't remember the last time.
I have nothing but praise for my helmet mounted Exposure Axis, running eight years now. Battery only does two and a bit commutes now, so I'm going to either upgrade to the Diablo or see if they will upgrade the battery. If they'd released their STVZo road/4k lumens when your giving it some going downhill off road light I would have bought it first day. Mode 8 for me, low low, good mid and top high, decided after a couple of weeks of use and I've never changed. I use the button or the tap function (Tap 2 for me) to cycle through the power levels. Exceptional helmet light. The button is it's weak point, but very livable, I am glad of the tap function. It can sometimes take a few presses to get the flashing bit with its press and hold, but not for too long because that's off.
Hard to see who replies on any thread. I only visit the site a couple of times a week as it is not usable.
People who want to travel safely in a 20 mph area, so that no motor vehicle tries to overtake them, need to be capable of 20 mph so get no assistance at all from a legal e-bike that provides 15.5 mph. So the e-bike regulations are broken because they encourage unsafe overtaking by impatient drivers (5 mph). In 30 mph roads, the 10 mph difference would still allow safe overtaking to be completed in short distances. So the low speed 15.5 is less safe in practice not safer.
I have been doing some cross-checking between my records and the police dataset How do you do that? The spreadsheet has been designed to ensure that you can't. There's no unique code for each incident, so why haven't they included that? There are many incidents dated from the same location on the same day by the same despised reporter category (cyclist) for the same offender category (such as 'car'). The great majority of intended (as usual in these misleading 'databases', it's not the real outcome) outcomes is the entirely useless 'warning letter'. Is there anybody out there who believes that the average police officer could rouse either the wit or the willingness to determine whether the offender has received a warning letter previously?! Some people will be receiving numerous such letters to throw in the bin, which encourages them to repeat the offence. As for the claimed 'positive outcome'!- only the most deluded could believe that
I pretty much have stopped bothering. I also find when I come to the site it loads the previous days page and I have to refresh to see today’s front page.
I regularly submit reports to A&S Police, and keep detailed records of what I have submitted, and the responses. I have been doing some cross-checking between my records and the police dataset. I'm afraid correlation is patchy at best. So, I am not confident in the dataset's accuracy. Further, where I can be fairly certain of a correlation, it's been largely warning letters issued for very clear video evidence of hand-held mobile phone use whilst driving. No wonder I see so many doing so. They have nothing much to fear. :o( Should I keep bothering?
111 thoughts on ““Allowing cyclists to ignore 20mph zones makes a dangerous situation so much worse”: Mr Loophole calls for “kamikaze cyclists” to be forced to adhere to 20mph speed limits and wear number plates; The great garish TT helmet poll + more on the live blog”
“But they also have the
“But they also have the additional responsibility of looking out for kamikaze cyclists. . .”
Unlike cyclists having to look out for ‘kamakazi’ drivers everywhere!
What were the latest statistics on motorists not breaking speed limits? They don’t seem to be forced to obey them!
Drivers aren’t kamakazi, from
Drivers aren’t kamakazi, from the point of view of cyclists. The whole analogy is that the kamakazi pilots died. I think it is extremely unlikely that a driver will die in a collision with a cyclist.
Unless you have a Jumbo Lease
Unless you have a Jumbo Lease wotsit helmet and you can become an exocet missile and take out the driver through their window as they t-bone you.
Driving is a weird world
Driving is a weird world where any logic goes out of the window and its entirely accepted that you can say utterly bizarre things without question.
If its dangerous for bikes to overtake cars then its dangerous for cars to overtake bike no? If you can’t drive at 20 without constantly looking at your speedo then you shouldn’t be driving because you clearly can’t hold speed or pay attention to the road while driving to the speed limit. 20 isn’t so magically impossible speed to hold in a car.
If drivers, who obviously all adhere to the rules of the road and are held accountable for their “mistakes” then we wouldn’t have such dangerous roads. If cyclists who are not held to any standards are so dangerous then clearly they are statistics out there to back up our dangerous lawlessness.
This smooth brain just can’t quite understand how our roads are so dangerous for cyclists when all we are surrounded by is law abiding, good, honest drivers.
This also alludes to the fact
This also alludes to the fact that drivists treat the speed limit as the speed target. If you weren’t constantly driving AT THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT then you wouldn’t need to CONSTANTLY CHECK YOUR SPEEDOMETER. Ease off the accelerator, slow down a bit and maybe pay attention to the road?
I switch on cruise control
I switch on cruise control then I don’t have to worry (well except for some big hill I came across and it didn’t work !). There are a few areas near me where police target speedsters.
Don’t all new cars also have a speed limiter too? Although I guess you have to RTM
Same here – cruise control
Same here – cruise control always on and set to the current limit, if it’s safe to do so. Unfortunately the minimum I can set it to is 26 mph, so I do have to use my right foot for that.
Quote:
An amateur runner can reach a
An amateur runner can reach a top speed during a sprint ofover 20mph. Not sure what Nick would describe that as…
Must be a serious amateur.
Must be a serious amateur. Even Usain Bolt was only able to top out at 28mph.
Quote:
Tabard – so you’re going to ban cyclists from using backpacks, are you?
Number plate – for it to be read it’ll have to be pretty big. So you are intending to mandate that all bikes have a carrier rack fitted, and they can’t go out at night because the number plate will be where many people put their rear light.
Gawd, but he’s a twunt, isn’t he?
He doesn’t want a practical
He doesn’t want a practical solution to the non-problem of cyclists commiting road crimes. He wants to get clicks primarily but also distract from driver road violence as a secondary benefit.
The more juries and judges think, in general, drivers are safe and cyclists are dangerous menaces, the easier his job is when a celebrity murders a cyclist for taking up 8 seconds of valuable time which could be spent sitting at the next red light looking at their phone.
So, without 20mph limits it’s
So, without 20mph limits it’s perfectly safe for cyclists doing 10mph to (ill be extremly generous) 25mph and cars doing 30mph (officially but we all know it’s more). differential 5-20mph. but it is not safe for those same cyclists to be sharing thr road with cars doing 20 (differential -5 to 10mph) hmm.
Perhaps if these drivers crawling along are worried about being undertaken, then should stay left and leave space for faster vehicles to overtake.
I regularly get over taken
I regularly get over taken when doing ~30 downhill in a 30.
I even got a mouthful from the overtaking driver last week for taking the lane !
Hirsute wrote:
I’m going to file that under things that never happened, as cars have speedos* and registration plates and drivers are trained and have licences.
/s
*not budgie smugglers
I don’t have a speedometer,
I don’t have a speedometer, so I really don’t know when I exceed the speed limit. I have seen though cyclists that can go fast enough to make pedestrians feel in danger. To be honest though, I feel much more dangerous when I close pass pedestrians closer than I planned when they walk in the cycle route, but it is their choice.
I will happily put plates on my bike when all pedestrians including the Prime Minister put on their back too when they walk in public places.
Freemen struggling for
Freemen struggling for relevance again is he?
Fiunny how drivists are “legally compliant” (despite focused 100% on their speedo rather than looking out of the windscreen) in his whingeing scenario whereas the hypothetical cyclists are “kamikaze” and “dangerous” despite also being in compliance with the law….
Anyway, number plates – yes they’re the solution to everything
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/feb/10/car-cloning-drivers-fines-scams-number-plates
“How on earth is this
“How on earth is this supposed to advance the cause of road safety?”
How on earth is getting dangerous drivers off on technicalities supposed to advance the cause of road safety?
More nonsense spreading the
More nonsense spreading the propaganda that cyclists are “speeding” around at over 20mph. I’m faster than 95% of cyclists I see on my daily commute, but I struggle to break 20mph without a good hill or tailwind.
Sure, there are people illegally riding homebrew electric bikes that can go over 20mph, but that’s a separate issue. If they’re prepared to build an electric motorbike, they’re not going to put registration plates on it…
AidanR wrote:
Point taken but it’s worse – I bet most just buy one from the internet, or probably some shops?
Obviously yes – you can get anything from the internet with little effort. It should be marginally more difficult to sell things that mostly can’t be used legally – but it’s very obvious will invariably be used illegally (and where they will have a negative impact on the public at large). At the moment I’m sure it’s possible to say “but at no point was there anything to suggest I shouldn’t use this – they’re openly on sale everywhere” (though no legal defense).
Maybe I should just be shouting for bigger disclaimers / more “wink” emojii…?
“At present drivers in a
“At present drivers in a 20mph zone are constantly having to focus on their speedometer which is a distraction in itself,” Freeman adds.”
Freeman is right, it is dangerous for drivers to spend time focussed on their speedo in 20 limits. The solution is to activate the speed limiters present in all modern vehicles linked to the GPS present in all modern vehicles so they are limited to the speed limit of the road and the driver can focus on the road and any potential hazards around them. Thanks Nick.
20 limits have been around long enough that if you are still incapable of sticking to them with more than an occasional glance and the speedo as you would in any other speed limit you should have your license revoked as you clearly are not in full control of your vehicle.
If speedometers are a
If speedometers are a
nuisancedistraction to drivists then why wouldn’t they be to people on bikes? Bikes are out of control and dangerous enough as they are never mind with the added distraction of a speedoThe levelling of trolling is
The levelling of trolling is falling
LOOK NO HANDS
THAT IS A SELECTION OF “LOOK NO HANDS” CYCLISTS TAKEN BY ME RANDOMLY OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS SO DON’T TELL ME DRIVERS ARE THE PROBLEM DRIVERS GET THE BLAME BUT WE ARE NOT THE PROBLEM
“In a park, going in the direction of the one way, with no cars allowed, with no other users in sight on the road. So he has his hands off the handlebars, where’s the risk to others here? What am I missing hashtagseemslikeyoureclutchingatstraws”
“This is a relatively flat bit of road in Holyrood park (Edinburgh) that is one way (the direction the cyclist is going) and is closed to motorised traffic most of the week. There are no pedestrian paths joining the road from the right side due to the cliffs. What’s the problem?”
Are cyclists really allowed
Are cyclists really allowed to break the speed limit? If so that does seem a bit weird. The “They can’t be expected to keep to the speed limit, since they haven’t got speedometers” thing strikes me as a bit of a non-argument. We haven’t got breathalysers either, but we’re still expected not cycle if over the limit.
It’s not really a bit weird.
It’s not really a bit weird. Speed restrictions often vary depending on the type (i.e. weight) of vehicle that you’re driving. For example lorries are restricted to 60mph on a motorway yet cars are restricted to 70mph. It’s not a blanket one size fits all. Maybe it is for car-centric people who’s narrow view of the world is shaped by the view out of their windscreen? [well your view should be out of your windscreen but may be more likely of your speedo]
There are plenty of countries
There are plenty of countries where the indicated speed limits do apply to cyclists. I know riders who have been fined for doing > 70 kmh in a 50 kmh zone. Not one of them whinged about “car centric” this, that or the other.
I’m not sure there’s any
I’m not sure there’s any specific legal reason why the law couldn’t be changed such that it says “speed limits apply to everyone – it’s up to (the cyclists) how they ensure they obey it, that’s their look out”. Then simply punish any going above the posted speed. (Presumably our learned friends are happy with the evidence the police present in motoring cases and assuming the speed-measuring tech will adapt to cycles – which I’m sure could be worked out).
I can think of lots of practical reasons why this would be a giant waste of time and money… Especially as – as mentioned – there are already things the police can charge cyclists with.
OTOH this has already served its purpose and given a certain lawyer some extra publicity…
Presumably such measures would “make it fairer”. But I strongly suspect those concerned who don’t cycle are not actually motivated by “fairness” – or at least not a more mature consideration of same. It’s “they’re going faster than me / getting in front”…
If you propose going down that route would it make sense to abolish the “plus a certain percentage” for motorists’ speeds also? That would seem fair – unless you’re also proposing the introduction of exactly the same (regularly calibrated) type of speedometers on all bicycles at point of sale? So either having “we don’t care how you stick to the limit, we just police exactly that limit” OR “everyone has to have calibrated speedometers to assist them and we allow for x% above as the speedometer they rely on may not be perfect”.
Cyclists don’t have pay
Cyclists don’t have pay insurance or tax but I do, so it’s not fair.
It should be a level playing field because a 100+ kg lardy rider and bike at 20 kph is exactly the same as a 44T lorry at 55kph.
You only have to have a quick glance at this thread to see the utter destruction cyclists wreak on cars and buildings
https://road.cc/content/forum/car-crashes-building-please-post-your-local-news-stories-276441
john_smith wrote:
Cool story bro.
john_smith wrote:
Nothing unusual in that – think of the bragging rights
john_smith wrote:
You don’t really think those two things are comparable, do you? Here’s a clue – cars have speedometers, but drivers don’t have breathalysers.
They are clearly comparable.
They are clearly comparable. They are both devices that will tell whether you are over the limit or not.
john_smith wrote:
Telling whether you have had a drink before driving or cycling is something everyone can do. Knowing what speed you are going without a device to tell you is not. They are clearly different and you are just trolling.
We need pedestrian (and
We need pedestrian (and canine!) speedos now before someone gets killed!
Sure. If you think that is
Sure. If you think that is the only way to stop them exceeding the speed limit.
john_smith wrote:
Personally I disagree with the law and would be happy for cyclists to come under the breathalyser but actually there’s no prohibition against a cyclist riding over the drink-drive limit for car drivers, you can only be charged with not being in a fit state to have control of the machine. There is no obligation to provide breath or blood or urine samples if suspected of cycling drunk and a refusal to do so cannot be used against you in court.
john_smith wrote:
those two are very different, as speed is constantly changing, and staying under the alcohol limit is simple by just not drinking.
I don’t see the problem.
I don’t see the problem. Anyone who has cycled a bit should have a fairly good idea of what riding at 20 mph (or 30 mph) feels like. Keeping below that can’t be that big a challenge. And less experienced cyclists are unlikely to exceed 20 mph by accident anyway.
john_smith wrote:
FTFY.
Sounds even stupider though.
john_smith wrote:
Since the speed limits for motor vehicles do not apply to cyclists it is not so much that they are allowed to break it as that it is not allowed to be enforced upon them in the same way that speed limits for HGVs are not allowed to be enforced upon cars.
In the US (not that you
In the US (not that you should look here for safety hints) it varies by state whether drink driving rules apply to cyclists. I believe that speed limits apply in all states, but we are not required to have speedometers on bicycles. I do know several people who have received speeding tickets while cycling.
Interestingly, although all states require license plates, not all require a front plate. But, we can drive freely from state to state, so a Tennesee driver passing through Ohio does not need to somehow acquire a front plate to do so. They are occasionally ticketed by police who don’t know the law.
john_smith wrote:
There is no legislation for speeding bicycles. Just like there isnt for horses. Hence speeding cannot happen.
Careless and Dangerous riding can be applied to both – but crucially its usually about more than just speed. Though technically a cop can get a rider charged purely on their speed but its rare. Imagine the subjective difference between “going too fast” and “weaving across the road”.
I think I missed it, but
I think I missed it, but since Brexit, foreign cycle tourists could be fleeced sic for the supply of temporary cycle number plates 😉 (unless they arrive from Eire & promise to stay on the island!)
CTT are turning themselves
CTT are turning themselves inside out over 20 mph limits but really 20mph is fast enough. If they were proper cyclists they’d use kmh anyway, 32.18 kmh is fast enough for anyone on a bike on the roads. For racing there’s Zwift and other virtual platforms. I see the VTTA have been running a very successful virtual TT series on Zwift recently. It makes no sense to race on public roads, especially now they’ve demonstrated/proven to everyone that on-line racing works and is popular.
That’s the first time I
That’s the first time I encounter someone actually wanting to live in the Matrix… Or is it that you just want others to live there?
As if you could not already
As if you could not already guess that Nick “Mr. Poophole” Freeman was about to spaff out a load of demonstrably bollocks anti-cycling nonsense, he prewarned us all by also putting it in the Express.
.
.
Loopholes are for eveyone,
Loopholes are for everyone, not just motorists.
Found this picture if J.
Found this picture of J. Vingegaard…
I’d have thought that
I’d have thought that ‘kamikaze cyclists’ would be pleasing to the anti-cycling mob.
After all, if they really *were* kamikaze … they could only do it the once …
Oh…. I misread your poll…
Oh…. I misread your poll…. I thought it said “Capes.”
Now that would be great for sponsors… not so good for the riders speed!
NO CAPES
NO CAPES
Can the media please stop
Can the media please stop going to Nick Freeman for road safety advice. This is a man, as we all know, who makes a living getting dangerous drivers off charges on technicalities so they can can continue to drive.
He does not care at all about road safety at all.
Could Nick Freeman act for a cyclist, were they to be done for wanton and furious riding in a 20 limit? Asking for a friend…
“Could Nick Freeman act for a
“Could Nick Freeman act for a cyclist, were they to be done for wanton and furious riding in a 20 limit?”….
Definitely would depend if said “speed demon” was either famous/affluent enough to add to his “win” portfolio. Either way guy’s a tool ?. Lawyers here are morally corrupt and Mr “loophole” isn’t exempt and has used his knowledge to personally threaten people so now you know
I myself live on a 20 mph road with an assisted care home on one side and elderly housing on the other….none of the drivers care about how fast they go. As much as I hate roadworks it’s entertaining to watch frequent speeders curb crawling till they get to the front of the queue
I can vaguely accept
I can vaguely accept arguments about dangerous overtakes in 20mph zones.
But the fix for that is easy – ban overtaking.
Dangerous overtakes happen both ways. And there are an awful lot of drivers who on the one hand think – bike = slow = must overtake, while thinking on the other that they don’t need to allow as much/any margin for error because it is a 20mph zone so they are going slowly…
Licence plates etc is difficult, but I do have one suggestion – if we accept a tabard linked to rider not bicycle, then we should insist on a second removable plate, linked to driver not car. That would remove a lot of the ‘I don’t know who was driving’ and the need for NIP within 14 days. Yes, having to remove the plate when you park to prevent it being stolen is annoying, but so is having to deal with a tabard when driving.
If you don’t want this then it should be same as motorbikes; plate from only one direction with strict rules for demanding who the rider was and minimal penalties for failure to identify them…
The cost of introducing it
The cost of introducing it would be astronomical.
Also it would be easily circumvented in the way that a large number of drivers ‘forget’ to clean their plates during winter.
I fully agree it will never
I fully agree it will never happen;
But if we are going to do it by plates it should be proportional;
So plate linked to bike not rider;
Proportional equivalent to NIP. So either given out immediately or within X days; So that would be what, 1 day to issue instead of 14 to be vaguely proportional to cars.
And a proportional penalty for failure to identify; No points system, so proportional fine – so up to £100 vs up to £1k…
What, the police and courts refuse to run cases where the maximum available penalty is a rounding error on the admin costs of prosecuting someone and the paperwork is near impossible to do within time limits…
Ban overtaking you say? That
Ban overtaking you say? That is a thing on some streets in NL already*. No wonder that country is turning into a hellscape.
Even more incredible – on some roads *without* cyclists this is done for the safety of motorists! Try explaining that one in the local media…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtaking#Nationwide_ban_on_overtaking_as_road_safety_measure
* Although that is apparently legally distinct from marking something a “cycle street” (“fietsstraat”):
https://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/dont-misunderstand-the-fietsstraat/
https://mobypeople-nl.translate.goog/blogs/fietsstraat-wat-is-het-en-welke-regels-gelden-er/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
If the 20mph has traffic
If the 20mph has traffic calming overtaking is banned already. HC rule 153
“Traffic-calming measures. On some roads there are features such as road humps, chicanes and narrowings which are intended to slow you down. When you approach these features reduce your speed. Allow cyclists and motorcyclists room to pass through them. Maintain a reduced speed along the whole of the stretch of road within the calming measures. Give way to oncoming road users if directed to do so by signs. You should not overtake other moving road users while in these areas.“
Ah – good point – and that is
Ah – good point – and that is sensible.
Although I think physical road changes are a good way of changing behaviour, I was reminded recently that even this can be stuffed up by poor design / construction or heavy use. Image shows an Edinburgh example of a road hump (with narrowing) which has almost been flattened. Obviously by the vast number of heavy bikes…
*pedantry* “should not” in the Highway Code doesn’t generally indicate specific law – that would be “must not” – so not quite “banned”. Although if you’re doing this I think you could be threatened with “careless or inconsiderate driving”?
Quote:
Yes, numberplates are why the 85% of drivers who ignore 20 mph limits are so often getting caught, of course.
BCP are looking at 20 mph
BCP are looking at 20 mph limits but Dorset Police say “it will not be able to supply additional resources to monitor and enforce any speed reduction”.
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24155632.20mph-speed-limits-happens-next/
And any fines are a stealth tax !
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24163385.letter-20mph-limit-stealth-tax/
It’s interesting point though
It’s interesting point though. If everyone were made to wear a number plate at all times, then no crime would go undetected or unsolved.
john_smith wrote:
Except for the crime of not wearing the number plate?
john_smith wrote:
Wait – what?
So … a tree falling in a forest with nobody around would make a sound … if it had a numberplate?
Correct. That would indeed
Correct. That would indeed follow logically from what I wrote–provided making a sound while falling in a forest is a crime.
Gosh!
Gosh!
But now I’m wondering – there are many prominently numbered things – bank accounts, cars for example, even some people… And there are definitely crimes involving them on the books. And yet… somehow the logic doesn’t seem to follow the same way it does for people or trees? As in there are crimes which appear to be undetected (unless you count e.g. a traffic survey as “detection”, or observing cars on pavements) and there are certainly ones unsolved?
That’s presumably because the
That’s presumably because the people who committed them weren’t wearing number plates. The fact that the accounts etc. are numbered is beside the point. It’s the perpetrators of the alleged crimes that you need to be able to identify.
I think the snag here is
I think the snag here is mostly in the “alleged crimes”. Not infrequently the identity is not the part in question. Although the police sometimes seem to have a view similar to that you’re suggesting [1] [2] e.g. because people don’t have numbers permanently affixed therefore they aren’t going to try to put two and two together.
“Accidents” happen, it’s traffic.
Albeit from a long time ago but one I just discovered and posted on another thread – apparently it was worth charging something, but only something which could be assessed as punishable to the tune of 35 quid. The story is very brief but an air of mystery seems to pervade the CPS…
Still not quite sure about the detecting point you’re making. I just stuck a number on myself and committed ten crimes. Or maybe I didn’t – but presumably you can tell?
I wasn’t really making any
I wasn’t really making any point. I’m at home with a cold/flu and a bit bored.
john_smith wrote:
Fair enough, s’what this place is for. Bit of a tedious day myself. Better soon!
Thanks.
Thanks.
Yes, numberplates are why the
Yes, numberplates are why the 85% of drivers who ignore 20 mph limits are so often getting caught, of course
And vital they are, too! Otherwise motorists could go for many years without paying road tax, or having the vehicle checked for safety and could park for many hours at a time outside the Eagle and Child pub only 100 yards from Garstang Police station, with Lancashire Constabulary baffled as to how to identify the owner and driver
Do not drive until repaired
23rd Sept 23
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Repair immediately (major defects):
Is there any context to that?
Is there any context to that?
The context is the post I
The context is the post I replied to which contains a photo of a vehicle.
There is presumably a bigger
There is presumably a bigger context. Otherwise what we have is a seemingly random picture of a vehicle and a list of defects, which might or might not be related to that vehicle.
Spot the Difference Quiz!
Spot the Difference Quiz!
It’s now over 7 months since WU59 UMH was first spotted and reported in July 23, so what has changed? Lancashire Constabulary officers are ineligible for the quiz as they have already shown themselves unable to spot the most obvious and key difference. Bonus points for spotting the recent ‘MOT-fail’ defect (I know!!- does anybody care in Lancashire?) on the rear of the super-offender’s vehicle
Spot the Difference Quiz!
Spot the Difference Quiz!
The answers are: stainless steel ‘roll-bars’, rear window sign indicating company name and phone numbers, at least 2 different dents on the right rear bumper, and the latest defect is the smashed right rear light cluster
Smashed rear light due to
Smashed rear light due to Nearside Front Wheel bearing play so excessive that directional control is impaired.
Its unusual enough to have
Its unusual enough to have made a local paper 70+ miles away from where it happened https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24156596.ipswich-jaguar-driver-sentenced-20mph-speeding/
The interesting thing about Lea Bridge Road is that’s part of the Dunwich Dynamo route out of London.
I’d be all for banning those
I’d be all for banning those helmets. They look ridiculous. As far as I’m concerned they can ban “funny bikes” too. That kind of stuff is best left for triathletes.
john_smith wrote:
Hmm: “best left for triathletes”, you say? Hmm…
Quote:
Is that actually true?
It doesn’t matter if its true
It doesn’t matter if its true, it makes people angry and that’s all that matters.
This
This
It’s a fairly meaningless
It’s a fairly meaningless claim anyway. “Exponential” doesn’t mean steep or rapid.
What I don’t understand is
What I don’t understand is why someone who is obsessed with using the basis of technicalities to get people off fairly serious crimes is so outspoken about other people not being convicted for stuff which is literally not a criminal offence.
Petrolheafs tend to be
Petrolheads tend to be rightwingers, and that equals to hypocrite.
I assume he primarily wants
I assume he primarily wants the free publicity, and thinks that this sort of stuff will endear him to his typical clientele (I imagine there is a correlation between commiting driving offences, and dislike of cyclists).
As a bonus, if he got his request, he would presumably expand his client pool further, as a result of cyclists falling foul of the new legislation and wanting legal advice.
He’s a self-seving cynic aka
He’s a self-seving cynic aka lawyer.
Next?
The problem with the 30mph
The problem with the 30mph enforcement means that if you get caught going 36mph you will, as a first offence, be sent on a speed awareness course. Below that nothing! It’s always up to 10% + 2mph
20mph is no different, so you have to be doing 25mph to be charged and even then it’s likely to be a course. Mr Loophole knows this. He also knows it’s rare to find cyclists going at this speed.
The evidence from Wales seems to be that drivers are now consistently driving at <30mph and that’s probably enough to significantly reduce risk. I’m not a fan of 20mph zones. I would much prefer the 30mph was an absolute limit. The trouble is lawyers like loophole would be making more money arguing about the tolerance on speed cameras.
Why do you continually give
Why do you continually give that moron Freeman oxygen?
He is obviously not right in the head or a cyclist stole his girlfriend/wife.
On the criminal-defender
On the criminal-defender Freeman, the Express quotes him thusly:
“The number of accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians is increasing exponentially – which is why there is an urgent need to legislate to ensure cyclists obey the speed limit.”
Is this true?
I think Freeman may be having a flight of fancy, or just lying.
It’s the 2nd.
It’s the 2nd.
He’s what’s known as a lying
He’s what’s known as a lying piece of sh*t.
He might technically be
He might technically be correct – it might be increasing exponentially. But at a very low rate from a very low value. So statistically worthless.
Or maybe a zero rate or a
Or maybe a zero rate or a negative rate, both of which can be represented with exponential functions.
If four peds die every year, there is exponential growth. If four die in year 1, two in year 2 and one in year 3, that is also exponential growth.
mattw wrote:
The covid enquiry revealed that scientists had to explain to Ministers – repeatedly – what exponentially means. Maybe they could explain it to Freeman, too?
“…….complain about
“…….complain about “kamikaze” cyclists dangerously “overtaking and undertaking” motorists in new 20mph zones “with impunity”.”
To whom is this danger being caused? Drivers? Pedestrians? Definitely not the first, and I’m sure most pedestrians would rather be hit by a cyclist doing 25mph than a car doing the typical speed in a 20mph zone of 25+mph.
Quote:
Fucking idiot!
“motorists are distracted by
“motorists are distracted by the constant need to brake”
Is this because they have their foot permanently pressing too hard on the accelerator?
Quote:
No. THIS is The King.
https://pezcyclingnews.com/interviews/time-trial-king-alf-engers-part-1-rider-interview/
I think Beryl was the best.
I think Beryl was the best.
https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2019/04/05/the-legend-of-uks-great-beryl-burton/
I see that some confusion has
I see that some confusion has arisen over the pictures below, due to my inexplicit comments. In summary, I have shown the latest and first pictures of WU59 UMH, which is an easily locatable dangerous vehicle with no MOT or VED for over 6+ years, a failed MOT for dangerous defects 6 months ago. Lancashire Constabulary has refused to do anything about this, and Lancashire PCC says it’s nothing to do with them despite regular PCC articles on social media praising LancsFilth for ‘getting dangerous vehicles off the road’ etc, my MP says ‘complain to the police’ and the police say ‘we’re not accepting any complaints from you about this vehicle’. There are loads of ‘No MOT’ vehicles in Lancashire, where the police ignore the reports.
You would think the police
You would think the police would take some interest in the driver of this vehicle. Not least as it’s seen regularly at a pub.
You would think the police
You would think the police would take some interest in the driver of this vehicle. Not least as it’s seen regularly at a pub
Not with my experience of the hopelessly idle/ inept/ bent officers of Lancashire Constabulary, you wouldn’t!
Crikey. Sheer incompetence
Crikey. Sheer incompetence/laziness, or is there more to it than that? Motor belongs to the local mafia boss? Or the owner has compromising photographs of plod?
The issue with bike plates is
The issue with bike plates is that it would be easy to use a fake plate, as the usual method for plod to check for fake plates with motor vehicle plates is to see if the plates match the vehicle they are attached to; not so easy with bicycles that all look much the same; that said, electric assist bikes should be identifiable due to the proclivity of riders to use the power to exceed legal limits.
Cycles do have serial numbers
Cycles do have serial numbers stamped on the frame. So the police could ID the bike. Of course they would need access to a huge database – which someone would have to compile at great cost. Retailers would be against it as all it would do is add cost to the cycle.
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
Carbon fibre bikes, have only a sticker.