“I wear bright colours, lights, and reflective bags – but drivers still close pass me every day”: Cyclists respond to hi-vis calls by claiming drivers “choose not to see” them, but others ask “What’s the problem with close passes?” + more on the live blog

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced that the government is “actively looking at” lowering the screening age for prostate cancer, as Sir Chris Hoy took part in his first television interview since revealing that his cancer diagnosis is terminal two weeks ago.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent, six-time Olympic gold medallist Hoy – whose announcement coincided with a sevenfold increase in prostate cancer advice searches on the NHS’s website – detailed the “living nightmare” that followed his diagnosis last year, the “overwhelming” support he’s received, and how he’s “grateful for each day”.

“It’s been the toughest year of our lives so far by some stretch,” the 11-time world champion track sprinter said on the programme, adding that the news in September 2023 that he had terminal cancer came “completely out the blue”.

“No symptoms, no warnings, nothing. All I had was a pain in my shoulder and a little bit of pain in my ribs. But this ache and pain didn’t go away.

“I assumed it was going to be tendonitis or something, and it was just going to be ‘lay off weights or lay off cycling for a wee while’, and get some treatment and it’ll be fine.”

> Sir Chris Hoy reveals cancer diagnosis is terminal and he has two to four years to live: “I’m feeling fit, strong and positive, and overwhelmed by all the love and support shown”

A scan revealed a tumour, before Hoy was later told that the prostate cancer had spread to his bones.

“It was the biggest shock of my life. I remember the feeling of just absolute horror and shock. I’d had zero symptoms, nothing to point me towards that that might be an issue. We were given the news that this was incurable.

“Suddenly, everything, all your thoughts, everything rushes. It’s almost like your life is flashing before your eyes in that moment.

"How on earth are we going to tell the kids? It’s just this absolute horror, it is a waking nightmare, living nightmare.

“We just tried to be positive and tried to say do you know what, this is what we’re doing and you can help because when I’m not feeling well, you can come and give me cuddles, you can be supportive, you can be happy, you can be kind to each other.

“I’m sure lots of families do it in different ways and I think there’s no one right approach for anyone. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but for us I think that was the best way to do it.”

> Sir Chris Hoy “optimistic, positive, and surrounded by love” after revealing cancer diagnosis

Hoy also told Nugent that chemotherapy was “one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced” and that his wife Sarra’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis in November 2023, news she initially shared only with her sister, was the “lowest point”.

“I don’t think we necessarily give ourselves enough credit for what we’re able to deal with,” the 48-year-old said. “It’s only when you're in really difficult situations you find out what you’re made of and what you can deal with.

“And it puts it into perspective riding bikes for a living, you realise, ‘God, that was just a bit of fun really’, you know.”

As has been the case since he revealed the news two weeks ago, Hoy’s positivity has been a constant when discussing his diagnosis.

“The stakes are much higher now. It felt like life and death in the moment when you were battling it out for an Olympic gold medal, but the stakes have changed dramatically and it is life and death,” he says.

“But the principle is the same, it’s about focusing on what you have control over and not worrying about the stuff that you can’t control.

“You don't just suddenly have a leap forward and one day you wake up and everything’s OK. It takes time and you’ve got to be disciplined with how you approach it, and you’ve got to nip things in the bud before these negative thoughts start to take hold.”

> Sir Chris Hoy’s “brave” terminal cancer revelation prompts near sevenfold increase in prostate cancer advice searches, says NHS

He also hopes his status as an Olympic hero will encourage more men to take a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test to check for cancer – and potentially save more lives.

Calling for screening for men with a strong family history of prostate cancer to start at an earlier age, Hoy said: “If you’ve got family history of it like I have, if you’re over the age of 45, go and ask your doctor. I’ve got a friend who, when I told him my news early on confidentially, he went and got a PSA test and it turned out he had cancer. He’s had treatment and he’s been given the all-clear.

“Maybe people seeing this or hearing about my story, just by them asking their GP, will create enough of a surge of interest that people that make the decisions will go ‘you know what, we need to address this’. And in the long term this will save potentially millions of lives.”

Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting also told BBC Breakfast that the government is looking into acting on his calls for lower screening ages, and that the Olympic champion is “already making a difference”.

“There will be lots of people out there living with cancer at the moment, either themselves or someone they love,” Streeting said. “The way he has spoken so openly and full of optimism about his own journey with cancer I think will have given hope and inspiration to millions of people across the country.”

Hoy, meanwhile, is busy organising his planned charity sportive for people with stage four cancer, the first edition of which will take place next year, while his memoir based on the past year, ‘All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet’, is released this week.

The full interview with Nugent will also be broadcast tonight on BBC One at 8pm.

"My perspective on life has changed massively,” he says. “I am more thankful, I'm more grateful for each day. It’s been a tough year and it's going to be tough ahead in the future too but for now, right here right now, we’re doing pretty well.”

While everyone was else was busy discussing hi-vis, lights, and victim-blaming safety posts in the comments, one Facebook user – who purports to have cycled “around the world every day” for 18 years (blimey, that’s some mileage) – instead chose to question Bike Worcester chair Dan Brothwell’s point about close passes and, in doing so, raised an existential question for our Near Miss of the Day series.

“While I understand that it can be a little scary, what is really the problem with a close pass?” asked Mark Hartley on Facebook.

“I've been cycling around the world every day for 18 years in 36 countries and I’ve never had a problem with trucks, cars, and buses passing close to me. So long as they don’t hit me, obviously. Which nobody ever has.

“I mean, most roads are small and there’s no other way to pass. What other option is there for motorists?

“I’ve never been hit nor ever had reason to believe I would be hit and so it’s never bothered me. Are lots of people being hit because of close passes? Have I just been very lucky? Is it just a UK problem?”

> “He should be wearing hi-vis and not blocking the road”: Lorry driver in Japan turns himself in to police after “worst close pass ever” – but motorists still find ways to blame the cyclist

Errr, I’m not really sure where to start with all that.

Well, I suppose we should start with those in agreement.

“Close pass? What is a close pass?” wrote Shane Crowe (who may or may not be Russell’s brother).

“I ride to work and never have an issue with vehicles passing me, I ride about 1.5ft away from the kerb and ride steady, no wobbling or forcing cars to change lanes to overtake me, what’s the issue here!!!”

“It’s newbie cyclists trying to get popular on social media with close pass videos,” argued Bruce Swain (not Batman’s alter ego, either). “I agree it's not an issue, or certainly is not a big an issue as these people make out.

“This ‘campaign’ is further eroding the relationship between road users, and making the roads less safe, all in the hope to make some $$$ from social media.”

> The real impact of close passes on cyclists — my children were nearly left fatherless due to the actions of one callous driver

And now for the opposition…

“While I understand that it can be a little scary, what is really the problem with people speeding at 100mph through residential areas?” asked Si Lowe.

“A close pass is always just a close pass until it isn’t,” noted Simon Boswell. “I’ve been knocked off by a driver who tried to squeeze between me and the car coming the other way and misjudged it. A broken wrist and four cracked ribs isn’t funny.”

“It’s unnecessary, plain and simple,” added Tom.

“Surprised that you think a vehicle coming close enough to touch is not a problem,” replied Will.

“Are you the one they shout at on the station for not standing behind the yellow line as well?

“When the same regular drivers go by you doing 50mph, close enough for you to feel the wing mirror difference, knowing that you have been hit by wing mirrors before, all for the sake of a touch of steering away.

“What makes their importance worth the risk to my life?”

So, to ask the age-old question, why don’t cyclists use the shared path?

Because, apparently on London’s Kew Bridge, they’re told they’re not allowed to…

Don’t you just love a pair of contradictory cycling signs?

After Cycle Calm posted photos of the odd couple – which appear at a glance to instruct cyclists to avoid using what the blue sign clearly indicates is a shared-use walking and cycling path – some locals have claimed that cycling is in fact prohibited there, though others pointed out that the ‘no cycling’ restriction only applies to the other, narrower side of the bridge.

Meanwhile, some suggested that the ‘no cycling’ sign actually refers to the carriageway, and that the blue sign actually underlines that cyclists must use the path in question.

Confused? Yeah, me too.