"So refreshing to see": A lesson on how to pass cyclists safely; "You kicked a hornet's nest full of eagles!": Remco Evenepoel calls Sepp Kuss an "outsider" for Vuelta; Is Montreal the best North American city for cycling? + more on the live blog

We have seen our fair share of close passes and near misses on road.cc over our 15 years of existence (psst, we just turned 15 yesterday!), so it's always good to come across something that isn't either of those, but the exact opposite — and how it should always be regardless — instead.

West London based rider who goes by the name PedalPerspective on Twitter, shared this video of "two drivers showing everyone how to pass cyclists safely" this morning. And I have to say, it does feel refreshing and a fresh breath of sanity.

Two drivers showing everyone how to pass cyclists safely earlier today. pic.twitter.com/LeYfIkEA8U

— PedalPerspective (@Pedalperspectiv) September 4, 2023

The HGV driver, of the two, ended up impressing everyone the most. "Have to give particular credit to the HGV driver," wrote the original account, while another person replied: "HGV diver is a model driver. If the driver of a vehicle of this mass can pass safely, why can’t all drivers?"

Well, I'll leave you all to find the answer to that question.

11 bikes stolen from LIOS Bikes down in Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, including...

1. LIOS Thunderbolt / Black / XX1 AXS / Reverb AXS dropper / Ohlins Suspension / LIOS carbon rims on Hope hubs.
2. Custom LIOS Thunderbolt / Blue / GX AXS / Fox Factory / Reverb AXS dropper / LIOS carbon rims on i9 hubs.
3. Custom LIOS Titanium Hardtail MTB / GX AXS / Cane Creek Ti eeWings / Fox 36 Fact / Reverb AXS Dropper / LIOS carbon rims on Chris King hubs / Chris King finishing kit.
4. Custom LIOS Thunderbolt / Blue / GX AXS / Fox Factory / Reverb AXS dropper / i9 hubs with LIOS carbon wheels.
5. Custom LIOS Hellfire / White / Shimano XTR / Fox 34 Fact / LIOS carbon rims on Hope hubs.
LIOS Thunderbolt / Orange / Shimano XT / RockShox Lyrik.
6. LIOS Thunderbolt / Orange / Shimano XT / RockShox Lyrik.
7. Custom LIOS Raptor / Blue / XTR (old version) / LIOS carbon rims on Hope hubs.
8. Custom painted Santa Cruz V10 / Blue with Orange graphics / Fox 40 Fact / Shimano Saint groupset.
9. Custom Zerode Katipo / Peppermint Green / Fox 38 Fact and X2 / Shimano XTR / Pinion Gearbox and Gates Carbon Belt Drive / LIOS carbon rims on Pinion hubs.
10. Santa Cruz Hightower / Melon Orange / Fox 36 / SRAM GX groupset.
11. Plus a customer's road bike.

The shop is owned by former Royal Marine officer Steve McCulley, who opened the business after retiring from the military, a career which saw him survive three IED blasts and serious injuries in Afghanistan in 2011.

"We are all utterly devastated by what happened on Saturday," he said. "I know I'll never get the bikes back, as they're probably already stripped down, but I am hoping that any attention that this gets might help to catch the criminals."

Five suspects were involved, using a large van, a car and two mopeds. They used petrol and battery disc cutters to cut through the metal shutters and door.

Footage of the break-in can be seen here...

A cyclist was left in hospital with multiple fractures after a driver, who police have since confirmed was arrested for his role in the incident, overtook another vehicle at a set of traffic lights, colliding with an oncoming cyclist.

> CCTV footage shows horrific crash as cyclist sent flying by driver overtaking at traffic lights

I know it's rare to see a safe pass on this website, or anywhere, really! But when they do happen, we have to appreciate them. Someone maintaining a safe passing distance next to me does bring a smile to my face at least. 

Here's a reaction roundup from you folks regarding the "refreshing" post featuring a car driver and another driver of a 'GoldStar' lorry, which kickstarted today's blog:

SimoninSpalding: "I have to say the overwhelming majority of HGVs that pass me are exemplary, especially given how narrow and uneven roads are around here (and generally a deep drainage ditch either side of the road).
I also knew one the the driver trainers for Goldstar many years ago and they took safety and compliance very seriously."

Oldfatgit: "The overwhelming vehicles likely to give a close pass are cars, light vans, buses then light trucks.
I've found the vast majority of HGV drivers (as in >7.5 tonne and the old Class 3 and above) to be highly aware of their vehicle and its impact on cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
Treat them with respect ... dont go up their nearside (off side if a left hooker), and make sure that if stopped at lights (gosh ... a cyclist stopped at a traffic light? Nah, never ... right) ... you turn around and make eye contact.
Give them plenty of room when they are maneuvering - especially reversing - and sit as far back as you can to ensure they can see you.
Trust me... nothing shits you up faster than "where did that pedestrian / cyclist go ..."
Plenty of waggon drivers ride bikes too."

ymm:  "HGVs are nearly always great. They are well trained therefore should be much more road user aware. From experience its the car driver with blinkers on who has to get from a to b in record time as they haven't left enough time for the journey that causes me most grief. The rushing drivers behaviour that they priortise themselves over others which leads to dangerous behaviour. Proper passing is so easy to do and just needs patience from drivers."

lesterama: "HGV driver: great pass.
Car driver: entered hatched area, quite close to car coming from the other direction. Not ideal. I'd much rather they did that than tried to pass the rider too close, obviously."

And of course, HoldingOn, who couldn't resist this, ahem, golden opportunity: "A GoldStar to that HGV driver...."

The Unites States, as you may know, is notorious for its car-dependency bubbling from the glam of the roaring 1920s and then establishing as the primary mode of transport during the Reagan era, the scars of which still linger on and permeate throughout the world.

Yes, as much as we like to moan about the cycling conditions in the UK, while definitely not on par with other European countries, I can say with certain confidence is better than the USA.

So when I came across this column in The Nevada Independent from a resident from Las Vegas about the unwelcoming cycling culture across the Atlantic, I wasn't too surprised, but it's an interesting read, and worth sharing on here.

Eric McCammond, a senior analyst at the Department of Aviation, says he's a regular bicycle commuter. "I don’t mean I’m some guy who rides my bicycle once in a while through the Henderson suburbs or down a Summerlin bike trail. I don’t mean I occasionally ride my bicycle down to the store or I haul my bicycle in the back of my truck for an occasional ride after work. I mean I have made my bicycle my primary mode of transportation. Rain, dust storm or heat wave, I’m riding my bike," he writes.

Here's some more excerpts from the column:

"But I’m convinced this city doesn’t really want me riding my bike."

"Let's start with the “cagers.” For those who don’t ride a bicycle or motorcycle, a cager is somebody sharing the road with you from inside the protective “cage” of a typical automobile. If they or another cager commits an error while operating their chosen mode of transportation, the cager has a solid metal encasement that’s equipped with an array of restraining belts and inflatable airbags to ensure they have the highest probability of surviving the accident."

"This is in sharp contrast with the cyclist. The cyclist is an unprotected bag of brains, blood, bile and bone balanced precariously upon a thin aluminum frame and two skinny tires. One of the cyclist’s primary goals each day is to avoid almost certain death or dismemberment should one of the cagers commit an operational error at high speed while in close proximity to the cyclist.

"Each day I bicycle commute, I come within inches of hundreds of cagers. These cagers weigh a ton or more and are often driving at speeds approaching 60 mph on surface streets. If these cagers see me at all, they greet me with anything ranging from indifference to overt hostility. I’ve been honked at and cussed at. I’ve had drivers purposely drive through water puddles to soak me. I’ve had drivers of diesel pickups “roll coal” on me, purposely accelerating in a manner that causes a cloud of diesel exhaust smoke to envelope and suffocate me. And, I’ve been run over … while riding down the sidewalk. To too many Las Vegans, I am either invisible or a nuisance, and the local government contributes to this mentality.

"Our local governments like to tout their bicycle lanes. But most of these bicycle lanes, trails and paths focus on recreational cycling in the suburbs or at the edge of town. Such paths rarely connect one’s home with their place of employment. Safe, efficient bicycle commuting is dependent on a network of connected bicycle routes through congested urban corridors, not pretty manicured bicycle paths in Summerlin or Henderson. Give us more bike lanes.

"We also need to rethink vehicle speed limits. Organizations such as the National Association of City Transportation Officials and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have published countless studies connecting vehicle speed with pedestrian and cyclist deaths. The most common speed limit for cyclist deaths is 45 mph.

"When you add poor street design and lack of speed limit enforcement, you’ve created a hostile, dangerous environment for cyclists. We need local government leaders to provide a safe environment for all commuters, regardless of the vehicle they choose."

There, there, Remco! Big words from the big man before today's time-trial stage!

The men's time-trial world champion, donning the rainbow bands on his biceps for today's mostly flat but very technical individual time-trial stage at the Vuelta a España in Valladolid, has drawn the headlines to himself once again.

One of the Grand Tour's most exciting performers this year, has arguably been Sepp Kuss. While everyone knows how good the American domestique magnifique from Jumbo-Visma is, seeing him win the brutal stage 6 with a mighty performance in Javalambre and then convincingly go into the lead of the race two stages later, while the two big names from his team sat back, did not come as a shock or even a surprise, but with some mild incredulity.

And now, Soudal Quick-Step's star Evenepoel has labelled him as an outsider! This man really does not care what he says anymore!

"Sepp is considered one of the best climbers in the world. If he does a good time trial tomorrow, he’ll be an important candidate to beat. But we also saw him getting into trouble in the last two mountain stages. Personally, I see Kuss more as an outsider at Jumbo," said Evenepoel.

He added: "I think they’re still going for Roglič and Vingegaard but for sure it’s not easy to go against three strong climbers and Grand Tour racers."

A mix of respect and pragmatism? Or just plain old rabble-rousing Remco? (If it's the latter, I see he's learning well from his boss Lefevre).

Rather expectedly, the comment has gotten everyone losing their minds and picking up the pitchforks to defend their faves.

YOU JUST KICKED A HORNETS NEST FULL OF MAJESTIC FLYING EAGLES

— YEAH MIKE! (@YEAHMIKE1) September 4, 2023

Pretty fair comment. He's not dissing GCKuss. GCKuss is an outside chance of winning even within Jumbo.

— daveydaveydavo (@daveydaveydavo) September 5, 2023

Bruh idk people just hate on Remco for any reason. He just speaks his mind and people can’t seems to handle the truth. I like this way more than some JV robot doing a interview.

— Elmar Bischop (@EB_cycling) September 5, 2023

The statement is factually correct. The issue is that it is disrespectful to a fellow rider. But Remco seems to get off on being that guy. No chance you see Pogi saying that. And by the way , I like Remco, think he is a real talent.

— tony loughnane (@poolbest11) September 5, 2023

What does an outsider even mean here?!

Because Evenepoel, who has had a tumultuous Vuelta himself, is sitting not only 2:22 behind Kuss, but also Marc Soler, and the 20-year-old prodigy Lenny Martinez. His two biggest rivals, Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard are a further 7 and 11 seconds behind him respectively.

> “It’s the third day in a row and it’s breaking my balls a bit now”: Bloodied Remco Evenepoel rages against Vuelta safety chaos… before joking about losing “head meat” for climbs

But while Evenepoel came out on top at the TT world championships, we've seen how superhuman-ly strong both Roglič and Vingegaard are when it comes to riding a GT-deciding time-trial (also, both weren;t there at the world championships in Stirling).

What do you think? Straight facts from Evenepoel, or some naughty jiggery-pokery going on?

Either way, the good thing is we'll find out very soon, roll out the red carpet for this red-jersey deciding TT!

Montreal, the largest city in Canada's French-speaking Quebec, has been the subject of cyclists' gushing in recent weeks, so much so that many cyclists just wanted to visit the city to feel out and test the infrastructure for themselves.

> "It exists, and it's beautiful!": Cyclists rave about Montreal’s "incredible" cycling network

So here's some more gushing, and maybe another lesson in urban planning for those in charge.

1/ Pedestrian streets are all over the city. Some grand, others cozy. All gentle and lively. pic.twitter.com/4KewDbesFb

— Kasey Klimes (@kaseyklimes) September 4, 2023

3/ Bikeshare systems are great.

Bikeshare systems + comprehensive, physically protected bike infrastructure = how we build the low-carbon city of the future

(Montreal has a big head start in N. America) pic.twitter.com/ivTupmssY0

— Kasey Klimes (@kaseyklimes) September 4, 2023

5/ Proof that city life and nature can coexist. pic.twitter.com/rXT8JrYzNT

— Kasey Klimes (@kaseyklimes) September 4, 2023

> Montreal's "incredible" cycling network makes it to CNN as its Mayor calls on other cities to "do the right thing"

Klimes, who's from New York and behind the thread, said: "Mayors like 
Valerie Plante save lives and make their cities wonderful places to live. I wish many more had the courage."

Just a couple weeks ago, she was interviewed by CNN, with the previously viral video of the city's "incredible" cycling infrastructure playing on the side. This is what she had to say: "It is a position that at one point, we need to say, that even though this is not a popular measure, I have to do it.

"I'm confident that with other mayors [this will be successful]. This is why the C40 network that I want to bring forward is so important. Whether it's Los Angeles, Milan, Paris, New York, London, Montréal, we can work together saying 'we need to do the right thing' for the future generation."

Lots of cheery, uplifting news on the blog today! (I'm just preparing myself for everything to go off the rails in the Vuelta so I can kickstart my cantankerous ranting session on the live blog...)