“Please stop with the empty lanes thing”: Jeremy Vine urges patience while cycling numbers rise; Cav watches Women’s Tour; Pidcock has competition…Wout can run; Moose on the loose 2; Cherie Pridham’s new team; 3D effect crossing + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"Please stop with the empty lanes thing": Jeremy Vine urges patience while cycling numbers rise
Regarding cycle lanes, there are THOUSANDS of people who will not cycle around their city until it’s safer. So the lanes have to be built first, and then we have to wait a while for them to get their confidence. So please stop with the “empty lanes” thing. It takes time. ❤️🚴🏼
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) October 7, 2021
Jeremy Vine is back making the case for cycling infrastructure to his 770,000 Twitter followers this morning. The presenter asked for patience and for people to “please stop with the ’empty lanes’ thing”.
On Tuesday, we shared a tweet from a motorist complaining about empty “oversized bike lanes” as they sat in a queue of motorists next to a two-way cycle lane. The post attracted criticism from many saying it summed up some motorists’ willingness to blame cyclists and cycling infrastructure for congestion caused by the amount of vehicles on the road. Later that day we had a higher bid at the ‘silly things being said about cycle lanes’ auction when a cabbie blamed the Hyde Park infra for flash flooding…
Vine continued his message…
Saying “there aren’t enough people on bicycles to justify building a cycle lane” — known as the Kensington Argument — is like saying you need to wait until planes are in the air before you build airports. @willnorman @SadiqKhan @HounslowCycling @WeAreCyclingUK
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) October 7, 2021
You might think with Vine’s online reputation for championing all things cycling that he might have been preaching to the choir with this one…a quick dip into the replies shows otherwise…bingo cards at the ready:
None of the things you say here have any real factual basis. You are entitled to an opinion, but forming ones out of thin air & prejudice isn’t a sensible way to live your life. And broadcasting them on twitter doesn’t make the world a better place.
— Simon Munk (@psimonk) October 7, 2021
This next one’s from someone claiming to be a solicitor…
And a number of cyclists still insist on ignoring the specially built super safe cycle lanes and block the narrow car lanes for drivers who cannot safely over take them.
— Carolyn Nathanson (@CNathanson) October 7, 2021
Maybe drivers could pay road tax too, as it was abolished in 1937. Vehicle excise duty, which you have incorrectly named, is levied according to emissions. Drivers of electric cars and cyclists therefore pay £0.00. But you know this.
— Iain (@Iain_Conn) October 7, 2021
Moose on the Loose 2: A thriller sequel to blockbuster release of the year
The cyclist and the moose. pic.twitter.com/lfDVA6nrpd
— AZP (@ZPFleming) October 6, 2021
Moose on the Loose was such a hit success they’ve released a sequel…
Firstly, how ridiculously big is that moose? Secondly, I reckon this cyclist got the best realistic outcome from this situation…Thirdly, will there be a trilogy?
Watch out for the bears too. I’m still thinking about that drone footage of a black bear chasing a mountain biker in Montana…
We’ve had ostriches before as well, although presumably not in the US.
What’s the most hair-raising animal encounter you’ve had on a bike? Britain’s going to seem pretty tame if we all say squirrels.
Tom Pidock's got competition...Wout takes a rest by clocking seven miles in 51 minutes
After a gruelling season of cyclo-cross and road racing, Wout van Aert is taking a well-earned rest. And by rest I mean smashing out 11km runs at a very impressive pace. Not quite Tom Pidcock speeds…but fast enough.
It can’t be long before Mathieu van der Poel’s programmers work out how to get a sub 10-second 100 metres out of him. Unlike Pidcock’s, Wout’s run is as legit as they come, holding a steady pace for the full seven miles and no dodgy GPS lines. Take a break, Wout. You deserve it…
Back in February, Tom Pidcock managed to hilariously wind up the entire running community by claiming to have run a 13:25 5km, just five seconds slower than Marc Scott’s British record and 30 seconds off world record pace. It was all a Garmin GPS error, but the meltdown from runners everywhere was quite entertaining.
Cherie Pridham's new team: First female sports director in men's WorldTour joins Lotto-Soudal for 2022
✒️New signing 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓮
Let’s give a warm welcome to Cherie Pridham, who will become sports director at Lotto Soudal next year 🙌
Read more 👇https://t.co/aOjPFNiLm5
— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) October 7, 2021
Cherie Pridham is staying in the WorldTour next year. The former Kuota-road.cc team manager, yes that was a thing, is joining Lotto-Soudal for 2022.
“If you can’t beat the Belgians, join them,” she said on her move. “It was absolutely not on my radar to direct a Belgian team, but when the Lotto-Soudal project was presented to me, I was immediately charmed by it. I raced a lot in Belgium. I know how much cycling means for Belgian people. I am not afraid, I am ready to make a positive contribution to the team’s future.”
Pridham became the men’s WorldTour’s first female sports director when she joined Israel Start-Up Nation at the start of the year and was in the team car for Mads Würtz Schmidt’s win at Tirreno-Adriatico. We spoke to her on Drink at Your Desk Friday when she told us she’d never seen an athlete with the same mental strength as Chris Froome.
3D effect pedestrian crossings
A city in Denmark is playing a trick on drivers and cyclists to get them to slow down. pic.twitter.com/zECIEWBCPL
— DW News (@dwnews) October 3, 2021
Alex Dowsett keeps a keen eye on the Women's Tour
Tomorrow a WorldTour race graces same tarmac as the Maldon 10 course.
Never would I thought I’d hear myself say those words.
— Alex Dowsett (@alexdowsett) October 6, 2021
It should be a sprint in Southend-on-Sea today. Alex Dowsett’s more interested in what time they clock for part of the Maldon 10 course. If you live in Shoeburyness, and you weren’t at the roadside half an hour ago, you’ve probably missed them. Regardless, we’ll keep you updated on stage four here on the live blog.
Relive the Hell of the North with Deceuninck-Quick-Step
Deceuninck-Quick-Step have released this behind the scenes look at how Yves Lampaert came fifth at Paris-Roubaix. A little more luck and the Belgian may have finished higher. The highlight here is the close up shots of the mud-caked kit…definitely a good day to be sat on the sofa.
Ned Boulting falls in love
I am not riding home ‘cos my front bike light is dead. So instead I am on a train, gazing at the bike i have ridden for the last decade and a half. Is it too weird to say that I actually love it? Like I guess I’d love a dog if I had one. Is that OK? pic.twitter.com/iyD9xcg1ev
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) October 6, 2021
Ned quickly caveated his love letter with a promise he’d look at the saddle angle. Always good to get in before the Twitter mechanics have a pop. In his own words, it’s all about character, not performance. I don’t think he’ll have too many people here thinking loving it is weird…
If you haven’t already, be sure to catch up with our Drink At Your Desk episode with Ned below.
Decathlon returns to professional peloton with French team Cofidis
Decathlon and Cofidis are back working together, 17 years after the French brand last made the the pro team’s kit. Cofidis riders will wear the brand’s Van Rysel kit in 2022 and 2023, a deal which came about thanks to the two parties’ ability to collaborate from their close bases in Lille.
The team’s general manager Cédric Vasseur said: “We are very happy with this new partnership; all the riders and staff are ready to mobilise alongside the brand which has the will to be a major player in its market. This collaboration makes all the more sense since we are two French companies, from the same Hauts de France region.
“This geographic proximity is a major asset of this new partnership and will help bring our two entities closer together. Van Rysel has a strong ability to develop and design the best products to allow it to shine in the most prestigious competitions on the calendar. It is therefore a winning partnership on all fronts that will contribute to the expansion and future success of the Cofidis Team.”
Van Rysel director Nicolas Pierron said he hopes the partnership will help the brand use Cofidis’ expertise to develop better products for Decathlon consumers too.
Cav watches the Women's Tour stage four from the roadside
Oh, hi @MarkCavendish 👋#WomensTour #UCIWWT pic.twitter.com/AzdJp6ky6N
— AJ Bell Women’s Tour (@thewomenstour) October 7, 2021
First, he was spotted in London wearing full kit. Now, it’s on the roadside at the Women’s Tour. Good to see one of the biggest names in men’s cycling out supporting the women’s race.
I spied him too👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/sHoCDswslr
— James Woodbridge (@jameswoodbridge) October 7, 2021
Lorena Wiebes wins Women's Tour stage four, Demi Vollering protects healthy lead
🏆 @lorenawiebes (@TeamDSM) wins stage four of the @AJBell Women’s Tour in Southend-on-Sea!#WomensTour #UCIWWT pic.twitter.com/qLP72tsHx3
— AJ Bell Women’s Tour (@thewomenstour) October 7, 2021
After all the Cav excitement it fittingly came down to a big bunch kick in Southend-on-Sea. Team DSM’s Lorena Wiebes won the sprint, the third stage win in a row for the Dutch. Yesterday’s winner Demi Vollering was unchallenged and keeps her likely unassailable 1:09 advantage.
Chiara Consonni and Chloe Hosking rounded out the top three on the day. Alice Barnes took a third top-ten of the week, finishing eighth. On the menu tomorrow is another flat stage as the riders stay in Essex for the 95km run from Colchester to Clacton-on-Sea.
British gold medal star Matt Walls wins Gran Piemonte
WOW!!! Britain’s Matt Walls an Olympic hero for his country, has won the Italian classic Gran Piemonte!! What a victory that is !! https://t.co/yORXPpIoN8
— British Cycle Sport (@VeloUK) October 7, 2021
Olympic gold medallist Matt Walls won Italian one-day race Gran Piemonte this afternoon. He won ahead of a stellar list of talent, including Giacomo Nizzolo, Paris-Roubaix winner Sonny Colbrelli and not least his housemate and Olympic madison partner Ethan Hayter. Not bad.
The finish was slightly marred by some questionable routing in the final kilometres which made the sprint messy and dangerous. When the road did straighten up, Walls held off former European and Italian champion Nizzolo for his second win of the season.
Your thoughts on Jeremy Vine's empty cycle lane comments
For balance – here a picture of a road with no carists actively using it. So they won’t be needing that any more. Store you cars on your own land. pic.twitter.com/jqzyApOjTV
— Hj1967Joned (@Hj1967J) October 7, 2021
Let’s have a bit of reaction to the main story of the day…
A few people on Facebook wondered if the empty oncoming lane in the photo needs to be ripped out too? Mat Scalpello went further and wondered if the pavement should go too.
Kevin Blackburn made the point that what’s more important than photos are the numbers…”You can take photos at chosen times to prove anything – the important things are, where they have them, to look at the counters! More bikes than cars pass many points!”
Under the blog, hawkinspeter wrote: “Everywhere I go, I see empty cars left parked on the sides of roads. We might as well turn over all the road space to bikes if drivers aren’t bothering to use them.”
Rendel Harris added: “Although Vine is well-intentioned in this instance, the message isn’t really correct: he appears to be saying yes I know the cycle lanes are empty at the moment but you wait until people get more confident, whereas in fact the Tower Hill cycle lane is very heavily used by people working in the City and beyond, of course it’s quiet during the day because they’re all at work. Hopefully they will get even busier as more people realise how safely they can get around London with these lanes, but they are already more than justifying their existence, it doesn’t “take time”, it’s already happened.”
EK Spinner said: “The way I see it, the bike lanes are empty because the cyclists have completed their journey efficiently already, while the drivers are still stuck in a jam.”
Alpecin-Fenix pro Alex Richardson attacked and robbed of his bike in Richmond Park
More on this in the AM.
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Latest Comments
@Bungle_52 Some on here think advisory letters are a waste of time ... I think most drivers genuinely think they have done nothing wrong but a letter from the police is a real wake up call I'm at least one of them, especially if they are as you describe them, 'a suggestion that they might like to look at the Highway Code sometime'. Those go straight in the bin, which is the fate the police have in mind for them. They now seem to have stopped sending even advisory letters for close passes as they are short staffed That solves the question. Gloucestershire and Derbyshire have abandoned any action for close passing, no matter how close. Kent and Essex won't look at any video unless there's a collision, and what they really mean is 'unless there's a KSI'. Lancashire bins all reports- they ignore phone use, RLJs, 'No MOT and failed MOT but still on the road', unbroken white line offences. It's all blamed on 'short staffing and lack of resources'. Cycling Mikey assumes that 'a NIP-issued email' is evidence that the offending phone user 'got 6 points and a fine'. I think he's deluding himself and the Met. will be clutching at any excuse to bin most of those cases. Meanwhile, we get this (Ford Kuga FE20 YRO, yesterday), day in, day out- NMotD has had no effect, close-passing is getting worse, the police forces are vying with each other for the most efficient way of binning all the cases and sticking two fingers up at cyclists, and it's just a matter of chance whether any of us is the next one to be murdered by being dragged under a car for miles. The police certainly won't lift a finger to deter close-passing.
@Rendel Harris Yes, but I think it's easy to underestimate the level of mental "change" and "risk" this represents (as a regular or even irregular adult cyclist). With e.g. cars, you just go online (was going to say "go to a dealer/garage...") and a car which will carry you and others around, carry the shopping, keep the weather off, allow you to drive at night and can be secured is not hard to find. And all your friends / relatives / contacts likely done so and are possible points of contact if you need advice (or just reassurance). Bikes? Much less (although thankfully as easy as riding a bike...). It's not like most people spent their childhood being carried around by adults on different bikes. Indeed the age most people stopped cycling (if they started) is probably getting lower. Outside of the e-(moto)(-(r)bike) riders. Of course there's more paperwork and expense for the car (optional in some areas / counties...) but so many things are familiar or guides are present. It's even simple to work out how to get to where you need. You just drive wherever you can (ideally on the roadway...). Even less thought using a satnav!
@ChrisA It's a different universe * but in NL while they have had building regulations requiring bike storage for decades, lots of the historic housing stock won't have them. As well as some creative solutions ** many people simply store their bikes outside. And indeed some of the "durability" of Dutch bikes relates to being able to withstand living outdoors in all weathers (heavier frames / more paint - but chaincase / enclosed gears and brakes also feature). Like so many things it's hard to imagine in the UK (theft and particularly vandalism). (But the number of "cycle hangers" is growing...) I hear there's plenty of theft in NL also - but with the numbers of bikes perhaps it's just like how people in the UK are used to leaving their cars parked on the street? * But also - only about half a century away to be recognisable, perhaps - especially in the few UK places where there is some passable cycle infra? ** See e.g. the BicycleDutch article "Home-side bicycle parking" on the Buurtstalling (Neighbourhood Bicycle Parking Facility). Plus of course the practice of many people effectively storing a bike at a train station as part of their commute.
@chrisonabike Some first class trolling from Callum... I love it.
I'm a big fan of Lucinda Brand, but it was a travesty to take that win from Marie Schreiber. From the overhead shot it was clear that Lucinda at no stage got alongside Schreiber, and it was clear from Lucinda's pedal strokes - which continued as they were - that she not impeded. Lucinda's own words to the jury confirmed that Marie had not impeded Lucinda, and based on that there was no reason to overturn Marie's win. It was ridiculous. A stain on the weekend.
Playing to the crowd again!
@This Wreckage I was thinking more of having space to put a bike store, which can be obtained relatively inexpensively these days, although I agree that's a fairly high level of commitment for someone who isn't certain cycling is for them. An Oxford ground anchor and a Topeak bike cover only cost £25 together so not an enormous commitment.
@chrisonabike Keeping your pride and joy, or at least a tool that you clean, maintain & use regularly, in your home is one thing. But many people who "have to" use a bike will have an old rusty boneshaker, or better, that they would, by habit, just leave outside (just look at all the shiny new kids bikes that are left lying around, which neither the children or their parents are minded to put away). Any if it is still working, rather than your rusty relic, eventually somebody is going to "borrow" it. It both depresses me that it is necessary and surprises me that people don't lock up things.
Much debate on this but the summary is the UK has one of the most toxic cyclist-hating highway cultures on the planet. Strangely lumped together with other English speaking nations; America and Australia. The media is saturated with highly obnoxious presenters who can freely suggest slicing heads off cyclists with a taut wire across a path, without any repercussions. Most drivers are broadly ignorant of the hierarchy of road users, passing distances and how VED is arrived at. The degree of arrogance on display from within 2 tonnes of potentially deadly machinery used on the public highway is widespread and police, CPS and judges' institutional bias is effectively complicit in the road rage pandemic. All bow to the Car god. The idea of sustainable transport and cycling for a healthy nation is dead in the water while this toxic culture remains so pervasive. I have no faith in the policing of dangerous driving, cycling or walking. How police resources are deployed is beyond a joke, where it is now a political weapon and jack boot on the throat of the Freedom of Speech and the Right to Protest.
@Zermattjohn This is one reason I loathe policing in our society. Illegal drugs cause no more (probably less) harm through their use than do alcohol and tobacco. The continuing war on drugs does itself cause enormous medical, social, economic and financial harms - many addicts refuse to seek help because of the real fear of being reported to the police, for example, and there might be less incentive for addicts to steal our bikes if they are enabled to manage their consumption.
37 thoughts on ““Please stop with the empty lanes thing”: Jeremy Vine urges patience while cycling numbers rise; Cav watches Women’s Tour; Pidcock has competition…Wout can run; Moose on the loose 2; Cherie Pridham’s new team; 3D effect crossing + more on the live blog”
Although Vine is well
Although Vine is well-intentioned in this instance, the message isn’t really correct: he appears to be saying yes I know the cycle lanes are empty at the moment but you wait until people get more confident, whereas in fact the Tower Hill cycle lane is very heavily used by people working in the City and beyond, of course it’s quiet during the day because they’re all at work. Hopefully they will get even busier as more people realise how safely they can get around London with these lanes, but they are already more than justifying their existence, it doesn’t “take time”, it’s already happened.
I was going to post similar.
I was going to post similar. London cycle lanes, especially north bank are filled mornings and evenings. And they are also more efficient at moving the users so they will appear empty in a still photo taken by a driver stuck in motorised traffic.
i’m also surprised no one pointed out to that driver that another reason those specific ones are about the size of one motorised traffic lane is because they are also designed to allow wide emergency services vehicles to use them to by-pass too many cars causing slowdown.
The way I see it, the bike
The way I see it, the bike lanes are empty because the cyclists have completed thier journey efficiently already, while the drivers are still stuck in a jam
I agree. A couple of other
I agree. A couple of other observations –
– none of the motor vehicles in that picture have their brake lights on, which suggests the traffic is moving, contrary to the anti-cycle lane rhetoric
– isn’t it funny how some people think that we should keep building roads until they are all empty, but if a cycle lane isn’t absolutely packed, then it shouldn’t have been built.
The lights just around the
The lights just around the corner had probably just changed as well which could also be a reason that cyclists are absent in that exact time frame. (I believe the straight over lights for both motor and cycle lanes are on the same green / red). So two seconds after that was taken, he would probably have seen cyclists coming and seen the others going the other direction if they traveresed the set of lights.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
Could you tell us which optician you go to? I’d love to have the kind of eyesight that can see around corners!
I know the area and cycled
I know the area and cycled the same road a few times. If the cars are moving as others have deduced then my assumption is they would have probably just changed.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
It is indeed a perfectly sound assumption, I ride up Tower Hill a couple of times a week, it’s busy: for the westbound lane to be completely empty as it is in that picture it would either have to be Sunday morning or the lights at the top have held the downhill traffic.
Yes, they are used and they
Yes, they are used and they’re more efficient. He’s fallen into the trap of defending a false premise, even if it’s from the position that better infrastructure will encourage more to cycle which is also desirable.
Absolutely, 75% of the
Absolutely, 75% of the vehicles are trade vehicles which is exactly the type of traffic you would expect to see moving around during the day, out of rush hour. Also as others have pointed out the traffic is moving – look at the gaps between the vehicles definitely NOT bumper to bumper.
This part of the cycle lane
This part of the cycle lane get a wave flow of cyclists due to lights at Great Tower Street (at the top of the rise) and some at the junctio with Fish Street Hill. So you’ll see lots of cyclists pass then a gap.
It gets used by quite a few tourists during the day as well as cycle delivery (like PedalMe) and people going between meetings.
Everywhere I go, I see empty
Everywhere I go, I see empty cars left parked on the sides of roads. We might as well turn over all the road space to bikes if drivers aren’t bothering to use them.
I can’t see any traffic in
I can’t see any traffic in the oncoming lane either. Better close that as well.
I did once get squeaked at by
I did once get squeaked at by a stoat when out cycling. It seemed properly angry with me. I nearly crashed into the ditch laughing, so the outcome was similar to the moose clip!
SimoninSpalding wrote:
Are you sure it wasn’t a weasel? I can never tell the difference between them.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Are you sure it wasn’t a weasel? I can never tell the difference between them.— SimoninSpalding
Me neither – there was an expression someone taught me once to distinguish them, but it never seemed to help – they mustelid me astray.
mdavidford wrote:
Shame on them, they otter know better…..
Captain Badger wrote:
hawkinspeter wrote:
I’ve told you before HP
A weasel is weasely recognised.
A stoat however is stoatally different…
I have solved this problem by
I have solved this problem by always carrying a weasel with me. That way I can do a size comparison when required.
SimoninSpalding wrote:
Great idea, is it quick? I imagine it only takes er- min-e …..
OH COME ON PEOPLE!!
OH COME ON PEOPLE!!
Shows we have taste on here?
Shows we have taste on here?
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
Quiet at the back!
It’s not seasonal.
It’s not seasonal.
Captain Badger wrote:
Some mink bothering you?
Surely there’s something more
Surely there’s something more manageable you could use ferret?
I tried that but picked up a
I tried that but picked up a spool of thread and a needle and my weasel went pop…
I’ve told you before HP
I’ve told you before HP
A weasel is weasely recognised.
A stoat however is stoatally different…
[/quote]
and a tarka is similar, but just a little ‘otter
Ask them for a dance – you’ll
Ask them for a dance – at least you’ll know if it’s a Polka-t.
Isn’t there a slight problem
Isn’t there a slight problem with the 3D crossing that the illusion is only going to work from the point of view of the camera? From where most of the people are shown approaching, it’s going to look like big bollards sticking up in the air. They should have painted them the other way around on that side of the road.
mdavidford wrote:
yes.
Also the bigger problem is that they are not standard road markings, and so have no actual meaning. The same issue was raised when some London boroughs recently made to make crossings ” more interesting”.
There’s been one in St John’s
There’s been one in St John’s Wood since 2019 according to the BBC.
And here it is on Google Street View.
captain_slog wrote:
I thought you were talking about a moose!
captain_slog wrote:
Thanks.
Using the same argument
Using the same argument against cycle lanes and applying it to the building of motorways in the 1960s they would never have been built. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwyTaYSADY8
Ah so that’s why NB doesn’t
Ah so that’s why NB doesn’t like lycra – sit on that saddle in race shorts and you’d slide right off the back!