Queue behind cyclist sparks debate about letting drivers past; Sir Chris Hoy’s “very private” wasp sting; UK Grand Depart; Hi-vis handouts part of road safety campaign; Close pass op; Steep climbs; Tour of Britain summit finish + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Warwickshire Police launches road safety campaign by handing out hi-vis clothing
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership is asking all road users to please #ShareTheSpace as part of a national campaign that aims to improve the safety of cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and motorcyclists using the county’s roads. @WarksPolice @OPUWarks https://t.co/KsSRmZbQsz
— Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership (@WarksRoadSafety) September 7, 2021
Warwickshire Police this week launched its #ShareTheSpace campaign as part of the wider national NPCC campaign between 6-19 September aiming to increase safety for all road users.
The force says it will be handing out hi-vis tabards and other hi-vis items carrying the ‘Let’s Share The Space’ branding…
In other cases they’ll be sending Community Speed Watch groups out to monitor speeds in local communities, as well as “asking the public to be aware of less protected road users.”
However, that’s just “part of the picture” they say, and advice will also be offered to cyclists, walkers, horse riders and bikers about how they can stay safe too. One likely positive from this is increased emphasis on reporting and submitting digital footage of dangerous driving via Operation Snap.
PS Shaun Bridle said “Pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and horse riders do not have a metal shell around them like a driver does sitting in a vehicle and even relatively minor contact can seriously injure them. That’s why they need vehicles to ‘ShareTheSpace’ on the roads and pass pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders wide and slow.
“September is a peak month for motorcycle collisions and that’s why the campaign is happening now. The campaign also coincides with children returning to school after the summer break.”
Looking into the autumn, Chair and Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire Philip Seccombe says the emphasis will be developing their ‘Strategy to 2030’ by encouraging cyclists, and other road users, to respond to the public consultation.
The spotlight will then turn to the upcoming Highway Code changes, which Warwickshire Police says it welcomes. The changes include a new hierarchy of road users that ensures those who can do greatest harm hold greatest responsibility. The force says it is also expecting guidance on safe passing distances and speeds, as well as ensuring cyclists have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead.
Silly steep climbs
FLIPPING ECK
They’ve resurfaced Bamford Clough.
This is more than 35% and is much harder than HARD KNOTTS
None of us were able to cycle up it pic.twitter.com/oHdsYKbUUV
— Stan (@geckobike) September 5, 2021
If you’re in the Peak District and fancy some pain, go check it out…although it doesn’t look fun…
— Stan (@geckobike) September 5, 2021
And…your obligatory Strava segment…grim.
Talking of steep climbs, the Tour of Britain stage four finishes up one. We’re talking just under two kilometres at nine per cent, maxing out at 20…in this heat as well.
Cyclist airlifted to hospital with multiple injuries after mountain biking crash at BikePark Wales
A cyclist was airlifted to hospital at around midday on Monday after suffering injuries in a mountain biking crash at BikePark Wales in Merthyr Tydfil. Wales Online reports the man was flown to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with head and chest injuries, a displaced clavicle and an increased respiratory rate. Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team said the man was drifting in and out of consciousness.
In a statement, Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team said: “Working in conjunction with the BikePark Wales staff, the helicopters winchman paramedic and the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Hazardous Area Response Team the casualty was packaged and loaded on to the aircraft for onwards transfer to hospital. With our thanks to everyone present who helped, we wish the gentleman a speedy recovery.”
Safe pass of the day: Textbook safe pass
Here is how a real driver overtakes a cyclists at this junction. #Finaghy pic.twitter.com/1FFp1bs4Bc
— Cyclegranny 🚴♀️ (@anneramsey740) September 6, 2021
Here’s how it’s done. A bit of patience and a nice wide pass when the road ahead is clear. By contrast, yesterday’s ‘Near Miss of the Day 633’ is how not to do it…in an absolute shocker, if Daily Mail comments sections are to be believed, a cyclist waiting at a red light spots an impatient van driver behind go through it himself…
Close pass operation stops dangerous drivers
North East Road Policing officers carried out Operation #closepass in Elgin yesterday. Six drivers passed the unmarked cyclist too close and were stopped. All Road Policing units carry out these operations, so please give cyclists space and don’t be the next driver stopped. pic.twitter.com/VBilSvp5ot
— Road Policing Scotland (@polscotrpu) September 8, 2021
Here’s the results of some more unmarked cyclist operations, this time by Road Policing Scotland. Back in April we covered West Midlands Police’s Operation Close Pass, which also used ‘undercover’ cyclists to spot dangerous drivers making unsafe passes.
In that case, 36 drivers were stopped, two received penalty tickets and 17 given roadside education. Road Policing Scotland says six drivers were stopped by the North East team in Elgin and that all their departments will be carrying out similar operations.
Sir Chris Hoy complains of swelling from "very private" wasp sting...Twitter does its worst
https://t.co/2Xaw4yQjcq pic.twitter.com/BWI9dAaiAL
— ParaTone (@AntJack81) September 8, 2021
Poor Chris Hoy. Wasps don’t respect knighthoods… no matter how many Olympic golds you’ve won. Sir Chris found out the hard way, taking a prick to his…well, prick…thankfully he hasn’t provided us with a picture of this particular misfortune.
The retired track star did share a pic of what happened to his ankle the last time he got stung…leaving little to the imagination about the ‘discomfort’ little Chris might be feeling this sunny Wednesday lunchtime…
Of course, as you’d expect, the good people of Twitter were sympathetic and understanding in their responses…
— chris harris (@harrismonkey) September 8, 2021
Stop making me laugh! It makes it worse!
— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) September 8, 2021
“Can I keep the swelling, but get rid of the pain please, Doctor?” 🤣
— Marino Franchitti (@MFranchitti) September 8, 2021
British Cycling targets hosting another Tour de France Grand Depart before 2030
Yesterday we briefly mentioned British Cycling’s strategy for growing the sport during the upcoming Olympic campaign, off the back of yet more success in Tokyo. Hosting flagship events was one area highlighted by CEO Brian Facer. He said: “Absolutely, I would like to see that come back again and I’m fairly sure that ASO and the Tour de France would like to see it come back again. We’re a great cycling nation now and there’s a real appetite for us. We’d be supportive if there were conversations going on.”
The UK hosted the 2014 Grand Depart and turned down the opportunity to host it in 2017. Next year’s race will begin from Copenhagen, and Bilbao is already in the books as the start point for 2023. 2024 is reportedly likely to be back in France, but could 2025 be our year?
Tour of Britain summit finish
9.8% average ⛰
20% maximum ⚠
1.9km long 📍You won’t want to miss today’s finish atop the Great Orme! #TourOfBritain 🔴🟢⚪ pic.twitter.com/RqCMIJZ65d
— AJ Bell Tour of Britain 🇬🇧 (@TourofBritain) September 8, 2021
Queue behind cyclist sparks debate about letting drivers past
This cyclist peddled along slowly, oblivious to c30 vehicles behind him. He passed at least half a dozen points in the two miles that I was aware of, at which he may have pulled in, as a tractor might. Please, just because you don’t have to pull in, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. pic.twitter.com/kfK5ZBPguC
— Rush (@exRAF_Al) September 6, 2021
Here we go. It’s the latest ‘how cyclists should use the road’ debate on social media. This photo came from a guy saying he sometimes pulls over to let backed up traffic through. ‘Rush’ posed the question: why, even if you don’t have to, you wouldn’t move off the road to let the queued traffic pass?
Some questioned the accuracy of the situation…had he really been sat behind the cyclist for two miles on what looks a reasonably wide road? Others asked if the lorry driver should also pull over to let the car drivers through?
When pressed, Rush said: “Periodically, yes [cyclists should pull over to let traffic past]. The Highway Code does not compel, but it wouldn’t hurt. It’s good road craft, that’s all. The chap was cycling along slowly, creating a needless tailback.” And in reply to another question…
“The rider didn’t have to, but should have used road-sense and should have simply pulled over and would have received many friendly toots of cordial appreciation. Now what’s so difficult about that?
“Being a thoughtful and courteous rider isn’t a completely selfless act, riding etiquette can cheer up those around us and generally create a more enjoyable, harmonious and stress-free relationship with road users.”
Here’s some of the discussion and reaction…
The entitlement of this driver is astounding. Excessive car use is the single biggest reason for congestion on our roads. Not someone on a bike who has every reason to be there. https://t.co/Sa8kmGWqMM
— Andrew Calladine #FBPE (@Callad75) September 8, 2021
Yeah, the two miles is a straight up lie, IMO. Never ever seen a driver wait behind that long.
— CyclingMikey tired of road crime. 🇪🇺🇳🇱🇿🇼 (@MikeyCycling) September 8, 2021
I do too. I’m rather paranoid about it.
— Rush (@exRAF_Al) September 6, 2021
Is this why when I cycle in to town to shop and the traffic is moving at about 5mph, none of them pull over for me?
— John Coupe (@JohnCoupe10) September 6, 2021
Wout van Aert wins Tour of Britain stage four after epic Great Orme summit finish battle with world champion Julian Alaphilippe - Ethan Hayter loses race lead
@WoutvanAert wins stage four of the @AJBell Tour of Britain 🇬🇧 atop the Great Orme!
📺 Watch the stage live on ITV4#TourOfBritain 🔴🟢⚪ pic.twitter.com/EUVoPpFn7M
— AJ Bell Tour of Britain 🇬🇧 (@TourofBritain) September 8, 2021
How good was that? The final climb didn’t disappoint, leaving Wout van Aert and Julian Alaphilippe, two of the world’s best, slumped by the roadside in visible physical pain. Way to make us feel better about our own fitness, guys…
Michael Woods lit up the stage with a big attack on the steepest 20 per cent slopes of the final climb to Great Orme. Race leader Ethan Hayter slipped backwards, riding conservatively at his own pace. Near the top, Alaphilippe hit out trying desperately to drop Van Aert before the flatter final section.
The Belgian stood firm and Hayter somehow managed to claw his way back to the front group, but was quickly distanced by the next surge in pace. With the finish line looming, Alaphilippe took flight at 200m to go. Van Aert pulled level at 100m and clawed his way past in the final metres. Incredible drama. What. A. Stage.
How hard was that, lads?
Julian Alaphilippe, Wout van Aert and Ethan Hayter all show the effort of today. Van Aert won the stage and took the race lead with it, on bonus points pic.twitter.com/ZmvoH6Uwvw
— adam becket (@adambecket) September 8, 2021
#TourOfBritain Wout van Aert y Julian Alaphilippe ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ECSHkB5yhu
— Hernán Bustos Mella (@Hernan_Ale15) September 8, 2021
London Cycling Campaign protest ride against inaction on dangerous junctions
Thread: This is the route we’ll be following tonight, meeting at 5:30 PM and leaving at 6:00 PM, to protest to @MayorofLondon and @londoncouncils against inaction on dangerous junctions. The route goes through / near several junctions known to be dangerous https://t.co/Wxwp3RJ8ke
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) September 8, 2021
King's Cup Gravel Festival
Billed as the ultimate gravel festival, the inaugural King’s Cup Gravel Festival will see thousands of riders descend on the King’s Forest, Suffolk, to take part in a Gravel Fondo and Gravel Race for the British Gravel Championships. Beyond the competitive stuff, there’ll also be live music and camping to celebrate all things gravel. It is in the calendar for the weekend of the 18th to 19th September…
PAIN
🤩 This man.
He gave everything. 🥵@WoutvanAert pic.twitter.com/u90i4Enhxa— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) September 8, 2021
How to make a 20 per cent climb look easy...Chris Blevins wheelies his way up Great Orme
How to make the Great Orme look easy, by @TrinityRacing_’s @chrisblevs !#TourOfBritain 🟢🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/biN9X4P0Kf
— AJ Bell Tour of Britain 🇬🇧 (@TourofBritain) September 8, 2021
Not everyone found that last climb so hard. Trinity Racing’s Chris Blevins made light work of the steepest slopes…deciding he doesn’t need a front wheel anyway. Perhaps he was inspired by the opening stage hero. No, not Wout van Aert. That kid spotted popping a wheelie to get on TV.
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Latest Comments
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
Obree had some actual talent in his legs though, in addition to his bike/aero engineering talent.
Малко като опит за доказване е излязло... Никой няма нужда от толкова голям въртящ момент и мощност на шосеен велосипед с тънки гуми, които дори трудно ще предават тази мощност върху пътя. А ако има и ограничение от 25 км/час е още по-безмислено.
Not sure how informative that is. I imagine for all most of us know it could be Europe's only 'volumetric modular building'. 🤷♂️
Yes, but they're copying the adults of today...
Indeed - but alas I think this is an effective argument for very few folks indeed. As for push-back, what else could we expect *? I think there are ways of selling this but we're far more likely to see headlines about the problems, while the successes are relegated to footnotes, because at that point it just works and there's nothing to see... * Given that this time there aren't politicians being persuaded to overlook thousands of deaths and the demolition of property by the billions from the motoring trades (and the excitement of being able to drive out with the bright things for a party at a roadhouse). Nor are we as tolerant of "accidents". (And noting that publicity about the cases of a handful of people killed by cyclists continues to reach the media; deaths related to motor vehicles not so much).
That rather ignores that the children of today are the adults of tomorrow.
@belugabob Arguably it's easier this way - we don't actually need to do anything to the streets except stop drivers driving down every scrap of tarmac. Where I live, a few well-placed bollards would make walking/cycling/scooting the quicker option and safer, while maintaining 100% vehicular access - just not allowing through routes in every direction.
48 thoughts on “Queue behind cyclist sparks debate about letting drivers past; Sir Chris Hoy’s “very private” wasp sting; UK Grand Depart; Hi-vis handouts part of road safety campaign; Close pass op; Steep climbs; Tour of Britain summit finish + more on the live blog”
A mouse and a rhinoceros can
A mouse and a rhinoceros can share the same road, but one of them is far more likely to get squashed.
brooksby wrote:
Best remove the rhinos…..
Only if the mouse isn’t
Only if the mouse isn’t wearing high-vis of course. And a mouse-helmet.
Silly mouse!
genetically engineer the
genetically engineer the mouse to have hi viz fur that way they’ll never get squashed.
Already been done.
Already been done.
Mungecrundle wrote:
It’s about time. Just the other day, I didn’t see this massive mouse and trod on it. It was still alive, but screaming and making a hell of a noise, so I humanely killed it by smashing it with a saucepan. Anyway, I’m banned from DisneyLand now…
I had to steal that
I had to steal that
Fortunately, the Police have
Fortunately, the Police have already identified Rhinocerosessses as high risk road users and dealt with the problem.
Mungecrundle wrote:
I hope they deal with all the pachyderms as otherwise that’d be hippo-critical.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Not on your Nelly!
So when are they going to
So when are they going to insist all motor vehicles are painted in bright hi-viz colour schemes?
makadu wrote:
please no, then we would never be seen.
We don’t need poxy hi viz
We don’t need poxy hi viz crap we need enforcement.
We don’t need poxy hi viz
We don’t need poxy hi viz crap we need enforcement
The Filth are good at pushing the wrong message. I have twice recently been contacted by ‘Lancashire Victim Services’ because of my suspect behaviour of annoying Lancashire Constabulary by reporting traffic offences to the police- contacted to see if I would like any ‘support’. Yes, the support I would like is for Lancashire Traffic Police to think about doing their job!- instead of just ignoring online incident reports and stamping ‘NFA’ on all of them. The first contact consisted of 2 female officers coming round uninvited to my house. I was able to reassure them that I am not mental (pause for cries of derision) and am not about to top myself- because Lancashire drivers are working hard to do that for me. However, they apparently did not believe me because a couple of weeks later I received a text message to the same effect.
At least they’re
At least they’re acknowledging the likely effect on you of their behaviour. Maybe this is their latest ploy to persuade you to stop reporting dangerous drivers.
Have they thought about
Have they thought about handing out free bumper stickers to drivers. They could carry humerous but informative slogans to improve road safety. I’m sure that it will improve road safety and of course all drivers love bumper stickers, don’t they?
How will I see a driver
How will I see a driver wearing hi-viz inside the car??
EddyBerckx wrote:
Cos they’re paying road tax
I’ve some sympathy with the
I’ve some sympathy with the police on this stuff,project Edward (every day without a road death) starts next week as well, so expect similar kinds of initiatives to get pushed alot more by police forces across the UK in the coming weeks.
But handing out hi-viz is the simplest, lowest cost, maybe even least effort option to show their senior officers/decision makers they are “engaging” with the public for these campaigns which roll through the year. Most of them on the ground I think understand they arent very effective or deal with the real issues.
Only last month Warwickshire road safety partnership announced nearly 4000 drivers were caught speeding in just two weeks.
So we should criticise it as an exercise in futility perhaps, but maybe not criticise the people stuck handing the stuff out so much.
Indeed, the police should be
Indeed, the police should be congratulated for discovering and acting upon the solution to the dangers identified in survey after survey:
[I]The charity’s poll of 2,024 adults, conducted by YouGov, found that [b]poor road conditions [/b]was the joint second most common reason for avoiding travel by bike, alongside [b]drivers overtaking too closely[/b].
Having to share the road with [b]lorries and other large vehicles [/b]was ranked number one with 57 per cent of respondents put off by it.
Other concerns include [b]threatening behaviour from drivers[/b] (43 per cent), [b]car doors being opened in front of them[/b] (40 per cent) and[b] speeding motorists[/b] (37 per cent).[/i]
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/potholes-put-more-than-half-of-people-off-cycling-on-uk-roads-new-study-finds-a3852741.html
Perhaps the police could repeat the survey after the hi-viz vests have been tried on by the participants to see if it helps.
Im just highlighting the
Im just highlighting the people who come up with such ideas about handing out hiviz vests and promoting hashtags on twitter as a form of taking visible action, arent the people who knock on doors at night to inform families a close relative or someone dear to them has been killed or seriously hurt in a traffic collision.
Erm, not sure that’s an
Erm, not sure that’s an entirely textbook pass.
Granted there was no particular danger caused in this case, but still…
[Yes, if you’re being extra picky they didn’t come alongside the bicycle until after they’d gone through the crossing, but they started the overtake before it. And to be extra extra picky, it doesn’t say nearest in which direction…]
mdavidford wrote:
Yes, those are the HC rules, but the law says overtake a motor vehicle; trust me, I’ve checked. A driver dangerously overtook me at a zebra, reported it, had video, police were sympathetic but could do nothing because the law doesn’t include overtaking cyclists at pedestrian crossings.
Doubtless this anomaly will also be addressed in the review of road law.
Except as I always highlight
Except as I always highlight on this point, they could have gone for due care & attention charge as it’s at least inconsiderate driving as a careful & competent driver wouldnt overtake anything on a zebra crossing. They simply have to demonstrate there was no reasonable consideration for other people/road users.
eburtthebike wrote:
What was that, now? Fifteen years ago…?
brooksby wrote:
Something like that; lost in the mists of time. Still, they managed to get the dangerous cycling law passed, so that’s ok.
This has come up before –
This has come up before – bicycles don’t count as a vehicle for this particular situation.
(edit : see https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2400/regulation/24/made)
tbh, the driver should have overtaken ages before ! No wonder people claim cyclists hold up traffic – it’s drivers who can’t overtake that contribute a lot to the problem.
Fair enough (your point, I
Fair enough (your point, I mean – not the fact that it doesn’t include bicycles – that’s just… dumb).
I’d suggest that it’s still not ‘textbook’ though because
Completely reversing the
Since the effect of hi-viz is proven to be rather less than dramatic, I’m concerned that Warwickshire police haven’t looked at the evidence, rather worrying from the police, and they have just organised a knee-jerk reaction to the symptoms, not the cause.
They are trying to tackle the problem from the wrong end, and tacitly blaming victims for not being visible enough, when the problem is drivers not looking. Completely reversing safety systems is hardly going to be terrifically beneficial, unless their aim is to make vulnerable road users feel even more vulnerable and therefore desist in their absurd behaviour of sharing space with homicidal drivers.
It’s good that so many police forces are concerned about the safety of vulnerable road users, they just need to consult with people who actually know something about what makes road safe for people who aren’t driving a ton of metal.
eburtthebike wrote:
Depends what the purpose of handing it out is supposed to be.
It looks like it’s at least as much about generating some advertising for the campaign as it is about any expectation of directly improving safety.
mdavidford wrote:
I was about the make the same point. It seems that the HiViz is to advertise the message rather than stigmatise the wearers, so in this context it makes a kind of sense.
Maybe they text on the back
Maybe they text on the back should just say “Polite” rather than a sentence you have to be tailgated to read?
I do find it interesting that
I do find it interesting that the picture featuring quite a visible cyclist, shows in the reduced pic for the tweet, shows 3 motor vehicles, a dark green mini, a black hatchback and something grey.
The expanded picture does have a white flatbed and a red car about to pass the very visible cyclist.
Oh those awful Scottish
Oh those awful Scottish police, entrapping poor hardpressed motorists by using unfair unmarked bait-cyclists…
John Coupe on Twitter wrote:
Brilliant.
Long line of slow moving
Long line of slow moving traffic on my ride home. Nobody moved over to let me pass. Turns out part of the problem (other than too many cars) was a broken down mini. Unbelievably, the driver was stood by the car making no effort to push the car up the road to a point where it could be parked up out of the way.
IanMK wrote:
I’ve had several instances of broken down cars where the motorist will ask me, a cyclist, for help while all the other drivers go blithely on their way, watching me and him pushing the car.
eburtthebike wrote:
I’ve had pedestrians stop me (OK, twice) to ask for directions.
Quote:
That would indeed be quite remarkable. How strange that their photo shows c3 vehicles in the queue. I would have thought they’d be only too eager to show the true scale of the carnage. Unless of course they actually did…..
Captain Badger wrote:
Good lord, Cap’n: you don’t mean that you think maybe, just maybe, they were exaggerating the situation?
brooksby wrote:
I’m appalled at your totally unjustified cynicism; everyone knows drivers alway tell the truth, never break the law and are unfailingly courteous to other road users, especially cyclists.
Their spelling, however, leaves much to be desired.
brooksby wrote:
Now you put it like that, I don’t know what came over me.
I feel a bit stupid now…..
Captain Badger wrote:
Now you put it like that, I don’t know what came over me.
I feel a bit stupid now…..
[/quote]
Go and spread TB to a few cattle, you’ll feel better.
eburtthebike wrote:
Yeah, maybe I’ll have more success than with that bloody alpaca…..
Sure, the other c27 could be
Sure, the other c27 could be in his rear view mirror.
Before I had built up a queue of 30 vehicles, [i]on an otherwise empty road[/i], I would pull over where safe. Somehow I doubt that is the case here – queues 30 cars long don’t happen on empty roads.
Far more likely the traffic is that heavy that 30 seconds after pulling over to let one lot by, the cyclist finds another 30 behind them.
Equally likely the queue was already building up behind the lorry long before it reached the bike, and would remain so if the cyclist pulled over.
The notion that the cyclist blithely collected a queue of 30 vehicles on an otherwise open and free flowing road is fanciful. In other words, it’s not the solitary cyclist that is the problem here.
The problem is that there are too many motor vehicles. But classic motorist perception, the traffic is caused by the single cyclist. Think how much worse it could be – if they were all on bikes!
No true cyclist would write
No true cyclist would write ‘peddled’.
You could argue either way that he should have stopped but stopping requires the ability to start again. May not be so straight forward on a hilly, busy road.
Many drivers can’t overtake anyway due to lack of skill.
hirsute wrote:
I see “peddled” more often than “pedaled” or “pedalled” on cycling forums and FB groups.
Not everyone is a grate spellar.
“This cyclist peddled along
“This cyclist peddled along slowly, oblivious to c30 vehicles behind him. He passed at least half a dozen points in the two miles that I was aware of….“
Yeah, two miles, sure he did. I’ll be generous and assume the cyclist was doing 20mph. That’s 6 minutes. Or 15mph, which would be 8 minutes. In my 16+ years of cycle commuting I have never encountered drivers with such patience.
This is pure exaggeration designed to cause argument and whataboutery. Or to put it more simply, it’s bullshit.