“Cyclists are not the problem”: Plan to ban all bikes from city centre due to safety concerns about delivery riders on illegal e-motorbikes slammed – but locals say “anyone with common decency would get off and push!” + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
One for the retro grouches (who don’t mind a bit of modernity from time to time)
> Shimano launches special edition CUES 1×10-speed groupset with polished silver finish
That’s a pretty ominous stat…
Yep, it turns out Isaac del Toro is pretty good at racing bikes.
Since his breakthrough second place on GC at the Giro d’Italia (which he looked destined to win until Simon Yates’ coup on the penultimate day), the 21-year-old Mexican has amassed a staggering total of 12 wins.
Those include five one-day races in Italy, along with seventh place at the worlds with a very attacking ride, since the start of September alone.
Can the on-fire Del Toro add to that tally – and surpass his teammate Tadej’s tally of wins in his first two pro seasons – at Gran Piemonte today? On this form, who’s betting against him?
Basically, if you’re not UAE – be afraid, be every afraid. And for the next 10 years, probably.
Cycling does ASMR (again)
They may be two years late to the party, but everyone’s favourite part-cycling team, part-social media content creation vehicle, Unibet Tietema Rockets, have used the Gran Piemonte to delve into the weird world of cycling-themed ASMR:
Come on lads, Chris Froome was doing this stuff back in 2023, get with the times…
Throwback Thursday: Johan Museeuw, Romain Bardet, Alejandro Valverde, and Greg Van Avermaet set to compete at gravel world championships
If you’re the kind of cycling fan who reckons everything was better back in the day, then this weekend’s gravel world championships will be right down your skittery, unpaved street.
Because, while Tom Pidcock, Tim Wellens, Kasia Niewiadoma, Matej Mohorič, and Marianne Vos are among the big names set to battle for the rainbow jersey in Limburg, scan your eye further down the start list and you’ll find a venerable who’s who of retired road legends.
Perhaps the biggest of them all is Johan Museeuw, as the Lion of Flanders looks to add another world champs success to the rainbow jersey he won almost three decades ago, back in 1996.
Museeuw – one of the great classics riders of his generation and a three-time winner at both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix – will take part in the 60-64 age group at the gravel worlds, which will see a sizeable field of 157 riders take part.
Whether the Lion can roar back into life and claim a surprise rainbow jersey remains to be seen – but he did win Amstel Gold, which takes place in the Limburg region, in 1994, so that’s a pretty good omen.
Meanwhile, Romain Bardet will join his fellow stars of the 2010s, Alejandro Valverde and Greg Van Avermaet, in the men’s elite race on Sunday, the retired trio taking the amateur qualification route in order to compete against Pidcock and company.
Bardet’s seventh world championships – and first off-road – comes just nine weeks into his newly minted gravel career, following his retirement from the peloton at June’s Criterium du Dauphinè.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
After spending his summer reporting on the Tour de France from the back of a motorbike (an experience which once led to him being jammed up against a fence by a team car, alongside this live blogger, at the top of Superbagnères), the French stage racer has since dived straight into the new world of gravel.
And it’s fair to say he’s done pretty well, securing two wins from four starts at UCI Gravel World Series qualifier races, as well as fifth at Sea Otter Girona, earning him a spot in Sunday’s race.
“Personally, I stepped out of the road racing because I wanted to have more freedom,” two-time Tour de France podium finisher Bardet told Cyclingnews this week about his gravel worlds attempt.
“And I’m not racing globally for championships. In the Netherlands this year, I’m happy to come. I’m here to enjoy riding my bike.
“I know I’m not gonna be as sharp and as good as some guys like Pidcock and probably Tim Wellens, because they are super good riders, among the best in the world. So I think physically, it can be hard to really match them.
“But I hope to be on the front, because there will be a full contingent of Belgium and Dutch riders. I don’t have super high expectations, because for me, it’s more likely gonna look like a road race with a lot of fighting for position and stuff. But I’m up for the fight. You only enjoy the day if you’re in front.”
Tales from the Bike Shop: Spooky Edition
What did I say the other day about cyclists (or anyone) jumping the gun on Halloween?
Though, to be fair, on this occasion it was the horrifying presence of the “sealant slug from outer space” which forced the mechanic’s hand:
The Sealant Slug from Outer Space – now that’s an idea for a horror film, someone should pitch that to Netflix.
Come on everyone, gather around the fire and tell us all about the stretch of road you hate with an intense, burning, visceral passion…
It’s fair to say Mat’s latest opinion piece has struck a chord with me:
> Do you have a bit of road you just hate? An attempt to explain this unusual phenomenon
That damn Dundrum Line, I’m getting angry just thinking about it…
Tom Pidcock feeling fatigue but looking forward to “demanding” Lombardy debut and gravel worlds weekend double
Tom Pidcock has admitted he’s feeling the effects of a long, tough season featuring two grand tours – including a breakthrough first ever GC podium at the Vuelta – but says he’s still aiming for a top result on debut at the Tour of Lombardy on Saturday.
After tackling the final monument of the year, the British star will then jump straight on a plane to the Netherlands, where he hopes to add the gravel worlds to his collection of off-road rainbow jerseys in cyclocross and mountain biking.
Pidcock has enjoyed a sensational second half to 2025, the Q36.5 rider securing his fifth win of the season at the Arctic Race of Norway before introducing himself as a bonafide grand tour contender at the Vuelta, finishing third behind Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
In the last few weeks, he’s taken tenth at the worlds road race in Rwanda, and second at the Giro dell’Emilia on Saturday, behind the on-fire Isaac del Toro, while his bid for a top placing at the Tre Valle Varesine on Tuesday was derailed by a late puncture.
And now, the 26-year-old and his team believe they can taste monument success for the first time at Il Lombardia on Saturday.
“It’s my first time racing Il Lombardia, so it’s a new experience for me,” Pidcock said in a statement today.
“I haven’t done many of these late-season races before, but I’ve really enjoyed them this year, even if I’m feeling a bit of fatigue from a long season.
“It’s obviously a very demanding race with lots of climbing, and it’s going to be an attritional day. Staying fuelled, keeping cool, and maintaining good positioning will all be key.”
Unipublic / Cxcling / Antonio Baixauli
And Q36.5 reckon Pidcock can be fighting for the win as the race enters Bergamo, despite the presence of a certain world champion.
“Il Lombardia is always a special day, a proud moment,” Pidcock’s sports director Gabriele Missaglia says. “This year it’s even more special because with Tom we have a rider who can do really well.
“We did the recon of the last 150 kilometres on Wednesday. Tom feels good after Tuesday’s race where he sadly punctured at one kilometre to go. We also have a great team to support him.”
Turning his attention to his crack at the gravel a day later, Pidcock said: “The Gravel World Championships is also something I’m really looking forward to. My main focus is of course on Il Lombardia, but I’ll stay sharp for an extra day — especially with the beautiful new Pinarello gravel bike I get to ride. I’m looking forward to doing well in the race.”
“How to deliver parcels when there is a cycle lane”
Here’s something you don’t see every day…
97 and out: Former Milan-Sanremo winner Arnaud Démare announces retirement after Paris-Tours
After 14 seasons, 97 victories, 10 grand tour stages, and one monument, Arnaud Démare has confirmed that he will call it a day after Paris-Tours this weekend.
Démare turned professional with FDJ in 2012, hitting the ground running and establishing himself as one of the sport’s fastest and most durable sprinters by winning the GP Samyn just two months into his pro career, following that up with the Cyclassics Hamburg six months later.
In 2016, he upset the odds by winning Milan-Sanremo, his first and only monument success (though he would later back that result up with another podium place at the Italian classic, as well as sixth at the 2017 Paris-Roubaix).
The Frenchman’s grand tour breakthrough came a year later, when he won the fourth stage of the Tour de France, taking his second Tour victory in 2018 in Pau. Démare then made the sprints at the Giro d’Italia his own, winning eight between 2019 and 2022, while also taking the 2020 and 2022 points classifications.
(LaPresse)
After 11 years with FDJ, he transferred mid-season in 2023 to Arkéa-B&B Hotels. While that relationship got off to a good start with victories at Paris-Bourges and the Tour de Vendée, Démare failed to find his old form at the highest level, with this weekend’s Paris-Tours representing his last chance to get off the mark for 2025 and add to the 97 wins he mustered during a very impressive career.
“The time has come,” Démare wrote on Instagram, announcing his retirement. “I started cycling when I was six. I’ve been lucky enough to live my dream, to win big races, and to proudly represent French cycling at the highest level. I never imagined achieving all of this.
“I was immersed in this passion within my family, and it’s what carried me all these years. At the end of this season, after Paris–Tours, I’ll turn the page on my professional career. I’m proud of my journey and deeply grateful to my family, my teams, and my supporters.”
I regret to inform you that the Telegraph is at it again
Sigh…
If the Telegraph publishing anti-cycling articles was a drinking game, we’d probably all be dead.
Cycling community pays tribute to race organiser, commissaire, and volunteer Jon Miles, who has passed away, aged 87
One of the stalwarts of the British cycling scene, and a pivotal figure in the growth of women’s cycling in the UK, Jon Miles has passed away, aged 87, following a short illness.
Jon first became a commissaire in 1968, officiating bike races in Britain for 57 years, while also serving as secretary of the South East Midlands Division of the British Cycling Federation for 19 years and organising races in Milton Keynes and Bedford.
An advocate for women’s racing, Jon organised the first women’s road race in the UK in 1974 and the first women’s circuit championship. He also organised the women’s national road race championships in 1999 and established the Women’s Team Series (now the Team Cup), which has been running for over 25 years.
Jon Miles receives British Cycling’s gold badge of honour from Bob Howden at the 2023 British Cycling Awards (Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com)
Alongside his role within British cycling and his VC Bedford women’s cycling club, Jon also forged links with the Malta Cycling Federation and served as Malta’s national team coach for a spell, overseeing David Millar’s oft-forgotten victory in the time trial at the 2001 Games of the Small States of Europe.
He was voted an Honorary Member of the Woman’s Cycle Race Association for his part in the sport’s development, and was also awarded the prestigious Volunteer Award in 2005 by British Cycling, as well as the governing body’s gold badge of honour two years ago.
Jon was diagnosed with a brain tumour in August and passed away peacefully last Friday. We offer our condolences to his family.
Israel-Premier Tech’s absence from Il Lombardia confirmed
In news that won’t come as much of a surprise, Israel-Premier Tech will not take part in Il Lombardia on Saturday.
The team’s withdrawal comes following its absence at the Italian autumn semi-classics on security grounds, amid growing pro-Palestine protests in Italy, as well as the squad’s decision to rebrand for the 2026 season, which will see it race with a new nationality and without the name ‘Israel’.
The team is still scheduled to race at three other events before the end of the season, Sunday’s Paris-Tours, the Tour of Guangxi in China, and the Japan Cup on 19 October, which looks set to be Israel-Premier Tech’s final race in its current guise.
Can anyone stop UAE Team Emirates at Il Lombardia? Mexican wonderkid Isaac del Toro mimics teammate Pogačar with dominant solo attack to ease to Gran Piemonte win
Spare a thought for UAE Team Emirates’ rivals.
Just as they’re scratching their heads, wondering how on earth Tadej Pogačar can be stopped, a new problem has emerged, in the shape of the world champion’s young, equally dominant teammate, Isaac del Toro.
The 21-year-old Mexican, who came agonisingly close to winning his debut Giro d’Italia in May, has been on scintillating form this autumn, gobbling up Italian one-day races like they’re bowl after bowl of agnolotti.
And, with Pogačar resting up ahead of his attempt to win a fifth straight Lombardia crown on Saturday, at Gran Piemonte this afternoon, Del Toro was let loose, launching a long-range Pogi-style solo attack to take his autumn Italian semi-classics tally to six wins from nine starts.
Talk about Cannibal-esque (and two of the three he didn’t win went to his teammates Pogačar and Adam Yates. Gulp).
With 20km to go, on the final time up the Castelletto d’Erro climb, Del Toro made his move. Reigning champion Neilson Powless tried to latch on to the Mexican’s wheel, but was soon forced to relent as Del Toro ploughed on, seated, across to a dangerous early move containing Bauke Mollema and Marc Hirschi.
Mollema and Hirschi managed to follow the UAE Team Emirates rider for a spell, but with just over three kilometres remaining of the climb, they simply had no answer as Del Toro stamped hard on the pedals.
😮💨 The moment that @ISAACDELTOROx1 went solo on the final climb! #GranPiemonte
He had 40 seconds to make up at the bottom of Castelletto d’Erro. By the top, Isaac was on his way to victory.
🫳🏻🎤 #WeAreUAE
📽️ @cyclingontnt pic.twitter.com/F87iRFhYpn
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) October 9, 2025
Just like his team leader has been for most of his big victories this season, Del Toro was alone, the Mexican wonderkid easing to a remarkable 15th win of what is just, remember, his second season as a professional.
40 seconds after Del Toro cruised across the line, barely breathing, acknowledging his latest groundbreaking ride with a faint smile and an understated high five, Hirschi won the sprint for second ahead of Mollema. But in reality, they were all lightyears behind UAE Team Emirates’ latest race destroyer.
“I just tried to go as fast as possible on the steepest part at the beginning of the climb. I tried to go all in, and if I blow up, I blow up!” Del Toro admitted, rather candidly, after the race, which now takes him beyond the total of 17 victories managed by Pogačar during his first two pro seasons.
“It was hectic, because there was always one rider in front until I caught Hirschi. And then I needed to try one last kick to go solo, otherwise it would be difficult to win.”
“This year so far has been better than we expected, both as a team and for myself. You have you own pressure, and you want to always be better. But this year has been super good, it’s just incredible. I know it’s not normal, but it’s unbelievable for me.”
Unbelievable – and simply unstoppable. There will surely be a sense of dread hanging over the peloton in Como on Saturday morning. Unless you’re in the white and back of UAE, that is.
“Surely there are better grounds not for banning cyclists, but for banning the delivery companies?”
The prospect of a blanket bike ban in Leeds city centre has certainly provoked quite a bit of discussion on social media and in the comments. Here’s a selection of some of your thoughts:
The little onion: “Well, surely there are better grounds not for banning cyclists, but for banning the delivery companies?
“It is their business model which incentivises dangerous motor bikes and dangerous driving/cycling. Indeed, it is hard to say that it would be a viable business if all their delivery riders/drivers obeyed all the relevant laws.”
Pub Bike: “The answer is not to ban cyclists. That is akin to banning all cars from the roads for because of drivers without insurance.
“This whole problem that is to the detriment of cyclists and pedestrians alike is because of non-existent enforcement of existing laws by councils and the police, as Birmingham City Council appears to have realised.”
Steve K: “Lots of people calling for a ban on bikes on my local high street (Sutton, in South London), again with delivery bikes being the real issue.”
Rendel Harris: “On my bike I’m about 60cm wide, or however wide I am across the shoulders; off it, pushing the bike, I’m over twice as wide and I’ll be causing congestion in the motor-traffic-free area for three times as long as if I carefully and courteously pootled through in the saddle. Doesn’t sound like common decency to me, lass, nor common sense.”
Lesterama: “I very occasionally have to use a bike as a mobility aid. I now mount this sign when I do, because of general attitudes against cycling.
“PSPOs like this really don’t help. Why not ‘ban’ illegal e-motorbikes and set a 5mph speed limit during pedestrian hours?”
Good point… Meanwhile, OnYerBike weighed in on that all-important ‘runners in the bike lane’ debate.
“Looking at that picture, I would very much be running on the pavement,” they said. “The pavement might not be perfect, but none of the defect or undulations look sufficient to really bother me. And given it appears to be a fairly busy, 40mph speed limit road, I would very much want the kerb between me and cars.
“That’s not to say that’s an absolute position. There are certainly times when I will run in the road, but it’s a matter of judgement (how bad is the pavement surface? How narrow is the pavement? Is the pavement blocked by bins/parked cars etc? How busy is the road?).
“Nothing about the road/pavement depicted makes me think I would be even considering running in the road in that situation.”
But who really knows what’s going on in the head of people who decided to run for fun?
Are runners who use cycle lanes “selfish pricks”? Cyclist’s rant about runner avoiding pavement and “forcing people on bikes into car lanes” divides opinion, as other riders say: “We shouldn’t be having a go at people who are also vulnerable to drivers”
Here’s a debate I wasn’t expecting to find on the internet this week.
This week, cyclist Will, while riding his bike on one of his local area’s delightfully unprotected cycle lanes, spotted a runner also making use of the rather inadequate infrastructure:
And Will, it’s fair to say, wasn’t too happy about it.
“Runners, if you do this, then you’re an absolutely selfish prick,” he said.
“There’s a wide pavement, but this runner uses the cycle lane, along a busy 40mph road, forcing cyclists into the car lanes. Get in the sea!”
Tell us what you really think. Will’s strident condemnation of the bike lane-availing runner has seemed to divide the cycling community on BlueSky, however.
“What cycle lane?” asked Gaz. “I see a crappy murder strip which looks to be more level than the footway. I’d use it as a reason to take the lane and give him a very wide berth.”
“Looking at the state of that footway, I can see why,” added the Ranty Highwayman, prompting Will to reply: “Only the edge undulates for driveway entrances. Most of the pavement doesn’t.”
“Even on that image I’m seeing defects,” noted Ranty. “Joggers often use the road because it’s smooth, we just don’t surface footways to the same quality unfortunately.”
Katy joined in on the scrutiny of the footpath, criticising the council for “making the pavement undulate like a mountain range for every driveway!”
“Yes, it undulates, but that doesn’t give that runner any excuse for endangering cyclists,” came Will’s response.
“Footways are often in appalling shape,” he continued. “Again, I have zero issue with runners using cycle lanes, but let’s have some give and take: DON’T wear headphones, so you can hear me calling to you, and when convenient, consider moving out of the CYCLE lane, so I can safely pass.”
Others, however, agreed with Will’s take, Mikey arguing that “there is absolutely no logical reason why the runner is doing this”, noting there appears to be “plenty of space on the pavement, and the dips aren’t that bad”.
Meanwhile, David described the runner’s choice as “not only selfish but dangerous to him, cyclists and motorists”, claiming he “has the arrogance a lot of drivers seem to possess”.
And finally, Andy called for some unity among the vulnerable road user community.
“We shouldn’t be having a go at people who are also vulnerable to drivists,” he wrote. “I also run and that pavement is far from ideal to run on. I often have to run on the road, but if I was using a crap bike lane I would go against traffic and get out the way.”
What do you reckon? Is it fine for runners to use cycle lanes when they deem the pavement to be subpar? Or should bike lanes be solely reserved for people on bikes?
“Cyclists are not the problem”: Plan to ban all bikes from city centre due to safety concerns about delivery riders on illegal e-motorbikes slammed – but locals say “anyone with common decency would get off and push!”
As we’ve seen in Grimsby, Bedford, Swindon, Maidenhead, Windsor, Birmingham, and countless other places across the UK in recent years, town centre bike bans – and their accompanying divisive debates – are all the rage these days. Literally.
And this week, Leeds decided to join in on the fun, after the Yorkshire city’s council announced that stricter measures could soon be implemented to prevent anyone from riding any kind of bike through a busy pedestrianised area… after locals raised safety concerns about delivery riders using fast, illegally modified e-motorbikes.
Leeds City Council said in a statement yesterday that the proposals were a response to the issues raised in a public survey relating to the “heavy” e-motorbikes favoured by many delivery riders on Briggate, the city centre shopping street used by approximately 1,100 cyclists and e-bike users each day.
The local authority noted that some of these 1,100 riders were using bikes which have been modified to exceed the maximum legal speed of 15.5mph for electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs), or are in fact simply high-powered electric motorbikes, which require a licence, registration, Vehicle Excise Duty, and the rider to wear an approved motorcycle helmet.
A council spokesperson said these illegal bikes potentially represent a “serious risk to pedestrian safety in the event of a collision”.
Meanwhile, in last year’s public survey, 61 per cent of respondents noted delivery riders in pedestrianised areas “negatively impacted” their experience of the city centre.
However, despite this focus on illegal e-motorbikes, Leeds’ Briggate Action Plan would make it a requirement for all cyclists to dismount and walk with their bikes on Briggate, Lands Lane, Commercial Street, Albion Place, and lower Albion Street during extended pedestrianised hours. The council has also proposed to ban street vendors from certain areas within these streets.
According to the plans, which will soon be considered by councillors, anyone breaching the restrictions on cycling and street selling will be given a fixed penalty notice (which, as we’ve seen in Grimsby, could rake in quite a bit of money for the council).
“Briggate in particular is one of the city’s retail crown jewels and we want to do all we can to ensure it remains an attractive, appealing, and above all safe destination,” Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development, said in a statement.
“These proposals are designed to be a starting point and an important opportunity to bring about some changes in the city centre in light of issues the public have raised with us.”
However, the plans haven’t gone down too well with the city’s cyclists, who claim a blanket ban on cycling will fail to tackle the problem of dangerous e-motorbike users, as well as discriminating against those who use their bike as a mobility aid.
“Cyclists are not the problem, it’s the unregulated chipped e-bikes and e-scooters that are the problem, not only in Leeds but elsewhere,” said BBC reader Pepperoni.
“Think it’s time to take action against stores and outlets that sell them as well as the people that use them illegally on roads and pavements.”
“These illegal e-bikes (motorbikes) are also a danger to cyclists,” noted Andy Cole (who I’m assuming isn’t the former Manchester United forward).
“Birmingham recently dropped their proposed PSPO for cycling as with pressure, they realised they just had to work with police to enforce existing legislation around these illegal e-motorbikes (not e-bikes),” added Martin.
“Cycle ban PSPOs exclude people who rely on cycling as a mobility aid to get around and don’t actually tackle the root problem.”
Meanwhile, Mzungo wrote: “Realistically, most cyclists can coexist with most pedestrians, and there would be minimal prompt for this proposal without the proliferation of [e-motorbikes]. Focus on them, and the problem goes away.”
“E-bikes that go faster than 15.5 mph are classed as motorcycles, not bikes,” added Jaxom, who reckons better infrastructure is key to making cities safer for all vulnerable road users.
“They need to be only allowed on the roads allowed by motorcycles. Decent cycle lanes around the city centre that works to keep both cyclists and pedestrians safe would help.”
That sentiment was echoed by MeHere, who said: “I ride my bike to work in Leeds city centre. Roads into the city are fine for bike riders, but once you get there it’s a nightmare.
“Cyclists having to fend off buses, especially on Boar Lane, no wonder some ride on the path. Leeds City Council needs to extend the cycle lanes into city centre more. I do agree with banning the Uber riders from pavements.”
Of course, I mentioned earlier that these debates are pretty divisive. As Red noted on social media: “Cue the rabid tirade of hate for cyclists by incredibly conscientious motorists that are model citizens and do everything perfectly…”
Deep breath, everyone…
“Great in theory, but who is going to police it?” Rob said, after learning of the plans. “The cyclists whizz around the city centre breaching all the rules and don’t care about the pedestrians, street signs etc.”
And Simon said he was “sick of having to look out for bikes doing ridiculous speeds when I’m walking in the town centre. Cyclists should be on the road or on cycle paths, full stop.”
Dave was somewhat more balanced, writing: “Blanket bans will only stop the cyclists that are careful and considerate. Because they follow the rules. The ones abusing the use of the zone will keep doing it. As without any kind of enforcement available then it’s not going to stop them.”
Darren, on the other hand, was not so balanced: “Shouldn’t be any kind of vehicle on streets other than disability ones, scooters, wheelchairs and whatnot.
“But no bicycle of any kind should be on any kind of walkway or in streets.” Even ones used as mobility aids, Darren?
And finally, Justine concluded: “Those of us with common decency who ride bikes in town would automatically get off and push!!!!”
Welcome to the PSPO debating club, Leeds…
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If the human life lost had been a black teenager nipping around on a bike or scooter, rather than a middle aged male school teacher cycling home, I do think the comments on the Telegraph, Mail etc websites would have been different.
@smallbeer yeah, the pics do rather suggest that! When lit, and especially in lower lighting conditions, the light emitted is definitely red, not orange
Good article. I won't hold my breath. I wonder how many of us have to be murdered like this for the empathy to become permanent?
Please amend this bit: "Christie continued to follow the victim, and the van hit the back wheel of the bike..." to something like "Christie continued to follow the victim, and hit the back wheel of the bike with the front of the van..."
What a sad last sentence, that unfortunately, most of us on here agree with.
Bunchery noted! 😄 To be honest I know nothing about the park in question. I only have experience of C lanes, or lack of, in Yorkshire & I dont often cycle much more than a few miles - town centre & back, which are part cycle laned. On other routes I rarely see cyclists although one longer route than mine has a good number of users. I recently cycled a dozen miles from another city & there were no cycle lanes (on the most direct A road route) until I got within about a 1/4 mile of the centre & they stop about a mile plus from home, so only of limited use on that ride. I doubt any type of lane will be used by the I'm all right Jacks, who suit themselves no matter what, I might at times even be one... I think there are no cars allowed in the park (?) so I'd hope any lane paint would last a few years of only bikes & shoe wear. But its not a panacea, we still have human foibles to deal with. I dont know what "rep" the park has, is it dodgy at night? Will any of the proposals solve that if users feel unsafe there? It takes time for changes / "improvements" to take effect.
I have just seen Vitality's new ad called 'your health best friend' and disappointed to see it play on the old 'rude, shouting MAMIL' trope, and ends with them getting their 'comeuppance' and crashing over a wall. Odd choice to villainise part of your target audience, even if someone in marketing thinks it's funny?
'3 years in prison for TikTok-distracted driver who paralysed cyclist' But cycling mikey is abhored and chastised for reporting drivers who do exactly that. He should be given a medal.
'Sarah Whitebread, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Cycling UK, said: “That mindset has contributed to dangerous and careless drivers reducing or even avoiding disqualification through claims of ‘exceptional hardship’. Speeding, driving while exhausted or passing dangerously close to someone aren’t harmless slip-ups, they are decisions that can leave families grieving.' Took the words out of my mouth. Motornormativity is so deeply embedded in our society that even killing someone with a car can be excused. A perfect example is: 'John Rice, described as a man of both “exemplary” character and community standing as well as a man with historic speeding offences.......' You can't have an exemplary character and break the law: unless it's only crimes committed while driving. Putting other people's lives at risk is utterly unacceptable: unless you're driving. How can you have 'community standing' when you disrespect everyone in that community and deliberately put their lives at risk? We need a massive change in our society, to make dangerous driving socially unacceptable, which would make the changes to smoking look like a walk in the park. How can we make dangerous driving be viewed as bad by the majority of the population?
@kil0ran Agreed very pointless to say "You're now banned from driving.". I've often asked: How can someone be told they are "banned" from doing something (ie driving which requires a licence) when they weren't qualified (passed a test and obtained a licence)...? The individual will themselves know that they shouldn't have been driving as they didn't have a licence so a ban is not worth the paper it is written on, as shown by how many continue to illegally drive afterwards anyway.
37 thoughts on ““Cyclists are not the problem”: Plan to ban all bikes from city centre due to safety concerns about delivery riders on illegal e-motorbikes slammed – but locals say “anyone with common decency would get off and push!” + more on the live blog”
I very occasionally have to
I very occasionally have to use a bike as a mobility aid. I now mount this sign when I do, because of general attitudes against cycling.
PSPOs like this really don’t help. Why not ‘ban’ illegal e-motorbikes and set a 5mph speed limit during pedestrian hours?
Problem is that currently in
Problem is that currently in law you don’t have a leg to stand on. There is a campaign:
Lots of people calling for a
Lots of people calling for a ban on bikes on my local high street (Sutton, in South London) – again with delivery bikes being the real issue.
It’s a “talking point”… I
“real issue” – It’s a “talking point”… I don’t know about London but in Edinburgh there are certainly lots of these, not all ridden with the greatest care, but so far I’ve not witnessed a single collision. I’m aware of one, from the local media, apparently causing injury though.
Of course I haven’t looked very hard – and certainly the delivery folks haven’t undergone extensive vetting and training. And we all know that real life-and-death issues can be largely ignored by the media…
But sometimes I wonder if we should even let this “problem” chat get started? (Of course “we” don’t have a choice – plenty of people are saying it’s a “major issue” regardless of the scale of impact and to what).
And I’m not in favour of electric things being used illegally any more than I am what are basically “companies who made an app” and sucked up a bunch of venture capital funding gaming the rules (look ma, no employees) and outsourcing risk and responsibilities on the public…
Who is to blame –
Who is to blame – overspeeding delivery riders on illegal electric machines or hungry customers who can’t get their sushis and falafels fast enough?
road.cc wrote:
“They need to be only allowed on the roads allowed by motorcycles.”
— road.ccActually they are not legally allowed on the roads either because as stated above they don’t have a
The answer is not to ban cyclists. That is akin to banning all cars from the roads for because of drivers without insurance.
This whole problem that is to the detriment of cyclists and pedestrians alike is because of non-existent enforcement of existing laws by councils and the police*, as Birmingham City Council appears to have realised.
*”Yeah it’s a terrible problem but there’s nothing much we can really do” said every policeman in the country.
Pub bike wrote:
If only there was some way to predict where you might find these law breakers!
Or perhaps a way to attract them to a location where you have a police presence?
Maybe the solution is to test the police and sack any of them with less than two brain cells although with no police we really would have anarchy!
Well, surely there is better
Well, surely there is better grounds not for banning cyclists, but for banning the delivery companies? It is their business model which incentivises dangerous motor bikes and dangerous driving/cycling. Indeed, it is hard to say that it woudl be a viable business if all their delivery riders/drivers obeyed all the relevant laws.
P.s. worth pointing out that
P.s. worth pointing out that there was a collision between an illegal electric motorbike rider and a cyclist, in which the cyclist died, just a few hundred metres away from these pedestrianised streets.
Ignore the headline about ‘e-bike’, as the article makes clear, it was not a legal EAPC.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30dqdezv8no
I suppose everyone is
I suppose everyone is entitled to a defence, but I don’t know how anyone can defend that, ‘its OK because he wasn’t going fast’, fast enough to kill somebody who I suspect was in reasonably good health!
Is that snap of Museeuw taken
Is that snap of Museeuw taken in urinals?
It’s Roubaix where the plaque
It’s Roubaix where the plaque with the winners name is fixed to one of the shower ‘cubicles’.
It’s Roubaix where the plaque
Deleted, duplication
Quote:
Right now it’s the stretch of footway where a dodgy surface sent me sprawling half way through my weekend run and left me hobbling round the house with a gashed knee – fair to say I have some sympathy with the bike lane user in the other story…
RE running in the road:
RE running in the road:
Looking at that picture, I would very much be running on the pavement. The pavement might not be perfect, but none of the defect or undulations look sufficient to really bother me. And given it appears to be a fairly busy, 40mph speed limit road, I would very much want the kerb between me and cars.
That’s not to say that’s an absolute position. There are certainly times when I will run in the road, but it’s a matter of judgement (how bad is the pavement surface? How narrow is the pavement? Is the pavement blocked by bins/parked cars etc? How busy is the road? Etc.). Nothing about the road/pavement depicted makes me think I would be even considering running in the road in that situation.
Ive seen it done though, I
Ive seen it done though, I think i ride across a park run trail in my commute that the local runners use as a training loop and they’ll be in the road, in the cycle lanes, on the cycle paths, they’ll even run in the cycle lane towards oncoming traffic. All whilst there’s actually a pavement or path they could use. And sure I get it, paths arent even, driveways are up/down etc, they could turn an ankle, or maybe are protecting a foot injury, but im not a great fan of it for sure, especially when most of them carry a couple of chips on their shoulders when they do encounter cyclists using cycling facilities.
“London bus crashes into taxi
“London bus crashes into taxi and dental clinic“
Aside from the usual wrong language in the article, the position the taxi driver takes, completely on the bike box and front right wheel over the line needs to be reported.
If whoever recorded the clip can state when it took place.
And it will be interesting to see the results of the police investigation.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cjw7e9jn4d1o
The clip appears to be a
The clip appears to be a phone video of the original video playing on another screen, so the poster may (a) not know when it took place because they weren’t present, or (b) be deliberately trying to obscure their identity so unlikely to want to.
The clip i saw, I think there
The clip i saw, I think there are better copies on social media, there doesn’t appear to be a bus driver at the end of it, so either it was parking brake off, or driver medical incident. The taxi driver had apparently done a u-turn to end up where he was, of course he is free to enter the ASL if the light was green…
Justine wrote:
On my bike I’m about 60cm wide, or however wide I am across the shoulders; off it, pushing the bike, I’m over twice as wide and I’ll be causing congestion in the motor-traffic-free area for three times as long as if I carefully and courteously pootled through in the saddle. Doesn’t sound like common decency to me, lass, nor common sense.
Also, when wheeling a bike
Also, when wheeling a bike others have no protection from the protruding parts such as handlebars and pedals which would normally be covered by the cyclists body when mounted.
Telegraph: “… it’s a matter
Telegraph: “… it’s a matter of time before they kill someone…”
Surely, as responsible “journalists”, they’ve trawled historical records to find out the last time that happened…?
Not forgetting the BBC, when reporting on the Charlie Alliston case, citing only TWO previous incidents…
Which happened 6 and 2 YEARS prior to CA’s… IIRC.
They can try to hold their breath until it does happen.
Or they can hold their breath until someone dies due to dangerous driving.
I wonder which will happen sooner…
Similarly is also said that
Similarly is also said that it is only a matter of time before a collection of monkeys with a typewriter (tablet nowadays?) spews out the entire works of Shakespeare. Death by dangerous driving (although obviously downgraded to careless driving by the time it gets to sentencing due to our cr&p legal system) is much more of a certainty as you point out.
“The local authority noted
“The local authority noted that some of these 1,100 riders were using bikes which have been modified to exceed the maximum legal speed of 15.5mph for electrically assisted pedal cycles…….”
Very wise. I’m sure that they’ll also be banning from local roads any cars that can go faster than the speed limit of 70mph.
Are runners who use cycle
Are runners who use cycle lanes “selfish pricks”?
I don’t know, but if they then criticise cyclists for riding on the pavement, they’re hypocrites.
“According to the plans,
“According to the plans, which will soon be considered by councillors, anyone breaching the restrictions on cycling and street selling will be given a fixed penalty notice”
A ban on pedalling and peddling?
Simon wrote:
I’m not a fan of illegal motorbikes, or the apparent lawlessness generated by the pressures placed on HFTA couriers, or the slopey-shoulder attitude of the courier companies describing them as self-employed; and I accept this comment is slightly tangential to the main issue…
But I do see anti-cycling comments from a pedestrian perspective which, while acknowledging the relevant part of the hierarchy as set out in H1-H2, seems to ignore the longer-standing rule 1:
Clearly cyclists should be using legal cycles and be doing so considerately and with due regard for the priority of others.
But that pedestrian priority does not mean you don’t have a duty to take a careful interest in the world around you.
That also extends to the concerns pedestrians have about being surprised by cyclists coming up behind, with or without a bell… you shouldn’t be surprised by them if you are taking an appropriate interest in your surroundings.
A pedestrian can be
A pedestrian can be unpleasantly surprised by a cyclist’s bell even the cyclist is going at the same speed as the pedestrian but moving noticed behind them.
I’ve heard being noticed is why some motorcyclists fit “loud pipes“.
Maybe on shared use paths some kind of continuous noise generator is needed for bicycles just like with electric cars? Could link it to a speed sensor? Ducati anyone?
Edit: This has been discussed here before.
Pub bike wrote:
In my experience a few pedestrians are shocked / outraged by *any* kind of bike “in their space” * – even when that’s clearly marked with signs as shared use. No matter how you announce yourself (or don’t).
I have some sympathy – ultimately much of the issue is down to not having space for cycling distinct from walking (probably done like the Dutch). Plus a measure of “feral kids / criminal youth threatening people when riding bikes / motorbikes”.
Anyway as for “alerting people” while that is insoluble in general (because motor vehicle road noise / headphones / deafness) I consider it solved for other situations:
https://m.facebook.com/Trotify/
* I can’t recall any mobility-vehicle-stand-offs but I imagine they happen too.
For some reason, that
For some reason, that contrived offence anecdotally seems to have some correlatino with walking a dog – or being in the same vicinity as your dog off a lead or on an extendable lead. The notion that they have some responsibility in how the space is shared never seems to occur to them.
Bicycle ‘loud pipes’ isn’t the answer. We do not need more noise in either urban or rural environments. Noise is a significant contributor towards stress levels, and it is a benefit of cycling that it is largely noise-free.
What is needed is for more cyclists to appreciate an intentional approach to alerting others of their presence at the right time, and a growing realisation that walking means taking an interest in your surroundings, for road safety, personal safety and general appreciation of your environment.
I quote agree on noise (of
I quite agree on noise (of which an awful lot of that we’re exposed to in urban areas is road noise).
Good lord – you’re not hoping for *behaviour change* from humans? Certainly not in the absence of some major changes in the risk/reward landscape – and in our streetscapes that’s basically going to be “appearance of something more dangerous than cars” or “infra changes”…
(That’s how I think the Dutch system has come to be – there’s the pull of “pedestrians and cyclists have their own infra that’s more convenient for their chosen mode”. But also the push of “once there are enough cyclists they’ll effectively bully pedestrians out of the cycle path, in a similar way to how riding on the footway will soon land you in an argument or worse”. Stable systems are maintained via positive and negative feedback).
Trotify makes a great noise
Trotify makes a great noise but it isn’t compatible with a front mudguard by the looks of it.
Maybe something like this Growler grip could be adapted?
Not so pleasant? Now I’m
Not so pleasant? Now I’m thinking … a harmonium is often pedal-powered, could that be adapted? And uillean pipes also just need bellows… Replace the handlebar with a strengthened chanter … you could keep the elbow-operation method as a security feature to deter theft, like removing an EAPC battery.
Not “loud pipes” – that would be the GHB… https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e_8sKhYuTIo
Pedal-powered bagpipes it is
Pedal-powered bagpipes it is then.
Q: Do most people hate bagpipes?
A: (Google AI Overview) No, not most people hate bagpipes, but their divisive sound and association with certain events lead to strong opinions on both sides. Reasons for dislike often cite the loud, droning, and sometimes “grating” sound, but many people love them for their emotional, cultural, and patriotic significance.
So, instead of enforcing the
So, instead of enforcing the laws that exist, regarding illegally modified e-bikes, let’s introduce more laws that penalises non-offenders but which the current offenders are likely to ignore ( because they’re already ignoring the laws)
End result – the problem isn’t solved, but innocent people are affected.
This “don’t enforce existing laws, but introduce new laws to placate the complainers” trend is happening in other scenarios, too, and is just lazy, ineffective administration .
belugabob wrote:
Phew!
The latter part is basically the “money laundering regulations” – don’t really impede criminals (especially the big fish) or dodgy foreign politicians, but do impose a non-trivial burden on everyone else… but “something has been done” and now quite a few people have jobs making others jump through the hoops. (And is a productive area of (meta) law – complexity will continue to grow).
Hooray!
Two swans brought gridlock to
Two swans brought gridlock to the motorway:
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/live-swans-cause-m5-motorway-10564258