British Cycling has now removed a section of its guidance for the period of National Mourning that “strongly recommended” all cyclists around the UK avoid riding during the Queen’s funeral and procession. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has also advised cyclists to avoid closed road areas in London.
In British Cycling’s original article on guidance for the Period of National Mourning, it stated: “As a mark of respect to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, British Cycling’s guidance is that no formal domestic activities should take place on the day of the State Funeral, Monday 19 September. This includes cycle sport events, club rides, coaching sessions and community programmes (such as Breeze rides).
“British Cycling strongly recommends that anybody out riding their bike on the day of the State Funeral does so outside of the timings of the funeral service and associated processions, which will be confirmed later this week. Once published, we will share the details of those timings on this page.
“As the day of the State Funeral has been designated as a national bank holiday, in line with many other employers British Cycling will close for the day.”
…however, the whole section titled ‘Events and activities on the day of the State Funeral’ has now been amended, with the new paragraph stating: “The date and time of the State Funeral will be confirmed in due course. British Cycling will provide further information on the implications for events and activities due to take place on this day once those details have been published.”
The exact reasoning for British Cycling’s original advice for its members not to ride during the funeral service and processions nationwide is unclear, with some even speculating on social media that cyclists could be faced with hostility from other members of the public. road.cc has asked British Cycling for comment.
Arrangements in London: what does it mean for cyclists?
Parts of London are completely closed to motor vehicles as well as bicycles as Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is taken from to Buckingham Palace and then to Westminster Hall where she will lie in state for four days.
People from all over the UK and beyond have been flocking to London to join the huge queue to see the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, where she will lie in Westminster Hall.
This has meant that various roads around Westminster and Buckingham Palace will be/are closed to cars with a huge police presence throughout the capital as forces have been asked to send officers from all over the country.
Transport for London (TfL) advises people to follow the Metropolitan Police Event Twitter feed (@MetPoliceEvents) but specifically stated about cyclists saying:
“Avoid the roads that are closed to motor traffic and use alternatives if possible. Central London will be very busy. It may be too crowded to cycle in some areas.
“Follow the instructions of stewards and police – you may need to dismount and walk at times.
“Cycleway 3 is suspended between Duke of Wellington Place and Northumberland Avenue. Follow the signed diversion.
“Some Santander Cycle Hire docking stations around Green Park, St James’s Park, Whitehall and Westminster will be closed. Check before you travel using the live Santander Cycle docking station map. Download the Santander Cycles app from the App Store or Google Play.”
The Met Police Events Twitter feed is sharing what roads and areas are closed to vehicles every day, with a map showing what areas are closed highlighted in purple.
Today’s closures (Tuesday September 13) are shown below.
ROAD CLOSURES: Tuesday 13:
The following road closures will be in place from around 7am, where there will be no access for vehicles and cycles.
There is pedestrian access only. Bicycles can be pushed but not ridden within the zone. pic.twitter.com/c2OX3Eqtzh
— Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) September 13, 2022
You may walk your bike through if you absolutely need to go through these closed areas, but queues are expected to be multiple miles long with people having joined the queue as early as yesterday. Crowds will be large and it’s expected that it will take a long time to walk through.
The late Queen will be lying in state in Westminster Hall for four days before being taken to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral that will take place on Monday September 19.
We will update further on this article and on our live blog as more information comes in, and we’ve asked British Cycling for further comment on its advice.
109 thoughts on “British Cycling removes advice telling members not to ride during funeral for Queen Elizabeth II”
Also the CS3 diversion around
Also the CS3 diversion around Green Park etc isnt that great apparently.
https://twitter.com/jimfrayling/status/1569587618219790342?s=12&t=iZyc8V6LGCLdWameOW2tQw
Also a mate of mine did another alternative route avoiding Constituion Hill today and summed it up on Strava as “Many Cars on it”
Bollocks to that, I’ll be
Bollocks to that, I’ll be taking advantage of the quiet roads. All this has already messed up my Tour of Britain weekend. Having had relatives die and not be able to attend their funerals due to COVID lockdowns I’m not about to waste two hours of my life watching hers.
“In British Cycling’s period
I going out for a ride no matter what although I am going to stay away from any group of “sheep” who want to mark this £6 Billion event.
Just think how many operations that would pay for!
No, that’s not what they’re
No, that’s not what they’re saying but it’s certainly how the headline makes it sound.
They’re recommending people refrain from cycling in the affected areas of London.
Thanks, I re-read it and
Thanks, I re-read it and noted the “and” so edited my post.
Still going out for a ride no matter what.
Here’s the exact wording on
Here’s the exact wording on the BC website.
“Events and activities on the day of the State Funeral
“As a mark of respect to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, British Cycling’s guidance is that no formal domestic activities should take place on the day of the State Funeral, Monday 19 September. This includes cycle sport events, club rides, coaching sessions and community programmes (such as Breeze rides).
“British Cycling strongly recommends that anybody out riding their bike on the day of the State Funeral does so outside of the timings of the funeral service and associated processions, which will be confirmed later this week. Once published, we will share the details of those timings on this page.”
What a load of cock.
What a load of cock.
I’m confused. Is British
I’m confused. Is British Cycling only refering to London, or are they suggesting that all UK cyclists shouldn’t go out during the funeral?
Personally I’d have thought a wide-reaching, national event that keeps half the population indoors, glued to their TV screens would create the safest conditions for cycling on UK roads in living memory. I was planning on going for a ride exactly during the timings of the funeral and associated processions.
As the Queen was patron of
As the Queen was patron of Cycling UK I think that a long ride on quiet roads would be a good way of commemorating her service to our sport.
IanMK wrote:
“sport”?
I know, the moment I posted I
I know, the moment I posted I didn’t like it, but I didn’t want to overthink it.
sheridan wrote:
“sport”?— IanMK
Not my sport.
My non-safe-for-work response
My non-safe-for-work response if they’re really saying don’t ride your bike anywhere during Brenda’s funeral:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK_a11bkPyk
It makes sense (IMO) not to
It makes sense (IMO) not to ride a bike around the closed roads in central London during that event, but I’m not sure about “strongly recommends that anybody out riding their bike on the day of the State Funeral does so outside of the timings of the funeral service and associated processions, which will be confirmed later this week.” Will we get stoned by furious Royalists or something?
The twitter responses to this
The twitter responses to this are great.
https://twitter.com/BritishCycling/status/1569673211188584449
Personally I am planning a road ride on the Monday morning. Should be lovely and quiet. I wouldn’t watch the funeral even if I stayed in.
Well the one about cyclists
Well the one about cyclists always wear black so can cycle where they like was amusing in the context at least
I am hoping the weather is
I am hoping the weather is suitable for my most vibrant, fluorescent full on MAMIL gear.
That tweet has since
That tweet has since disappeared.
But British Cycling can go f**k themselves with that attitude. It’s a piss-poor organisation that exists almost exclusively for elite cyclists. They take a chunk of every event entry fee while providing truly pathetic support (if you can call it that) for grassroots sport at club / regional level.
Cycling UK is miles ahead as a campaigning body and always has been. If you want to buy membership one of the other then I’d choose CUK every time (I’m currently a member of both).
I have not been mourning and will not be mourning.
Jack Thurston tweeted this from the official “National Mourning Guidance”
Definitely looking forward to
Definitely looking forward to a ride out on Monday
Bonkers. I am not anti
Bonkers. I am not anti monarchy but it does seem to me that the UK and BC is losing perspective.
If it was advice for Central
If it was advice for Central London then okay…..but it appeared to be Nationwide….
well they won’t find me in the back of beyond on Bridleways, Byways and Tracks….
Perfect time to get out on
Perfect time to get out on the bike whilst everyone else is watching funeral, may even dust off the road bike!
This is pretty chilling
This is pretty chilling either way, either it suggests that BC thinks there is a danger that people going out cycling during the funeral will face threats of violence (which begs the question, wouldn’t anybody who felt strongly enough to threaten violence be indoors watching the funeral?) or the organisation is telling its members that they should not ride out of respect, in which case that’s way outside their remit. As a member, I shall be seeking clarification (hoping that road.cc save me the trouble); if they really are telling their members not to ride because of what BC believes is respectful or otherwise then Cycling UK gets my membership buck next year, I’m with them for the third party insurance, not for lectures about how I should behave.
It is the final straw for me,
It is the final straw for me, I will cancel the DD for BC membership and switch to UK Cycling for my insurance. Their campaigning is much more relevant to real cyclists these days.
It is a double whammy if you
It is a double whammy if you want to go to Centre Parcs and ride your bike on Monday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62893476
“British Cycling strongly
“British Cycling strongly recommends that anybody out riding their bike on the day of the State Funeral does so outside of the timings of the funeral service and associated processions, which will be confirmed later this week.”
Utterly absurd, complete twaddle and well beyond their remit. This is just pandering to the jingoistic populist patriotic DM reading elements in society and will gain absolutely no respect from anyone. The queen was the patron of Cycling UK and they have made no such comment, so I’m grateful I’m a member of them, not BC.
Has the RAC or AA suggested that nobody drive at those times?
Dunno, but if you were out
Dunno, but if you were out walking your dog – bonus for ones with double coat and short legs – might you get a pass?
well the guidance, and
well the guidance, and remember thats all it was…guidance as in advice or information, has already been updated to remove the controversial part, so feel free to ride to your hearts content on Monday and not feel you are simply ignoring BCs advice.
Has this become the state
Has this become the state funeral of Kim Jong-Windsor? Are we to show absolute reverance with wailing and self-flagellation the only activities allowed on Monday?
When my grandkids ask me in 30 years time what the Queens funeral was like I’ll have to tell them people really lost their sh1t in what became the grief olympics.
I’ll be kicking the tits out
I’ll be kicking the tits out of the quiet roads on Monday.
I’m willing to bet the trails on Cannock Chase will be rammed too.
Yup. You won’t be able to buy
Yup. You won’t be able to buy a Snickers bar within a hundred mile radius.
The metropolitan Police say
The metropolitan Police say “the Queen’s coffin will be lying in state…” Technically I think it’s the Queen whose lying in state, not the coffin.
“As a mark of respect to Her
“As a mark of respect to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, British Cycling’s guidance is…”
How is not going out on your bike ‘a mark of respect’? Or going out on your bike disrespectful? It might be your way of showing respect for all these apparently deluded arrogant people know. Who the hell do they think they are to issue ‘guidance’ about or ‘strongly recommend’ anything at all about what other people do in their own time? Or issue their dim self-righteous opinions about what is and isn’t showing respect? Or who to show respect to, and when, and how? Grrrrrr
You know what u can do with
You know what u can do with your advisory notes
ON YER BIKE .
Quote:
Surely anyone who might be hostile to cyclists riding at the time of the funeral will themselves be inside watching the funeral, so unaware of any cyclists out and about?
Steve K wrote:
That’s what I thought at first but on reflection there will still be people who don’t have the BH off who’ll be working or travelling to work who might be resentful towards cyclists being on the road for leisure when, in their opinion, they should be inside.
Steve K wrote:
Exactly what I was thinking, surely it will be an ideal time to get out on the bike as the roads should be quiter than usual
Like getting out during a
Like getting out during a world cup final.
ktache wrote:
Yep – this was Euros semi-final last year… no traffic, but it did piss down as I recall.
I will be cycling AND paying
I will be cycling AND paying my respects at the same time.
I’m going to put gin & tonic in my water bottle; it’s what she would have wanted.
I hope you’re not just
I hope you’re not just blindly following the herd? Trusting you also celebrated the late Duke appropriately e.g. by trolling a Commonweath dignitary then rolling a land rover.
panda wrote:
That’s a disgraceful remark and I’m shocked to hear that you think it appropriate. Everyone knows HLMQ favoured gin and Dubonnet.
I’m cycling to the dentist!
I’m cycling to the dentist!
hirsute wrote:
The dentist is open? Have they no respect?
Mind you, viewing the UK from abroad right now and the amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth, they’ve probably got their work cut out …
Simon_MacMichael wrote:
They’re open but only doing crowns…
(No subject)
Am I supposed to be
Am I supposed to be encouraged to join BC? I’m not currently a member.
This is all a bit mad.
We truly have become a state
We truly have become a state in the mould of north korea, the main stream media have gone into ecstacy with their love fest for this firm. What of the masses of folk who don’t think that way who don’t subscribe to this soap opera. As has been said can u imagine the bill for this, this from a family who are rolling in it and yet again the tax payer ie working folk will be shafted for this. I’ll be riding as I have most of this period avoiding any of this royalist propaganda
It couldn’t get more Soviet.
It couldn’t get more Soviet. A privileged, unelected head of state. A fawning and ubiquitous media. Days and days of official ‘mourning’. An unelected successor. I suppose at least in the Soviet Union the leaders, though unelected, weren’t born into it. So they had to do some work and put a bit of effort into getting there.
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
Hardly. It’s not as if people have to rely on food banks and get arrested for shouting their opinion in the street…
And assaulted by ‘security’
And assaulted by ‘security’ guards.
hawkinspeter wrote:
It’s not as if people are getting arrested for intending to write on a blank piece of paper…
They aren’t though.
They aren’t though.
Maybe not arrested, but being
Maybe not arrested, but being ‘warned’ by the police for holding up a blank sheet of paper isn’t (I imagine) a fun experience either…
The warning was about what
The warning was about what might be written.
Anyhow the left wing corbynista, anti EU, anti Tory mob correctly predicted the police would misuse their powers.
.
Probably some echo chamber
.
hirsute wrote:
Don’t tell whoever the Home Secretary is this week! They’ll want to start banning pens, pencils, and paper. You know, just in case…
Having been the worst AG ever
Having been the worst AG ever, I’m sure she has all the attributes to be the worst ever Home Secretary.
Of course exceeded in terms
Of course exceeded in terms of “large numbers of deaths” by Baron Goldsmith but it seems lots of people had some real issues with her. Not informed enough myself to judge.
Oh, so it’s her, is it?
Oh, so it’s her, is it? Suella Braverman, the definitely independent and unbiased former Attorney General.
Mind you, ” worst ever Home Secretary” is a very low bar…
Be thankful they didnt
Be thankful they didnt declare the area under a Section 60, or are using a Section 27, though the alcohol part might be trickier to back up, or just strictly enforced a local PSPO as most towns/cities centres have those declared already.
Not convinced the general public quite appreciate the full range of powers the police have in these situations.
Police could simply declare
Agree about people not appreciating just how little “normal rights” (or even human rights) you may have if you’re in the way. Police could also simply declare they’re doing something undercover “in the national interest” – they can then “legally break the law” in some ways people might find startling.
Of course, the police were doing this before anyway (just one example) and it didn’t stop them then or result in much accountability when this came to light.
Just for you brooksby
Just for you brooksby
https://twitter.com/coldwarsteve/status/1569784476082765824
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
— BIRMINGHAMisaDUMPIt’s the height of nepotism, Charles just gets handed the kingship without any competition.
“Communism” surely? We could
“Communism” surely? We could have had a competitive tendering process, leading to the role being awarded to the most attractive bid (Capita). Suppressing the free market is stifling innovation. We should adopt the American model (Megan).
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
“a bit of effort”. Brown paper envelopes, promises of lucrative state contracts, and all that organising of people falling out of windows…
brooksby wrote:
Russians falling out of windows never goes out of style, as I remind my Russian friends every time it happens to one of Putins apparently very clumsy enemies. After they have ranted a little about western propaganda I usually ask “why did you move here again, I forget?” ?
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
north korea on the other hand…., but of course while Charles is King due to birth, we all know the country is run by the PM and government
and is not a dictatorshipI’m pretty sure British
I’m pretty sure British Cycling are doing the old reverse psychology there
I’m looking forward to the
I’m looking forward to the RAC’s “guidance” telling motorists not to drive.
This was very stupid ‘advice’
This was very stupid ‘advice’, and I certainly wouldn’t have paid any attention to it- whether it’s revised or not. The comment below about there being no advice to people not to drive summarises the foolishness of the idea.
‘As a mark of respect to Her
‘As a mark of respect to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, British Cycling’s guidance is that no formal domestic activities should take place on the day of the State Funeral, Monday 19 September. This includes cycle sport events, club rides, coaching sessions and community programmes (such as Breeze rides)’.. seems sound advice to me; how you could conflate formal cycling events with commuter cycling is beyond me.
Try reading the article and
Try reading the article and paying attention to the word ‘removed’.
No one’s conflated anything.
No one’s conflated anything. The original (since revised) advice was for no one in the UK to ride a bike during the hours of the funeral. This includes someone popping out for a quick 10 mile loop or someone cycling to work.
I’m doing a hundred miler on
I’m doing a hundred miler on Monday. It’s what maj would’ve wanted…..
When the Bank Holiday was
When the Bank Holiday was announced, the first thing that occurred to me was that it would be a perfect day for a nice long run!
I had the ride of my life
I had the ride of my life during Diana’s funeral, so good luck.
I was alone on the roads.
If people want to worship the
If people want to worship the Royal family, they are perfectly entitled to do so, but there is no need to ram it down everybody elses throats.
I will be doing my best to avoid coverage of the funeral and that will either mean a bike ride or a hike up in the hills, with a pint along the way as some of the local pubs will be open.
I mourn my own family and close friends deaths but not anyone else and definately not any celebrities, they have their own family for that.
yupiteru wrote:
Quite right, I don’t recall the Kastom of Yaohnanen and Yakel taking over the media for days after Phillip died.
Not cycling in central London
Not cycling in central London or driving into London during the time of the funeral makes sense. But otherwise…
To a degree I get it. I’m
To a degree I get it. I’m aware of a cycle clothing company that was contacted during lockdown by angry citizens, questioning why people were still cycling around in a lockdown (in the brand’s clothing)… what were the company going to do to educate their customers of the need to stick to the lockdown rules and not cycle?
Don’t be surprised at how certain, vocal people can turn any situation into an opportunity to bash cyclists/cycling, and I can understand why BC wanted to be seen to be discouraging potentially inflammatory activities.
Personally speaking, I say balls to cow-toeing to the knuckle-dusters! If I’m losing a days wages for her majesty, I’m at least going to enjoy my forced day off.
Jimmy Ray Will wrote:
I thought I’d heard of most perversions, but that’s a new one on me. I’d ask for a description, but it might be too graphic on road.cc
For the last 6 days of
For the last 6 days of blanket coverage and other acts of mania, many of us have been stating that there is difference between paying respects and virtue signalling hysteria.
The Metropolitan Police have
The Metropolitan Police have today issued a stark warning that until the public attains a higher standard of respectful mourning, heavy-handed arrests will continue to be made.
https://newsthump.com/2022/09/14/arrests-will-continue-until-mourning-improves-warn-police/
hirsute wrote:
That’s so weird – I had always thought that Newsthump was a satirical website.
brooksby wrote:
satire is no longer possible, the world of politics is too messed up to be able to exagerate any more.
hirsute wrote:
That’s the exact opposite of what Khan said on Radio 4 this morning.
But you just carry on repeating the cheap headlines of some online rag that gets its news from Twitter as fact.
<WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH>
In other news
https://newsthump.com/2022/09/15/nation-stunned-after-paddington-reveals-he-is-an-anti-monarchist/
Also https://newsthump.com
Also https://newsthump.com/2022/09/13/police-make-moving-tribute-to-the-queen-by-burying-the-nations-civil-liberties-alongside-her/
Coppers from Edinburgh to Westminster have moved the nation with their thoughtful and touching initiative to make sure the freedoms associated with the Queen’s life will be gently laid to rest over her coffin to accompany her into the afterlife.
I’ll raise you with
I’ll raise you with
https://newsthump.com/2022/09/16/yeah-that-queue-is-a-bit-too-long-now-admit-the-proclaimers/
Careful now – these links can
Careful now – these links can be confusing to the unwary !
And another one:
And another one:
https://newsthump.com/2022/09/14/black-pringles-to-be-released-just-in-time-for-queens-funeral-snacks/
And how many squids were
And how many squids were killed for that ?
But I think my work here is
But I think my work here is done, now
I served 30 years in the RN,
I served 30 years in the RN, I don’t need some self entitled pr##k to tell me what respect is. I will ride on Monday and while doing so reflect on the freedoms Her majesty upheld. Or maybe I’ll watch the funeral on tv; my choice.
I mean it kind of makes sense
I mean it kind of makes sense for central London. Working out how best to get from East to West to get to work tomorrow a lot of roads closed and CS3 has a big diversion in place. I should imagine on Monday it’ll be pretty unpleasant trying to get around the Westminster area. But yes much pearl clutching and frothy mouthed comments are needed.
Adam Sutton wrote:
Come south of the river, it’s all pretty clear (was today at any rate) and the Quietways although not all segregated infra are pretty good at getting you safely across town.
British Cycling, you can
British Cycling, you can forget my membership fee. You are meant to support cyclists, not castigate them.
We live in a free country and
We live in a free country and if I want to ride on quiet roads on Monday I will do regardless of what anyone else suggests
Well…
Well…
Yesterday I heard a former police officer and Hampshire’s PCC both say that of course there is a right to protest….
But, they then both intimated that people were getting arested “for their own protection”…
ktache wrote:
I do actually hope nobody protests on the day of the funeral, not because I don’t think they should have a right to but because in a crowd of millions there are bound to be a few self-styled “have a go heroes” who’ll see it as a free chance for a punchup and it could get very ugly.
I too hope that no-one does
I too hope that no-one does anything too vocal or disruptive at the funeral. Let her do the final journey in relative peace. I mean they apparently are moving flight paths.
But that is the departed Queen, anything relating to the shiny new King is completely open, as long as the actual remain of the late Maj is not present. Or else that freedom that we are all so proud and willing to export (often with violence) or lecturing will be for naught.
Though I am wondering when taxpayer funded filthy old Andrew will show his face in public so we will know when the right time actually is.
Move to Texas and celebrate
Move to Texas and celebrate road sharing over a cup of tea.
Was it around the time of
Was it around the time of Blair we became a pompous country with the establishment thinking they had a right to tell us how to live our lives.
The Queen got it right, she understood a Constitutional Monarchy, to stay silent on political matters and uphold our freedoms
All this chatter sounds a lot
All this chatter sounds a lot like an American draped in flag declaring freedom to own machine guns because they don’t like other people (govt) telling them what to do. Slippery slope. As someone who has lived abroad for much of my life I can tell you Brits forget what you have and what the world looks to you for. An anchor of stability in times of uncertainty. Being anti this and that establishment might give you self satisfaction in the short term but traditions that define a culture are also important to preserve.
Blackthorne wrote:
People objecting to a private organisation telling them they shouldn’t go for a bicycle ride when it’s perfectly legal to do so on the one hand, people demanding to be allowed to own automatic weapons in order to resist the government on the other. Not terribly alike, really, are they?
Perhaps the AA and RAC will
Perhaps the AA and RAC will issue guidance for people across our land not to drive duringv the Queen’s funeral? On second thoughts, I doubt they will.
And if you want to get into traditions – the monarchy came about by individuals raising armies and trying to conquer lands in order to gain power, influence and wealth. You think that, and then declaring unilaterally that you are god’s representative and starting your own church because you didn’t like the rules of another church are really things we need to aspire to and cherish as wonderful?
Careful now, if the police
Careful now, if the police are arresting people with blank placards who may write something offensive then your words will have them kicking your door in at 11 on Monday and woe betide you if you are not in front of a set and visibly crying…
I was born just after George
I was born just after George VI died, and although I’m not a fervent monarchist I’m not ‘anti’ either. I was somewhat annoyed by the soon-retracted BC advice, but I have been very impressed by the number of people who have put all that time into waiting in the queue. It would be in very poor taste to attempt to disrupt Monday’s proceedings.
Is everyone heading out for a
Is everyone heading out for a nice bike ride? I am. Thanks, British Cycling, for the reminder.