Colombian pro crashes on finish line during victory celebration; Brit hopes to break 200mph in cycling land speed record attempt; Geoghegan Hart criticises scrapping of popular cycle lane; Cycle lane becomes a swimming lane + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Kensington High Street protest as controversial cycle lane to be scrapped
Let’s go Kensington High Street! #SaveOurLane #KensingtonHighStreet #KHS pic.twitter.com/QLE1wPIekt
— All Brompton, No Lycra (@cyclingheavy) December 1, 2020
These were the scenes on Kensington High Street this morning where hundreds of cyclists gathered to protest the lane’s imminent removal. The emergency cycle lane is to be ripped out this week after the council claimed the scheme is “not working.” Among the crowds were pupils and staff from Fox Primary School who say the lane is essential for providing a safe active travel route for children and that removing the lane is a “backwards step.”
The London Cycling Campaign has also taken an active role in promoting the protest and shared a video of the lane being used by many cyclists commuting into London, before the protest began at 8am. Last week, Conservative MPs Tony Devenish and Felicity Buchan claimed that the cycle lane had failed, while actor Nigel Havers has accused it of causing “gridlock every day.”
We bumped into @willnorman at the #savethelane protest – please tell @RBKC to rethink the decision to withdraw the protections for cyclists https://t.co/wqxBbMTC5F https://t.co/88MPSx7E9n
— London Cycling Campaign (@London_Cycling) December 1, 2020
Johnny Thalassites, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s lead member for transport, said: “The cycle lane was a trial scheme to help those hopping on bikes during lockdowns and encourage shoppers to the High Street. Businesses and residents have told us loud and clear that they believe the experiment has not worked. We are listening.
“By removing the temporary lanes as lockdown lifts, we hope to help get the High Street moving again and give our local economy the best possible chance of a good December.”
Jeremy Vine, Chris Boardman and Ned Boulting back the Kensington High Street protest on Twitter
It’s really something that a school has to fight so their kids are able to travel safely and healthily.
They actually want to do what’s best for their future….and they have to fight for it.
Have a think about that.
If you live in the area show them your support tomorrow. https://t.co/uydUJDqT9F
— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) November 30, 2020
The £700,000 cycle lane along #KensingtonHighStreet is being ripped out this week after less than two months. I used it tonight and met a mum and daughter who didn’t know it was being removed. I hope @RBKC council might watch this and think again pic.twitter.com/pOG4wCPaZF
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) November 30, 2020
I am sick of this country’s lack of progressive vision. It was where I was born, and where, after years travelling and living overseas, I always intended to be remain. But, right now….God, it’s hard.
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) November 30, 2020
Spectator ban at Tour of Britain would lead to cancellation of north east leg
The Press and Journal reports that Aberdeenshire Council would cancel their involvement in the Tour of Britain if there is a ban on spectators. The city of Aberdeen is due to host the finish of the final stage in 2021 and also the grand depart for the opening stage in 2022. However, Aberdeenshire’s head of economic development, Belinda Miller, explained that one of the key aims of hosting the race is to increase tourism, so a race without spectators would likely lead to the cancellation of their involvement.
She said: “If there are ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, at the levels we are at at the moment, it would become an event that was very disappointing because we wouldn’t have any spectators out to see it.
“The whole point of hosting it, and us being enthusiastic about it, is as a tourism attraction and to inspire our own communities to get involved in cycling. We had a meeting with organisers Sweet Spot and the city council last week and they are off the same understanding as we are, as are all the other hosting stages, that the event should not go ahead with those levels of restrictions. It would not make sense to do so.”
Spalding police issue two penalty notices and spoke to 14 school children in 'day of action' tackling cycling and road safety issues
Spalding Today reports that police officers in the Lincolnshire town spoke to 14 school children and issued two penalty notices during the operation to tackle cycling and road safety. The ‘day of action’ took place on Monday November 30 and a social media post said: “The Neighbourhood Team have been out in Spalding today on a day of action targeting cycling offences and road safety. Our approach is both education and enforcement. As a result, 14 schoolchildren have been spoken to and 2 penalty notices issued.”
Local kids adopt bollards and impressive turnout at the Kensington High Street protest this morning
This bollard on Kensington High St was adopted by Ellie, aged 5 who wants to be able to cycle to school in safety.
She has to adopt a bollard because she hasn’t the same access to power that the likes of Lord Rothermere has. #SaveTheLane pic.twitter.com/rnGkEXjsdJ
— StopKillingCyclists (@StopKillingCycl) December 1, 2020
As part of this morning’s protest at Kensington High Street, some of the bollards segregating the cycle lane from traffic have been adopted by local children. Fox Primary School were one of the most vocal supporters of the bike lane and called its planned removal as “a backwards step.”
Our very own Deputy Head Ms Morgan saying how it is. Thank you to all who came and supported our celebration of cycling and the cycle lane both in person and virtually. #savethelane @Chris_Boardman @MayorofLondon #cycling @RBKC_cycling @London_Cycling @taogeoghegan @willnorman https://t.co/Q46dRvemsb
— Fox Primary School (@FoxPrimary) December 1, 2020
The protest had an impressive turnout considering critics of the cycle lane have suggested it’s barely been used by cyclists. The video below shows 20-30 people on bikes fitting into the space of two or three large cars.
On the right there are perhaps 4 people in large cars (Maserati v Kensington darling), on the left literally 20-30 people riding bikes in a smaller space. how’s your maths @rbkc ?? @London_Cycling #savethelane pic.twitter.com/rp2dSIXDI2
— Sebastian Morrison (@BastieVelo) December 1, 2020
Surf's up: cycle lane or swimming lane?
DANGEROUS WAVES: Don’t let this happen to you. Strong winds are causing high waves to pound the shoreline along Lake Michigan. Stay off the the lakefront trail. https://t.co/6He8PT33Wj pic.twitter.com/v0n3QLNTmv
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) November 30, 2020
Cyclists in Chicago have been urged to stay off the lakefront trail which runs along the edge of Lake Michigan. Strong winds have caused dangerous waves to pound the bike path, this cyclist has probably learnt his lesson.
Could be worse, at least this didn’t happen…
When coach writes ‘cool down’ in the training plan 😂 pic.twitter.com/8ldwXhWbkj
— Awesome Cycling 🚵♀️🚵♂️ (@AwesomeCycling) November 27, 2020
Bristol and Bath Railway Path attacks: police deny spike in crime despite concerns and increasing reports from the public
Last week, we reported that several cyclists had complained of attacks on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, mostly concentrated in an area between 3-6 miles from the start of the Bristol end of the popular cycling and walking route.
Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Avon and Somerset Police have now replied with a statement claiming that they are not seeing a spike in crime currently. Deepak Kenth, Neighbourhood inspector for Bristol East, said:
“Police patrols have been stepped up over the weekend around the Bristol to Bath cycle path in Bristol East and South Gloucestershire, in response to public concerns following recent incidences of anti-social behaviour and theft that have been reported to us. Investigations into these incidents are ongoing.
“However, I’d like to reassure the public that we do not believe we are seeing a particular spike in crime or a ‘series’ of linked incidents, and that levels of reported crime are not significantly higher than in previous years.
“We’d encourage anyone who spots groups of young people being intimidating, anti-social or blocking the path to call 101 as soon as possible, or 999 if they fear a crime is being committed. All reports will be thoroughly investigated.”
Earlier this week, a local man compiled a spreadsheet of reported incidents and shared the document to the Bristol Cyclists Facebook group. The spreadsheet shows that of 28 alleged incidents in the last year, 16 are reported to have occured in November 2020 – it’s not known whether all of these incidents were reported to Avon and Somerset Police.
Registration for Chase the Sun 2021 is open now
Summer might seem a long way off now the nights are drawing in and the temperature has dropped but it’ll be back soon and what better way to motivate you through the winter than training for a mega ride. Chase the Sun is an annual coast-to-coast endurance challenge on the longest day of the year here in the UK. There are three routes to choose from, including an Italian version, and registration is open now for 2021.
The Chase the Sun North event rolls away from Tynemouth in the east, before crossing the border into Scotland and finishing in Prestwick, after a gruelling 200-mile ride, taking in 3,200m of elevation. If you opt for the southern route, you can expect an even longer day in the saddle, travelling 205 miles from Minster in Kent to Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset.
A third route in Italy from Marco Pantani’s home town of Cesenatico to Tirrenia is even more appealing after a year of lockdown and travel restrictions. The shortest of the routes, it still covers 270km with 3,300m of elevation gain.
Embarrassing moment Colombian pro crashes while celebrating victory
🇨🇴Edisón Muñoz of @OrgullPaisa wins stage 2 of Clásico RCN 2020 and crashes solo while celebrating on the finish line #ClasicoRCN (📺@WinSportsTV) pic.twitter.com/wbX9NiUmxN
— World Cycling Stats (@wcsbike) November 30, 2020
Edisón Muñoz probably wishes the ground would swallow him up after this embarrassing crash on the second stage of Clásico RCN – Cerveza Andina in Colombia. Taking his hands off the bars to celebrate victory he hits a bump in the road and is sent flying off the bike and, fortunately for him, over the finish line. I wonder what went through Muñoz’s mind as he lay on the floor, admittedly with the consolation of a stage win, as all his rivals came flying past laughing their heads off?
It seems this isn’t the first time there’s been a dodgy road surface at the end of a Colombian race. Check out this crash from 2019…
Qué bien el #TourColombia2019, pero se requiere que las autoridades piensen en los ciclistas, como ponen un resalto? pic.twitter.com/7qlbCZRgV6
— Enrique Garcia M. (@egarcam) February 13, 2019
Engineering students drafted in to help British cyclist break cycling land speed world record
Last year, British cyclist Neil Campbell reached a speed of 174.3mph to become the fastest man on a bicycle ever and was officially recognised by Guinness World Records. Now he’s back and trying to break the 200mph barrier. The Shropshire Star reports that a Harper Adams University lecturer and aerodynamics engineer James Croxford, have enlisted the help of four automotive engineering students to design an aerodynamic slipstreaming shelter for the attempt.
The bike Neil will use in the attempt, which he hopes will take place next summer, requires a car to pull him up to speed with a bungee due to the high gearing.
The perfect gift to keep the racing fan in your life quiet this Christmas
The Road Book is back for its third edition with every stat, result and detail you could ever wish to know from the 2020 professional racing season. The 700-page almanack contains writing from some of the year’s protagonists: Wout van Aert, Anna van der Breggen and Tao Geoghegan Hart as well as detailed race reports and essays from writers and journalists.
1 December 2020, 09:12
1 December 2020, 09:12
1 December 2020, 09:12
1 December 2020, 09:12
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Latest Comments
With regards to the priorities of the authorities... I requested that my local council and police install red light cameras at a specific junction as I noticed drivers repeatedly jumping them each time I passed through. The response was basically "We have no record of any KSIs there so will not do so." So they are basically waiting for a KSI before doing anything... I assume that if there is a serious incident there, the victim could sue for lack of action at a known hotspot.
But of course: And they can't possibly consider removing car parking to: Best to engineer the space to remove all people, that's better for everyone.
I'm not saying the officers acted with malice, just with stupidity and ignorance of physics and the law. (Once again, well done CyclingUK, who are a very fine organisation!)
@jackcycles There is no taking away or suffocating freedoms of other road users. Drivers are still free to drive. They are not and nor have they ever been free to to drive wherever they want, however they want. A cycle lane has never prevented someone from driving to a place they could previously drive for unless the plan was always to pedestrianise somewhere. What do you think about bus lanes and taxi lanes? I don't disagree that ideally cyclists simply share the road with cars. There is no question of joined up infrastructure or why cyclists aren't using the shit infra they are provided. The massive issue with that is that drivers aren't getting better, they are getting worse. Its nothing to do with cyclists and their behaviour and everything to do with motorists being absolutely unwilling to share the road with cyclists. I see this every time I go out on the bike. I see it every time I take my kids out on the back of the bike. Doesn't matter that I have small children on my bike, a large proportion of drivers couldn't care less and will bully me and put our safety in danger purely because they have the power in our dynamic. The other day within 1 minute of leaving my front door I saw a driver nearly hit the curb on a straight road because he was looking at his phone and then a middle age man cut the corner of a road I was coming to the end of so much that I had to swerve to avoid him. Drivers won't change so we have to remove them from the equation. They have to be treated like the children they are. If you can't share then we will take it away.
"...investigation will commence into alternate testing along with appropriate training for officers..." Translation: we'll try to understand the law, you know, that legal stuff we're meant to be upholding.
Do that one about "avid cyclist" => "angry motorist" again...
@andystow "Alright mate, no need to state the obvious"?
"Both the rider and Birmingham Bike Foundry have launched a legal appeal, supported by Cycling UK’s Cyclists’ Defence Fund, arguing that the process employed which led to the destruction of a £6,500 legal e-bike was “fundamentally flawed”." Good to see my money being put to good use. Keep it up! As others have said, if the police can just confiscate and destroy something which has broken no laws with no attempt to contact the owners, there is something seriously wrong that needs to be sorted out in court. I hope the owners are adequately compensated, including legal costs, and the police learn how to test an ebike.
@Mr Blackbird and what would you say to cyclists who think there are already too many motorists on the road?
24 thoughts on “Colombian pro crashes on finish line during victory celebration; Brit hopes to break 200mph in cycling land speed record attempt; Geoghegan Hart criticises scrapping of popular cycle lane; Cycle lane becomes a swimming lane + more on the live blog”
“Businesses and residents
“Businesses and residents have told us loud and clear that they believe the experiment has not worked” – so not actually supported by evidence then. What was it Bill Hicks said; something like “beliefs are neet but don’t cherish and share them like they’re the truth”.
“we hope to help get the High Street moving again” – let’s hope they have a plan C.
IanMK wrote:
Exactly. Where’s the data? I believe that the businesses and residents objecting are biased and hate cyclists, and since my belief is just as good as theirs, they balance out, so the lane has to remain.
You can’t make real world decisions on belief, you need facts, which they don’t have, except for the single fact that they hate cyclists.
In the same way that Donald
In the same way that Donald Trump believes he won the recent Presidential election.
” actor and convicted drink
” actor and convicted drink driver Nigel Havers has accused it of causing “gridlock every day.”
Fixed that for you
I’m really disappointed to
I’m really disappointed to find out that Nigel Havers is, in real life, a proper tool. He really is a great actor…..
the little onion wrote:
So let’s get this straight.
So let’s get this straight. The borough that voted to remove the Western Extension for the Congestion Charge Zone is now complaining about congestion?
The solution is for all
The solution is for all cyclists who did travel by bike to travel by car instead and see if congestion gets better or worse.
They are quick to notice the space lost, but don’t consider the reduction in number of motor vehicles. An extra ane here doesn’t reduce congestion because a) it will likely be taken by parked vehicles b) there will be a bottleneck further up the road where there are not two lanes.
If drivers can recognise that the cycle lanes are free of traffic and less congested than the motor vehicle lane, why don’t they make the switch and save themselves some time?
30 years ago I could cycle anyway in London quicker than public transport, and many places quicker than driving (or cenrtainly quicker than driving and parking) I doubt cycle journey times have increased whereas I bet motor vehcile journey times have.
wycombewheeler wrote:
It’s easier to sit in traffic fuming at others moving around freely, than actually join them. These people won’t change unless they’re forced to.
One hopes Spalding police are
One hopes Spalding police are as diliigent with passing motorists, and one also hopes that their enforcement action involved a judgement call before encouraging young kids to cycle in the traffic rather than the relative safety of the pavement. One also hopes that the 2 tickets weren’t for parents doing their best to look after their kids under crappy cycle provision.
OK Im making assumptions here but I dont like the tone of that tweet.
The Daily Mail coverage of
The Daily Mail coverage of the cycle lane protest is quite different in tone…
“Finally Kensington High Street’s ‘white elephant’ Covid bike lane gets some use! Cyclists with Extinction Rebellion flags spill into the road and bring traffic to a halt with protest against removal of the hated £300k council scheme“
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9005063/Cyclists-Extinction-Rebellion-flags-protest-removal-hated-cycle-lane.html
I believe you but don’t post
I believe you but don’t post their links. All clicks increase their ad revenue.
markieteeee wrote:
Adblock them. For security reasons alone adblock everything and whitelist only the sites you want to support, and know are secure.
I solve it by not clicking
I solve it by not clicking through to them, but yes this would work too.
200mph isn’t a “barrier”, it
200mph isn’t a “barrier”, it’s an arbitrary number. And a thoughtless cliché.
The sound barrier was a genuine barrier because with conventional aircraft designs the shockwave in front of the plane just piles up as you approach the speed of sound and physically prevents the plane from going any faster.
Nothing physically stops someone on a bike who is being sucked along by the vortex behind a car from going faster than any given subsonic speed. If the car can do 200mph, then so can the bike rider, provided he or she has the necessary huge shiny gonads to hang the hell on at that speed. In which case I takes off me hat to ’em.
Fair point. Just one thing;
Fair point. Just one thing; it’s an aeroplane, not a plane. A Plane is a tool used in woodworking, or is a 2-dimensional geometrical construct. From one miserable b@stard to another!!!
In the picture there does
In the picture there does seem to be a plane attached to the back of the Porsche Stupidity being used as the tow car. I can’t imagine what the engineering students did for that one – take hinges, handles and a knocker off? Perhaps if doing this now they’d have to remove a Christmas wreath too.
njblackadder wrote:
Are you a language prescriptivist or descriptivist? Either way, your attempted pedantry is incorrect. People use the word “plane” that way, and it’s in the dictionary.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/plane
andystow wrote:
Are you a language prescriptivist or descriptivist? Either way, your attempted pedantry is incorrect. People use the word “plane” that way, and it’s in the dictionary.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/plane— njblackadder
Shouldn’t it be a ‘plane? Since it’s a contraction of aeroplane (UK) or airplane (US)…
brooksby wrote:
Is that like the short version of helicopter should be ‘pter’?
200mph isn’t a barrier, but
200mph isn’t a barrier, but it takes a s**t load of power to move a car at that speed and keep it stable. To do that and leave a hole in the air big enough to fit a bike in is a real achievement. Like you say though, the cyclist just needs balls of steel. Or titanium.
Guys – you have all wasted so
Guys – you have all wasted so much energy and space replying to Twatcyclist. If it posts just ignore it.
Quite.
Quite.
It’s like an incessant itch that no amount of scratching is enough……
If you really want an epic
If you really want an epic day out on the bike, Chase the Sun is a good shout. I rode i it 2019, and was supposed to ride again in 2020. SIgned up for 2021, and can’t wait. It is by far the best day I’ve had on the bike. While I was mentally and physically prepared for the challenge, I wasn’t emotionally prepared for the finish. There is nothing quite like it, and the atmosphere of the day can’t be beat