“I’ll pay the fine! You’re not going to see me complaining”: CyclingMikey shares footage of him accidentally riding through red light, although barrister doubts prosecution is “in the public interest”; Paris-Roubaix cobbles stolen + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
"Ridiculous" Paris-Roubaix vandalism as cobbles stolen from famous sector and "a lot of rubbish" left by fans
Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix (The Friends of Paris Roubaix — the volunteers who maintain the cobbles and help keep the famous sectors rideable) have raised the alarm about a “ridiculous” act of vandalism at Sunday’s race, cobblestones apparently stolen out of the ground by spectators looking for a souvenir.
“Cobbles from the Carrefour de l’Arbre were stolen after the race. There was also a lot of rubbish. Ridiculous,” the group said on social media, also sharing a photo of the littering problem.
I’m afraid you’ve got to win Paris-Roubaix if you want a cobblestone on your mantelpiece, and digging one out the ground has obvious safety implications for anyone professional or otherwise riding the cobbles. Not to mention the extra time and money required to replace the pilfered pavé. In short, not the smartest idea. But don’t worry, we have a suspect…
I saw this guy take one, he’s even smiling while doing it.. pic.twitter.com/mGTc25PxAb
— Rick (@RBAFCA) April 9, 2024
Very suspicious. Facetiousness aside, there has been plenty of sympathy for Les Amis des Paris-Roubaix, a voluntary organisation stretched for time and resources that does its best to help keep one of the great sporting events running. And then something like this happens.
Jane van Nieke: “Ridiculous doesn’t begin to describe it! Merci beaucoup for your continued passion and hard work.”
Olifants: “We true cycling fans very much appreciate your efforts to retain this portion of history in the sport in spite of people without manners or morals or ethics. I thank you!”
"Road safety remains the biggest barrier to more people cycling": Research suggests more than two thirds of Scots think not feeling safe is main barrier to cycling
Timmy Mallett's Northern Ireland cycling tour
This is our regular ‘we’re very jealous of Timmy Mallett’s life’ post. Northern Ireland is the latest destination the presenter is exploring on two wheels.
Well worth a follow on Strava, plus other socials, if you’re that way inclined…
Delicious Quirkiness of directions from the walled city #norniron pic.twitter.com/2le5MwZ3WO
— Timmy Mallett (@TimmyMallett) April 10, 2024
"Taking the first step was pretty emotional after what I've been through": Jay Vine begins recovery from fractured vertebrae
UAE Team Emirates climber Jay Vine was one of the worst affected in last week’s horrendous Itzulia crash, suffering several fractured vertebrae in the pile-up which also saw Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič abandon with injuries.
The Australian rider has updated fans on his condition, explaining that being able to take his first steps with a walker was “pretty emotional” considering some of the early fears about the extent of the damage.
“Incredible support from everyone! Thanks so much for all the messages!” Vine wrote on Instagram. “Medical update on my end: I’m tracking as well as can be expected, I have been able to walk around my room with the aid of a walker, and taking the first step was pretty emotional after what I’ve been through.
“Waiting to get home to Andorra, but the folks in the hospital have been A + with the care I have received. Just can’t believe that I will still be able to walk and play with my kids one day, it was pretty scary for a couple of days when we weren’t sure if surgery or neurological problems might present themselves. Long road ahead for my recovery, but I am looking forward to getting the process rolling.”
Learning to ride a bike as an adult — one cyclist's story
A year ago today, I got a bike for my birthday and tried learning to cycle for the first time. I’ve made a little video for fun to show my journey over the past twelve months.
I didn’t think I’d be able to, so if you’ve never learned or want to try again, this is your sign🚴 pic.twitter.com/039kclCUxR— Councillor David Barker (@David4BKH) April 10, 2024
Bike thief who ditched his own bicycle to steal another jailed
A bike thief has been jailed and ordered to pay his victim compensation after admitting abandoning his own bicycle in order to steal another one.
The Peterborough Telegraph reports Benjamin Trayford was seen on CCTV cutting through a lock on March 9, leaving his own bicycle outside the Nisa shop in Eldern to make off with the stolen one.
The 31-year-old was identified two weeks later, having been approached by Tesco staff for acting suspiciously, and arrested by the police in relation with the earlier theft. Trayford admitted the offence and has been sentenced to four weeks in prison and was ordered to pay £250 in compensation.
“This was a moment of opportunity for Trayford, and he didn’t think twice before committing the offence,” PC Jenkins said. “Bikes are extremely important for cyclists as they are often their main form of transport, and therefore I would like to encourage cyclists to look into the best ways to protect their bikes when it comes to leaving them.”
Paris-Roubaix spectator's lawyer insists "never any intention to harm" to Mathieu van der Poel and confirms she has contacted riders' union
Elisa Longo Borghini lands impressive solo victory at Brabantse Pijl
It’s the official cobbles x Ardennes crossover day — Brabantse Pijl — the perfect mix of a last dose of pavé and puncheur-friendly tarmac bergs. In the women’s race, Elisa Longo Borghini continued her impressive classics campaign, adding a third victory of the spring to her palmares and a second in succession, following on from Flanders.
🥇 Elisa Longo Borghini cruises to a solo victory at Fleche Brabanconne! 🙌
🥈 Demi Vollering follows shortly after to take second! 👏#DBP24 pic.twitter.com/uLHx2u7IRK
— Eurosport (@eurosport) April 10, 2024
Demi Vollering was second, the Ardennes triple-header starting this weekend surely going to offer the SD Worx climber a big opportunity for that first victory (or three) of 2024. 35km to go in the men’s race, and with no Mathieu van der Poel or Tadej Pogačar it feels a bit like some bike races used to — open, competitive, all up for grabs… we’ll let you know who comes out on top as soon as it’s happened…
Benoît Cosnefroy sprints to Brabantse Pijl victory
𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽𝓸𝓲𝓻𝓮 ☝️
Benoit Cosnefroy wins the Fleche Brabanconne, outpacing everybody else in the sprint 💪
Straight on the radio to thank the team, too 📻#DBP24 | @decathlonAG2RLM pic.twitter.com/wgOE9nS26K
— Eurosport (@eurosport) April 10, 2024
No 60km solo victory? I guess that comes next week when Tadej Pogačar returns… just a good, old competitive reduced bunch sprint, Benoît Cosnefroy the strongest of an evenly matched front group that had reeled in escapee Marijn van den Berg on the final climb to the finish.
In Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel’s absence, UAE Team Emirates and Alpecin-Deceuninck had to settle for third with Tim Wellens and sixth with Quenten Hermans. See, isn’t so easy without your big dogs, is it?
Shout-out to Israel-Premier Tech Brit Joseph Blackmore (who’s already won three stages and three GC races this year, by the way) for a moster lead-out followed by enough strength to sprint for fourth. Did his team pick the right man for the finish?
"Obstacle course" cycle junction a "ruse to drive motorists out of the town", claim drivers – but cyclists praise long-awaited layout change
"I'll pay the fine! You're not going to see me complaining": CyclingMikey shares footage of him accidentally riding through red light, although barrister doubts prosecution is "in the public interest"
Here’s a bizarre turn of events for your Wednesday live blog. CyclingMikey, the road safety campaigner who uploads and reports videos of road users committing traffic offences, has shared his latest video, in which the road user in question is… himself?!
Having stopped at traffic lights on Eccleston Street in Westminster, one of the four lights visible soon turned green, signalling the bicycle rider to advance and cross the junction. However, with no traffic following, and the benefit of camera footage to look back on, he worked out the other three lights were red and the green light was in fact for traffic from another direction and had been twisted out of place. How the junction should look…
@TfL @CityWestminster I’d like to report this traffic light as someone has twisted it to point down the wrong road. See the video in my post above. This is what it is supposed to look like: pic.twitter.com/6fCWqTJAVD
— CyclingMikey the Unspeakable (@MikeyCycling) April 10, 2024
How it did…
Anyway, Mikey took the bold (and admirably principled) step of uploading the footage to social media and even invited any trolls who may wish to report the incident to the police, giving the time and date of the incident to assist any report.
“It’s my mistake, I hold my hands up, I’m at fault there,” Mikey told his YouTube video. “I missed that the other two traffic lights were still red. I realised something was wrong when the scooter rider next to me revved his engine and then stopped, so he obviously almost got caught too, but he and the other scooter rider behind me didn’t follow through. That’s probably the best use of video cameras that I have over the years, that I can go back and look at when there’s been a point of conflict or something’s gone unexpectedly and I can find out what went wrong and change my own riding as a result.
“I’m sure that some trolls would like to report me for running the red light… you’re welcome to, I’ll even give you the time and date! It was yesterday, the 8th April, at 13:16, I’m sure you can work out where the road is.
“If the police prosecute me, so what? I’ll pay the fine, you’re not going to see me complaining.”
Barrister and fellow YouTuber the BlackBeltBarrister saw the footage and suggested it “ought not be in the public interest” to prosecute in this case.
“Perfect example of where the police can use discretion as this video serves as education and a show of integrity — so it ought not to be in the public interest to prosecute,” he commented.
Help us to bring you the best cycling content
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £2.49. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.
43 Comments
Read more...
Read more...
Read more...
Latest Comments
@perce we all like a polite and courteous poster! Much as motorists like a polite and courteous cyclist doffing their helmet (possibly from a hedge they've obliging leapt into along, say, a leafy lane in Essex).
"attributed by experts", yeah sure, ok! Citing 8 year out of date per capita figures shows the weakness of your argument. Here's a couple of reasons I believe that the Netherlands fatality rate might be higher than the UK (independent of the crappy Dutch infrastructure), none of which you and Chrisonatrike suggested or mentioned: 1) not enough people wearing helmets in Netherlands. All sane people know that wearing a cycling helmet can potentially save lives, yet the Dutch seem to think themselves too special to wear one. Despite the fact the Netherlands has a superior privatised health system compared to our rotten, inefficient NHS, post-crash options are limited for people with severe head trauma which will inevitable lead to increased fatalities in the Netherlands. 2) Risk compensation by drivers and cyclists. Cyclists are lulled into a false sense of security thinking that segregated cycle lanes are their special infrastructure which insulate them from accidents. They don't. Then, car drivers take more risks due to increased congestion caused by the same cycling infrastructure, leading to a double-whammy of risky behaviour. 3) Cultural issues. People in the UK are renowned for their stiff upper lip, stoic, courteous behaviour. They naturally protect more vulnerable road users. I, myself, had a magnificent cycling experience earlier today on the local country lanes, waving and saying hello to the locals and cyclists alike. There really isn't a place like the UK (well, outside London anyway) that matches our hospitality and camaraderie. P.s. I'm not sure who Nigel is, I assumed you meant Nigel Farage but I can assure you I'm not him and that he has more pressing things to do than write responses on a cycling website. I hope that's helped your understanding a little, and enabled you to think a little independently rather than just suck in information that self-described "experts" want you to believe. Oh and Norway et Al are terrible comparators as hardly anyone lives there (and who'd want to to be honest? Lol!)
Yup. The UK has latterly tried add the safety back in after it was lost for vulnerable road users. (And after giving all the direct routes / valuable space over to motoring). But it's offering a modicum more safety in return for them losing a lot more convenience - so that has been reducing the "problem" also! Plus we lean heavily on "but people can be trusted to be reasonable" and "for any misbehaviour police it better". Unfortunately those are not good assumptions or choices for safety in a motornormative environment. (And road policing isn't a priority anyway). NL isn't the only place in Europe they've realised that mass motoring the old way is unsustainable (for lots of reasons). They're just the furthest on. In NL they still have some challenges because the (larger - thanks US!) car strikes back, and there are some questions about the impact of e-things. But they're *still* investing in improvements, and proportionally significantly more than the UK, even though they're already far ahead...
The Stockton Hub which I used occasionally (I don't live in Stockton) was open only during standard office hours, Mondays to Fridays, rendering it useless for families and leisure cyclists. It's a standard problem for a lot of government-funded or charity-run public services which close when many people most need them, presumably because staffing costs would rise substantially. The article also mentions cycle hubs in Redcar and Darlington which, so far as I can tell, have never existed.
Ho ho ho! No, we need to stop these idiotic cyclists completely (or limit them to velodromes, parks and maybe "rail trails") - that way there won't be any cyclist road fatalities! Simples! Meanwhile in many parts ofEurope they're finding the benefits of making it such that lots of people don't use cars for every journey - by fixing it so it's convenient and increasingly safe - despite much larger numbers of people getting around outside of cars than in the UK...
The fatality rate in the UK has fallen five years in a row during a period, starting with the Covid years, in which building of "idiotic Dutch roundabouts and segregated cycling infrastructure" has massively increased, so in fact using your own benchmark the statistics clearly show the benefits of increased cycling infrastructure. Not quite the gotcha you seem to think when viewed through non-troll lenses, Nige. The stupidity of your "argument" is further clearly illustrated by the fact that the list-topping Norway, Sweden and Denmark all have massive segregated cycling networks. The Dutch model used to demonstrate clearly the safer nature of the Dutch system, e.g. in 2018 the Netherlands had 8 fatalities per billion kms ridden compared to 21 in the UK; the primary reason for the increased fatality rates in the Netherlands has been attributed by experts to the massive uptake in ebikes (47% of new bikes sold in NL are now ebikes compared to 10% in the UK), particularly amongst the older population, nothing to do with the infrastructure.
It used to be great price this, but they played the ace marketing card and got the popularity and now...
Many thanks for posting these statistics and showing the downward trend in fatalities. One thing that stood out for me when clicking through to the government statistics page is the UK's exemplary record on this Vs other European countries, especially the much-vaunted record of The Netherlands, which actually shows twice as many fatalities as the UK per million of the population. The question that arises is therefore: why are the greens and other left-wing parties so keen to adopt an inferior and more dangerous road system when ours is obviously working well? It smacks of a need to regulate people's lives and curtail freedom. We need to stop these idiotic Dutch roundabouts and segregated cycling infrastructure, and get people sharing the road in a fair and equal manner, when the statistics show it's safer to do so. (Chart shows road fatalities per million population)
That's where the convertible aspect comes in. I've got a gravel bike but the canal I sometimes commute on has roots under the tarmac and barriers. The mtb with 'drops' is more comfortable for this and fits through the barriers. If I want to do something more technical I can put the flat bars on.
43 thoughts on ““I’ll pay the fine! You’re not going to see me complaining”: CyclingMikey shares footage of him accidentally riding through red light, although barrister doubts prosecution is “in the public interest”; Paris-Roubaix cobbles stolen + more on the live blog”
Re Roubaix cobbles, obviously
Re Roubaix cobbles, obviously ridiculous, selfish, thoughtless and stupid, although one has to say that the surprise isn’t so much that it’s been done as that it hasn’t been done before.
What’s odd is that Edinburgh
What’s odd is that Edinburgh isn’t famed for racing on its cobbles (or indeed other roads) yet every year after winter it looks like the same people have come and nicked ours – and indeed taken ample souvenirs from the tarmac also.
Are utility companies still
Are utility companies still digging them up and puting sh1te tarmac patches back in their place instead of spending time reinstating them properly :-/
I am not sure. OTOH at
I am not sure. OTOH at Randolph place, presumably “because historic” they’ve routed the new cycle route up this (CCWEL) and they carefully took up all the sets, tinkered with the footways then re-laid the sets and directed the cyclists back onto them. (They could have put in nice cycle paths on either side, I think there’s plenty space, but no…)
Like cyclists here were demanding more pavé. Grr…
I blame those ‘corporate VIP
I blame those ‘corporate VIP guests’
Maybe someone wanted a garden
Maybe someone wanted a garden bike wash area similar to mine*
(* can confirm that granite setts responsibly acquired from UK source)
It’s too much – not only do
It’s too much – not only do you own a peloton’s worth of cycles plus your house is merely an annex to your bike shed. You’ve even got your own pavé…
I’m thinking of getting into
I’m thinking of getting into cycling…
mark1a wrote:
Gosh no! Have you any idea the wear a chain can pick up if you’re putting the force of your legs through it? To say nothing of the dirt…
Low power jet washer?
Low power jet washer?
Though I am surprised that you have not dedicated a corner in your impressive workshop area for washing. It is your better than most bike shops home workshp isn’t it?
? I don’t trust myself using
? I don’t trust myself using a jet washer on bikes for bearings longevity, so I just use the garden hose with tap pressure with brushes for washing, and a watering can for rinsing. ’tis possibly my
bikeshopworkshop you recall (a guy’s got to have hobbies right?), and although I have ultrasonic bath and parts washer in there, I need to keep it dry so washing is outside.*North of Ireland.
*North of Ireland.
One of the most disgusting
One of the most disgusting things I have ever read
driver who “failed to observe four separate red lights at the intersection and “failed to brake or steer”, jumping curb & killing baby, held to be “single, momentary lapse of attention”, acquitted of all charges.
Hirsute wrote:
That is a tragic miscarriage of justice and Judge Katherine Denhoff should be immediately removed from her position.
Considering that the driver went straight through a red light before crashing, I would dispute that statement as being categorically false.
I just wondered how many
I just wondered how many people it would need to have been killed at that spot – 4,5,6, 12 before it became a guilty verdict or would it make no difference as to how many were killed and he still would have been aquitted?
The way that was written
The way that was written makes me think it is a sick April fools joke. 🙁
And the reporting is awful (as usual with most media outlets) too:
“Zadeh has admitted he was driving a Ford Escape that ran a red light at the intersection of Hornby and Smithe streets. The SUV hit another car.. “
I would ask if the vehicle was sef-driving/autonomous.
http://rc-rg.com
The judge should be permanently removed from office for this.
How would she feel if she was related to the baby that died?
The way that was written
The way that was written makes me think it is a sick April fools joke. 🙁
And the reporting is awful (as usual with most media outlets) too:
“Zadeh has admitted he was driving a Ford Escape that ran a red light at the intersection of Hornby and Smithe streets. The SUV hit another car.. “
I would ask if the vehicle was sef-driving/autonomous.
http://rc-rg.com
The judge should be permanently removed from office for this.
How would she feel if she was related to the baby that died?
* KERB
* KERB
[** though possibly not in Ca?)
That’s terrible. At best a
That’s terrible. At best a momentrary lack of concentration, at the most forgiving, is 1 red light, not 4 with the last fatal one having been red for 20secs 🙁
I think there were 4 lights
I think there were 4 lights at the ‘intersection’ not necessarily 4 in sequence.
But 20 secs and doing nothing to brake or steer is not ‘momentary’.
David Barker – exceptional &
David Barker – exceptional & inspirational.
Chapeau.
I was thinking the same –
I was thinking the same – overcoming his reservations due to his dispraxia and learning anyway – that’s an inspiration.
Woodbridge society complain
Woodbridge society complain scheme designed to improve cycling & walking in the town doesnt understand the “dynamics of an historic market town”
https://martini.eadt.co.uk/news/24240650.woodbridge-societys-concerns-active-travel-scheme/
And they’re correct! Our
And they’re correct! Our historic market towns are full of motor traffic and parked vehicles – and they have been for a generation (or more)!
Bikes and cycling are no more “in keeping” than wearing a wimple or driving a (horse) carriage.
Further – plans to make the store fronts of e.g. Macdonalds / Starbucks / Tescos are entirely ignoring history – merchants have always liked it gaudy.
We can’t have people cycling and walking in any numbers in these places because the streets are too narrow.
We go to Woodbridge 3 or 4
We go to Woodbridge 3 or 4 times a year and it annoys me that cars are allowed along the main street on a Saturday and even park on the pavement.
Quite what the dynamics are I have no idea – more wankpanzers in the pedestrian bit I suppose.
Oh and then there are all the drivers who park in the bus stop by the town square.
Think the original intent was
Think the original intent was to make the main market square pedestrianised, but they backed off it.
The changes proposed werent exactly earth shattering, couple of modal filters and one dead end.
But this is a place where parents demanded a car park to drop their kids to school at with a catchment area of no more than 2 miles https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24150450.concerns-traffic-kyson-primary-school-woodbridge/
And there was me thinking
And there was me thinking that a lot of market towns pre-date cars.
Quote
Quote
Benjamin Trayford was seen on CCTV cutting through a lock on March 9…
… PC Jenkins said. ” … I would like to encourage cyclists to look into the best ways to protect their bikes when it comes to leaving them.”
Unquote
Would the police ever provide similar (victim blaming) advice to motorists…?
Quote:
Like, er, using a lock, PC Jenkins?
[Snip]
[Snip]
Would the police ever provide similar (victim blaming) advice to motorists…?
[Snip]
Really?
Have you slept through the last few decades of public broadcasts and adverts inviting people to *not* leave valuables in their cars, or if they do, to cover / hide them.
True – but they don’t tend
True – but they don’t tend shake their heads and suggest you should have looked at the best way to protect your missing car? Nor shrug while pointing to the sign that says “car thieves operate in this car park”.
mitsky wrote:
I tried “taking methods to
I tried “taking methods to protect my bike” such as making the bike, lock and stand live with high voltage electricity, but apparently that is illegal. How much does an armed security guard cost? Asking for a friend.
Thanks for the excellent
Thanks for the excellent coverage of the women’s Paris-Roubaix.
I imagine you will be up for an award at the end of the season.
What is the point of sending
What is the point of sending somoeone to prison for four weeks. All it does is punish society. The state of our prisons mean that somone who goes in as a person who could be rehabilitated will probably come out as an in debt drug user, who then needs to commit further crimes to pay the people he owes.
Legin wrote:
The government are proposing that short prison sentences (12 months or less) be suspended in almost all circumstances.
Sentencing Bill Factsheet: Short Sentences
The trouble is we’ve had 14
The trouble is we’ve had 14 years of this Government talking about doing all sorts and delivering the square root of zero! Roll on the election and we may get some politicians who actually want to work and get things done.
Legin wrote:
I’m not sure about your maths there – did you remember to carry the zero? 😉
brooksby wrote:
I checked
https://www.cuemath.com/questions/what-is-the-square-root-of-0/
With the light going to green
With the light going to green after the bus past, does that mean the bus went through a red light :-/
Cello Lessons !
Cello Lessons !
Ah, but did they arrive
Ah, but did they arrive looking like an explosion in the Decathlon aisle, with helmet hair and oil on their Louboutins? Got to look at the whole picture you know.
Actually looks more like a double bass (around 6ft/182cm) than a cello (around 4ft/121cm) to me, in which case all the more kudos to the rider.
“Contrebasse portée roulant
“Contrebasse portée roulant en si”
but cello is near enough !