Cyclists and scooter riders targeted in speeding crackdown; Dura-Ace 12-speed leaked?; Ram chases Canadian cyclist off the road; Children traumatised by flooded ride; Your views on road rage; Clucking bikes; The best trophy in cycling + more live blog
SUMMARY
Jealousy, impatience, queueing? Your thoughts on what causes road rage
Try driving a bin wagon and you’ll soon realise it’s not just cyclists they have an issue with. 20 seconds is the average time before they get stupid ideas.
— Part of the Problem (@brucethebruce) March 15, 2021
We asked and you lot delivered. There were so many replies about what causes road rage that it’s worth collecting some more for this morning’s blog…Richard Chaplin suggested: “‘I hate cyclists’ translates roughly as ‘I don’t know how to drive properly when I encounter them.’”
It’s largely about territory and control.
Obvs not all drivers hate cyclists, but the ones that do want and need to be in charge of their little empires. Ppl on bikes take a bit of that away from them. And they generally hate caravanners, horse riders, and escooterists too. https://t.co/NGgh8KhY9N— Real Gaz on a proper bike #fbpe (@gazza_d) March 15, 2021
A well-considered Facebook reply from Benson Blackmore said: “It’s a real conundrum as a high proportion of cyclists are also drivers. I can safely drive my vehicle around cyclists without endangering them so why can’t so many do the same? Does there need to be more attention given when learning and being tested re the safety of vulnerable road users? We can all share the road safely if more patience and consideration is used, we all want to get from A to B as quickly and safely as possible.”
Look, if I’m being honest, I just think it’s jealousy.
In cities, bicycles are quicker than cars, don’t don’t sit in traffic, get away from signals quicker, have cycle boxes, and keeps people fit.
Drivers despise this. They feel they should be the faster ones.
Well, tough luck
— All Brompton, No Lycra 💚 (@cyclingheavy) March 15, 2021
It’s partly because they have to switch off the autopilot and actually concentrate on what they’re doing when they encounter us.
— Graham Brant (@GrahamBrant6) March 15, 2021
Children traumatised by flooded cycle route to school
Another day at #HammersmithBridge. Flooded paths again – no other way to get home from school. Children here are 11 and 12, they are traumatised by their daily school run. How can this be happening in 21st-century London? @grantshapps @charlottev @Heidi_LDN pic.twitter.com/zcE2Kr3HvC
— Julia LlewellynSmith (@JuLlewellyn) March 15, 2021
Flooding on this stretch of the Thames is nothing new. At high tide the water levels often cover Putney Embankment forcing people to go by other routes and drivers scramble to move their now damp motors. However, with Hammersmith Bridge closed, it has become one of the most important routes away from Putney towards the south west for active travel.
The next road up is busy and has no cycling infrastructure meaning that the embankment is the best choice for families cycling…That’s some context to why The Times newspaper journalist Julia Llewellyn Smith called on Grant Shapps to offer kids a safer route by bike. The writer said her children “are traumatised by their daily school run” of having to negotiate the flooded path.
Terrible!
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) March 16, 2021
Point is there has not been a way to cross the Thames for seven months because #HammersmithBridge is fully closed. So what was once a 10 minute walk is now a 45 minute bike ride, involving flooded paths and navigating an unlit park famous for dogging
— Julia LlewellynSmith (@JuLlewellyn) March 16, 2021
Dura-Ace 12-speed leaked?
We’ve long been on the case of Shimano’s new Dura-Ace groupset. In October, we thought we spotted a new wireless groupset on Remco Evenepoel’s bike in an Instagram video. Now, one of our readers has got in touch to point out another possible clue. Over the weekend on BMC’s website the spec for the Roadmachine ONE was listed with unreleased Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed…that’s until it was removed from the site.
From the silhouette of the bike we can’t see anything about the components that look any different to the current generation of Dura-Ace, which suggests only the text has been updated to say that the new Roadmachine 01 will feature 12-speed shifting.
12-speed was at the top of our wishlist for things we wanted to see from Shimano’s new Dura-Ace groupset. If the information given on the screenshots turn out to be true, then our tech team should be happy to see that it looks like there won’t be a 10T cog à la Sram. What about wireless shifting? From the evidence presented here, we’re still not sure…
Check out our full piece speculating what Shimano’s new Dura-Ace Groupset could look like…
Clucking cyclists
No helmet… no hi-viz… pic.twitter.com/lIIYQBnS2F
— BootsOnABike (@boots_bike) March 14, 2021
Women's Tour stage announced
🚨 STAGE ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
We’re excited to announce that Walsall will welcome the Women’s Tour for the first time when it hosts the start and finish of stage two on Tuesday 5 October.@WalsallCouncil#WomensTour #UCIWWT
— The Women’s Tour (@thewomenstour) March 16, 2021
The latest stage of the rearranged Women’s Tour will be held in Walsall, with the West Midlands town hosting the start and finish of the stage on Tuesday 5 October. Last week the race’s organisers announced the penultimate stage of the week would run from Colchester to Clacton. The race will start in Bicester and finish in Felixstowe six days later. Race director Mick Bennett said the Walsall stage is close to his heart having grown up in the area. The remaining host towns and cities as well as the routes are expected to be announced this summer.
SweetSpot postponed the race from its original June slot in the calendar due to the pandemic, believing October gives them the best chance of running the event.
Drunk cyclist kept falling off his bike in front of officer
A drunk cyclist refused to leave his bike and walk home despite falling over twice in front of a garda outside the Dáil Éireann. When Val Pusanov tried to ride away for a third time he was arrested after falling off again. Judge Brian O’Shea found the 51-year-old guilty of drunk-cycling and fined him €400.
Pusanov pleaded not guilty to the charge and claimed he had four beers at lunchtime which had worn off and that he had trouble balancing because of an arm injury. The Irish Independent reports that a garda told Dublin District Court he was on duty when he saw the man fall off twice.
When he went to check he was alright he noticed the man was slurring his words and smelt of alcohol so told him to lock his bike and walk home. Pusanov became “very argumentative” and was “stubborn” so tried to ride away again before falling off for a third time and being arrested.
Ram chases cyclist off the road
A cyclist was chased off the road near Thunder Bay in Canada by a ram whose owner says it just really likes people…The black ram called Ozzy chased after Keith Ailey after he rode past. Here’s what happened in Keith’s own words…”I’m coming down from the north end and I see something black across the road, you know, maybe 300 metres in front of me. And it was pretty big for a dog and really hairy … It was too small for a bear.
“As soon as I went past him, he did a full-on sprint. He was kind of charging and making some, some grunts, or pretty deep baas at the very least. I looked back and he was there. He was running after me and if I slowed down, he would speed up. And I thought, I wonder if he’s going to give me a good shot here.”
The ram followed the cyclist for more than a kilometre before Ailey waved down an oncoming truck, fearing it would hit the animal. Luckily for him, the truck distracted the ram for long enough to let him to pedal away. Ozzy returned to his farm where his owners told CBC that he’s in fact the “sweetest creature on earth” who just loves people. Funny way of showing it…Although, I’d take bumping into Ozzy over a bear any day…
Mathieu van der Poel's 50km solo win at Tirreno-Adriatico "by far his best ride ever" according to his dad
About yesterday 🥶 https://t.co/ZVSQMb9BHK
— Mathieu Van der Poel (@mathieuvdpoel) March 15, 2021
Mathieu van der Poel said he went for a ridiculous 50km solo victory at Tirreno-Adriatico on Sunday because he was cold. It was another incredible performance from the great man, and according to somebody who should know, it was his best ever ride. Mathieu’s father, Adrie van der Poel told Het Nieuwsblad his son is still finding ways to surprise him.
“What Mathieu did at Tirreno is by far his best ride ever. In this field, with this weather, on that course, with such a final and then standing against the best riders in the world – he can still surprise me,” Adrie explained.
Van der Poel took his second win of the week by attacking with 50km to go, building his advantage to three minutes, before holding off a charging Tadej Pogačar on a punchy finishing circuit packed with steep climbs. Today at Tirreno, the final riders are off the start ramp for the individual time trial. Stefan Küng is currently in the hot seat.
Wout van Aert springs a surprise beating Filippo Ganna on final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico
🇧🇪 Wout van Aert wins the time trial in the 🇮🇹 Tirreno-Adriatico by beating Stefan Küng and Filippo Ganna. What a machine. Two stage wins and 2nd in GC behind the Tour de France winner. GC test more than succesfull. 👏 #TirrenoAdriatico pic.twitter.com/A9AtKSTPD5
— Cyclocross24.com (@cyclocross24) March 16, 2021
Is Wout van Aert winning anything a surprise?Probably not, but the Belgian marked the end of the race with an upset of sorts, bagging another stage win to go with his opening day victory by beating heavy pre-stage favourite Filippo Ganna. That was the big story of the day, Ganna has looked imperious against the clock for over a year and was gunning for his ninth consecutive TT win.
Van Aert foiled that, so did Stefan Küng of FDJ, meaning Ganna had to settle for third. Van Aert’s win wasn’t enough to overhaul Tadej Pogačar’s handsome advantage as the Slovenian wins the race by 1:03. Mikel Landa held on to his podium place too.
All that’s left is for Tadej to raise the greatest trophy in the sport…
Game over, I’ve found the greatest trophy in sport. Neptune’s trident is awarded to the overall winner of the Tirreno Adriatico road race. pic.twitter.com/7asgsfqED0
— Gavin Price (@pilliarscreatio) March 16, 2021
Ireland's new cycling star
Congratulations to the Irish cycling family on their latest world champion, Philip O’Ganna 🤣 pic.twitter.com/k5ohzpC0z6
— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) March 16, 2021
Did you spot Nopinz making its "official" WorldTour debut today?
Details matter! 👀
The team is happy to welcome @nopinz as a Performance Partner for time trial aero skinsuits, gloves and shoe covers! 💨
Check our custom fit Nopinz clothing during the TT in #TirrenoAdriatico 🧐
Press release ⬇️
📄 https://t.co/RQOj3bzs0g pic.twitter.com/s8TrMgpuHD— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) March 16, 2021
Nopinz has joined with WorldTour newcomers Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux as its new aero time trial partner for skinsuits, gloves and overshoes. The Devon-based racewear brand says it’s the first time a WorldTour team has chosen a specific racewear manufacturer for time trials.
The Belgian team will use Nopinz’s aero socks, gloves and Pro-1 time trial suit which was developed with over 18 months of computer modelling, wind tunnel and track testing leading to their claim that it’s “scientifically proven to be the world’s fastest”.
Nopinz founder, Blake Pond says it’s exciting to see how far they’ve come to now being trusted by one of the sport’s premier teams. “We couldn’t be more proud of our relationship with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux. Our aero products have been used under the radar in and around the pro peloton for a few years now, delivering marginal gains and assisting riders to wins at the highest level.
“Now we’re involved as an official partner, it gives us the opportunity to come out of the shadows and show the world what our kit can do. Personally, I am excited by the prospect of seeing our logo on the World Tour stage and in the Tour de France. When I started Nopinz in 2014, I could only dream that would happen.”
More prime trident content
.@TamauPogi 👏👏👏#EurosportCICLISMO | #TirrenoAdriatico | #Pogacar pic.twitter.com/JrOrUkQBuW
— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) March 16, 2021
More than 100 cyclists and scooter riders caught in crackdown on speeding in Melbourne
More than 100 cyclists and scooter riders have been busted, during a police crackdown in Southbank. https://t.co/5zYfOfohG3 @GeorgiaComensol #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/Gd7BwiqGyO
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) March 16, 2021
We shared the news on the blog a few weeks ago that cyclists in Melbourne face £900 fines if caught riding faster than the 10km/h speed limit on the Southbank Promenade. 3AW now reports that more than 100 cyclists, e-bike riders and scooter riders were caught speeding during the three-week crackdown.
A total of 45 people were charged for travelling at more than 23km/h, while 33 people were fined for not wearing a helmet. Nine people were fined for using unregistered scooters or skateboards.
Another seven people were caught using their phones while cycling or riding a scooter and more than 500 people received warnings…Cyclists who have been charged on summons can be prosecuted with a maximum penalty of $1652.20 (£900). This has been widely criticised with many people on social media saying it is ridiculous that the fine is double the state of Victoria’s maximum penalty for speeding drivers.
However, Southbank Acting Senior Sergeant Brett Sidebottom disagrees: “We know the majority of people using the space are trying to do so safely, however there were a small amount of people blatantly doing the wrong thing who were penalised or now face charges to be heard at court,” he said in a statement.
“Given the overwhelming and positive feedback we received as part of the operation we will continue to conduct regular patrols and activities in the area to ensure both pedestrians and cyclists remain safe.”
16 March 2021, 08:57
16 March 2021, 08:57
16 March 2021, 08:57
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Latest Comments
I cannot edit my post; the need for a clear distinction between the two is not for semantics, but for those of us who are convoy drivers, who are licensed for that role. We take it very seriously and can incur fines and punishment from the UCI for wrongdoing. Those in front, in the caravan, are just normal everyday drivers and do not have the experience of driving in a race convoy, sometimes at speed, with riders all around us. Therefore, should not be taking risks on any part of the route.
Your wording on this needs to be clear, you've mixed up two different parts of the race. The vehicle was from the publicity caravan (Out in front of the race), similar to what you get at the Tour de France, they throw out merchandise to roadside fans, but later in the article, you say "Tour du Rwanda’s official convoy". The convoy on a UCI race is the vehicles which travel behind the race "in convoy" which include the team cars, officals cars, neutral service...etc. You need to have clear distinction between the two. This was not a convoy vehicle, it was a caravan vehicle.
“when the government confirmed that Nottinghamshire County Council will receive £6.7 million for active travel over the next four years, with part of this funding to be used to repair the greenway” Wow - 6.7 million for the WHOLE council for a WHOLE four years for active travel. And once this one shared route has been repaired and the barriers paid for, there could be a WHOLE five million left for the rest of the county. For four years! Astonishingly generous. Imagine how much excellent infrastructure they will build.
Standard journalist protection against any possible action for libel or defamation when mentioning any accusation that hasn't been proven in court. Obviously it's pretty unlikely that an unidentified person (it doesn't even say in which country the incident occurred) would be taking legal action over this but it's good practice always to include it. While there is no reason to believe Swenson has made up the story there are always different perspectives: the driver or passenger might well claim that the door was already open before he arrived and he wasn't paying attention. Unless/until a case is proved in court or by admission it remains an allegation and so it's safest to add the "allegedly" proviso.
Swenson was hit by "a motorist’s car door, which was 'allegedly' swung open into his path." Allegedly swung open? Is there some reason to believe Swenson is making up this story?
And to show the sleeves with the dummy in the riding position.
The people who would listen to them aren't much of the problem. What're needed are for [insert high profile sportsball people of your choice] to do this.
Get some help you tedious fool.
No, now everybody can see the space after your opening bracket!
What he means is there's nowhere to park all day for free! Morrisons has a 2 hour limit and the shopping centre is pay and display.
73 thoughts on “Cyclists and scooter riders targeted in speeding crackdown; Dura-Ace 12-speed leaked?; Ram chases Canadian cyclist off the road; Children traumatised by flooded ride; Your views on road rage; Clucking bikes; The best trophy in cycling + more live blog”
The route of the problem is
The route of the problem is everyone getting in everyone elses way. If I am stuck behind somone without any way to get past, I find it incredibly frustrating. This is not just when driving or riding either. A lot of misery could be avoided if people just let faster people past. I find most will just carry on dilly dallying with absolutely no regard, or knowing full well people behind want to get past. This doesn’t excuse being a cunt, but it does make people behave as such. A bit of give and take would solve many issues.
All the bureaucracy involved with driving won’t do the slightest bit of good to reduce bad feeling either.
Sometimes people are just nutcases.
Titanus wrote:
A lot of misery could be avoided if people just stopped obsessing over getting everywhere as fast as possible in the first place.
No it doesn’t – it just gives them a retrospective ‘justification’ for behaving like that.
If I am stuck behind somone
You need to adjust how you approach driving then.
Compact Corned Beef wrote:
This is the one and only answer of mine you may like.
I have adjusted my approach to driving by giving it up. Since moving I commute everywhere by bicycle. There are plenty of reasons I decided I don’t want to drive another inch in my life, lack of patience being just one of them.
I’ve got one of those racy road bikes and it’s a thrill to ride. Much rather ride that than a Hayabusa or Veyron.
Titanus wrote:
This is the way
hawkinspeter wrote:
… we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth…..
The root of the problem is
The root of the problem is people who feel entitled to get in front, right now. The road is not a race track and if you cannot handle following someone slower in front until it is entirely safe to pass them, either when riding or driving, you are not fit to ride or drive on a public road.
Titanus wrote:
What you’re essentially talking about is a lack of common courtesy and tolerance. Well mannered people not only tolerate the chosen speed of others but actively step back and allow others to precede them, e.g. by opening doors or, on the road, allowing others to pull out instead of insisting on one’s right of way; rude people barge through, distraught at any thought that someone else might get ahead of them even if it doesn’t matter in the slightest. The root of the problem isn’t “everyone getting in everyone else’s way”, it’s bad manners.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Sometimes though those bad manners manifest themselves by people being in others’ way when they don’t need to be.
I don’t barge past people standing in shop doorways or dawdling on narrow streets, but by Christ I find them rude and entitled when they’re doing so for no good reason. Worse, it makes me feel (not act) less tolerant towards people who are moving slowly through no fault of their own.
That said, I also hate people steaming past me for no good reason: my conclusion is that, given that I am moving at the correct speed at all times, everyone else must be wrong.
Brauchsel wrote:
The fact that you can’t see what you consider to be a good reason doesn’t mean that there isn’t one as far as the other party is concerned.
Brauchsel wrote:
“dawdling on narrow streets”…? I rest my case, m’lud.
Brauchsel wrote:
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? – George Carlin
Why not ask permission to
Why not ask permission to have some blue lights and sirens fitted to your vehicle? Then when you are on really urgent business and need to go faster you can let other road users know to get out of your way. This works perfectly well for the emergency services and I’m sure your need for speed is every bit as compelling as theirs.
Titanus wrote:
No one else is responsible for your emotions
Are you talking about the misery of intimidation, bullying, dangerous driving, injury et etc? Isn’t it for the bullies/dangerous drivers to moderate their emotions?
TFTFY. You’re welcome Tighty
Ain’t that the truth!
bureaucracy isn’t there to “reduce bad feeling”, although with effective application it can be quite good at removing licences from dangerous individuals.
Titanus wrote:
It’s called ‘patience’, which is a word I don’t hear very often nowadays.
peted76 wrote:
Lord, give me patience … AND GIVE ME IT NOW!!
I remember reading a news
I remember reading a news item some time ago, a woman had driven into a cyclist from behind and knocked them off. When the police turned up (I know!) her actual quoted excuse was that there had been a cyclist in front of her, on the road, and she just didn’t know what to do… (???)
brooksby wrote:
Children ‘traumatised’ by a
Children ‘traumatised’ by a bit of flood water, come off it.
I went to school in Shrewsbury and going to school through the floods was a big adventure, surely kids haven’t changed that much in the last half century?
It’s not even over their feet
It’s not even over their feet.
Can they not just change the school start & finish times to match the tides?
Might be an hour though which
Might be an hour though which would be difficult to deal with on a random basis.
That was my thought as well.
That was my thought as well. If kids were tramautised by water on the roads, why are they always eager to jump into puddles.
AlsoSomniloquism wrote:
It’s a it different when it is hard to tell where the flooded path ends and the river begins
Agreed. A valid point
Agreed. A valid point completely ruined by faux hysteria. Not helpful to the cause.
Maybe Southern Water had just
Maybe Southern Water had just released some large brown trout into the river again. Those would be intimidating.
riggbeck wrote:
Thames Water
r.e. flooding on the
r.e. flooding on the embankment
I know this isn’t really the thrust of the complaint (that is about why Hammersmith bridge is still closed) but no one should be surprised when there is flooding on the embankment. This is a tidal section of the river, and surprise, surprise, the water goes up and down. At particular times of the month (and year) the tides go up much more and the road gets flooded. You can buy tide tables or look on the internet for when this will be: no one should be unprepared for this happening.
I used o work on the embankment and very much enjoyed watching cars parked their floating away with the incoming tide. Interestingly they float for a remarkably long time before eventually sinking. It is interesting the risks people will take to park for free in London. One chap came back to see his car was about to go and asked me for a rope, which i was happy to give him. He waded out to his car and tied it to the door handle. 5 minutes later the car had gone and he had a dorr handle on the end of a rope.
Check out the Putney High
Check out the Putney High Tide Club on Facebook for amusement – plenty of pictures of floating cars. You’re right, ‘flooding on the Embankment’ is a) not new and b) not something anyone can fix, it’s just the tide, it does that! But the closure of the bridge has led to much worse traffic on the Lower Richmond Road and you can’t avoid it entirely even if you take the side-streets to the south. And the towpath floods too at high tide, and remains muddy for sometime thereafter.
I once asked a colleague why
I once asked a colleague why he didn’t like cyclists. He explained that he was very law abiding and knew the highway code. However, when he got “stuck” behind cyclists he felt pressurised /intimdated by other drivers to make an unsafe overtake. He didn’t like the anxiety this caused him and applied some very dubious logic to blame the cyclists.
I hate to say it but this might apply to a number of drivers that know the rules but don’t want to upset the herd and/or get too stressed when being tailgated by aggressive drivers. I’ve said previosly that if we could eliminate or re-educate the minority very aggressive entitled drivers we may well find the roads becoming a much more pleasant place for ALL the other road users.
IanMK wrote:
That’s a very cowardly point of view from your colleague – he should be standing his ground (maintaining his road position) to protect the vulnerable cyclists from aggressive drivers, not giving in to pressure to endanger them just so that he doesn’t feel a bit anxious. I appreciate that his anxiety is tangible to him, but to put others into mortal danger because of it means that he should give up driving until he can do so safely.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Agreed, but I believe Ian is right. I was talking to a friend who is an “advanced driver” and also instructs. He has the same “Awareness” that you might be pissing off someone behind you.
I don’t doubt it, but there
I don’t doubt it, but there needs to be an understanding that drivers are responsible for their own emotions (and ideally not becoming emotional over a simple get from A to B task) but more importantly drivers are responsible for everyone’s safety.
Going back to my supermarket analogy – if you’re in a checkout queue and some old lady is a bit slow in getting money out of her purse, would you be pushing and jostling the people in front of you to encourage them to push her out of the way or would you stand in line and just wait a minute (maybe glancing at your watch if you’re particularly busy).
hawkinspeter wrote:
Oh HP, I’m with you there. Someone’s tantrum is not (or should not be) my problem.
If someone has a tantrum at work I blithely ignore it until they’ve calmed down and approach me later. Aggression is not acceptable in the workplace, and so certainly is not appropriate in the public space.
https://www.youtube.com/watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceim653uPqw&ab_channel=WhatWouldYouDo%3F
grOg wrote:
I did once have a car following behind me as I was cycling home (commuting) and then it pulled to the side and offered me a lift! As I didn’t want the faff of trying to fit my bike into the boot, I declined and carried on cycling, but it was a nice gesture in my opinion.
(Coincidentally, it turned out to be Mrs HawkinsPeter driving the car)
My eldest son was taught by
My eldest son was taught by an instructor that encouraged him to always drive at the speed limit and explained that if you don’t you’re likely to piss of other drivers. Again really poor logic.
IanMK wrote:
Jesus. This “driving at the speed limit” is crap instruction and equally bad logic
The speed limit is the very maximum permissible speed according to risk assessment
Under what possible scenario is it acceptable to travel at maximum speed, and then to apply that logic to all scenarios?
I was told on another forum
I was told on another forum that it was dangerous not to speed. If you drive at the limit, you will cause an accident behind you due the speed diferentials.
hirsute wrote:
Fuck me, what could possibly go wrong with that logic?
The main benefits of speed
The main benefits of speed limits are to avoid speed differentials as well as excessive speed; to keep traffic at a safe and predictable speed for other road users, such as those vehicles entering the road and pedestrians crossing the road.
grOg wrote:
Interesting hypothesis, one that I believe falls down considering the rarity of minimum speed limits, especially on roads permitting a higher speed.
grOg wrote:
They should fit all new cars with devices so that they can control their speed – maybe some foot pedals so that drivers don’t have to move their hands from the steering wheel. I’d go for one pedal to speed up and one to slow down and that would solve any speed differential issues as long as the drivers are watching the road.
I was told during my driving
I was told during my driving test that I should have accelerated more in the 400m between two roundabouts with restricted sightlines to avoid annoying other drivers.
Captain Badger wrote:
I have that too.
I think my colleague would
I think my colleague would say that he doesn’t overtake when it’s not safe. However, it’s the anxiety that it causes him is the issue. My point is that other road users may take the cowardly approach.
It’s a logic that we see often. How many times to we get a patient drive waiting to overtake safely only to be then subject to punishment passes from tailgating followers
Yeah, I’m not trying to pin
Yeah, I’m not trying to pin blame onto him, but pointing out the issues I have with that logic.
Feeling anxiety when you think that you’re holding up others is a fairly common emotion and it most likely a result of us being such a social species, but unfortunately we can also be a very aggressive species too. When cycling/driving it’s rarely helpful to let emotions overrule your training and experience (though a bit of anger whilst cycling can be a good way of boosting your adrenaline). If you look at the best/fastest drivers and pilots, they seem to be very emotionally detached when driving/piloting, so I doubt that there’s much need to be so invested in a 30-40mph drive to the shops/office etc.
There is undoubtedly a sense
There is undoubtedly a sense of panic driven by the feeling that you’re going to get aggression from drivers behind you, that you must get past quickly, and doing so might put you in danger. It’s almost like they’re compelled to GIF. There’s also that “I couldn’t slow down, I’d get rear-ended m’lud” bollocks that gets trotted out in low winter sun defences.
Whilst driving I’ve had full-on sweary horn beeping dangerous overtakes because I’ve dared to sit behind cyclists through double white line sections (yep, doing more than 10mph). Across the open forest here the speed limit is 40mph and pretty much every time I drive those roads I have multiple drivers overtaking whilst I’m sat at or slightly below the speed limit – a few near misses with livestock and oncoming cars over the years. There’s a section through one village near me which goes 60/50/40/30/50/40/60 in just over a mile. So many times over lockdown I’ve had drivers arrive behind me doing 60-odd when I’ve been doing 30 through the 30 section, flash their lights, and then overtake on double whites.
There’s a general lack of forward-thinking and planning in driver behaviour that needs to be addressed. It’s why when cycling you get two or three decent passes followed by a third or fourth close pass – the driver further back hasn’t twigged that it’s a cyclist requiring the drivers in front to overtake, and so hasn’t planned for it and is suddenly surprised. Plus the age old thing of racing to join the next traffic jam 1 car further ahead than you would have been if you hadn’t just about pulled off that insane overtake.
When I passed my driving test (late ’80s) I remember my instructor tellng me to drive at or near the speed limit whenever possible, and also to not show hesitation at junctions. That seems to be instilled in drivers – must make progress. Perhaps that’s the issue.
Those followers would 99%
Those followers would 99% likely have close passed anyway even if they hadn’t had to wait.
They are the same ones that close pass on an empty road with acres of space to spare.
A good point, (but it’s
A good point, (but it’s mitigating circumstances rather than an excuse) so lets not forget that there is just as much road-rage directed at other motorists – however the main difference of course is that motorist-on-motorist road rage is usually regarding a perceived wrongdoing on one of their parts, whereas road rage towards cyclists seems to exist purely due to the fact that we exist.
Kendalred wrote:
As both motorist and rider, I don’t believe that to be the case
It’s weird isn’t it how
It’s weird isn’t it how some drivers get so irate at being held up by a cyclist for a moment, but are quite happy to wait at traffic lights, give way at junctions, and even concede priority to other drivers, just to be ‘nice’.
Had a classic example yesterday with a car revving as they overtook me going downhill at nearly 30mph in a built up area. Only for them to almost immediately slam the brakes on, cheerfully conceeding their priority to another driver at some parked cars. Good job I could stop in time.
Nah, it’s just the difference
Nah, it’s just the difference between things they perceive might be a serious risk to them or to their paintwork or to cause them a delay, and things which they do not.
Such a driver’s risk assessment process runs like this:
Risk is head-on crash with oncoming vehicle?
Or being t-boned by an artic because I’ve jumped a red light? Avoid.
Risk is being stranded by meeting oncoming vehicle mid-chicane with no way to get round, so have to reverse up? Avoid (unless they judge they have a good chance of bullying the other driver back)
Risk is knocking a cyclist off, or forcing them off the road? Absolutely fine, proceed without a second thought.
If he is making ANY decisions
If he is making ANY decisions on how to drive based on the impatience level of who is behind him then he is simply mistaken about how safe a driver he is.
The cyclist element of the scenario is irrelevant.
Maybe not upsetting the herd
Maybe not upsetting the herd should take priority. It’s nothing new…
Why was the chicken all over
Why was the chicken all over the road…?
[Pretty sure there’s a ‘two abreast’ joke in there somewhere as well, but I can’t quite work it out yet.]
What’s a chicken’s favourite
What’s a chicken’s favourite groupset?
Ult-egg-ra.
Re: Walsall for Womens Tour.
Re: Walsall for Womens Tour. Hope this goes ahead and there is a strong field. Will be there somewhere if allowed. I’m Looking forward to knowing the route as well but I’m suspecting Cannock Chase and the backend of Lichfield.
Here’s another story on
Here’s another story on cycling infrastructure for you Road.cc
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9363529/Furloughed-joiner-51-spends-two-MONTHS-clearing-piles-sand-council-back.html
Believe it or not, that is
Believe it or not, that is part of the Trans Pennine Trail that the Council Workers are throwing sand on. Words fail me.
Are you really classing a
Are you really classing a reference to wireless di2 as a “leak”? Try harder.
You missed the 12spd bit!
You missed the 12spd bit!
It’s been known about since
It’s been known about since last year…
10km/h — thats pretty much
10km/h — thats pretty much walking pace. Thats like fining drivers that drive 70 in a 70 zone because everyone else in the same zone is driving at 25.
TBF – Its a promenade, looks
TBF – Its a promenade, looks very like the Thames Embankment around Waterloo, and makes Brighton Seafront look like a Motorway.
Not 100% sure this is the bit being referred to but it does seem high chance of Pedestrian/Wheeled device interfacing.
Related what do Austrialians mean by Scooter? If its the motorised kind – WTAF?
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/417638565425424732/
The rules for stand up
The rules for stand up scooters are this: they’re a wheeled toy. E-scooters are restricted to a max 200 watt and 10kmh, if they exceed that they are treated as a motor vehicle, but being unregisterable they are illegal. The overwhelming majority of e-scooters sold in Australia are illegal to use outside of private property.
This is another example of punitive governance in Victoria. It’s presented as if cyclists and scooter riders are the problem, with no mention that in Australian road rules (which also cover road related areas such as these) it’s also an offence for a pedestrian to obstruct the path of another pedestrian or cyclist (rule 239). If they were even-handed and issued fines to the phone zombies and others who wander aimlessly without consideration to others, it might actually look like they cared about safety rather than targeting a minority of users.
As this capture from street view shows, some respect from all users is required. When pedestrians fill the bidirectional cycle crossing while ample space is in the separated pedestrian space, it’s clear the policing needs to change.
A significant proportion of
A significant proportion of pedestrians nowadays lack consideration for others.. keep left, watch out for danger and give way when needed.. just like cycling and driving.
probably ride along South
probably ride along South Bank 2 or 3x a week it is a direct East West route that connects to other shared trails…often get passed by runners…once had a drunk guy grab my handlebars and tell me “f’ing stupid place to ride a bike” his wife and kids sorted him out…problem is lack of pace on providing a safe alternative route….needed even more now the boulevard has been narrowed to provide socially distanced outside eating areas
Google tells me there are over 15000 car parking spaces in Southbank of which nearly 3000 are on road…think that we found out during lockdown why cyclists generally aren’t allowed in shopping malls and its not because cyclists don’t know how to behave around pedestrians….take someone out of their car and they still remain cyclist haters or at best inconsiderate towards cyclists…
It does seem draconian, given
It does seem draconian, given that the UK does not have an excess speed for cyclists (except for some specific locations). However, what happens here is that cyclists are just banned form places they could very easily and safely go, just because some councillors have a bee in their bonnet about cyclists ‘endangering’ pedestrians.
6 kph is walking pace; 10 kph
6 kph is walking pace; 10 kph is jogging pace.
Correct,, but it is perfectly
Correct,, but it is perfectly ok because after 40 yrs of anti-cycling government & media, the population as a whole is behind cracking down on the terrible threat to society that is “the cyclist”. Combine a high-profile tourist area with shock-jock radio coverage and you have a police crackdown
A couple of years ago a cyclist was killed in Melbourne by someone throwing open a car door, the person doing this was fined $1000 and had no conviction recorded. Here we have cyclists riding at 23km/hr being fined $1650
More than a couple of years..
More than a couple of years….Feb 2015 Alberto Paulon died on Sydney rd and the road layout still has changed despite lots of consultation, an independent study and even the RACV (motorists association) actively promoting improvements for cyclists. It’s in the too difficult pile and will only appear again when elections come up…like St Kilda rd….hard decisions for politicians….sadly too hard
I can jog faster than 10kph .
I can jog faster than 10kph .. utterly silly rule. Are they going to enforce against joggers too?
Just shows the level of prejudice and the total lack of comprehension over what reasonable speeds might be. I mean, even 15kph might be vaguely understandable …. but 10!?!?
Re Clucking Cyclists
Re Clucking Cyclists
No worries about helmet hair cos she always carries a comb