Jeremy Vine’s cycle lane near miss as empty bin chucked across London bike lane; Tributes to Davide Rebellin; Tour de France ditches Paris final stage, Nice finale rumoured; Remco signs up for the Giro; Cycling advent calendars + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Could be worse, Jeremy...
Who remembers this classic of the ‘why cyclists don’t use cycle lanes’ genre?
The wait for comments begins...
Wishing you a Merry Bikemas! 🎅
To celebrate the holiday season, we’re spreading the joy of cycling with our first ever advent calendar, full of festive fun & prizes 🎄 🎁
Follow us on Instagram to discover which cycling swag is up for grabs every day: https://t.co/8yv2bZCvO3 pic.twitter.com/bvYNDVDcON
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) November 30, 2022
5p off per litre at all Shell petrol stations? Sorry, couldn’t resist…
Tour de France ditches Paris final stage, 2024 edition will finish in Nice
[📷: ASO/Aurelien Vialatte]
BIG news from Italy this morning as La Gazzetta dello Sport’s famous pink pages include a story suggesting it is confirmed — the Tour de France is moving away from its traditional Paris procession.
The Tour de France has never finished anywhere other than the French capital, but will end in Nice for the first time in 2024. The decision is due to the Olympic Games, which will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, just five days after the 21st stage, meaning with logistical demands stretched Le Tour will visit the Med instead.
[📷: Andrew Sides]
Next year’s edition will begin in the Basque Country, with 2024 starting in Florence, and the historic Piazzale Michelangelo more specifically. Stage one of 2024’s race will end in Rimini, the city where Marco Pantani tragically died in 2004 before stage two starts in his birthplace — Cesenatico.
For all the info on next year’s race check out Ryan’s in-depth preview…
"It will be a special edition": Remco Evenepoel announces Giro d'Italia bid
It’s official 🤩 I’m riding the 2023 @giroditalia and I can’t be more excited for it. Andiamo!! 🇮🇹💕🐺 #Giro #TheWolfpack pic.twitter.com/ftmL3Ohn0z
— Remco Evenepoel (@EvenepoelRemco) November 30, 2022
Aero road bike helmets: 6 of the BEST in 2022
British Cycling's advent calendar announcement doesn't go to plan...
Go back to the earlier post to see the joke I’m very smug about. I should probably grow up and act my age, but hey, sometimes it’s fun being a wilful idiot…
Anyway, I wasn’t the only whose first instinct was to have a laugh at British Cycling’s expense…
Chocolate seashells are great for an advent calendar.
Oil seashells are not so good.
— Harry Horsfall (@Gatsworth) November 30, 2022
🚨Piers Corbyn doing Piers Corbyn things🚨
Look who road.cc Simon spotted out on his travels last night… coming home from important political business no doubt…
Ah right, never mind…
If the World Cup was pro cycling: Denmark vs Australia
There’s a huge Group D clash coming soon at the World Cup, with plenty of cycling crossover to pick from on Procyclingstats.
We’re throwing it back to stage 10 of the Tour de France for this one…
Dennis, Porte, Matthews, Durbridge, Plapp vs Pedersen, Asgreen, Cort, Vingegaard, Kragh Andersen. It’s a five-up TTT for a place in the last 16…
A reader email on Dutch common sense
.jpg)
[📷: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 licenced by MarkA]
Having read our story about the ‘mini-Holland’ scheme touted for a Nottinghamshire town, one road.cc reader got in touch…
I was born and raised in Holland. Road division is as follows: main carriageway, grass verge, cycle path and then footpath. I have cycled to school, gone shopping all on my bike.
Not once was I involved in an accident or disagreement with a car driver.
There it is. Dutch common sense.
You’ll have no arguments from us…
Tour of Britain boosts Nottinghamshire's economy by £4 million
An economic impact assessment commissioned by event organisers suggested that Nottinghamshire’s economy was boosted by £4.34m in net visitor expenditure, the Nottingham Post reports.
Stage five of this year’s race ran from West Bridgford to Mansfield and was won by Jordi Meeus of Bora-hansgrohe, the final stage before the race was called off out of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The report showed 69 per cent of spectators visited from outside of Nottinghamshire, with 60 per cent saying they would visit the county again. More than three quarters visited with families and the average daily sped per group was £48.
Councillor Ben Bradley, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “The findings really are the icing on the cake after what was truly a stage to remember – especially for the fans who travelled here in their thousands to watch the race pass through our county.”
Tributes to Davide Rebellin
Will never forget this pic of Rebellin. He’d been most hyped young rider in the world in the 90s, won Classics, then seen his choir-boy image shredded…but here he was in Sept 2017, at the Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen (I had to look it up), 46yo & still living the dream – his dream. pic.twitter.com/ei3baBkI3f
— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) November 30, 2022
Davide Rebellin, one of the most renowned pro cyclists of recent times — primarily due to his glittering noughties classics successes and since through his longevity and love for the sport, only retiring last month aged 51 — has tragically been killed while riding his bike in Italy.
The tributes have been rolling in, including from fellow classics star and rival Alejandro Valverde who took to social media to write: “My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Davide Rebellin, a professional colleague and rival for so many years.”
We are deeply shocked by the sad news that Davide Rebellin has passed away.
Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and the (Italian) cycling peloton.
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) November 30, 2022
Lotto Soudal’s now-former general manager John Lelangue shared a picture from an awards dinner following a criterium in Monaco on Sunday, won by the retiring Phlippe Gilbert, that also honoured Rebellin’s career…
I can not believe it; Davide Rebellin was still with us Sunday night in Monaco for the @BEKINGevents and even celebrated for his long career at the Gala Dinner. All my prayers are going for him to support his family, friends and colleagues. Rest in Peace Campione pic.twitter.com/jeSmkV1VLU
— John Lelangue (@johnlelangue) November 30, 2022
Nous apprenons avec tristesse le décès de Davide Rebellin, triple vainqueur de la #FlecheWallonne en 2004, 2007 et 2009.
Condoléances à sa famille et à ses proches. pic.twitter.com/r1SgvOzELC
— La Flèche Wallonne (@flechewallonne) November 30, 2022
"A few days ago we were doing our last pro race in Monaco and today you left to join the stars"
Here was Philippe Gilbert and Davide Rebellin at the start of the criterium in Monaco on Sunday, the pair’s last race as professional cyclists.
Gilbert reposted the photo on Twitter this afternoon with the message: “A few days ago we were doing our last pro race in Monaco and today you left to join the stars. I think very strongly of Françoise and your family. I am very sad we will miss you amico. RIP #DavideRebellin”
Your thoughts on the Vine video...
Mungecrundle is kicking off our dip into the comments this morning…
“I have a bit of a soft spot for our bin crews. They get a lot of crap from some due to the necessity of having stop a large vehicle right in the middle of the road in order to do their job, they are then at risk from the impatient and careless who look down on them for the work they do.
“There’s a reason for the orange warning beacons. Go slow, dead slow! Expect operatives working behind the vehicle and don’t be surprised if an errant bin appears in your path.
“I don’t think Jeremy was in any particular danger here as he was proceeding with caution, not really worth a reaction to be honest.”
Rendel Harris agrees… “Beat me to it, although I do think the operative was a little careless here in general I find the bin crews in London are the most courteous users of the road around. It’s not at all uncommon when cycling towards a bin lorry for one of the operatives to shout to the driver and the rest of his mates that a cyclist is coming through and for them to stand aside.
“They’re nearly always friendly in terms of exchanging good mornings etc as well. I think as vulnerable road users themselves who often get hassled by car drivers (by coincidence it’s our bin day today, it’s an unusual day when one doesn’t hear at least one car angrily hooting at the lorry for blocking the street) they have a greater affinity with cyclists than many.”
BalladOfStruth commented: “I’m always careful passing bin lorries, because I expect workers to step out from behind them, or jump out of the cab without looking – but this was a protected (ish) cycle lane next the road the bin lorry was working in. Gotta say, I probably wouldn’t have expected that.”
To which ShutTheFrontDawes replied: “The kicker for me is no apology (that I could hear at least). Everyone makes mistakes, but come on.”
Jeremy Vine's cycle lane near miss as empty bin chucked across London bike lane
Brilliant — from my ride to work this morning.
Cycling in London is better than any video game. pic.twitter.com/IS6fJpQ4cP— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) November 30, 2022
Naive ol’ me reading Jeremy Vine suggest “cycling in London is better than any video game” and simply expecting some nice footage of pleasant cycling. It sounds even sillier now I’m writing it out…
Of course there’s a moment, captured in glorious 360-degree, that earns a shout from the pedalling presenter and a post on social media… but it’s not the usual dodgy dangerous driving… instead a rogue bin almost taking him out.
I say ‘rogue’. The bin itself had little to do with clip other than being lobbed in front of Vine by the rubbish throw (I’ll see myself out) of the binman nearby.
30 November 2022, 09:12
30 November 2022, 09:12
Terrible news breaking this afternoon...
Davide Rebellin killed in reported hit-and-run collision involving lorry driver
The 51-year-old brought the curtain down on his 30-year professional career at last month’s Veneto Classic
30 November 2022, 09:12
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.
50 Comments
Read more...
Read more...
Read more...
Latest Comments
And how are those attracted/paid for? Through bigger audiences. There are 53 million black people in the USA, and around 1.2 billion in Africa. How much extra sponsorship and TV coverage do you think women's racing might get if there were a few black US and African women competing? That's not, in your idiotic phrase, "wokeism", it's good sound commercial common sense.
@chrisonabike I don't know how they would get confused - one's called Jack and one's called Nigel.
There is so much depressing deja vu here. The defence factors taken from the usual tick box list : "poor lighting", "dark clothes", "didn't see him" etc. The usual rehabilitation path comments : "full of remorse". The common previous : "drugs, and alcohol", "no licence" etc. Even your comments about the tipper truck industry ring a bell. Look up the 1957 British film "Hell Drivers", if you haven't seen it. It must have have been inspired by events of the time. I did wonder why Renshaw had been on remand. Was he a flight risk?
The cycle path at that point is (part of) the main road, not the side road.
Its not fucking careless if you drive a vehicle and don't check your mirrors. Its fucking dangerous and its fucking deadly. How on earth are we still dealing with this bollocks. Everything about this is maddening. The fact he tried to weasel out of it and blame the cyclist. The fact hes avoided prison. The fact he was still driving after such a long history of dangerous driving. The fact he is still only banned for 12 months despite killing someone due to his inability to drive safely.
The tipper truck industry is an absolute Wild West. Scandal ridden, partly because of the complete lack of regulatory oversight and the pay-by-the-load system which incentives dodgy driving. I hope there is an investigation into the firm’s recruitment process and a corporate manslaughter charge. We urgently need a HSE investigation into the whole industry
Perhaps they're confusing the writer with a certain - ahem - new poster?
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Zinovly Savyulak.
Sounds like a recommendation to me - after all, who'd want their writing to be emotionally empty?
I think MM's point is more fatally flawed than that - people *do* complain about inequality in running. There might be less inequality than in cycling, but there's still an over-representation of white people and barriers to participation.
50 thoughts on “Jeremy Vine’s cycle lane near miss as empty bin chucked across London bike lane; Tributes to Davide Rebellin; Tour de France ditches Paris final stage, Nice finale rumoured; Remco signs up for the Giro; Cycling advent calendars + more on the live blog”
Substantial number of
Substantial number of comments suggesting that it is Vine’s fault for not guessing that a bin man was going to fling a bin bouncing around the bike lane. The other half fixating on a marginal anticipation of the green light (but did he cross the line?).
Even when a cyclist does
Even when a cyclist does nothing wrong, they are still in the wrong.
IanMSpencer wrote:
I’m always careful passing bin lorries, because I expect workers to step out from behind them, or jump out of the cab without looking – but this was a protected (ish) cycle-lane next the road the bin lorry was working in. Gotta say, I probably wouldn’t have expected that.
BalladOfStruth wrote:
I’m always careful passing bin lorries, because I expect workers to step out from behind them, or jump out of the cab without looking – but this was a protected (ish) cycle-lane next the road the bin lorry was working in. Gotta say, I probably wouldn’t have expected that.— IanMSpencer
Exactly that. Go slow (which it looks like he did) but the bin throw was ridiculous. It looks potentially deliberate. There was time for worker to see the cyclist and then the bin was chucked anyway… and apparently left!
The kicker for me is no
The kicker for me is no apology (that I could hear at least). Everyone makes mistakes, but come on.
IanMSpencer wrote:
Regardless of the specifics of this case, the general social media view on cycling is that it is always the cyclist’s responsibility to anticipate every possible hazard, and never the creator of that hazard’s responsibility not to cause danger to the cyclist.
Steve K wrote:
— Steve KExactly. It is the cause of the danger that should be taking the greatest steps to mitigate the risk, not the victim; unless they are a cyclist.
Yet oddly, motorists object
Yet oddly, motorists object to having to anticipate hazards due to cyclists in the road (and indeed anything else). I must save the video of a 1 mile stretch of road on Tuesday where I had one car overtake at a junction where a car was waiting to pull out, inevitably the car pulling out saw me and pulled out, and the car overtaking MGIF’d and ended up wanting the same bit of road. Then a car overtook on a bend and was surprised to discover a car coming the other way, oncoming car took avoiding action. Then approaching a roundabout, a car was so wide overtaking me they nearly had a head on with a car that appeared doing a left turn – more evasion required. Each left me plenty of room and each failed to consider the risks they were taking.
Oh look, a JV video on the
Oh look, a JV video on the live blog. I guess today’s thread is going to be a write-off due to troll-brigading as well then…
BalladOfStruth wrote:
Yup… resist, starve the dimwits
Mind you. Some may have been
Mind you. Some may have been sin binned so it could be quieter than normal.
Shout out to the cyclists of
Shout out to the cyclists of Bristol – is it just me, or has the new CAZ made a serious impact on traffic levels in the city centre? (and its only been running since Monday)
I have a bit of a soft spot
I have a bit of a soft spot for our bin crews. They get a lot of crap from some due to the necessity of having stop a large vehicle right in the middle of the road in order to do their job, they are then at risk from the impatient and careless who look down on them for the work they do.
There’s a reason for the orange warning beacons. Go slow, dead slow! Expect operatives working behind the vehicle and don’t be surprised if an errant bin appears in your path.
I don’t think Jeremy was in any particular danger here as he was proceeding with caution, not really worth a reaction to be honest.
Mungecrundle wrote:
Beat me to it, although I do think the operative was a little careless here in general I find the bin crews in London are the most courteous users of the road around. It’s not at all uncommon when cycling towards a bin lorry for one of the operatives to shout to the driver and the rest of his mates that a cyclist is coming through and for them to stand aside. They’re nearly always friendly in terms of exchanging good mornings etc as well. I think as vulnerable road users themselves who often get hassled by car drivers (by coincidence it’s our bin day today, it’s an unusual day when one doesn’t hear at least one car angrily hooting at the lorry for blocking the street) they have a greater affinity with cyclists than many.
Well, I thought it was a
Well, I thought it was a rubbish move.
It would be really great if
It would be really great if in finishing in Nice in 2024 the organisers could, for once, eschew the usual processionary stage and have full-on racing, there are such wonderful mountains all around the area that it could make a finish for the ages. Knowing the ASO I’m 99% sure they’ll just go for a dull pootle along the coast with a sprint finish on the Anglais, but hope springs eternal.
After my volunteering stint
After my volunteering stint with the CWG in Birmingham, I was looking at Paris Olympics for an encore and wondering if I could go early and catch the finale.
(I was aware it was probably being moved but no decision had fully been made).
However I do hope, as you mentioned, that they decide a good full race now rather then a GC procession.
I suspect the riders enjoy
I suspect the riders enjoy the last stage being relatively low stress. One last sprint and they can have a big party and then take their family for a beach holiday.
Miller wrote:
I’m sure they do and by God they earn it, but just every now and again it might be nice to have a last day that actually meant something? Two thirds of the Giro last days since 2008 have been individual time trials and produced some amazing finales…imagine Pog, Rog, Bernal, Vingegaard – maybe even Pidcock! – all within two minutes of each other and an out and back 40k TT over the Col de Braus on the final day. A man can dream… but as I said, almost certainly won’t happen.
Build it and they will come –
Build it and they will come – big rises in cycling in London.
https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/tfl-press-release-new-tfl-data-shows-continued-boominwalking-and-cycling-with-almost-twice-asmany-now-living-near-a-high-quality-cycle-route
London, London, London,
London, London, London, London……
Whilst that’s great news, it means absolutely nothing to the vast majority of people who don’t live there and have to continuously look on in envy at London getting all the funding while the rest of the country gets crumbs at best.
True.
True.
Green shoots though (don’t worry, I’m not calling “bike boom”!)? London’s really a bunch of large towns stuck together (plus tube) though so there are maybe some transferrable lessons from there? Cambridge doesn’t look bad – although it’s an outlier for other reasons anyway. Other places? York, Bristol? Cardiff? Bits of new towns / places developed around a certain period e.g. Peterborough have some fossilised cycle infra mini-networks (probably surprising to anyone who’s driven there and there are all the UK issues). Edinburgh where I stay certainly works for me as is, you can find lots of cyclists in places / at certain times and is building new stuff. If you look at the overall modal share it’s still pretty feeble though.
Owd Big ‘Ead wrote:
Well, if nothing else, it might show what can be done with political will and the right investment.
but where is the political
but where is the political will ? Active Travel England keep holding up a school in Suffolk as an exemplar for cycling/walking, yet cant even ask the obvious questions of why that hasnt translated into any shift in modal stats in the area, and some of the highest car ownership in the country
My only issue with bin
My only issue with bin lorries is the smell when you get stuck behind one in the height of summer.
Back in the 60s, bins were
Back in the 60s, bins were full of rotting food and nobody used bin liners. Bin lorries often were flatbed trucks with sliding doors over the load, which might be left open (see below). They reaked.
Then there was the joy of the 1970s bin strikes.
Modern bin lorries are perfumed in comparison 🙂
Jeremy Vine talking twaddle
Jeremy Vine talking twaddle again?
Hardly lobbed was it. Nor did he have to take his life in his hands to evade the bin.
Sometimes he comes across as hyperbolic. This morning was one of those times.
Careless and a little
Careless and a little distracted by the binman, and an overreaction by Vine imho.
LeadenSkies wrote:
More like lazy and ignorant by the binman, as he was clearly going back to the cab leaving the bin in the cycle lane instead of returning it to whereever on the pavement it came from…
STiG911 wrote:
In his defence, round my way at least there are generally a couple of guys going ahead of the lorry pulling the paladins to the kerbside, a couple dragging them into the road, unloading them into the lorry and pushing them back to the kerbside, then a couple more guys following up behind to return them to their usual places, so although it was careless he probably wasn’t just leaving it there.
Rendel Harris wrote:
None such guys present = just leaving it there like a lazy twat.
Do the job you’re paid for, not half of it.
I agree the binman could have
I agree the binman could have placed the bin more carefully but that may well have been the designated storage, at least temporarily. I don’t know where it was exactly but there are plenty of areas in the City and the West End especially where commercial bins have to be placed kerbside, collected and taken in again within a very very short time window because there is nowhere on the street for them to be stored. It is unfortunate but when the city was laid out 1000+ years ago, they didn’t consider how to wedge in cars, bikes and wheelie bins so the services today have to do the best with the layout they are working with. I am not sure if I would have stayed around with the like of Vine gobbing off, an apology was unlikely to cut it with him so why waste my breath.
“the designated storage, at
“the designated storage, at least temporarily”
Wtf. Yet another troll ?
marmotte27 wrote:
It’s a bizarre take, but not trolling in my opinion.
No, definitely not a troll,
No, definitely not a troll, in fact a very useful person to have commenting given their fire service work.
I’d say Vine is marmite, so you should not be surprised people give him short shrift.
When I had a short-lived
When I had a short-lived stint in the City thirty plus years ago the rubbish had to be moved from the rear yard, placed on the pavement in their designated spot at a set time each day for collection and empty bins taken back in again within iirc 30 minutes, may have been less. Simply no other way to do to do it as no space in the street to store a bin and no vehicular access to the rear of the premises. For the short time in the late evening where they were collected they blocked a fair chunk of the pavement but no other option hence the strictly enforced stipulation that they were there for the minimum possible time. I presume it’s still the same though I haven’t worked up there since. If you want pubs, clubs, shops and offices in relatively narrow city streets laid out centuries ago then unfortunately you have to compromise occasionally.
“British Cycling’s advent
“British Cycling’s advent calendar…..”
I took offence at the appalling soundtrack.
I’ve just found out that The
I’ve just found out that The Adventures of Robin Hood 50’s/60’s tv series starring Richard Greene was explicitly created to enable the commissioning of scripts by blacklisted American writers during the McCarthy period. I never knew that. Very successful it was too
Those wheelie bins are
Those wheelie bins are massive and heavy enough to cause a fair bit of danger. You can’t just go pushing them across the road like that without first checking that it is safe to do so.
Very seldom watch the final
Very seldom watch the final stage of TDF as such an anticlimax.
Hopefully Nice will be nice ?
With you on that one. Ok,
With you on that one. Ok, there’s the sprint, but all the divving about and sipping champagne beforehand…it’s not sport.
I was looking at that cycle
I was looking at that cycle lane portaloo and thought it looked vaguely familiar, but dismissed it as not everything is Bristol-based. However had another look and thought – that’s Mina Rd in St Werburghs. Google Maps has it on the other side of the road: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4714351,-2.5766185,3a,75y,172.24h,94.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4pvLjhsAbZSoosoIwidToQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
I am saddened that I’ve never
I am saddened that I’ve never seen this before today..
..see.. twatter is good for some stuff.
peted76 wrote:
Pfffft! I posted about that on yesterday’s live blog:
(Taken from https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23156738.watch-cars-crash-hilarious-north-east-a19-archive-footage/)— hawkinspeter
Thought this would have at
Thought this would have at least made the live blog today, if not a dedicated article, especially as the council admit they wont introduce a segregated route for cyclists, even though the changes are being done because 70% of crashes at this roundabout involved pedestrians or cyclists being hit, because it would cause delays to motorists. I guess the EDP need to up their twitter game.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23159182.plans-revamp-norwichs-heartsease-roundabout-revealed/
Hmmm.
Hmmm.
Just noticed on the Notts website that we are getting some infra near the Mansfield University campus whatever it is called now, and some closer to home on Kirkby Folly Road.
A first -ve they seem to be doing the crossover bikes and peds and run the cycle track along the road kerb thing.
WIll have a look.
Hmm so this was worded to
Hmm so this was worded to make out someone deliberitley tried to take Vine out, but in fact was just a refuse worker doing his work and Vine avoiding the obstacle. OK then.
Yeah – Vine’s bit Marmite for
Yeah – Vine’s bit Marmite for me too. He’s often correct of course … but either he or others sometimes make a bit more story out of it. I think this one is mostly “bin man doing routine task not taking sufficient care with it” story. Obviously didn’t look where he was sending the bin. That’s not good of course, but likely just on autopilot and “it’s not busy here” and didn’t think any further.
Only additional thing to do might be to remind refuse collectors about cycle lanes and that cyclists could be moving considerably faster than pedestrians!
The large point to note is there’s a contribution from this still being a UK cycle lane e.g. visually just another part of the “road” – no kerb, no separation, no change in colour…
Personally I’d note this for the next “why we still need better infra than this even though it’s a wide lane for the UK” discussion. Then put it down to experience. It seems that the cyclist was sensibly being cautious and that paid off.
As a presenter I cannot abide
As a presenter I cannot abide Vine, he is the worse form of shock jock with no discernible journalistic talent or integrity, his radio show is a dreadful exercise is button pushing and shouting people down. Sadly this often bleeds into his cycling advocacy and detracts from when he does raise genuine issues. His recent video on High Street Ken with a taxi was an embaressment of him refusing to move back to the now clear LH lane to try and make a point.
Your likely right the worker was on autopilot and Vine saying it was his morning commute as well as it being dark, I would guess very early hours. Though more care really should have been taken.
I cycle this route myself on my homeward commute back to Charing Cross and it isn’t anywhere near as bad as you think. Traffic is one way and as can be seen traffic signals on the cycle lane (although probably just Vine and myself who bother to actually stop). The biggest hazard later in the day is pedesrrians not paying any attention and walking blindly into the lane, as well as parked cycles in the lane Further up you hit Hammersmith roundabout and in the last few months a segreated and signalled lane has been added around the top going West to East, which is a godsend. Be nice if they did something the other way, as the roundabout is not nice to cycle round, but I am not sure how feasible that would be.
Adam Sutton wrote:
Yeah. It’s another “chicken and egg” one. Although mostly just a minor irritation for me.
The goal would be the Dutch solution – genuine pedestrianised local “centres”* with obviously separate space for cycling and walking elsewhere **.
We should be doing this properly “ahead of time” (e.g. before volume of cyclists / reduction in competition for any pedestrian space makes this self-enforcing). We certainly shouldn’t be paying for more “fight over scraps” shared use stuff especially not “sign it better” re-purposed footways…
* Which are going to be busy with people walking so likely cyclists (like motor vehicles) will naturally take the detours round the sides. And park their bikes at the bike parking around the edges. Oh – we don’t have either of those? Another one for the list!
** Except where one mode is almost absent and overall traffic is low. On longer countryside sections between places the Dutch only build cycle paths – with few cyclists and minimal pedestrians this works fine.