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Cyclist narrowly avoids collision as lorry driver mounts bike lane to park in much-criticised infra; Spirit Halloween meme goes cycling; “Embarrassing farce”: Fans unimpressed by Tour de France ‘criterium’; Colbrelli retires + more on the live blog
SUMMARY

Weekend round-up: Bike lane etiquette, Hill climb heroes, Shimano talks bike sales, reviews + more
If, like me, you disappeared off into Friday evening never to open your laptop or phone again until an hour or so ago, here’s what you might have missed on the site this weekend…


For the pain lovers it was National Hill Climb Championships (more on that in a bit)… Bithja Jones told us all about why she rode the event in the colours of the Suffragettes…


Elsewhere on road.cc this weekend…


> Review: Classified Powershift Kit & Wheelset
> Shimano says demand for bikes still higher than pre-pandemic despite “signs of cooling down”
> Review: Lusso Paragon Sleeveless Base Layer


> Win! Three Magicshine lights bundles must be won worth a total of £1,168!
"Embarrassing farce": Fans unimpressed by Tour de France 'criterium'
WOW! This must have been some race, yellow jersey-wearing Jonas Vingegaard first, Chris Froome second and Vincenzo Nibali third?! In a crit race?! Incredible drama… you really have to wonder how the sprinters messed this one up?
🤩 The #TDFSG podium 🤩
🏆🇩🇰Jonas Vingegaard 💛
🥈🇬🇧 @chrisfroome
🥉🇮🇹 @vincenzonibali 🦈 pic.twitter.com/y1wmhQsIir— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) October 30, 2022
The Tour de France’s, how shall we say it? The Tour de France’s lucrative off-season crit race in Singapore saw some of the sport’s biggest names go ‘head-to-head’ in an event possibly closer to WrestleMania than the Tour de France…
It was a scripted race…
— Katie (@medicinexthings) October 30, 2022
Vingegaard remporte le Tour de France Prudential Singapour Critérium ! Froome et Nibali compétent le podium
#TDFSG pic.twitter.com/p67j2gC6PG— L’ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) October 30, 2022
Mas not-so-subtely pushing Froome to make sure the scripted criterium doesn’t end with the wrong results. 😂 #TDFSG pic.twitter.com/pOb3sYl2PR
— Benji Naesen (@BenjiNaesen) October 30, 2022
And while it doesn’t particularly annoy me — riders going to collect a handy winter payday in front of a crowd who otherwise would not get to watch their heroes — some people had plenty to say…
This is an embarrassing farce and unworthy of your brand
— Jonathan Hodgkins (@Jon_Hodgkins) October 30, 2022
What a pathetic sham. This is always a good reminder that the Tour de France honor and name are for sale.
— André Costa Silva (@CostaSilvaAndre) October 31, 2022
"A risk that I cannot afford to take": Sonny Colbrelli retires from racing aged 32 after unstable cardiac arrhythmia diagnosis


[📷: Alex Broadway/ SWpix.com]
Sonny Colbrelli has retired at the end of a season which saw him diagnosed with an unstable cardiac arrhythmia. The Italian — who won Paris-Roubaix and the European road race title in 2020 — collapsed after the finish of the opening stage of Volta a Catalunya in March, and has not raced since.


[📷: A.S.O/Pauline Ballet]
The 32-year-old was fitted with a subcutaneous defibrillator implant (ICD), the same device Danish footballer Christian Eriksen got after his frightening collapse at Euro 2020. While Eriksen has returned to the Premier League with Brentford, and now Manchester United, Colbrelli says cycling “is a different sport” and returning to racing is “a risk I cannot afford to take”.
“I say goodbye to cycling and try to do it with a smile for the good it gave me, even if it hurts to say goodbye after a season like last year,” Colbrelli said.
“Cycling is not football. It is a different sport; you ride on the streets. Their training activities take place in a limited area, while in the case of a cyclist, you often find yourself alone for hours on little-travelled roads.


“I admit I considered it [removing the ICD and returning to competition]. Removing the defibrillator is against the medical practice and means removing a lifesaver that is necessary as secondary prevention. A risk too high. A risk that I cannot afford to take.
“I’m ready to keep trying to be a champion, like on the bike.”
Brian Facer steps down as British Cycling CEO


British Cycling has this morning said Brian Facer will step down with immediate effect, by mutual agreement…
More to follow shortly…
Comparing bike lights - the beam comparison engine
We’ll also have the corresponding article and our all-new big bike lights guide on the site later today.
"If someone's little darling in the Congleton area has just come home from Tesco with a seat post I'd very much like it back please": Jason Kenny loses a seatpost
If someone’s little darling in the Congleton area has just come home from Tesco with a seat post I’d very much like it back please pic.twitter.com/HMmR5ArCKx
— Jason Kenny (@JasonKenny107) October 30, 2022
Those mean streets of Congleton…
National Hill Climb Championships round-up — Andrew Feather and Illi Gardner crowned champions
Andrew Feather won a third National Hill Climb Championship yesterday, pipping defending champ Tom Bell to the jersey by two seconds, while Illi Gardner destroyed the women’s field to take a stunning victory too.
Not sure who the photographer is so can’t credit but this is my favourite picture from yesterday. Shows what it takes to win and the fallen bodies in the background showing what it takes to try. pic.twitter.com/0wL25Fw986
— Steven Prince 🌹 (@stevenwbaprince) October 31, 2022
Here’s Feather’s Strava activity in all its glory…
Just the 507w (8w/kg) for five-and-a-half minutes there as he smashed up the Old Shoe, Horseshoe Pass’s steeper brother in 5:29. There were just two seconds between first-placed Feather and runner-up Bell over the 1.55km climb which averages 12.5 per cent.
Impressively, Gardner’s winning time in the women’s event (6:46) was quicker than 220 of the 260-man men’s field…the 23-year-old dethroning Bithja Jones after her two-year reign.
Richard Bussell rounded off the men’s podium…erm…well…using this…
3rd pĺace did it fixed. pic.twitter.com/ucMP2Vl0Fa
— Rory (@rorycrone) October 30, 2022
Sorry, what?
#TrafficPCSO‘s came across this vehicle this afternoon.
Thought process from the driver?
Obviously thinking that it would be safe to have a 6′ metal blind hanging out of his front window.Advice given.#TrafficPCSO‘s pic.twitter.com/neYI8DL4Yj
— GMP Traffic (@gmptraffic) October 29, 2022
Chris Boardman: This is what we can do to help women feel safe exercising in the dark
Writing in yesterday’s Guardian, Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman suggested some ways men can help women continue to exercise through the winter months when the darker evenings may discourage some due to safety fears.
The clocks have gone back, the evenings are drawing in, the weather is changing. None of this makes it easier for people to exercise. For many, the winter nights can be a threat to mental wellbeing.
One in every five women is concerned about sexual harassment when exercising – and three in 10 have experienced it first-hand, while doing physical activity, mostly in streets and parks. And we know that people will not do something – whether that’s walking or cycling to school, or jogging before work – if they do not feel safe doing so.
As a father, I think very differently about the safety of my two daughters compared to that of my sons; I don’t expect my boys to hold their keys in their hand and text when they get to their destination. I don’t feel the need to advise them not to stay out too late or to walk home with a friend.
As men, we can play a big part in reducing the stress that women shoulder. Of course, I know that most of the men reading this aren’t the aggressors and that they would never harass a woman, but the point is that women do not know that.
Amongst the tips that follow: keep your distance, give other people space, don’t make comments…
One final Halloween costume inspiration + reaction to British Cycling CEO Brian Facer stepping down
They may be on the look for a new CEO but British Cycling certainly have the memes covered…
Trick-or-treating ‘fit sorted 👻🎃🧙♀️🐈⬛#LoveMud pic.twitter.com/5anbY0n4ja
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) October 31, 2022
It’s a last-minute entry to the meme template that was keeping the live blog afloat last week…
Oh, and if you missed the big news earlier on…
> British Cycling CEO Brian Facer leaves post with immediate effect
I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. https://t.co/3rGVoNy6ER
— Real Gaz on a proper bike (@gazza_d) October 31, 2022
I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. https://t.co/3rGVoNy6ER
— Real Gaz on a proper bike (@gazza_d) October 31, 2022
Fancy Rapha kit at discounted prices?


Rapha is shipping off some old stock at up to 70 per cent discounts at pop-up sales in Birmingham and Bristol next month.
The Brum event will be at The Compound, 80 Water St, Birmingham B3 1HL, and will run from November 11th to 13th, while the Bristol event will be at The Airstream, Main Courtyards, Paintworks, Bristol BS4 3EH from November 18th to 20th.
Full details will follow soon but Rapha says the Archive Sale Pop-Ups will be “packed with a wide range of clothing and accessories, the Rapha Archive Sales will offer reductions of up to 70 per cent on products from past seasons. RCC members will enjoy priority access.”
Cyclist narrowly avoids collision as lorry driver mounts bike lane to park in much-criticised infra
Leith Walk cycle lane is back on our screens…
The ‘segregated cycle infrastructure’ caused social media meltdown and cries of derision back in the spring when photos of its bizarre zig-zag obstacle course layout went semi-viral amongst the cycling Twitter fraternity…


Oh, not to mention the lamposts — we were told they would be removed eventually — that add one more thing to think about…


So, with that context given, you’ll forgive me for not being too surprised to hear there could well be another way the cycle lane has managed to get worse (and more dangerous)…
Run the tape…
Segregated cycle lanes on #Leithwalk are supposed to keep cyclists safe. That’s not the case @CllrScottArthur , without physical barriers this is what’s happening. What would have happened if it was a kid? pic.twitter.com/IJfw1ixCsg
— Mithotyn (@LeithBertie) October 30, 2022
Nothing says ‘segregated cycling infrastructure’ quite like a wild HGV appearing inches from your right…
It’s always exciting when I cycle to work in the morning, I never know what kind of vehicle I’ll find blocking the #Leithwalk cycle path. pic.twitter.com/4DP3kr6CVl
— Mithotyn (@LeithBertie) October 30, 2022
31 October 2022, 09:05
31 October 2022, 09:05
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Latest Comments
What was that about induced demand?
The defence may well have argued that, and the magistrate may have accepted it, but that's not what the law says. It says that you have only driven without reasonable consideration for others if someone is inconvenienced. But the offence is committed if you drive without due care and attention, OR without reasonable consideration for other person. You have done the first if the driving falls below what would be expected of a careful and competent driver, regardless of whether anyone was inconvenienced. And CPS guidance specifically cites driving too close to another vehicle as an example.
Some years ago (before there was a cycle lane) I used to commute on Sidmouth St. But only because I worked on the London Road campus, from anywhere else there are better alternatives. As a cycle route it runs from between two busy roads, neither of which are exactly cycle friendly. So it's hardly surprising that no cyclists use it.
The officer's comments unfortunately reflect the reality of UK law. While the Highway Code guidance indeed refers to 1.5m, that is not anywhere in the law. And the criteria in law for proving a charge of careless driving does in fact rest on whether the rider is being "inconvenienced", as the discovered several years ago when the Met prosecuted a taxi driver who nearly hit me when cutting into my lane from the left near Marylebone. The prosecution lawyer was a barely competent newbie who fumbled over his words. The court computer was barely capable of playing the video footage, which kept freezing and crashing. The cabbie had an highly assertive defence lawyer who immediately seized on this point, and argued to the magistraite that I clearly hadn't been "inconvenienced" because I had not stopped or swerved, and had carried on my journey. Never mind that didn't have time to do either of those things, or that I was centimetres from being hit - the magistraite acquitted him on those grounds. That is unfortunately the outrageous reality of actually prosecuting a close pass incident. I know it's popular to blame the police and the CPS for not prosecuting enough close passes ... but the fact is the law is inadequate, and if the driver has a good lawyer then they can likely get off most close pass prosecutions.
Let's not forget the protruding "side" mirror...
HTML rules are clearly only partially implemented
please can we have the ability to use bold and italics for emphasis back as well?
As a Reading resident and cyclist, I can say I cannot think of a single occasion when I have seen a cyclist using the Sidmouth St cycle lane, nor can I think of any reason I'd use it myself. It doesn't connect to any other useful cycle routes. I don't rejoice that some of it is going back to motor traffic but I can see why the council is proposing to do that. Reading could really do with a cycleway to cross the town centre west to east and east to west but I'm not holding my breath on that.
Giant are one of the most trustworthy brands out there when it comes to manufacturing components given that they actually own their own production facilities. None of that matters though when it comes to road hookless, I and most other people won't touch it with a barge pole. We're surely at a stage now where it's toxic amongst consumers and it's only a matter of time before the UCI ban it for racing.
Filling the road with one person per car is using the road space more efficiently, amazing, I never realised that.

























58 thoughts on “Cyclist narrowly avoids collision as lorry driver mounts bike lane to park in much-criticised infra; Spirit Halloween meme goes cycling; “Embarrassing farce”: Fans unimpressed by Tour de France ‘criterium’; Colbrelli retires + more on the live blog”
Attempted bikejacking !
Attempted bikejacking !
https://youtu.be/eC7BNVAjyPw?t=149
I reckon the scooter rider is
I reckon the scooter rider is getting his own bike back!
It doesn’t look like a high value bike that a bike thief would specifically target; more likely the scooter rider left this bike momentarily unattended and it got swiped by the tracksuit wearing oik. The aggrieved party then promptly hired a fortuitously placed rental scooter and a medium speed chase ensued!
The cyclist delayed me, so I
The cyclist delayed me, so I will reverse along a main road and cross double white lines to argue about it. That will show him !
https://twitter.com/Northfieldcycl1/status/1586313901251387392
Delaying other car drivers in
Delaying other car drivers in the process.
Round a blind bend, on a road
Round a blind bend, on a road with a 50mph limit and double white lines, across a cross-roads.
The Tour in Singapore was
The Tour in Singapore was simply following an long-established tradition stretching back almost to the start of organised road racing. End-of-season criteriums (criteria?) were an opportunity for fans to see the big names and said names to pick up a payday; unfortunately there was always rather a distance between the expectations of the towns that paid good money to host the events, who wanted to see the stars winning, and the stars themselves, who were in no way keen to knock themselves out at the end of a hard season, so the podium was decided upon beforehand, often with the top men agreeing to split the prize money equally. Younger less established riders might be allowed to go out front and pick up some of the more minor lap prizes, but they all knew better than to try and outdo the superstars in the final.
I’m surprised that anyone is
I’m surprised that anyone is surprised that these events are fixed.
I guess the difference is
I guess the difference is that the old Kermesse season that used to be when the Grand Tour winners got their pay day (having given their winnings from the big race to teammates) was a patchwork of independent races with no affiliation to the Tour. This particular rigged race appears to have been laid on by the ASO. Cue the conspiracy theorists that all cycles rces are fixed…
presumably the same folk will
presumably the same folk will watch all the 6day track events and not raise a murmur 🙂
Awavey wrote:
Off topic, but the “Speeding
Off topic, but the “Speeding should be as socially unacceptable as drink-driving” story from here was posted on Reddit over the weekend, and despite the fact that the r/uk and r/ukpol subs are usually pretty receptive and supportive of cyclist issues, the thread was pretty disappointing to read. A lot of very disingenuous arguments to try and justify what was obviously widespread behaviour (“are you telling me that 70.0001mph on the motorway is as dangerous as 25 pints an a billion shots of tequila before driving?! Nonsense”).
Despite myself and a few others trying to point out that, a) the initial argument was comparing the social acceptance of the two offences, not drawing comparisons of their severity, and b) that most motorists are demonstrated to speed on residential roads, and that speeding is a contributing factor in half of accidents, it mostly fell on deaf ears.
Though I suppose, seeing as DfT stats show that most drivers are speeding most of the time, any random cross-section of the British public will try to defend their own behaviour, so this shouldn’t be surprising.
Yep – possibly the most
Yep – possibly the most common road crime – although driving on footway / illegal parking might top it. So it’s predicable that people aren’t seeing the problem. Witness the speed cameras / motorists are cash cows conversations too.
Having had to stop racing for
Having had to stop racing for a similar reason, I wish Sonny Colbrelli all the best in his future endevours. Not a easy decision to come to terms with.
I do not understand the
I do not understand the complaining about the lorry on the cycling path. When I ride my bike I expect to react to hazards. When I drive my car I expect to react to hazards. When I walk my child to school I expect to react to hazards.
Why are people complaining about having to react to hazards? It is part of every day life.
I agree. My neighbour’s pet
I agree. My neighbour’s pet tiger escaped the other day, and charged at me as I walked up my drive.
Why would I complain about having to react to this hazard? It is part of every day life.
Because the lorry isn’t
Because the lorry isn’t permitted to drive on a mandatory cycle lane in order to park.
I don’t know what it is like
I don’t know what it is like in England, but we teach our children about how to cross the road safely, how to ride a bike safely, how to respect the traffic making important deliveries.
We thank the delivery men for the job they do, for the supplies they provide to the local shops, for the value they provide to society.
If they have to drive up onto a pavement to deliver their goods, so be it. It is no big deal, correct? Are you one of those people walking around with a clip board looking for trouble, like in Germany? I think yes.
Rakia wrote:
Yet on another thread you said you’ve lived in London for some time and you know that we are the rudest people in the world. Something’s not adding up, it’s almost like you’re only posting to get a reaction…
Just in case of editing
Just in case of editing
You teach ‘respect’ in all
You teach ‘respect’ in all cases except for drivers who don’t have to respect vulnerable users, road traffic laws.
BTW we have loading bays in the UK
548 pedestrians were killed by drivers on pavements or verges in the past 13 years (at around 2020)
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/girl-killed-driver-mounted-pavement-27520103
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/delivery-driver-who-mounted-pavement-12782437
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/devastated-dad-slams-lorry-driver-28343064
But hey, keep trolling
Rakia wrote:
I’d be interested to see a comparison of your country’s road fatality statistics vs the the UK if you actually encourage the above behaviour.
So do we. But they don’t get a free pass to ignore traffic laws and endanger other road users just to make their job a little easier.
Incorrect. Objectively incorrect.
You do realise why those “people with clipboards” exist, right? Every word of H&S legislation is written in human blood.
Rakia wrote:
Seems like you find all Londoners rude and all Germans have clipboards and look for trouble.
You should have a look at yourself as you are clearly the problem
Rakia wrote:
Not sure about your country but in the U.K. it is a driving offence to drive over a pavement unless there is a dropped kerb to allow access to a property. The Leith incident shows an HGV being driven onto a pavement. A further 2 offences are committed by the driving and parking on a segregated shared use area. The driver has also ignored the road markings which state no parking at any time and no unloading at any time.
Gosh – busy day for the
Gosh – busy day for the “cycling for everybody” internet task force! You’re asking about pragmatism, right? In the UK what many people think is “pragmatic” for cycling is spending several thousand pounds on “the status quo but with the odd bike sign on a post / a painted line on the tarmac / two less parking spaces”. Or “change is permitted where it doesn’t mean changes for drivers”.
Thankfully someone else has explained what “pragmatism” for cycling looks like in somewhere where mass cycling exists (as opposed to the UK where it’s still currently a dream).
http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2014/08/pragmatism-when-campaigners-and.html
Rakia wrote:
Are you for real?
hawkinspeter wrote:
No.
The nature of the hazard
The nature of the hazard being a driver pulling onto a cycle path (where he’s not supposed to be), over double-yellow lines, without looking probably has something to do with it.
So you’re saying that if someone were to blindly pull into lane three of a motorway and park up to eat thier lunch, nobody should be complaining about that because it’s “just part of life”? Or does this only hold true for cycle infra?
Most of us are capable of expecting to encounter hazards, but still not being thrilled when we do encounter one.
Not just double yellows, but
Not just double yellows, but double no unloading signs, and I can’t decide how long after he started moving across he finally decided to signal, forcing another road user to brake and change direction, which is a test for driving without due consideration.
When I used to drive HGV’s, I
When I used to drive HGV’s, I had absolutely no problem in blocking the road to unload. Even to the point where I was threatened with arrest.
To which my response was “go for it. Give me a moment to shut the curtains up. Move it out the way? What … you want me to drive on the *footpath*. Nope … you want it moved, you move it, and if you ain’t got a C+E, you ain’t getting the keys”
Other images show that this has double yellows and 2 bars … if you read the HWC you might find out what that means.
Cycle paths exist for the safety of cyclists. A vehicle on the road indicating left where there is no left turn does not mean that they can mount the kerb and drive in a protected area.
Oldfatgit wrote:
This is an important point. I must admit, that I would have interpreted the left signal to mean the driver was intending to pull up at the side of the road. Them mounting the pavement and veering across the bike lane would probably have taken me surprise as well.
I agree. A lorry blocked the
I agree. A lorry blocked the entire road near my house the other day. No-one complained – we’re all used to reacting to hazards. Everyone just drove round it using the railway next to it. No fuss.
That sounds silly, doesn’t it? Because of course cyclists can use the road too, or even get off and walk. But most people don’t cycle at all. The vast majority are physically capable of cycling some of their journeys, right now. Many even have a bike. A single temporarily blocked cycle lane or bike path isn’t the reason. Why not then? There aren’t a network of routes which feel safe, pleasant and convenient. There are a network of routes for driving which feel safer, more pleasant and more convenient. The few actually adequate bike paths / lanes routes in existence – which have almost all required huge amounts of campaigning for each – are regularly downgraded by drivers parking / driving in them.
For a response similar to your one – e.g. just go round and don’t fuss – see the article by BikeSnobNYC. However also recognise that this is a middle-aged man who will cycle on regardless. Indeed he’s been cycling in New York and elsewhere in the US for decades. It’s also worth noting that New York is not a cycling mecca – despite the “Bike boom” stuff and lots of optimistic stats I can’t find a current modal share but in 2013 commuting by bike had a massive 1% share. But they have bike lanes – why could that be?
Rakia wrote:
Just fuck off already.
Falling off your bike to
Falling off your bike to avoid being hit is not good enough for TVP
https://twitter.com/MuscleClinicUK/status/1587088275386269696
I remember that one –
I remember that one – probably the worst example I can recall. Ludicrous decision by TVP.
youd like to think theyd have
youd like to think theyd have attempted a prosecution even if it had failed, I mean we had that one where the landrover passed, similar distance away and the lady fell off her bike and the driver was successfully prosecuted.
how is it different if a lorry, at that speed, does near enough the same thing, and the police only spoke to the driver so they could tell the cyclist what he said but didnt take it any further ?
that just doesnt make sense, the only thing I can think they are interpreting (wrongly) is the rear view camera doesnt evidence the closeness of the pass, it shows the near aftermath and you are having to infer whats happening in the bits you cant see, and hence something our loopholey lawyer type could exploit to the drivers advantage.
They are on the wrong side of
They are on the wrong side of the road, so hard to see what defence could be put up unless it was the Helen measures one. But surely not every jury will fall for that
absolutely, hence why I think
absolutely, hence why I think they should have attempted a prosecution. Im just trying to puzzle their logic, and I can only think their issue was you dont see what the truck is doing up front first, and as its that bit you are prosecuting them on, and not the aftermath,even if the aftermath gives you enough of an idea of what was happening up front, theres still wiggle room there a “top lawyer” might exploit, and if TVP only prosecute on absolutes, it might explain it.
They even state the lorry
They even state the lorry driver admitted they didn’t see the cyclist before he decided to pass the farm vehicle. Then took the drivers view that anything that is in front of a lorry driving on the wrong side of the road should dive out of the way as it is “normal” for a lorry to be on the wrong side of the road. Talk about normalising bad driving.
That one is truly disgusting.
That one is truly disgusting.
Re the Leith cycle/ lorry
Re the Leith cycle/ lorry lane. Lets ignore the glaring criminal safety issues for a mo. What about the physical damage being done to brand new (not yet officially opened) infrastructure installed at great expense? Pavements are not constructed to the same spec as roads and are not expected or able to take the weight of cars never mind lorries. But will our beloved clowncil do anything about it? No chance. They’ll simply move on to their next grandiose plan with ne’er a glance back.
If it was my money invested I’d be damn sure to safeguard my investment. Oh wait a minute it is my money!
True.
True.
Does anyone remember this story from June? https://road.cc/content/news/dangerous-cycle-lane-fenced-293383
Well, it has still not been opened for general use and is still fenced off (to pedestrians and cyclists) and used as a parking area for deliveries (vans/lorries). So by the time it finally opens – if ever – it will be well and truly “worn in”.
And the contraflow cycle lane along there has been painted over because the shiny new shared use path was supposed to be in use!
I’ve located raika
I’ve located Rakia
https://twitter.com/HarryHamishGray/status/1587047855138676736
This van was parked in the cycle lane, so I waited for him to move After a chat he set off and drove his van towards me, into the bike lane running over the kerb and wands, nearly hitting me
His excuse for blocking the entire cycle lane was ‘I was doing a delivery’
Maybe GMP were being unfair
Maybe GMP were being unfair to the driver of that Mercedes.
Maybe they were so desperate to make sure they passed cyclists safely, the six foot pole helped them gauge their passing distance…

I’m a bit late reading the
I’m a bit late reading the blog today so may have missed any reactions to this classic Express article in the motoring section.
Nice quotes lifted to make a headline…
“Cyclists warned riding in the middle of the road is ‘daft’ after Highway Code changes”
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1689572/driving-law-changes-cyclists-driver-warning-highway-code#conversation-wrapper
ending with this gem:
ending with this gem:
They said the new rules could put “too much burden” on the drivers of vehicles to spot cyclists who do not always wear hi-viz jackets.
I think I have an idea that they consulted an expert Bikeability instructor.
IanMSpencer wrote:
Or a particularly slimey lawyer.
You mean “a top lawyer”?
You mean “a top lawyer”?
Jason Kenny rides an e-bike?!
Jason Kenny rides an e-bike?!
IanMSpencer wrote:
No wonder he is so fast!!
Cyclist narrowly avoids
“Cyclist narrowly avoids collision as lorry driver mounts bike lane”
Or recently on my commute:
“Cyclist s**ts themselves and narrowly avoids collision with lorry by mounting the pavement.”
A couple of seconds before this pic it was directly behind me and not slowing so I bailed out onto the pavement. Obviously I sent it to the police.
I’m trying to work out where
I’m trying to work out where that is. Obviously close enough to Brum Centre to have the signs for the attractions, but seems to be just fields on that side. Somewhere to the South?
A38 Tyburn Road. The central
A38 Tyburn Road. The central reservation is a very wide strip of bushes and trees there.
Ah, now I know where. I
Ah, now I know where. I assumed single carriageway due to them not wanting to cross into the other lane. Probably thought he would punish you for not using the clarely demarked cycle lane on the pavement (parking spots really but it is a dumb lorry driver so…..)
They didn’t want to change
They didn’t want to change lane due to the fact they were undertaking multiple other vehicles at the time.
99% of lorry drivers passing me are great and change lanes and then it’s usually a VW or Audi that undertakes them and close passes me.
What is the number plate
What is the number plate blacked out?
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP wrote:
I suspect it’s an attempt to limit the number of excuses the police might deploy to avoid taking any formal action.
Spot on. It was only reported
Spot on. It was only reported a couple of weeks ago so why risk giving them an excuse to bin it.
‘If someone’s little darling
‘If someone’s little darling in the Congleton area has just come home from Tesco with a seat post I’d very much like it back please”: Jason Kenny loses a seatpost’
chain those seat posts to the frame. Saddles and seat posts for GSDs like to disappear otherwise.