“What a mess”: Chaos as live traffic passes metres from peloton; Mr Loophole weighs in on bike theft stats; Cyclists react to Just Stop Oil turning to pedal-powered protest; Close pass op attracts attention; Commuter counting + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Police close pass op attracts calls for proper reporting platform (+ the usual anti-cycling bingo)
Officers across Northern Ireland yesterday took part in close pass operations, whereby plain clothes officers ride a bicycle along a stretch of road, flagging any dangerous driving to colleagues further along the road who then educate/enforce a penalty.
And while any action to try to “raise awareness of cycle safety” is appreciated, one Belfast cyclist pointed out it would also be useful if cyclists had an Operation SNAP-style reporting portal to submit footage of dangerous driving, rather than the current system where complaints go through PSNI’s ‘Online Incident Reporting’.
In response to an FOI request by a Mr Murray in March, “PSNI can advise we do intend to introduce a scheme matching Operation Snap used by UK police forces. Research has been conducted with UK forces to establish how the scheme operates and best practice. Enquiries have also been made regarding the technology and training required to run the scheme.”
Interestingly, the FOI also revealed such a platform would cost “£3,500 per annum, with an additional £2,000 set up cost”, plus staffing costs.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a police force talking about cyclists without a touch of anti-cycling bingo…
“All very good, but when are you going to get cyclist off the footpaths and enforce that in town centres.”
“Are there any plans to make the use of cycle lanes compulsory?”
“Can you also educate cyclists on how to use cycle lanes & also the road in general when there aren’t any. From what I can see they are a law onto themselves when sharing the road.”
“Tell the cyclists, especially cycle clubs, to stop at red lights at pedestrian crossing and not just drive through!”
“Will you be riding side by side at 5 miles an hour moaning at all the drivers who unlike you have to take a test and pay to use the road”
Saved my favourite for the end there…
Waves of London cycle commuters "absolutely everywhere"
Here’s a lovely sight for your Friday morning…
It’s almost shocking to get back to London at rush hour and see people commuting home through central London absolutely everywhere pic.twitter.com/LB10OhRq19
— Danny Williams (@citycyclists) June 8, 2023
Strange, I thought the Northern Ireland comments told us cyclists don’t stop at red lights…
Ukrainian cyclist goes viral after being seen casually riding by as missile launched
What time is it?
I love the casual cycler 😂 pic.twitter.com/OCJA8UXtJl
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) June 8, 2023
Well that’s an interesting take on Near Miss of the Day…
Back in February 2022 we shared a picture on our live blog of a Kyiv cyclist spotted training “surrounded by tanks” in one of the most surreal photos of the year. Days later, more Strava activities from the city were spotted online.
Chris Boardman: £18 billion needed to deliver cycling goals
Chris Boardman believes £18 billion is needed to grow cycling equitably between rural and urban areas, Laura Laker has reported for Cycling Industry News. The current budget is £3.8 billion, the head of Active Travel England noting that to meet the 2030 target (of half of all journeys in towns and cities being make by walking or cycling) will cost £9 billion, while to do things equally in rural areas also would cost double.
“If we focus on areas of high population density, we focus on [authorities] who have the capability now to meet the targets by 2030, we can do that. If we want to spread it more equitably across the country, go to rural areas, then that will move towards the £18 billion, and that’s a governmental choice,” Boardman said.
“We know that 31 per cent fewer young people are now owning cars. That’s not how they want to spend their available disposable income, and they’re looking for alternatives. I think right now we also have a duty to ensure that people have access to cheap transport.
“Active travel provides all of that for the local journeys, the vast majority of which are less than five miles, and a huge, around about a third, are less than a mile. So it is a part of our future as part of an integrated transport system.”
Bike registration plates, insurance, mandatory helmets, indicators... thankfully not from the UK this time...
Mr Loophole weighs in on bike theft stats... apparently number plates are the answer
Ah well, I thought we were free of the numbel plate ‘debate’ here in the UK, spoke too soon…
https://t.co/0rBzYKxNBx
Simple solution – bikes should have number plates #cycling #cyclists— Nick Freeman (@TheMrLoophole) June 8, 2023
Must be quiet on the celebs needing motoring loopholes front. As we all know number plates have eradicated car theft entirely… oh, wait…
It’s going to be a long afternoon reading about Bike Register and the fact that many frames have a number already… much like, I don’t know, a VIN on a car. I guess all of the above is assuming the tweet is a serious suggestion and not just some early weekend trolling.
One alternative from the replies? “Or stop people who find loopholes to get criminals off due punishment. This might be more of a deterrent if criminals knew they wouldn’t get away with it.” And while I’m not sure there are too many loopholes regarding theft, certainly none that this lawyer deals with, still an amusing thought for this extremely serious discussion.
Many of them have @bikeregister number burned to the frame. It doesn’t help. Same as car VIN numbers don’t guarantee recovery. The problem is in authorities’ inaction.
— PhoneKills (@phonekills) June 8, 2023
Just Stop Oil begin slow cycling protests
Brian Moore suffers the dreaded "embarrassing un-clipping incident"
This should come with a trigger warning for all of us who’ve suffered similar…
I’ve been riding a few years now, but you’re never more than one moment’s inattention away from an embarrassing un-clipping incident.
Of course, it happened at a packed set of traffic lights.— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) June 8, 2023
Fortunately no schoolchildren, just a sizeable group of building workers who I’m sure were extremely sympathetic in their laughter…
We’ve all been there. Mine happened to be a morning commute at a busy zebra crossing, made worse by the fact the heavily worn cleat which wouldn’t unclip, still refused to budge as I was lying on the floor… serves me right for being cheap and forcing every last pedal stroke out of them…
Fortunately, I haven’t managed it again since, unlike the former England rugby international (don’t worry, Brian, I’m sure I’ll make it 2-2 at some point).
Close to your anniversary..!https://t.co/n3rDYC4Plm
— Phil Jones (@philpmj) June 8, 2023
Time for your tales…
Richard Cotton: “I was fortunate that it happened to me in a fairly quiet country lane. However, I was unfortunate in that I went down on the drive train side and bent the rear mech inwards!”
James Flibble: “My first attempt with clips, I got to the end of the road. Neighbours were chatting in the front garden. Clips wouldn’t release, I fell in what seemed to be slow motion. They were delighted, I was less impressed.”
James Shepherd wins… “When I first started riding clipless, I came down on the Fulham road at 5pm on a match day. 100s of Chelsea fans signing ‘she fell over’ as I lay on the ground.”
At least none of the above ended up on camera…
First ride of the year and I forgot the golden rule – if in doubt, clip out!😂🙈 pic.twitter.com/CHZm01XZ5N
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) February 26, 2021
Your reaction as Just Stop Oil turn to pedal-powered protest
You might have seen this earlier today…
> Just Stop Oil begin slow cycling protests
Bit of concern about the knock-on effect of Just Stop Oil taking their protests to two wheels. We got in touch with JSO and were told: “We are happy to show solidarity with cyclists everywhere and ask them to join us in civil resistance. Whether marching or cycling we will continue to do whatever is non-violently possible to end new oil and gas.”
We’ve asked again specifically about the concerns we’ve read, suggesting this change of tactic might increase hostility towards cyclists. In the meantime, here are some of your thoughts…
In terms of legal strategy it’s a really good idea – makes it very dark grey as to whether it’s “obstructing the public highway”.
— Tobster 🌥️ (@iamtobster) June 9, 2023
solidarity with cyclists by making sure ppl hate a group unrelated JSO a bit more?
— josh heslop (@joshheslop3) June 9, 2023
Rich_cb: “Excellent news. Personally I don’t feel that there is enough animosity towards cyclists. It’s nice of JSO to try and rectify that.”
Morgoth985: “I’m not sure. You might also say that there’s so much animosity towards cyclists, so what difference does it make?”
Steve K: “Hi Viz, tick. Helmets, tick. What are people complaining about?”
brooksby: “How long until Braverman decides to ban bicycles ‘just in case’…?”
Muddy Ford: “Great, so now I have to throw my orange cycling jacket away to avoid the brain dead in Corsas and Transit vans believing they are rightously mowing me down in support of ‘hard working man’ thinking I’m part of a JSO protest.”
What do you reckon? Does it matter? Will it see increased hostility towards cyclists? Do you support Just Stop Oil’s change of tactic?
"So how did you all end up with broken collarbones?"
Nobody’s safe when @LukeRowe1990 is about. 👻 pic.twitter.com/Gz1R8pZGtG
— Watts Occurring (@Watts_Occurring) June 9, 2023
Dauphiné round-up: Georg Zimmermann wins stage six from the breakaway
VICTORY FOR GIGI ZIMMERMANN!!!! #Dauphiné pic.twitter.com/TIS8NtjfnO
— Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (@IntermarcheCW) June 9, 2023
Away from the carnage in the Pyrenees there was also a Dauphiné stage this afternoon, won by Intermarché-Circus-Wanty’s Georg Zimmermann, the German dramatically overhauling Mathieu Burgaudeau in the final metres.
“To be honest, I can’t believe it,” he said at the finish. “It’s been a while since I won my last race, in the Tour de l’Ain in the summer of 2021. Winning a bike race is a feeling I can’t really describe. I’m overwhelmed. A rider like me doesn’t experience this so often so I enjoy it as much as possible. Yesterday I already felt strong and today I tried again.
“I don’t experience the winning feeling very often. It’s indescribable. I was not afraid to lose. First or second place, I knew I would give my best. I am so proud to deliver this victory!”
Italy's Deputy PM Salvini backpedals on number plates for cyclists – "It's just for scooters"
Impressively quick U-turn there, might have even beaten Grant Shapps’ record from last summer, aptly on the same issue…
> Italy’s Deputy PM Salvini backpedals on number plates for cyclists – “It’s just for scooters”
"What a mess": Chaos as live traffic passes metres from racing peloton
Boy was the opening stage of the 2.1 CIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées eventful. In the end, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio took the victory ahead of Britain’s Anna Henderson, but the stage will be remembered for all the wrong reasons as the peloton was put metres from danger repeatedly.
We’re not talking about one stray local accidentaly ending up in the middle of a bike race after reversing out their drive at the wrong time. No, we’re talking about this level of ridiculousness…
❌ Vehículos con tráfico abierto mientras @yuraniblanco del @LABORALkTeam va escapada
🚗 Coches ocupando gran parte de la calzada al paso por el pelotón en la 1ª etapa Tour des Pyrénées#EsenciaCiclista #TourPyrenees #CICTourFéminin pic.twitter.com/UUNrvhZpEw
— Esencia Ciclista (@EsenciaCiclista) June 9, 2023
And worse still, on the narrow streets of Lourdes near the finish…(insert your own divine intervention/praying jokes, I don’t have the energy)… just as well Carlton Kirby has been sent to the Dauphiné…
🤬 Caótico final, y etapa completa, en el Tour des Pyrénées con coches en marcha en los últimos kilómetros, gente en la calzada, autobuses parados…#EsenciaCiclista #TourPyrenees #CICTourFéminin pic.twitter.com/OOBWBgOyZC
— Esencia Ciclista (@EsenciaCiclista) June 9, 2023
Quite rightly, serious questions will be asked of the organisation after that…
9 June 2023, 08:25
9 June 2023, 08:25
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@Smoggysteve "Most would happily ride on the roads and be treated with respect by drivers". But people aren't - and as far as I can see they won't be. Not until there is a lot less driving and it's slower around cyclists, and far more people driving have "skin in the game" eg. they sometimes cycle and their friends and family do also. That's what leads to the model - which is perhaps most advanced in NL - where cycling, walking and driving are all seen as separate normal transport modes. Their needs, vulnerabilities and any dangers to others are considered. And *that* leads to "mix / share when possible, separate when necessary". But "possible" is "where your 10-year old would be safe to cycle unsupervised" - so very few motor vehicles, going slow! And AFAICS everybody - even "existing cyclists" - is happy with the result. (I dunno about a few pro cyclists - but don't they tend to have training camps in different counties anyway?)
@quiff as an Edinburgh resident I can confidently say he's speaking without moving his lips in one sense: - while as I noted in a separate comment there *is* now some real separated cycle infra, all the examples i can think of have *at least as much space* for pedestrians. The rest of the "cycle infra" is essentially similar to the situation in the rest of the UK: eg. bus lanes*, cycle lanes and shared use paths (eg. "build" infra by sticking up a sign). Edinburgh is one of the places with a moderately extensive network of former railways which have been converted to "shared use" paths (completely motor traffic few). However though shared they are not narrow by UK standards. And this is all effectively a "free extra" for all non- motorised users, not like the "sign a cycle path" where pedestrians do lose space. I think this all comes from the "popular understanding" of cycling in which ultimately cyclists are the "other". They don't fit "motor vehicle" or "pedestrian" (including wheelchairs on the very rare occasions people think about that). Thus "cyclists are cheating" in multiple ways! They shouldn't get their own space as "there aren't enough" of them. And "they can just use the road / path". But being able to *choose* "on the road" or "on the footway" (shared use path) is clearly unfair - nobody else gets to do that! BUT of course even if they did pick just one of road OR pedestrian space it's still not fair anyway because they're "too slow" for the road (don't pay "road tax" etc...) and "far too fast" for pedestrians... * Though some existing cyclists may appreciate them when there are few buses, buses and bikes are a very poor mix for several reasons.
Whilst a shame for any employees, their bib shorts had the worst chamois pad I’d ever encountered, utter waste of my money. Even though they were Strava challenge discount purchases, still a waste of money.
Thanks, just going to have to suck it up. Got next week off and will take the easy, if expensive option...
@ktache Just go for the TNT Sports only package, £30.99 for a month. Alternatively have you considered experimenting with a VPN for a few pounds, allowing you to sign up for a free stream abroad, e.g. SBS Australia which streams the Tour live? If I didn't have a kind mate's login that's what I'd do!
So, it's now the month of July and I'm going to have to pay to watch the TdF, for one month only. On a tablet unfortunately, as I didn't manage to get a laptop to rig up to the TV, grrr. Just wondering, what package will I have to fork out for? Not wanting to pay for the wrong one...
Not that it sounds like a dealbreaker given the other faults you've identified, but that cable isn't really a "proprietary" cable, four pin magnetic cables like that are quite common on bone-conducting headphones and other devices (my inexpensive smartwatch uses one) and they can be had for £4.99 on UK Amazon.
There was never really anything to say about le col kit. Most of it was alright. Some of it was poorly designed/made. Trying to position yourself as a Rapha competitor whilst always offering 40% or more off doesn't scream premium though.
Up next in the MucOff product line; for when the cassette won't budge, (chain)whip-it!
28 thoughts on ““What a mess”: Chaos as live traffic passes metres from peloton; Mr Loophole weighs in on bike theft stats; Cyclists react to Just Stop Oil turning to pedal-powered protest; Close pass op attracts attention; Commuter counting + more on the live blog”
I recognise that its odd, but
I recognise that its odd, but I get a little giddy when I see that many cyclists in one place (that aren’t a club/in a race)
I simply can’t imagine doing my commute with so many other cyclists around. It is brilliant to see. I am almost tempted to travel to London just to cycle amongst them all!
Common site in many countries
Common site in many countries around the world. Holland being the obvious example. Its the UK that is by far the most anti-cycling nation in Europe. We see this as some sort of abnormality yet other nations have done more to integrate it into their road infrastructure.
Maybe the UK never will be as cycle friendly as we could be. Car will always be king and as they get bigger and faster its the ones who want to cycle are getting made to suffer.
There are a few laws that
There are a few laws that would be so unpopular there would likely be riots in the streets but that are completely common sense when it comes to cars and would unquestionably make the roads safer for all users:
1- The maximum legal speed on any UK road is currently 70mph. All new cars sold should be speed limited to 70mph. – This will likely never happen as car companies would lose sales as car-ists would stop buying new cars to get around the limiters.
2- The driving test is the minimum standard for safe driving on the road. Anything which would be a major fault on a driving test should result in instant revokation of the license until a retest has been taken. (yes, that should include speeding, mobile phone use, close passes etc) – This will likely never happen as driving test centres would be completely overwhelmed and backlogged for years.
3- Use of a vehicle as a weapon should result in a permenant driving ban, anyone caught driving while banned should be jailed. There is no reason this shouldn’t happen.
Excellent ideas! I would also
Excellent ideas! I would also add that I don’t see why cars cannot be limited to the speed limit at their location. I mean, they’re all connected to internet and GPS, and so on, so technically it should be feasible. In Europe they are already talking about speed pedelecs which would be limited to certain speeds on bike lanes, and different speeds as light motorcycles on other roads.
OK, OK, newish cars, at least
OK, OK, newish cars, at least.
There is talk of speed limit
There is talk of speed limit geofencing on hired escooters.
HoldingOn wrote:
These pictures really annoy me.
But only because they are on my commute but I’m never in them!
If they took a photo in my
If they took a photo in my area, I would have (in my experience) a 1 in 12 chance of being the cyclist!
We strange few, we strange
We strange few, we strange happy few
“I am almost tempted to
“I am almost tempted to travel to London just to cycle amongst them all!”
You can cure that with a morning trip up Borough High Street, where everyone (who isn’t me) is invariably an idiot regardless of their choice of transport.
This week’s special prize went to the gentleman on a cargo bike who only stopped at the many red lights long enough to tell the cyclists asking him to be a bit more careful that they were “cunts” and that he “doesn’t stop for red fucking lights”. Thanks mate, hope the buses treat you with more care than you did that woman who was crossing at a green man.
Regarding the close pass
Regarding the close pass operation, I fail to see the issue. My good friend, infallible human being and overall good egg tells me that
I thought it was more important than that, but I stood corrected. Perhaps the police should take a good lesson from Rendel too and stop wasting taxpayers money on something as useless as saving lives.
Well, given the intention of
Well, given the intention of that post is to embarrass someone, you’ve done a good job. Unfortunately it’s not me you’ve managed to embarrass, these things do have a habit of backfiring. Get well soon xxxx
Rendel Harris wrote:
Not my intention at all. You made a good point on the other thread. So good I thought I would share it here.
Thank you for your continued service keeping us all honest.
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Agreed. That’s his life purpose. We are SO grateful.
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I’m going to regret getting
I’m going to regret getting involved in this. I know I am.
BlackBelt Barrister explains it much better than I could ever hope to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ6QxRqsmE4
Really worth a watch. He does some great videos.
HoldingOn wrote:
That video is all well and good and that Black Belt Barrister fella seems very knowledgeable, but my good friend Rendel has told me that it’s actually “purely advisory”. He quoted the highway code a few times and was pretty adamant. I’m going to go with his assessment. He comes across as a knowledgeable guy with a wealth of expertise across a variety of subject matters.
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Rendy ‘adamant’ you say?
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How DARE YOU, Sir?!!!
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Rendy has ‘a wealth of expertise across a variety of subject matters’?
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How DARE YOU, Sir?!
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It’s surely very clear that Rendy has a wealth of expertise about EVERYTHING!
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Why don’t you ever have
Why don’t you ever have anything to say for yourself? You’re like the snotty little kid who follows the school bully around and gets a kick in once the fight’s over. It’s truly pathetic and deeply sad.
Rendel Harris wrote:
If you’re so thin-skinned that my calling out your ignorance and reminding you of things you said 2 days prior amounts to bullying, I think you have no business accusing others of being “truly pathetic and deeply sad”.
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LEAVE RENDY ALONE!
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Rendy is the only one who is permitted to bully, threaten, try to cancel those who dare to have different views to him, or even to ‘keep his eye on you’ (!! shock!).
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But, fair play, he does provide some of the adults on here with a bit of a giggle.
Flintshire Boy wrote:
Jolly good. Well, as I’ve just had the most fantastic ride out in the sunshine with wife and mates and am now about to crack a few cold ones and watch the Dauphine “as live” I think I’ll leave you two to it. You seem eminently suited to each other, I hope you’ll be very happy.
As a Parthian shot I would say that it’s amusing to note that every time you have tried to get one of your “let’s get Trendy Rendy” (and you’re an adult in your imagination? Incredible) bullygroups going with another user, that person has eventually ended up banned from the site: Martin73, thisismyusername, Nigel and all his many reiterations and several others…if a man is judged by the company he keeps…
Drivists: “Ooh, they’re out
Drivists: “Ooh, they’re out to get me and my illegal driving habits, how dare they!”
Brian Moore?
Brian Moore?
Who cares, shit happens.
Far more interesting is Labour rowing back on their £28bn pledge to green the economy.
Thank god for Just Stop Oil to keep up the fight against Climate Change. It makes me laugh how people get outraged at their tactics when we are staring into the abyss and all the twonks who want to get to work, won’t have fuck all work to go to in a decade or two when everything goes tits up.
Owd Big ‘Ead wrote:
But weren’t they “rowing back” on that pledge because they’ve had another look at the numbers and realised quite how badly the Tories have f-ed up the economy…?
Yeah, to a degree, but all
Yeah, to a degree, but all the parliamentarians are going to blame anyone else but themselves.
That Michael Owen clip …
That Michael Owen clip … hardly the first time he’s gone down when under no external pressure whatsoever, is it? 😉
My own finest clipless moment was on my way to work in Oxford years back, stopped at the traffic lights at the end of The High just before Magdalen and … oops.
Bunch of students on their way to sit exams were pissing themselves laughing, I’d like to think that memories of the hilarious scene it distracted one or two of them enough over the next couple of hours that they dropped a grade.
Was it too expensive to
Was it too expensive to organise closed roads – or even rolling closures – for the Tour des Pyrenees? It seems a bit of an oversight…