Bus driver filmed undertaking on cycle lane AND pavement; Councillor accused of “petty smear campaign” against cycling activists calling for bike lanes; Cycling club blasted for turning park into “mud bath”; Dan Lloyd breaks ankle + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
Dan Lloyd tries cyclocross… and breaks ankle
The good news is that I did my first cyclocross ride in years today.
The bad news is that I broke my ankle at the tibia after 20 minutes.
More bad news: the UCI masters world championships will have to wait another year.
More good news: no dancing. pic.twitter.com/3YsQZTVk5g
— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) November 8, 2022
So, it turns out that the dreaded curse of the off-season training crash can even affect retired pro cyclists, cruelly denting their diligent winter preparation for those all-important 2023 goals…
Which, in the case of GCN presenter Dan Lloyd – who broke his ankle 20 minutes into an off-road spin on the cyclocross bike yesterday – means upping his TikTok dancing game, of course.
I imagine the scene was somewhat similar to when another British stalwart of the noughties and early 2010s tried his hand at the unforgiving world of ‘cross:
Luckily for Dan, however, his flamboyantly dressed colleague Adam Blythe was on hand with some sound medical advice:
It’s broke.
— Adam Blythe (@AdamBlythe89) November 8, 2022
— Orla Chennaoui (@SportsOrla) November 9, 2022
‘The road is for cars’ and other assorted anti-cycling comments
While Dan covered the latest deranged episode of ‘Small Boy vs. Big Chunk of Metal: Who’s in the Wrong?’ in full yesterday, this particular comment – a response to West Midlands Police’s Mark Hodson (who happens to know a thing or two about road safety) – still managed to jump out amongst a crowded field:
The road is for cars he should of given way to be safe
— Sowd 🍂 (@SowdenLFC) November 4, 2022
Not sure if the attitude or grammar annoys me more 😂 https://t.co/YEA82CKMlb
— 🚴🏻♂️Ralpha (aka Phil)🚴🏻♂️ (@2wheelsnot4) November 9, 2022
Cycling podcasters and their terrible food opinions
Now, well-known cycling YouTuber Benji Naesen – the co-host of the Lanterne Rouge podcast – came in for some flak earlier this year for undertaking some (secret) freelance tactical analysis work for Tour de France winners Jumbo-Visma…
But while Cycling Twitter™ has appeared to have forgiven him for that spot of double jobbing, it seems that Benji may have finally crossed the line with this morning’s highly dubious culinary opinion:
The only correct way to eat a roast dinner is with mayo.
— Benji Naesen (@BenjiNaesen) November 9, 2022
Coming over here, eating our food, criticising our condiments pic.twitter.com/7MFjtpV5z8
— Dan Deakins (@DanDeakins) November 9, 2022
We need Elon to step in and cancel Benjis food takes
— Nathan (@nathanjc8) November 9, 2022
News editor Dan is suitably apoplectic about Benji’s typically Belgian take on roast dinners, and is currently putting together a petition for the podcaster to be cancelled (steady on Dan…).
But with Elisa Longo Borghini firmly established as the peloton’s foremost defender of all things Italian cuisine, surely our very own Lancashire hotpot Hugh Carthy can step up to fulfil a similar role for the UK’s stodgy delicacies?
At this point, I’ve scared more British people off this platform than Elon Musk ever could. 😅
— Benji Naesen (@BenjiNaesen) November 9, 2022
Pro cyclists on holiday
I took this photo while @UranRigoberto did this video 😍 pic.twitter.com/pJNVDecNo3
— Tadej Pogačar (@TamauPogi) November 8, 2022
Pro cyclists also on holiday:
Pogacar na Colômbia 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/Uc8NoQ4h54
— País Do Ciclismo (@opaisdociclismo) November 8, 2022
Cyclocross race has turned park into a “dangerous mud bath”, says councillor
A cycling club in Brighton has been criticised for turning a local park into what one councillor has described as a “dangerous mud bath” following a cyclocross race at the weekend.
Over 300 mud and knobbly tyre enthusiasts ventured to East Brighton Park on Sunday for round eight of the London X League series, hosted by Brighton Mitre Cycling Club.
Last week’s heavy rain ensured the course turned – as the best cyclocross courses tend to – into a particularly brown, mud-spattered affair. So brilliant fun, then.
However, while both Brighton and Hove City Council and British Cycling (who inspected the course beforehand) were happy for the race to go ahead, despite the grisly conditions, some locals and an East Brighton councillor have slammed the event’s organisers, who they argue have turned the park into a “mess”.
“Brighton Mitre Cycling Club, can you please explain why you felt it appropriate to go ahead with this cyclocross event on the wettest week in recent history?” wrote one local on Facebook.
“With the water table being completely saturated it was inevitable that East Brighton Park would turn into a mud bath with 400 wheeled participants winding their way around our beautiful park.
“I know it will recover, this is besides the point – other park users now have to navigate and look at the mess you’ve left behind. I hope it was worth it.”
Councillor Nancy Platts, who helps organise the weekly Park Run event in East Brighton Park, said she was “disappointed” that the race was given the green light, and has claimed that several residents have approached her to express their “shock” at the state of the park.
“It’s council land, so my understanding is that normally if the council thought it was going to be dangerous or that it was going to cause damage they could say it can’t go ahead because the weather is too bad. They could have done that,” Councillor Platts told Brighton and Hove News.
“Perhaps the organisers themselves could have looked at the ground and said, ‘We’re going to call it off’. During the Park Run event we reverse the course during winter so we don’t use the areas where it gets really muddy so people don’t fall over.
“The risk is now that it’s already such a quagmire that it starts to get dangerous because too many people will slip. I’ve had loads of people write to me because they normally walk their dog, kids use the park and we’ve got fitness groups who regularly use the park and massive areas of it now are just mud.
“I just don’t think it’s acceptable to turn the park into that mud bath and I think a lot of people are really shocked by it.”
Clare Johnson, from Brighton Mitre Cycling Club, responded to the concerns raised by the councillor and said she hopes that the club and the council can work together to ensure that the race – and other events in the park – can continue in the future.
“The feedback from the participants, including many local children, was fantastic as was that from local businesses involved in the event (such as the café) so we’re very disappointed if our event has a negative impact upon other events that take place in the park,” the cyclist said.
“Cycling is a fun and healthy activity which should be encouraged but so too is Park Run and given a lot of our members are also park runners, we want to be able to coexist happily in the same space.
“The last time this event was held at East Brighton Park was also in the autumn in wet conditions but while there was some damage to the grass, it was not as widespread as on this occasion. That said, there were also complaints after the previous event about the state of the grass but, then as now, the grass will return faster than people realise.
“Ultimately, there will always be a risk of some short-term damage to grass from any event that sees large groups of people congregate in a small space – concerts, Pride, and team sport fixtures, such as the Rugby pitch in Hove Recreation Ground, and it’s a case of getting the balance correct between the enjoyment of each event and subsequent park use.
“As for any future events, we would welcome the opportunity to work with the council and any other stakeholders to ensure it can continue in a sustainable way, for example holding the event earlier in the year when there is a higher chance of dry conditions.
“The council has indicated that there will be a small additional charge to cover some of the cost of ground repairs.”
A council spokesperson apologised to residents affected by the race’s aftermath but noted that the damage was largely “superficial”.
“We understand the concerns people are feeling about the paths at East Brighton park following the cycling event at the weekend,” the spokesperson said.
“We gave serious consideration to calling the event off because of the weather. But we decided it should go ahead because it was a very valued and popular charity event that enabled hundreds of people young and old to enjoy the outdoors and improve their health and wellbeing.
“We know the paths now need some repair and we apologise to park users who are being affected by this. We will need to do some repair work and this will take place when the ground is drier.
“But ultimately the damage is relatively superficial and the grass land and paths will recover. Our parks are for residents and visitors to enjoy and there is space for everyone.”
Is Alejandro Valverde the new Kenny Dalglish? Former world champion set for staff-rider liaison role at Movistar
We just can’t get rid of him, can we?
Like a bad smell emanating from a broken freezer in Madrid, the now-retired former world champion Alejandro Valverde will still be hanging around the peloton in 2023.
The 42-year-old Spaniard, who hung up his wheels after two tumultuous decades as a pro cyclist at Il Lombardia last month, will continue to be employed by Movistar – the team where he spent the vast majority of his racing career – as a key staff member for next season and beyond.
Speaking at the Saitama Criterium in Japan, Valverde told Spanish sports daily AS that his role will primarily involve him liaising between riders, directors and coaches at a squad which, as any avid viewer of Movistar’s Netflix series will know, is famed for its rather murky lines of communication.
The four-time Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner will also be present at all three grand tours, in the team bus and in the car, and will take part in altitude training camps alongside his new charges.
Valverde’s very hands-on job responsibilities have led some to speculate that it’s all part of a cunning ruse to ease the 2009 Vuelta winner back into the bunch next year, perhaps even in a Graeme Souness or Ruud Gullit-style player-manager role…
Me arse. Valverde isn’t retiring at all is he?https://t.co/SOPg76iIco https://t.co/8hKEd0LEyG
— Cillian Kelly (@irishpeloton) November 9, 2022
He will be racing by April
— William Fotheringham (@willfoth) November 9, 2022
Cycling arrives at the Player Manager role… like… https://t.co/5DQqhVhabq pic.twitter.com/Kl0BuPJtpD
— Rich Mitch (@rich_mitch) November 9, 2022
I can just see that last-minute call-up to the Tour de France now…
Former world champion Chantal van den Broek-Blaak announces pregnancy
The 33-year-old Dutchwoman, who won the 2020 Tour of Flanders and the following year’s Strade Bianche, is the latest female pro to take time out of racing to start a family, following in the pioneering wheel tracks of Lizzie Deignan (who is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her second child) and Elinor Barker, who returned to the peloton in October after having her first child in March.
Van den Broek-Blaak had initially planned to retire following the 2022 classics campaign, but changes to the rules concerning maternity leave in the Women’s WorldTour have convinced her to balance parenthood with her career, and at the start of this year she penned a new deal with SD Work until 2024.
Some road.cc fan mail
This lovely letter popped into the road.cc inbox this afternoon, presumably in response to our story on that terribly contentious cycle hangar in Brighton (though, to be honest, who really knows for sure these days?):
It’s about time these money grabbing assholes got a life and stopped screwing the motorist!! I read that parking permits in Brighton are based on the vehicle’s VED, what asshole came up with that! I live in Leeds and we have a car hating city council, what was an easy city to drive in is now strangled by bloody cycle lanes! THAT ARE NOT USED!!
Can’t beat a touch of shouty All Caps at the end of an email, can you?
Hull hospitals set to install two secure bike compounds to encourage staff to cycle to work
Staff who work at two hospital sites in Hull are being encouraged to cycle to work through the installation of two new secure bike compounds, totalling £180,000.
The two-tier racks will be situated at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital, and will each be able to hold 100 bikes, the BBC reports.
Shower blocks with changing facilities will also be opened by the end of the year alongside the compounds, as part of the trust’s plans to promote active travel.
Alex Best, from Hull University Teaching Hospitals and head of capital for the trust, said the new cycle storage facilities – which he says will be totally secure from “gangs of thieves” – will be a “major asset” to staff thinking about commuting to work by bike.
Another tramadol positive as 35-year-old Ukrainian Mykhaylo Kononenko sanctioned by UCI
A week after Nairo Quintana has lost his Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal against his disqualification from this year’s Tour de France for an infringement of the in-competition ban on tramadol, the Colombian has been joined on the painkiller naughty step by another of the sport’s big names (by that, I mean his name is 17 letters long).
The UCI confirmed today that 35-year-old Ukrainian journeyman Mykhaylo Kononenko – whose teams have included the well-known fan favourites Kolss BDC, the Shenzhen Xidesheng Cycling Team, and Sakarya BB – tested positive for tramadol at September’s road world championships in Wollongong.
Alanya’da yapılan Uluslararası Side Manavgat bisiklet yarışmasını 2. tamamladık 🤗
Sporcumuz Mykhaylo Kononenko’yu başarısından dolayı tebrik ediyoruz 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/mQpoJCsAcA
— Sakarya Büyükşehir Belediyesi (@Sakaryabld) March 20, 2022
> Nairo Quintana loses appeal against Tour de France disqualification for tramadol infringement
As was the case with Quintana, infringements of the in-competition ban on using tramadol are offences under the UCI Medical Rules. They do not constitute anti-doping rule violations and are instead viewed as necessary to protect riders’ health.
Therefore, Kononenko will not be banned from competition but will simply be stripped of his 43rd place in the worlds time trial.
Those pesky positive tests, robbing cycling fans of their precious memories…
Bristol councillor accused of “petty smear campaign” against cycling campaigners calling for protected bike lanes
We support the need for continually improving cycle infrastructure BUT I am appalled at those @BristolCycling campaigners who couldn’t even wait until the break to leave and walked out on the important words from Alun Davies MBE on the work of Disability Equality Commission. 👎🏻 pic.twitter.com/zvpKOoc2fZ
— Cllr Nicola Beech (@nicolabeech) November 8, 2022
A councillor in Bristol has been accused of “petty point scoring” and of conducting a “smear campaign” against cycling campaigners in the city, who she criticised for leaving a council meeting – which discussed the potential for a new cycling plan for Bristol – once the debate had finished.
Last night, Bristol City Council debated a petition by the Bristol Cycling Campaign calling on the local authority to take action to make cycling safer in the city by publishing an updated Bristol Cycling Delivery Plan.
The plan, the petition says, “should include the creation of a comprehensive network of protected cycle lanes connecting all parts of the city” and should guarantee that “existing cycle lanes must not be removed” (something the council was roundly criticised for during the summer) but instead upgraded to national standards.
“Ask yourself, can an unaccompanied 10-year-old cycle to school safely, and will their mum or dad ride to work or the shops?” Bristol Cycling Campaign’s Nick Davies told the Bristol Cable this week. “If the answer is yes, then it’s good enough. If not, it needs improvement.”
The petition also demanded that the delivery plan “should include a strategic city-wide approach to secure cycle parking both in residential areas (cycle hangars) and at transportation hubs and destinations to contain the rampant bike theft that is occurring.
“Additionally, it should include schemes to increase cycling participation like cycle training, safe cycle routes to schools, a cycle loan programme.”
To conclude the thread, here’s the full text of our speech! We hope the mayor and cabinet member will take our petition seriously in their response. We’ll post it when we have it.
Thanks for following 🧡 pic.twitter.com/OkeYqWMRva— Bristol 🧡 Cycling (@BristolCycling) November 8, 2022
The petition has attracted almost 3,900 signatures, which led to it being debated in full by the council yesterday evening (though, oddly, there was confusion in the local press prior to the meeting concerning the extent of Bristol’s safe cycling infrastructure, with the local authority claiming the city contains 75 miles of protected bike lanes, while the Bristol Cycling Campaign says that the number actually falls somewhere between two and five miles. So, six of one…).
During the debate (which is summarised in this Twitter thread), most councillors seemed generally supportive of the campaign’s aims, though there was disagreement over the feasibility and urgency of any comprehensive scheme.
Cllr Alexander also told us he spends a “disproportionate” amount of his time on cycling. We’re not sure what has come of that.
— Bristol 🧡 Cycling (@BristolCycling) November 8, 2022
However, one councillor in particular took the opportunity to criticise the cycling campaigners – not for their proposals, but for leaving the meeting early.
Labour councillor Nicola Beech, the Cabinet Member for Planning, City Resilience and Flooding tweeted during the meeting: “We support the need for continually improving cycle infrastructure BUT I am appalled at those Bristol Cycling campaigners who couldn’t even wait until the break to leave and walked out on the important words from Alun Davies MBE on the work of Disability Equality Commission.”
Last night, Bristol Cycling Campaign apologised for the disruption, noting that its members were not aware that a break had been scheduled as part of the meeting:
Thank you – you don’t need to apologise to me. The disappointing reality is I think your members would have really benefited hearing the disability commissions report and the challenges disabled people are facing across Bristol. You could link up with @BDEFbites to get more info.
— Cllr Nicola Beech (@nicolabeech) November 8, 2022
Noted & sorry it came across that way.
(though also able to catch up later on the subsequent parts of the session)
For myself & others it was the first time attending in person – I certainly wasn’t aware there was a break coming.
Glad to have been there.
👍— Tom Bugs (@BugBrand) November 8, 2022
Of course people can leave no-one is held here against their will. I am and was just incredibly disappointed at how the public gallery cleared out
— Cllr Nicola Beech (@nicolabeech) November 8, 2022
Others, however, weren’t too pleased with the councillor’s criticism of the campaigners’ early exit, which one Twitter user described as “petty point scoring”:
Maybe it’s because the the single issue that’s SO important, that labour have completely failed on, that caused a public demonstration about lack of action on…. Had already been discussed? You show a shocking lack of respect for my life by removing cycle lines!
— Benjamin Nathan (@foxbenbath) November 8, 2022
“APPALLED” not the best use of language looks like petty point scoring – seems like a misunderstanding doesn’t it?
Your tweet is very “REES” like seems like whoever is running the meeting didn’t explain.
Take issue with them not people who gave up their time to make a statement
— Totterdown, Bristol (@Totterdown_) November 8, 2022
It did seem like an unnecessary attempt to demean a group of people who had just gone out of their way to simply ask to feel safe when cycling around the city…
— Pete Hughes (@barefeet_living) November 8, 2022
Watching online, I didn’t sense any real passion from Labour to do even the bare minimum. Other parties voiced far greater commitment. Is it fair to direct your ire towards @BristolCycling? I was appalled that Cllr Alexander failed to respect the chair and overran.
— Martin F, Anti-Tory Coalition, pro-Europe (@martin_frasehog) November 8, 2022
Also, Nicola you are an elected representative getting c. £40k a year to attend these meetings. Community campaigners are attending unpaid, in their own time , so shall we give them the freedom to decide when they choose to leave?
— Mike Oldreive (@MikeOldreive) November 8, 2022
Apt. A Smear Campaign for absolutely no reason.
Thank you, @BristolCycling ! I’m sorry the administration is so petty.
I am appalled at the cycling infrastructure. They act as if their children will never cycle on these streets. https://t.co/aWaTgKqOw9 pic.twitter.com/0k96qkARok
— Joanna Booth (@stillawake) November 8, 2022
While no vote took place on last night’s petition, the council is obligated to write a response to the Bristol Cycling Campaign concerning the its intended course of action within the next two weeks.
“One of the scariest things I’ve ever seen on the roads”: Bus driver filmed undertaking on cycle lane AND pavement
An oft-overlooked bonus of installing more cycling and walking infrastructure everywhere is that, besides the obvious health and climate benefits, pavements and cycle lanes can also occasionally double up as useful emergency bus lanes…
Well, at least that’s what this rather reckless bus driver in south Dublin assumed yesterday morning, when they decided to undertake a queue of traffic – by simply driving with two wheels on the cycle lane and the other two mounting the footpath:
So there I was, sitting in traffic that was stopped between Rathfarnham and Terenure when a Dublin Bus went past me on the inside, in the pavement and bicycle Lane. 11am today. @dublinbusnews @TFIupdates @Dept_Transport @IrishTimes @IrishSunOnline @irishdailymail pic.twitter.com/pfwdpXLC1s
— Kevin Gorman (@KevGor64) November 8, 2022
Now, we see some horrendous examples of dangerous driving here at road.cc, but this is truly astonishing stuff.
The terrifying nature of the motorist’s manoeuvre, undertaken on a residential row lined with houses, is underlined by the appearance of a cyclist in the bike lane mere seconds after the bus – which appears to be out of service – passes, while the bus driver is soon forced to re-join the road by the presence of a motorist pulling out of an adjoining road.
While fortunately there have been no reports of any collisions or injuries following the bus driver’s bike lane-footpath detour, the clip – uploaded to Twitter by a driver stuck in the queue – has sparked quite the reaction online:
This is actually one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen on the roads https://t.co/9TMEwEzKbQ
— Claire Barry-Murphy (@RulesCbm) November 9, 2022
Why even bother calling them foot paths 😮
— Niamh Nic Oistigín (@axisofneevil) November 9, 2022
Wild shit by a @dublinbusnews driver.
Reminded that they wouldn’t let drivers cycle their routes to experience what it’s like to share road space with a bus because they felt it was too dangerous for themselves. Guess some’re just doubling down on being dangerous drivers now. https://t.co/DDTL8qprD3— Normal Name November Dave (@WaveyArt) November 9, 2022
Cycling in Dublin is exciting https://t.co/FD0twqGM68
— Ian Brunswick (@ianbrunswick) November 9, 2022
Careless and dangerous driving!! Using both paths for pedestrian and cycling with that speed what if a child run out one of the houses!! Ridiculous.
— ُMuََhamَّmadْ (@m_o_h_mmad) November 9, 2022
Bloody Cyclists! https://t.co/QxZZanVQxk
— Alan (@Alan_Kelly) November 9, 2022
Of course, there’s always one:
And by best you mean breaking the law and endangering people
— Simon Boyne (@Dub324) November 8, 2022
9 November 2022, 10:30
More on yesterday’s contentious bike hangar story, as Brighton & Hove City Council says it has been “delighted” by the response to the new cycle storage scheme…
Council "investigating" after driver outrage at cycle hangar "deliberately" blocking car parking spaces
Cries of council "incompetence" or even the "continuing war against motorists" have spread across local news reports and social media since the parking facility with space for six bikes was photographed taking up two car parking spaces
9 November 2022, 10:30
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With so many people using and looking at mobie phones whilst driving and other distractions, may I suggest you always wear Hi viz and stay at home.
The design of the "car" has played a role in this. SUVs and what the Americans call "trucks" are exempt from the pedestrian safety regulations which apply to passenger cars. Had the victim been hit by a car designed in the past twenty years he would have been "scooped" onto the bonnet and either over the roof or off to one side. Still a serious injury risk and potentially fatal but they have the benefit of those passive safety systems to improve their chances. With vehicles with such a high bonnet line as this Volvo has what tends to happen is the person bounces off the bonnet and falls on the road in front of the vehicle where they're then run over. This has happened time and time again and is becoming more of an issue as the numbers of vehicles exempt from the safety standards grows.
@Accessibility for all Reducing the speeds wouldn't have helped in this case as the driver was reported doing 65 in a 40 zone on the approach to the junction, his driving described by the witnesses as erratic and evidently had no intention to stop to give way even though he had been warned by the passenger who apparently shouted "bike" three times just before the collision. He would have likely flown through that junction even if it was traffic light controlled with a red light for him at the time. In my own experience the entire area i.e. east of Lymm towards Warburton and along Dunham Road all the way up to Altrincham and past into Hale Barns, all those wealthy, posh settlements around Manchester Airport are best avoided by road cyclists. A disproportionally high number of psycho drivers must for some reason live in that area because every single time I went there on my road bike in the past, I either got harassed myself or witnessed proper dickhead driving - speeding, close passes, overtaking into oncoming traffic or round a blind bend, accelerating towards pedestrians already crossing the road, you name it. I gave up road cycling in that area years ago and only use the local TPT these days.
In respect of the murder charge: based on him hitting Mr Mullins and making no attempt to help him (this killing him), how would the case compare to a hit and run driver who seriously injures or kills a cyclist, knowingly, and flees the scene without helping? Would this make the cut for a murder charge? Or is there something very different going on here that I’m missing? Genuinely curious because I don’t recall there being a murder charge before for this kind of thing unless it was premeditated. In fact, in my experience most cases like this seem to go the opposite way - where the driver can merely say the sun was in their eyes and get away with a slap on the hands.
@Rendel Harris...and there was me dishing out the praise!
@polainm He must also be an already hardened criminal. It wasn't mentioned during the court proceedings to avoid influencing the jurors and ensuring he had a fair trial, but he had been released from prison shortly before this incident and was couch surfing at his cousin's house days before. Just look at his face, he's only 35, but looks older than his victim who was 56. Must have spent half his adult life in prison.
@jaymack They did offer him manslaughter though but he declined to plead guilty. Without wanting to seem curmudgeonly, yes great that they preferred the most serious charges but hard to see how they could have done differently considering that Richardson got out of the car, saw Mr Mullins was stuck underneath and then got back in and carried on. That clearly moved it above anything that falls under death by dangerous driving.
@thrawed Agree - the UK winters are utterly grim; grey, wet & windy. Not the type of weather you really want to go out and ride. Everything get covered in filth, and takes time to clean it after a ride. Oh for colder, drier & crisper days which can be enjoyable to be out in.
@ymm In my view, lax sentencing of dangerous drivers, especially where cyclists are involved, makes the judge, jury and CPS complicit in UK driver culture. This driver is a sociopath.
@Mr Blackbird i reckon the libido is a bit overrated. I'd let that go rather than a limb or a nice bike.
41 thoughts on “Bus driver filmed undertaking on cycle lane AND pavement; Councillor accused of “petty smear campaign” against cycling activists calling for bike lanes; Cycling club blasted for turning park into “mud bath”; Dan Lloyd breaks ankle + more on the live blog”
I get the feeling that
I get the feeling that Bristol City Council would rather waste millions on discussing an underground system (that is almost certain to never be built) than actually designing joined up cycle infrastructure.
Does anyone know how we can
Does anyone know how we can get the minutes of that meeting?
brooksby wrote:
Looks like minutes etc. are available from https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1
Labour councillor Nicola
“We support the need for continually improving cycle infrastructure BUT I am appalled at those Bristol Cycling campaigners who couldn’t even wait until the break to leave and walked out on the important words from Alun Davies MBE on the work of Disability Equality Commission.”
If this woman is appalled, appalled I tell you, by constituents leaving a meeting after their agenda item had been debated, she really ought to consider becoming a hermit to avoid such stressful situations.
Having been to many council meetings trying to promote cycling and to get councils to follow their own policies, I can assure her that most people leave after their item had been discussed. Unless this was the first council meeting she has ever attended, she would know this, so this attack was solely because the constituents were cyclists.
Pathetic.
Re: Bus Driver “One of the
Re: Bus Driver “One of the scariest things I’ve ever seen on the roads”
I have it from good authority from a really respected and respectful person on here that the most dangerous machine on the roads is a 5 year old on a bike.
That Dublin Bus should be
That Dublin Bus should be easy to trace , although not sure why no number plate visible on the footage. The timing of it and its location should allow Dublin Bus to pin down the bus and driver, and there is CCTV footage from many cameras on all buses. Interested in the outcome of this offence. I cycle regularly in Dublin, and the vast majority of bus drivers are respectful of cyclists and other vulnerable road users .
Seagull2 wrote:
I have noticed that a lot of new buses put the number plate behind a (tinted?) glass panel. I don’t know why (I hope it’s not a deliberate attempt to obscure the number plate) but it certainly seems to make the plate harder to read.
Here’s an image of a similar bus – I think from the video the number plate is in the same place. Even on this image, the nunber plate appears to be noticeably harder to read than a normal number plate: https://live.staticflickr.com/5005/5316894741_ecb48f80a1_b.jpg
A slightly different model of bus, but with a similarly obscured number plate, was featured recently in NMOTD: https://road.cc/content/news/nmotd-827-bus-driver-bullies-his-way-gap-296321
I have noticed that a lot of
I have noticed that a lot of new buses put the number plate behind a (tinted?) glass panel
It’s definitely a dodge to hinder identification of the vehicle- you could argue that it’s not necessary in Lancashire where the police won’t do anything about anything anyway. I suppose the bus company thinks that ‘every little helps’
Live and let live; cyclists
Live and let live; cyclists are allowed in bus lanes, so surely we can’t complain when buses use cycle lanes.
eburtthebike wrote:
There’s no point complaining if they do, certainly in London it doesn’t appear to be seen as an offence by either the police or bus companies for buses to cut over solid white lines into the cycle lane as they please.
I was impressed by the
I was impressed by the cyclist taking advantage of a slipstream in a cycle lane…
Bristol does have 75 miles of
Bristol does have 75 miles of protected cycle lanes….. a bit of white paint is all that you need. Cyclist want the Earth and they don’t even pay road tax.
/scar
Scar seems more appropriate
Scar seems more appropriate than Sarc somehow.
Are Irish footwats built to a
Are Irish footways built to a higher standard than English ones? I’m pretty sure I read that English footways aren’t even designed to stand up to a typical motor car, let alone a double-decker bus…
I forgot I had a trailer
I forgot I had a trailer
He couldn’t see he it – no hi
He couldn’t see he it – no hi-vis.
Also “panto season rules” don’t apply for lots of people apparently. Once “he’s behind you” they don’t exist any more so you never turn and look.
chrisonatrike wrote:
But sometimes its the opposite – haven’t you ever been close passed, and then you see the driver checking that you are still upright?
Not that I’ve noticed, but I
Not that I’ve noticed, but I’ve had the opposite of that – people close passing / throwing things at me then passengers looking disappointed that I hadn’t come off…
I forgot I had a trailer
I forgot I had a trailer
So: are you reporting it and will The Filth pay any attention? I know they wouldn’t up here, but we’re mostly solo cyclists operating in our own bubbles so I’d like to hear what actually happens elsewhere.
A quick turn around of
A quick turn around of
Status: Warning letter sent
Hard to fathom how they worked that out.
I pointed out it was 44T and very long and created a huge amount of air displacement. Also at the bottom of the hierarchy of road users, so they should be taking a lot more care than that.
KSI if he had got that wrong, but hey, let’s wait for that instead.
hirsute wrote:
Ouch
hirsute wrote:
They also seem to have forgotten empathy, kindness and respect for the lives of other human beings.
Personally, I would be a bit
Personally, I would be a bit pissed at the state of the park after the cycle cross if I was a regular user. Though it did look fun.
I think the motorist got
I think the motorist got confused: ambulance in hi-viz = cyclist therefore deserved punishment pass.
https://twitter.com/SCAS999/status/1590297124465709066?t=1OpSE2wnMg2kx6hsGi1gHg&s=19
Suspended jail for 8 months + community service for blocking ambulance, slightly less than for murdering a cyclist. Hmm.
IanMSpencer wrote:
South Central Ambulance Service
@SCAS999
Albert Butler sentenced to 8 mths (suspended for 18 mths) for dangerous driving & obstructing/hindering a SCAS emergency worker in Maidenhead. He was also banned for 3 years & given a rehabilitation order. Read more from
@ThamesVP
here: http://ow.ly/50av50Lyt0T
@TVP_Maidenhead
An online report [https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/23112186.albert-butler-court-overtaking-blocking-ambulance/] gives more details, but no explanation from the driver, and includes this:
“He was sentenced at the same court on November 2, to eight months in prison suspended for 18 months. The court order includes a requirement of 20 rehabilitation days, 200 hours of unpaid work, and he must pay court costs of £600.”
I’m assuming a rehabilitation day is something to do with drugs/alcohol? But he doesn’t appear to have been prosecuted for drug/drink driving?
eburtthebike wrote:
Rehabilitation Activity Requirements (RAR) in sentencing are actually separate from Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRR), Alcohol Rehabilitation Requirements (ARR) and Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTRs), they can address a wide range of problems a convicted person might have from counselling about their attitudes, thinking and behaviour, addressing non-dependent alcohol use, education about finances, finding suitable accomodation etc. They’re designed to address underlying issues that may have contributed to offending.
Thanks.
Thanks.
I had a similar thing happen
I had a similar thing happen on the way home tonight. The idiot in the white van started to overtake me in the right lane then sat there at 15mph so I had to go onto the pavement to let the ambulance past. The Mercedes minibus may have been linked to the patient in the ambulance but seemed to me to be trying to overtake it.
If not linked, more likely
If not linked, more likely tailgating it to travel at speed past all the cars that have slowed for it.
Most likely but they moved
Most likely but they moved back into the right lane before the ambulance and then had to brake when the ambulance moved over so this made me think they might be trying to get past. they went out of my sight before i could make up my mind.
And those red light jumping
And those red light jumping cyclists: or is it those nasty cyclists with cameras watching red light jumping drivers, I can’t remember which one we are supposed to get angry about.
Not even close!
Just logged one to WMP from
Just logged one to WMP from Tuesday night. Waiting for the right turn filter light and glancing over my shoulder at the oncoming traffic light. That changes to orange on my view, first set of cars obvious amber chasers which I expect. But 5 seconds after initial amber light and with my right turn light green, a car decides it is too dark and wet to stop and just continues through. Must have heard from Martin it is fine and not risky at all. Reg plate is hard to make out clearly although confirmed the make model colour of car from DVLA check.
Had one even worse later on when traffic lights for cycle lane was green, I was already almost over them and heard a car beep behind me. Quick glance behind and a van was beeping at another cyclist who was also legally crossing as they were in his way, even though there was no legal manouvre that would allow him to be going up that road. Unfortunately no chance of reg reading.
FWIW Norfolk Police have
FWIW Norfolk Police have published a statement on the Exchange Street standoff https://www.norfolk.police.uk/news/latest-news/statement-over-exchange-street-norwich
Awavey wrote:
“On Saturday officers dealt with a woman causing an obstruction of the highway which is an offence – and while cars shouldn’t be driving on the route – there are exceptions such as emergency vehicles on 999 calls.
“We will seek to remove people from the highway for their own safety. We are aware some officers waved through vehicles already committed to the route and these officers will be given suitable guidance.”
But can you be causing an
But can you be causing an obstruction if vehicles are not allowed on the highway?
Moist von Lipwig wrote:
I was just about to write that. There is nothing to obstruct and they sure were not emergency vehicles!
Obstruction does not just
Obstruction does not just apply to obstructing road vehicles, simple standing on the pavement can be obstruction. However, can you obstruct someone who has no legal right to be there?
However, for all their jumping though hoops to excuse the situation, the real admission is that it seems the officer is going to receive training.
Probably be on the same
Probably be on the same courses as the ones arresting all the M25 protest-covering reporters.
I suspect the justification is she stopped one illegal vehicle, others who followed then caused a traffic jam which could have stopped a fire engine arriving in Berlin.
Not that there was one there at the time. It did seem to be a large queue of traffic which does seem to show breaking that law is endemic there. Still it was cars driving down a pedestrian route and not cycles so no risks at all according to the one who requires respect.
“Hull hospitals set to
“Hull hospitals set to install two secure bike compounds to encourage staff to cycle to work”
At last, and it sounds like they’ve got the right idea with showers as well. Fantastic news for the staff and a great example to other work places.
It’s how secure they are.
It’s how secure they are.
The workers tend to do very long shifts, so plenty of scope for scrote doings.
Putting the bike parking areas near where the security guards tend to be is often enough.
If it’s good and secure but at the other end of the site, with a carpark between it and the buildings, no matter how good the lock and how many cameras there are, the scrotes will find a way.
Again it really does feel
Again it really does feel like Brighton can be unusually cyclophobic.
The state of that park reminds me of what they look like after a rugby/football match or one of the local festivals like fringe, except it’s confined to one area.