Video: Extreme cycle lane parking; Pinarello reveal Ineos Grenadiers Dogma F12 (it’s blue); “What chaos?” residents hit back at local paper’s traffic-free zone "chaos" report; Ex MP calls TfL ad "thoughtless wokism"; McDonalds trial bike-in service +more

[UK] Fed up of cars parking in the cycle lane... from r/CyclistsWithCameras

Who, what, when, where, how??? There are so many questions and so few answers in this few seconds of footage, which appears to have been recorded by a cyclist in London, showing a car left completely overturned in a cycle lane while everyone else goes about their business. 

We'll try to get in touch with the cameraperson to get some more details, but in the meantime we may have to add this to the list of reasons why cyclists might sometimes decide not to use the cycle lane in our feature on the subject. 

Healthcare professionals are piloting a scheme which will ‘prescribe’ outdoor activities for some people with poor mental health and other conditions.

Learn more 👉 https://t.co/9hmtny4JAq@Mike_InsightABC @BCbeactive @WestMids_CA @andy4wm pic.twitter.com/XDKRaGlgnQ

— Black Country LEP (@blackcountrylep) August 26, 2020

The Active Black Country project will be run across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, and forms part of a West Midlands Combined Authority campaign to encourage more walking and cycling. A group of patients in each of the four regions will be 'prescribed' activities such as cycling and walking to combat various conditions, such as poor mental health, loneliness, isolation and complex social needs to improve their wellbeing.

Patients will be given a guide on cycling and walking, which will include locations of parks and green spaces available to them. They will also receive advice and guidance about the health-related benefits of being active, plus follow-up consultations to gauge the impact.

The pilot is set to run over four weeks - the first scheme of its kind was trialled in West Yorkshire back in November last year, and was deemed a success.  

A new era for the @INEOSGrenadiers begins today.

We'll introduce our new team at 5pm BST/6pm CEST. pic.twitter.com/co8ClmcK2k

— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) August 26, 2020

The stage is set at @ogcnice!

You can watch us introduce the INEOS Grenadiers via our Facebook and YouTube channels from 5pm BST/6pm CEST.#TDF2020 #INEOStogether pic.twitter.com/EYRWH1sBGn

— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) August 26, 2020

And with Gabby Logan on presenting duties, the team are going all out with the rebrand. 

Very excited to see this all set up for Bedford Place’s new pedestrianised area in Southampton! It’s had some mixed responses, but I’m all for it.

I love the idea of more outdoor dining space, and it’ll be so much easier to stay safely distanced in such a busy area. pic.twitter.com/3JUrrWQcwu

— Jo Fisher (@joannefisher) August 21, 2020

The latest place to be affected by people/newspapers who think they will be affected by traffic-free and Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes is Southampton, with the Daily Echo reporting that families are condemning the "chaos" it is causing. 

Barriers were installed on Friday to close Bedford Place to motor traffic, with supporters saying it will curb pollution and help traders in their recovery from lockdown; but some say drivers need to be made more aware, with a resident telling the Echo: “Friday was a nightmare. Okay, it was day one of the scheme and the council seem to think things will sort themselves out but there needs to be continuous monitoring." 

According to a number of people who said they have been in Bedford Place since the barriers were installed, the only hint of chaos was caused by motorists who were still attempting to drive through.

📝 Update: Likely false positive test before the Bretagne Classic: Ralph Denk expresses doubts about the current UCI COVID test strategy.

Read more here: https://t.co/wI6kS1VDHh pic.twitter.com/Oq0Y0Wgvj3

— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) August 25, 2020

Yesterday, Bora announced two hours after naming their team for Bretagne Classic that they would be withdrawing because a squad member had tested positive for Covid-19... but there was another twist in the tale, because it turned out the test most likely wasn't a positive at all. The team say a further test came back negative, and all other riders and staff returned negative results. 

Bora's Team Manager Ralph Denk criticised the testing procedure, saying in a statement: "It looks like my concerns are being confirmed. It is known that PCR tests have a certain rate of error and thus produce false positive results. This in itself would not be a problem, if there were the possibility to check the results immediately in the case of a positive finding.

"We are talking about athletes who have prepared for a race for weeks or months and then might not be allowed to start the event due to a false finding. Today we withdrew our entire team from a WordTour race. It's all about points, but it's also about presence in the media, in other words, the advertising value upon which the commitments of our sponsors are based. Today, these benefits were unable to be gained.

"Of course, the health of everyone involved should and must always take priority, however, it is still unsatisfactory that consideration is not given to all other aspects. I think adjustments must be immediately made here. We also require certainty regarding testing procedures and strategy. If we don't have this, we will soon have serious issues, because who wants to invest in a lottery game as a serious company?”

📷 | سباق بطل #المملكة pic.twitter.com/VtiHv4mX7e

— الاتحاد السعودي للدراجات (@saudi_Cycling) August 23, 2020

Sanctioned by the Saudi Cycling Federation, the country hosted its inaugural women's race at the championships, a 13km time trial with ten women competing. 

According to Gulf News the winner was Ahlam Nasser Al Zaid, who completed the course in 22:18 mins. She commented: "I’m proud to be the first title holder in the history of this sport in the kingdom." 

Saudi Arabia has slowly began to dismantle some of its more archaic laws that stifle women's engagement in public life recently, accredited to the influence of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman who took office in 2017. Saudi women have been able to drive in the Kingdom since 2018, they're now allowed to go into stadiums to watch football matches, and they can travel 'without a male guard's approval'. 

Hi Sarah-Jane, payments are made according to the repairer T&Cs. We're working with registered cycle repairers in order to request any additional information needed so that we can proceed with payments.

— Energy Saving Trust (@EnergySvgTrust) August 25, 2020

After we reported yesterday how an anonymous mechanic said the Fix Your Bike scheme has slowed his workload and he is still waiting for payments from weeks ago, some would-be bike shop customers are reporting that shops are no longer accepting vouchers because they aren't getting paid. The Energy Saving Trust simply say they are "working with registered cycle repairers in order to request any additional information needed so that we can proceed with payments", which doesn't really explain anything. 

Calling all Londoners, now’s the time!
Bike it, walk it - let’s get London back on its feet pic.twitter.com/ipXGb5anfo

— Jonathan Kelly (@JKBartsHeart) August 25, 2020

Which is all good if the weather’s fine and you’re fit enough to cycle or walk. Ageist, anti- disabled, thoughtless wokeism. Not serious transport policy. https://t.co/NkEPDMkz2L

— Steve Norris (@StevenJNorris) August 25, 2020

What a load of bollocks! Are you blind or just another bigoted dinosaur driver? Saw at least TWO handcycles used by the disabled in that short fast moving clip! And NOT all disabilities are visible. Suggest you look at #MyCycleMyMobilityAid & LEARN!! https://t.co/XbLcflvcI2 pic.twitter.com/qUIoAa9g8K

— @2_Wheeled_Wolf 🇪🇺 (@2_Wheeled_Wolf) August 25, 2020

It's quite the U-turn for Mr Norris, who also served as a patron of Sustrans during his parliamentary career when he was considered an expert on transport issues. Some have pointed out that his summary of the advert is anything but expert, as plenyt of disabled and elderly people are able to cycle. 

Get people back onto public transport. As @christianwolmar has pointed out TFL and DfT should be much more committed. Gilligan’s stuff ( ironically a Johnson plant in TFL) is massively counterproductive.

— Steve Norris (@StevenJNorris) August 25, 2020

And if you’re all fit and well and want to cycle that’s great. Have a thought for those who aren’t and can’t.

— Steve Norris (@StevenJNorris) August 25, 2020

Norris continues to defend his point, claiming that more focus needs to be placed on improving public transport to help those who can't walk or cycle. Many don't seem to agree...

Weather? We have jackets and umbrellas.

Ageist? My mum cycles at 84.

Anti-disabled? Adapted cycles; mobility scooter & wheel chair users benefit hugely from protect infrastructure.

— Götz von Berlichingen #FBPE 🐟 #SardinesUK (@georgebernhard) August 25, 2020

I’m 71 and disabled. I can’t walk far but can cycle all day long. What are you talking about?

— Robert Jamieson (@RobertJ42913260) August 26, 2020

None of this is true Steve, but if you think of any other marginalised groups you'd like to speak on behalf of then feel free to give it a second try pic.twitter.com/mqlqTT9Cus

— Ask your coworkers which union they are in (@angryaboutbikes) August 26, 2020