It's something we've seen Ribble do already, and now Brompton customers can browse bikes via a new video call service. Staff at the Brompton Junction store in London's Westfield will guide through anything the customer wants to know and offer advice, which Brompton say is particularly useful during the pandemic. Staff will only be able to hear customers and not see them to protect privacy.
Greater Manchester's local authorities have launched the 'Safe Streets Save Lives' campaign to support social distancing during coronavirus lockdown and recovery, with pop-up infrastructure and temporary measures prioritised to enable safe essentials travel and exercise. Up to £5 million of emergency funding is promised from the Mayor Andy Burnham's Mayor's Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund.
Transport for Greater Manchester say that while traffic volume has dropped by around 60% during the pandemic, cycling and walking now accounts for up to 33% of journeys during the lockdown.
Greater Manchester's Cycling and Walking Commissioner Chris Boardman commented: “Like any successful response to a crisis, people must be the priority. And fortunately, the data is unambiguous; during lockdown more and more residents across Greater Manchester are turning to walking and cycling for essential journeys and exercise. So, in order give people the space they need to keep safe, the only real question was ‘how soon can we act?’
“If we don’t take steps to enable people to keep traveling actively, we risk a huge spike in car use as measures are eased. Not only is it the right thing to do to protect people now, but it’s vital to meet our clean air goals and protect our NHS long term.”
Yep, that's right... this tube has extra wall thickness which Schwalbe says retains air for longer, meaning riders of heavier e-bikes needn't pump their tyres so often. Full story on eBikeTips.
Edmund King made the comments after a survey by the AA found that people think the behaviour of drivers and cyclists has 'got worse' since the lockdown. The Evening Standard reports that the poll of more than 19,700 drivers revealed that 25% feel drivers and cyclists were both behaving worse.
King said: “Less traffic doesn’t mean that drivers should start drag-racing at traffic lights, dangerously overtaking others or ignoring the speed limits.
“Drivers should also leave a wide ‘social distance’ when overtaking cyclists. Equally, this isn’t a time for cyclists to pretend they’re in the Tour de France and ignore mini-roundabouts and stop signs.”
The Standard report that the Metropolitan Police enforced 800 speeding offences last week, more than three times the number during the same period last year. One driver caught doing 93mph in a 30mph zone, and 34 drivers in total were caught doing over 100mph.
Bizarrely, drivers who took part in the AA's survey were also asked how they feel about the 'behaviour' of pedestrians, and 25% said they feel that pedestrians are 'behaving better' than before the pandemic. As if to provide a damning snapshot of the reported worsening in driving behaviour, shocking footage was widely shared yesterday of a Birmingham man forced to stand in front of a car at a pedestrian crossing to stop the driver from running over his children.
Just seen a lad in cycle shorts not able to walk straight then I realise he's got such a massive lob on he can't walk properly - absolutely massive like a proper foot-long cob - he looks like a tripod - it's making Egyptian tomb furniture in his pants
— Melanie 'Isolation Karen' Princess (@MeLadyFreshness) May 5, 2020
And it wouldn't be the first time a cyclist's appendage has landed them in trouble... that time when a Dublin man sustained a seven-week erection after crash-landing on his bike's top tube for example, and who can forget the man who was chucked out of the World Naked Bike Ride in Canterbury for getting 'overexcited'? We're having a hard time racking our brains for more examples from the archives, but do let us know if we've missed any...
"A new golden age of cycling "sounds good. Now fund it and make the roads safe. @theJeremyVinepic.twitter.com/tjSq161y8f
— nalladrah (@nalladrah) May 6, 2020
This is referring to new plans set to be announced by the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps later today, as already mentioned by British Cycling - full story to follow.
We believe the bike in the picture is the brand new Ritchey Outback, and the photo of the pedals is from bikepacking.com - just in case anyone genuinely thought this was some unbelievable bargain. We've reported it to Facebook...
Keep your eyes peeled for a few exciting announcements on cycling and walking today, starting with some great work from @MayorofLondon and @willnorman🚲🚶
Find out more ⬇️ https://t.co/uYHWMhVnpH
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) May 6, 2020
Once again London's Streetspace plan is mentioned, but we're hoping this will be something along the lines of funding boosts for the whole country.
Janclare Miller told Teeside Live that her husband Paul found numerous wooden boards with nails sticking out of them hidden under the soil on a trail in East Cleveland, and was left stranded after both his tyres were punctured. Mr Miller first went straight home after getting picked up by his wife, but discovered the boards after going back when he thought the damage to his tyres was too severe to have been an accident. The incident has been reported to the police.
Mrs Miller continued: "Since we put it on Facebook we have heard it's not the first time it's happened.
"It's scary to think they could be anywhere. A lot of people walk their dogs and ride horses there so they need to be careful.
"The NHS is busy enough as it is without idiots doing this sort of thing. It's shocking."
Like the traps left in Regent's Park yesterday evening, this undoubtedly looks like a deliberate attempt to injure cyclists, runners or walkers in the area, and some have suggested it's once again the actions of individuals twisting their version of the lockdown guidance to a shocking and dangerous extreme.
Looks like the Mail, Express etc have succeeded in their campaign of stirring up hatred against cyclists & runners & walkers & dogs. https://t.co/HcOZa7Ge9q
— paul gannon (@paulgannonbike) May 5, 2020
Ce matin avec mon équipe rue de Rivoli et rue Saint-Antoine pour préparer le plan de circulation vélo prévu dans le cadre du déconfinement : 50 km de voies seront progressivement dédiés aux cyclistes à partir du 11 mai. #Transports#Parispic.twitter.com/sEtuSS4zrL
— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) May 6, 2020
Mayor Anne Hidalgo already had expansive plans for a comprehensive cycle network around Paris, and they've been quick to dedicate street space for cyclists and pedestrians during the lockdown; another 50km will be ready to go by Monday.
As we prepare for the next phase of lockdown, we’re exploring new ways to help Londoners to cycle around our city 🚴
Right now we’re planning to create temporary cycle lanes to make cycling easier, which has the added benefit of easing the burden on our public transport system. pic.twitter.com/kY5UEDUstT
— Mayor of London (gov.uk/coronavirus) (@MayorofLondon) May 5, 2020
Despite The Beeb forgetting to suggest cycling in their travel suggestions article mentioned below, yesterday they explored what it will take to get more people cycling around the capital when people return to work.
68% of UK journeys are under five miles. Distances that can be walked or cycled.
So perhaps active travel should be listed as one of the 'best alternatives'...
https://t.co/Wt1R8mZd9e— Living Streets (@livingstreets) May 5, 2020
With public transport set to be greatly reduced to maintain some social distancing, the article asks the question of how people will get around when the lockdown lifts; and although the BBC quote Professor Tony Travers who says that "a sudden and radical change in road use" is needed if we're all to get around on bikes and scooters, the alternative travel suggestions don't include cycling or walking. Instead, electric scooters (which aren't currently legal on British roads), taxis, cars and drone taxis.
Several reports of a large amount of nails / tacks being place on the Outer Circle in an attack on cyclists. Almost certainly a response to the un-necessary negative press we have been subject to recently. @MPSRoyal_Parks@RossLydall@HamandHigh@theroyalparks@NewJournalpic.twitter.com/hbX8vhB0dz
— RegentsParkCyclists (@RPcyclists) May 6, 2020
@RPcyclists a warning to those out, someone has tipped a tub load of pins in the Park road and many people will now struggling with punctures. What dreadful behaviour. pic.twitter.com/wNmBiDSGVi
— Kate Laing (@Kate_Laing) May 5, 2020
The Regent's Park Cyclists group have blamed negative press coverage from the media for what looks to be an attempt at vigilante action to prevent cyclists from using the road around Regent's Park in Central London.
A Facebook post from a member of the London Cycling Facebook Group first fell victim to the traps yesterday, saying: "Someone decided to drop a box of pins on the outer loop of Regent’s Park outside the London Business School. Myself and 10+ others got punctures (I had 5 in my tyres).
"I saw the police as I was walking out of the park and let them know - they have said they will log it and would go and take a look. I picked them up with another victim - hopefully we got them all but watch out."
It's not the first report of 'vigilante' action since the pandemic started, with numerous signs reported in towns and villages to deter cyclists from passing through, believing that they could spread the virus. We also reported that drawing pins had been spread across a popular South London cycle route on 19th April, in what looked to be a deliberate attempt to target cyclists.
Annoucement that two major roads to get temporary cycle lanes in London.
Whilst this is to be applauded, provision on local high streets (many controlled by the local councils) is more likely to give people the confidence to cycle for everyday journeys to school and work. https://t.co/18f9htt4ni
— APPGCW (@allpartycycling) May 6, 2020
The All Party Cycling Group say they also want to see provisions on local high streets, but nevertheless welcome the changes. This is all part of the Streetspace plans announced by Will Norman recently.