If you don’t cycle - and I’d be a danger to myself and others on a bike - how do you get around if public transport AND cars are out? https://t.co/iHJI0DDxRz
— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) May 15, 2020
In reaction to the news that Sadiq Khan plans to transform parts of London into "one of the largest car free zones in the world", Adam Boulton's colleague got plenty of useful suggestions when he asked how he was supposed to around around...
Serious response; bike lessons. Free in most London boroughs. Incredibly sensible thing to do
— citymobility (@citycyclists) May 15, 2020
E-bike.
— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) May 15, 2020
If you're dangerous to others on 10kg of metal then you shouldn't be in charge of two tons of it.
— Dave (@stourdave) May 15, 2020
We’re creating one of the largest low-traffic areas anywhere in the world to help the capital move in a safe way 🌍
Find out about Streetspace for London#StreetspaceLDNhttps://t.co/FBj2qTiZDGpic.twitter.com/rRBU6LGlwH
— Transport for London 🚶🚴 (@TfL) May 15, 2020
The full extent of London's Streetspace plans have been announced, with London's Mayor saying TfL will "make central London one of the largest car-free zones in any capital city in the world, increasing walking and cycling and improving our air quality."
Areas set for car-free zones include streets between London Bridge and Shoreditch,
Euston and Waterloo and Old Street and Holborn. More streets will see space repurposed for cyclists and pedestrians, while London's cycling network is also set to be added to.
"London's road to recovery cannot be clogged with cars", reiterated Khan.
Hipsters with those bright-coloured fixies will be glad to know that they might now be able to match their steed with a pair of Shimano's new PD-EF202 or PD-EF205 flat pedals. Available in black, silver, gold, red or blue, both are designed for trekking, commuting and mtb'ing. The PD-EF205 has a closed aluminium body with a resin plate to create a stable platform even if you're wearing formal shoes, while the open design of the PD-EF202 is more aimed at shedding away much on trails.
Prices are yet to be announced, but Shimano say the PD-EF202 will be available in stores from July and the PD-EF205 should land in August.
Motorists obey the law and face sanctions if they don't. Cyclists don't but should. https://t.co/rS71jthI0g
— Adam Boulton (@adamboultonSKY) May 15, 2020
The Mayor of London has to make walking and cycling easier to ease pressure on public transport. Here’s a journalist whose sole line of questioning on this serious issue is a solid two minutes of nonsense about “clamping down” on people cycling pic.twitter.com/VUM4IiSDxs
— Mark Treasure (@AsEasyAsRiding) May 15, 2020
The sweeping statement from the Sky News Editor-at-large has provoked a strong and baffled reaction online - as did his interview with Sadiq Khan - with many pointing him to numerous statistics related to traffic incidents in the UK.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
*gasps*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA pic.twitter.com/FiLo9UcOWB— Jon (@ormondroyd) May 15, 2020
Road tax abolished in 1930s. Vehicle Excise Duty based on emissions. My car and my bikes both zero rated. Pick any set of traffic lights in the country and I'll show you motorists going through at red. There are bad cyclists and bad drivers. Bad drivers kill more. pic.twitter.com/51y191p1Nq
— Ruaridh Browne (@RuarBro) May 15, 2020
— Hackney Cyclist (@Hackneycyclist) May 15, 2020
That's got nothing to do with research. My points were about enforcement, which @SadiqKhan didn't answer. https://t.co/wd1bpB5TDl
— Adam Boulton (@adamboultonSKY) May 15, 2020
Boulton claims his points were about 'enforcement' and not incidents, although others have noted that many drivers don't "obey the law", and a large proportion of motoring offences don't face sanctions that would be deemed strong enough in the eyes of many.
Come on Adam not this again - you can do better.
There are over 1 million uninsured drivers in this country and a hit and run with an uninsured driver every 3 days.
But yeah motorists obey the law, right?— Andrew 🇬🇧🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@TwoWheeledAndy) May 15, 2020
Very funny. The vast majority of motorists do not always obey the law on speed limits, safe passing distances among other things, yet only a fraction of transgressions are ever reported, let alone prosecuted.
— AledElwyn (@aledelwyn) May 15, 2020
Boulton has form for being anti-cycling - in 2017 he penned a rant in the Sunday Times, claiming "a backlash could be stirring against cyclophilia" and accusing the UK of having "a senseless worship of bicycles”.
Boulton is yet to back up his claims with evidence or statistics, which road.cc awaits with great anticipation.
The world's largest food delivery chain Domino's were involved in the specialist e-cargo bike's development, and they're set to be rolled out for delivery couriers to use from this July - full story over on eBikeTips.
All Dovestones carparks are blocked off, plus there’s cones on both sides of the road - these selfish pricks! 😕
I should have known the one at the back was going to park there when he passed me close enough to pick pocket my flapjack 200yd earlier ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/rYSvOIvu1t
— Mel Sykes (@nuddypants) May 15, 2020
It could be argued that these people are just plain selfish, but the government's lockdown guidance that allows driving to beauty spots while many car parks remain closed hasn't helped matters - the Oldham Chronicle reports that after drivers ignored no parking signs and removed cones to do so, car parks around Dovestone Resovoir have now been reopened today.
According to @ciclo21 there are two teams interested in signing Froome and one of them is Team Movistar: https://t.co/CASo4qRnhh
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) May 14, 2020
Although according to Gazzetta dello Sport an Ineos source has claimed any talk of a transfer is fake news, while reportedly admitting that there's a chance he won't be the team's leader when racing resumes.
Never a believer in the nanny state, but the fact that obesity is the second biggest coronavirus risk factor and 25% of Brits are obese, has to be a wake up call.
It’s time for us all to get on our bikes. #COVID19https://t.co/DjgF99JnJ7— Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧#StayAlert (@NadineDorries) May 15, 2020
The Tory minister received widespread condemnation for sharing a video from a far-right source making false allegations about Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer; and in her first tweet since, she's said it's time for Britain to "get on our bikes". Cue the inevitable responses...
It's certainly time for YOU to get on your bike.#DorriesResign
— Kieron Finn 🌹 Schrödinger's Prat (@kieronfinn) May 15, 2020
After growing instances of theft outside hospital entrances across the UK - described as "disturbing" by Spokes Lothian Cycling Campaign spokesperson David French - his fellow Spokes member Professor Chris Oliver has called for 24-hour secure bike sheds to be made mandatory on all NHS Lothian sites.
The former surgeon told The Edinburgh Evening News: "It’s very upsetting for doctors and nurses to come back to their bike to discover it’s been systematically vandalised for parts or completely stolen. It should be mandatory that NHS Lothian and Edinburgh University provide secure safe bike parking for staff that need to travel to work by cycle.
"It’s no excuse that poor cycling infrastructure persists, especially with the recent move to more active travel with the pandemic."
A 29-year-old doctor who had her bike stolen by a thief who was shown on CCTV spending 10 minutes to snap her lock in half believes that some criminals are turning to bike theft beause shops are closed.
Police in Lothian say they are reviewng CCTV of the thefts.
A number of the comments on the Cleveland Police Facebook page have took issue with the warning that offenders could be 'potentially' be left with a criminal record for planting nail traps in wooded areas. Hopefully it will be considerably more than a slap on the wrist for those responsible if they are caught...
Not that any of them happened this year, but if you want to honour Paris-Roubaix et al with a pair of 200 quid shoes then you can do so with Fizik's new Les Classiques Tempo Overcurve R4.
Built around the 'moderately stiff' R4 outsole, they're optimised for tough terrain and the splatter-effect artwork is inspired by the mud, dust, sweat and tears that is emblematic of cycling’s toughest single-day races. We can't see that they've landed on the Fizik website yet, but when they do they will be priced at £209.99.
🌬 Ventilation
🎶 Distractions
🍌 Nutrition @ChrisFroome reveals his top three tips for indoor training 🚴♂️Watch the full episode of Lockdown Lowdown with @aimee_fuller here: https://t.co/5xwVQkZ6zdpic.twitter.com/Qry8tECTJq
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 14, 2020
In an interview on Eurosport's 'Lockdown Lowdown' show, Froome says that decent fans, musical or visual distractions and some food within easy reach are the three top things he'd recommend for a better home training experience. Interesting that the four-time Tour champ chose to wear a plain black hoody rather than Team Ineos kit in this video... anything in those rumours, we wonder?
The retired GB track cyclist's appeal hearing against a decision made in January 2019 that determined she had not been an employee of British Cycling is set to take place via webinar on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
The BBC report that the decision could take ten weeks, and that the three possible outcomes are the original decision is upheld, it's overturned or it's decided another tribunal needs to take place with three judges. If it is overturned, Varnish could then take action against British Cycling for unfair dismissal, based on the allegations of bullying she said took place within the team set-up.
Earlier this month, images of these shocking traps buried in the woods went viral after a cyclist was forced to call for a lift home when the traps punctured both of his tyres; and it's now reached the sad state of affairs where police are asking the public to be "cautious", because it's believed more have been planted, and will continue to be planted over the weekend. People are also still posting more pictures of traps across social media.
Please share if you are planning on exercising in the below areas over the weekend.
Officers are warning people over potential nail traps being planted in wooded areas in @EastCleveNPTpic.twitter.com/0dApvnpXJQ
— Cleveland Police (@ClevelandPolice) May 14, 2020
Marske woods today, well placed tree layed over a trail, someone is going to get seriously hurt soon pic.twitter.com/EMYaKhlh7d
— andy jackson (@smogmonster9) May 14, 2020
Cleveland Police also added that anyone caught planting traps will be arrested. The Independent spoke to Mary Lanigan, leader of Redcar and Cleveland District Council, who believes the campaign is most likely the work of warped self-styled 'vigilantes' who take issue with people exercising in rural areas during the pandemic. She said: “This isn’t the work of kids. They started appearing not long after the lockdown so I’m not sure it’s a coincidence but … whoever it is, it is shocking. It is stupid. What they’re doing, it could cause unimaginable injury to someone. It has to stop.”
“People have a right to exercise here. If the people putting these horrific traps think they may be helping in some way, all they will do is add to the pressures on our hospitals.”
Yesterday, police in North Yorkshire said they were interviewing two women who admitted on camera to planting traps when they were confronted by a 17-year-old cyclist.
You know who doesn't have a ESPN documentary coming out? Everyone who didn't cheat, lie, steal, intimidate, and be a vindictive prick. No, not everyone was doing it and many more talented people took other paths in life. Don't fall for anyone's revisionist "truth". #doperssuck
— Geoff Kabush (@GeoffKabush) May 14, 2020
The XC racer clearly doesn't have much time for the new doc on cycling's most famous fraud... will you be watching it?
I get the entertainment but my issue is it is always a one-sided revisionist story. The distortion of the truth is infuriating. Clean riders who honourably took other paths don't have millions of dollars in drug money and a platform to tell their side story.
— Geoff Kabush (@GeoffKabush) May 14, 2020