Car Free Day: Brompton takes over filling station; Four red lights and a pedestrian: How not to cycle; Too many cars on road, Londoners say; AVV's back; More hi-viz and lights chat as police crash into shop; Plan Vélo funding boost + more on the live blog

Sperm swim in packs to help them push upstream, much like how cyclists ride together in a peloton so they encounter less air resistance https://t.co/epyzbyZXbU

— New Scientist (@newscientist) September 22, 2022

Eh, I’m not sure this is the type of article you expect to find when you’re Googling ‘cyclists’, but a group of researchers North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University have found that – rather than the traditional representation of sperm as individuals racing against each to the finish line (the egg) – sperm actually gather in dynamic groups to swim upstream, with individual sperm regularly joining and leaving their cluster and changing positions within it.

According to the researchers, the arrangement “resembles how cyclists ride together in a peloton so they encounter less air resistance”.

So less Tommy Voeckler, more Jumbo-Visma then…

The video of the red-light jumping cyclist in Belfast has kicked off a debate, both in the comments and on Ye Olde Bird App.

Bl00dy indiot 😡

— Berkshire Cyclist (@BerkshireCyc) September 22, 2022

Oldfatgit is clearly not a fan of that particular style of cycling, writing: “On my commute in Glasgow, I'm often the only cyclist that *has* stopped at red lights. I'm almost at risk of becoming paranoid of being hit up the arse due to the driver behind thinking I'm not going to stop.

“There is no excuse or justification for Red Light Jumping (except as when noted in the Highway Code) and the more people do it, the increase in risk to us that refuse to.”

Paul J agreed: “I've had cars screech and skid to a halt beside me in Glasgow, because I braked for a yellow light. The cars just weren't expecting anyone to stop for a yellow.

“And pretty much every traffic light in Glasgow has a car sail through it after turning red. Unless traffic is so light there aren't many cars.”

However, cyclisto argued that they “don’t see crossing redlights as the end of world, especially in a country like UK with no jaywalking laws”, while ChrisB200SX noted that the cyclist in the clip “didn't seem to cause anyone any problems. The pedestrian wasn't bothered at all, literally took no notice.”

Away from the rights and wrongs of red light-jumping, thelittleonion took umbrage at the original tweeter’s claim that law-breaking cyclists “give us a bad name”.

“Sure, bad cyclists are annoying, and a bit dangerous,” they wrote. “But can we all please stop with the ‘they give us all a bad name’ nonsense? We are not one community or mafia, you are not responsible for my actions on a bike, or vice versa.

“We don't ever say that people in other modes of transport give all other pedestrians/drivers/train passengers/horse riders/hovercraft pilots a bad name. It seems to be only cyclists that get tarred with the same brush.”

However, rjfrussell disagreed, arguing that “in the eyes of many drivers we are an homogenous tribe.

“The number of people riding badly/illegally/running red lights etc in London on a regular basis worries me, because, frankly, in so doing they increase the risk to my safety when I am on bike, because of the attitudes to cyclists they foment.”

A similar debate took place on Twitter:

Unfortunately every driver who witnessed this will have that story ready “but once I saw a cyclist go through a red light” pic.twitter.com/qbxIqP1Ahl

— Cyclegranny 🚴‍♀️ (@anneramsey740) September 22, 2022

It doesn't give them an excuse to disrespect all people on bikes. And nevermind how good we are, it'll never be enough. Let's not allow ourselves to be othered into small boxes of their design.

— NetherSchot 🇪🇺 (@NetherSchot) September 22, 2022

Some will (perhaps understandably) disagree with the "Gives us all a bad name" comment, but the hard truth is that many drivers treat ALL cyclists with a lack of respect, simply because they see SOME riders doing idiotic stuff like this. Road rules apply to ALL road users.

— Marcus Williamson (@KiteMus) September 22, 2022

In the end, HoarseMann pithily summed the whole thing up: “Whenever I see inconsiderate and careless cycling like that (which is rare thankfully), I remind myself to be grateful they're not driving a car.”

This year’s Tour-Giro-Vuelta winner Annemiek van Vleuten is famed for her ability to swiftly come back from adversary and return to the top of the sport after some devastating setbacks (see her response to her horrific crash at the 2016 Rio Olympics, or her dominance this year after breaking her pelvis at Paris-Roubaix last autumn).

But surely not even the super-resilient AVV can recover quick enough from a fractured elbow and wrist sustained in a spectacular crash at the start of yesterday’s team time trial event– which, it now appears, was the fault of a slipped chain – to stand a chance of taking the rainbow jersey in Wollongong on Saturday…

Niet op de rollen
Wel op de weg
Annemiek fietste donderdag alweer twee uurtjes, met breukje in elleboog pic.twitter.com/oEC9gAT9Cp

— Ann Braeckman (@BraeckmanAnn) September 22, 2022

Or can she? After 40 miles in the saddle this morning, documented on Strava and Instagram, the Dutch superstar herself is certainly ruling nothing out, but says she will be “responsible” when it comes to making the final decision.

“It’s quite a huge disappointment as I prepared really well for this. I went to altitude after the Tour and that was all for this,” Van Vleuten told Cyclingnews today.

“Not awesome but it could have been worse. After the crash yesterday, I am quite lucky.

“On the bike, surprisingly it was possible, but I could not get out of the saddle. My broken wrist is the thing that is most bothering me and prevents me from standing up and putting pressure on the bars with my arms. I am super disappointed because of this.

“I did not crash because the tyre exploded, it was the chain slip or something. I found out when I rewatched the video what happened. It's super unfortunate. I was making jokes that when I start to wear orange, it’s not my lucky days.”

During her training ride today, Van Vleuten said she “was not thinking about competing on Saturday, just trying out how it was going on the bike.”

She explained: “I started on the rollers and then I thought I could go out on the road and how it is feeling if you hit a bump? Is it safe to ride my bike?

“Because I don’t want to end up on Saturday in the peloton unable to ride my bike. It must be responsible or make sense to start.”

66 percent of Londoners feel that there are too many cars in the capital, a recent survey has found.

The study, conducted by e-bike, e-scooter and e-moped provider Tier, also found that 73 percent of people living in London believe that cars are responsible for the city’s air pollution.

However, over a third of those who took part in the study reported that they feel exposed to other vehicles when riding bikes or scooters on the road, and that only 50 percent feel that cycling is “easy and efficient” in London.

To help provide vulnerable road users with safer routes around the capital, micro-mobility brand Tier have teamed up with British bike navigation firm Beeline to offer users “quieter and safer routes which utilise cycling infrastructure and quiet streets” and which will make it “easier and safer to leave the car behind”.

Georgia Yexley, Tier’s general manager for the UK and Ireland, said in a statement: “The majority of Londoners want to see fewer cars on the streets, but for many people choosing an alternative form of transport like cycling or riding a e-scooter can feel unattainable.

“Through our partnership with Beeline, our users can choose a route which avoids major roads and links up some of the fantastic cycling infrastructure already in the city.

“This Car-Free Day we would like to encourage more people to grab an e-bike or e-scooter and see how pleasant and efficient leaving the car at home can be!”

Happy World Car Free Day everyone!

To celebrate, and to allow people to reimagine their local urban environment free of fumes and constant beeping, folding bike manufacturer Brompton has commandeered an old, dilapidated petrol station, transforming it into a “cycling oasis”.

John Nguyen/PA Wire

The filling station, located between Borough Road and the Newington Causeway near Elephant and Castle, will – for 24 hours – features test ride and track facilities for both standard and electric Bromptons, a Brompton Bike Hire dock, a consultation station with ‘Possible’ (a Brompton partner inspiring climate action), as well as refreshments for the morning rush of commuters, and alcohol-free beer in the evening for those on their way home.

The repurposed space also includes artwork, parklets and green space, designed to provide an area where the local community can relax throughout the day.

John Nguyen/PA Wire

“For too long, our cities have been dominated by the most inefficient mode of transport – the private car,” says Brompton Bicycle’s CEO Will Butler-Adams.

“At Brompton, we have long sought to highlight the benefits that increased levels of cycling and walking would bring to society.

“What better way to do that, than to totally re-imagine a space formerly used as a petrol station. Our cities have changed and are continuing to change. We hope that turning a dilapidated old petrol station into a green transport hub will show people what’s possible when it comes to their own perception of what cities are for.

“We also hope that this inspires people to ask more from politicians, and expect better from our streets than the current high levels of traffic and toxic air pollution.”

Will Norman, London’s cycling and walking commissioner added: “With the realities of the impacts of climate change becoming ever clearer, it has never been more important to re-imagine how we move around our cities.

“Car Free Day gives us an opportunity to do just that, and experience streets which prioritise people over cars.

“I’m delighted to be at Brompton’s vision for the future on Car Free Day, thinking about the potential for other spaces across London to be like this.”

We spend a fair amount of time on road.cc pointing out examples of dodgy, careless, or downright dangerous driving (you may or may not have heard of a little feature called Near Miss of the Day)…

But since it’s Car Free Day, I thought I’d offer a semblance of balance and share this clip – filmed last night in Belfast by a Twitter user who regularly post clips of hazardous motorists – of a young person on a bike, seemingly on a mission to fulfil every ABD-concocted stereotype of cyclists in one journey:

Last evening’s shenanigans! Guy goes through 4 red lights and nearly gets hit by a car and almost hits a pedestrian! Gives us all a bad name! 😡 @NIRoadPolicing@StormontCyclist@BelfastCycle@righttobikeit@roadcc@anneramsey740pic.twitter.com/FD1vjbbmqO

— Gazza (@garyarrell) September 22, 2022

Some fun facts: Depending on your knowledge of East Belfast, you may recognise the road in the video as the scene of the opening team time trial of the 2014 Giro d’Italia (you know, the one where Dan Martin hit the deck a bit further on). The two cyclists also pass on the left – though at Benny Hill speed – the Italian restaurant Il Pirata, inspired by 1998 Tour and Giro winner Marco Pantani’s nickname.

Come for the road safety clips, stay for the obscure pro cycling trivia…

Anyway, the red light-breaking rider has been criticised by the online cycling community, though as one local pointed out, this kind of reckless cycling is thankfully rare:

Didn't get him very far either. Stupid and pointless.

— Stormont Cyclist (@StormontCyclist) September 22, 2022

Idiot!

— Ideaspace (@IdeaspaceNI) September 22, 2022

It’s actually very rare to see this where I cycle, thankfully.

— Cyclegranny 🚴‍♀️ (@anneramsey740) September 22, 2022