If you happen to be in New York and spot a bicycle helmet-wearing man crouching down by a car, scribbling something on a number plate, don't be alarmed... this is not a bad guy but simply a well-meaning public-spirited member of the community making sure the owner of the vehicle doesn't get in trouble for obscuring their number plate...
I caught this scofflaw on Bond Street — and I decided to go meta with my criminal mischief episode today! pic.twitter.com/MgumQ2M20H
— Gersh Kuntzman (@GershKuntzman) December 21, 2022
Occasionally the good deed needs to be repeated multiple times... I guess it can be hard to accept your medicine sometimes...
People are always asking me, "When will you stop doing CRIMINAL MISCHIEF?" And my answer is the same: I'll stop when THEY stop! Here's a new video that makes it clear — yes, I caught LEAF MAN again! pic.twitter.com/lU26nY01dn
— Gersh Kuntzman (@GershKuntzman) December 21, 2022
Others bring their own leaves...
THIRD TIME'S THE HARM for this Jersey jerk with the looong record of reckless driving — he's now a 3-time victim of my CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. Watch me remove (again!) the leaf conveniently covering the last letter on his Garden State plate. Why won't @NYPD5Pct bust this guy? pic.twitter.com/Pv9WuZ9flV
— Gersh Kuntzman (@GershKuntzman) December 20, 2022
This is actually a VERY common problem in NY and for some reason little is done about it...
— Biological🍉 (@BioLogicalNerd) December 22, 2022
Plenty of comments on the New York number plate declutterer...
I'm always amazed by the amount of completely illegible number plates, obscured by mud and crud, that is the norm on motorways. Seemingly ignored by police too.
— cycletothesea (@cycletothesea) December 22, 2022
ShutTheFrontDawes: "In what world is returning a car to a roadworthy condition considered 'criminal mischief' or vandalism? What sort of backwards moron would think that?"
AidanR:"I've done this too, removing a conveniently placed bit of tape from the number plate of a BMW SUV driven by a complete tool who likes to park outside our house. The car is of course not taxed or insured. They got clamped for it a few months ago, and took an angle grinder to the clamp and carried on with impunity."
OldRidgeback: "My street is an LTN. Lots of people cover up their vehicle number plates and drive past the camera, then stop by my house to remove the bags or whatever they've used. Some forget about the covers and drive away. I've not seen any parked vehicles with covered up plates though."
And commenting on the original case in NYC which saw the rider arrested... Daveyraveygravey: "This is actually depressing. It shows just how far car culture has gone when someone trying to stop people breaking the law (almost) gets taken to court."
Cheers to brooksby in the comments for the heads-up on this one...
Got arrested Friday and charged with Crim Mischief for removing a piece of plastic obscuring plate number meanwhile cops refused to issue ticket to this guy despite obscuring front and back plates @defacedplateNYC@NYCMayorpic.twitter.com/Hok8ptX7YG
— adam white (@adamlaw50) November 14, 2022
Gersh started making videos of his number plate clearing after the arrest of a lawyer and safe-streets advocate, Adam White, who was charged with criminal mischief after removing an object covering an SUV driver's number plate.
A Brooklyn Council member, Shahana Hanif, then stepped in, saying she was "deeply disturbed" by the arrest and called it "police misconduct".
I am deeply disturbed to hear of the @NYPD78Pct's actions in this case. It is shocking how the NYPD continues to prioritize unlawful and reckless car owners while harassing cyclists and pedestrians at every opportunity. We need accountability. https://t.co/DGsyJ3avWf
— Council Member Shahana Hanif (@CMShahanaHanif) November 15, 2022
"It is shocking how the NYPD continues to prioritise unlawful and reckless car owners while harassing cyclists and pedestrians at every opportunity," she said. "We need accountability. Adam is a Good Samaritan whose actions to hold a reckless driver accountable left him in handcuffs. This is police misconduct, plain and simple."
The full story has been covered at length on Kuntzman's Streetsblog site:
> Cops arrest famed bike lawyer for fixing a driver's obscured plate
> Brooklyn Council member blasts cops for arresting famed bike lawyer for fixing defaced plate
Oh for f pic.twitter.com/h02DYP3njb
— Geraint Thomas (@geraintthomas) December 22, 2022
After a year to forget in 2022 Primož Roglič is setting his sights on new targets in 2023...
Dear @giroditalia,
Let’s see each other again in May.
𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆,@roglapic.twitter.com/ZfWLnWrWxS
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) December 22, 2022
With new signing Wilco Kelderman as co-leader the Giro startlist is growing stronger by the day...
The Giro is shaping up OK to be fair. Remco, Thomas, Rogla...
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) December 22, 2022
Add Jack Haig, Damiano Caruso, Aleksandr Vlasov, Thibaut Pinot and João Almeida to that list, with plenty more still to declare, and we're already bursting with excitement for May...
[📷: @cauldphoto/Specialized]
Remco Evenepoel has hinted at a possible duel between himself and Tadej Pogačar at the UAE Tour in February. Pogačar has won the last two editions but suggested he might take a slower approach to peaking this season. Evenepoel similarly has big goals later in the year, namely the Giro d'Italia in May, but suggested an early season head-to-head would excite him...
[📷: Zac Williams/SWpix.com]
Telling Het Nieuwsblad riding the UAE Tour, a big race for Pogačar's sponsors, is "indeed the plan at the moment".
"It would be good to compete with Tadej on a race where he has already won twice. He will be in top form there anyway, because for his team it's kind of like the World Championships. We're still looking at what the best option is. For now, only San Juan, Liège and the Giro are already 100 per cent certain."
As on January 1, 2023, Lease a Bike will be a subsponsor of Team Jumbo-Visma along with Pon. This means, among other things, that the brand will be visible on the riders' cycling jerseys in 2023.🤩
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) December 21, 2022
Don't think Cervélo will feel too threatened...
𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐:
🔹 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲
🔹 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗝𝗔𝗬𝗖𝗢 𝗔𝗟𝗨𝗟𝗔 🔹
“𝚃𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝙰𝚕𝚄𝚕𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙 𝚞𝚙, 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗.”@JaycoAU | @ExperienceAlUlahttps://t.co/Oe2a02LTJP
— Team Jayco AlUla (@GreenEDGEteam) December 22, 2022
Pro cycling's latest sportswashing scandal is underway...
The WorldTour team this morning announced the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is stepping up from official partner to second naming rights partner on a two-year deal.
So who are AlUla and why is its tourist board stepping into cycling?
The area of Saudi Arabia is, according to the press release, a "boutique heritage and culture destination in Northwest Saudi Arabia" that "hopes to introduce the stunning landscape of ancient civilizations to millions of cycling and sports fans around the world".
"Over the past years the region has developed to establish a strong connection with sport, having hosted a variety of events, including the UCI 2.1 Saudi Tour in February 2022."
In Phillip Jones, the Chief Management & Marketing Officer of Alula's words: "Over the last few years, we have started to become known as an unchartered, intriguing destination for curious travellers and we feel this partnership with Team Jayco AlUla is an important part of our strategy and success.
"We love working with the passionate team, both those competing and those facilitating, and we love the alignment of the two brands as we continue to develop AlUla into a world-leading example of responsible and sustainable tourism.
"Cycling is a big part of our vision for the future of AlUla with natural assets of stunning sandstone mountains, volcanic plateaus and an oasis with long winding roads running through it all. We are excited to be hosting the inaugural cycling camp in AlUla directly after the Saudi Tour 2023 where the cyclists will have a chance to engage and inspire the next generation.
"We've been cheering the team on and encouraging more fans across the region, and we look forward to more success on and off the road for Team Jayco AlUla."
Brent Copeland, team manager, added: "We had the great pleasure of visiting AlUla in February for the Saudi Tour, and we were blown away with the spectacle that it was. Next year as we grow our partnership, we will have a cycling camp in AlUla to encourage the local community to be engaged with the sport, to inspire new generations for an active lifestyle and to help them dream of becoming the champions of the future."
Needless to say the sponsorship has raised some eyebrows...
They were already there!
— Mathew Mitchell (@MatMitchell30) December 22, 2022
Saudi money? Really.
— TiPoole (@tip66) December 22, 2022
When will teams stand up and have some morals and refuse to be part of sport washing campaigns by these countries who refuse to offer their citizens basic human rights and equality #Sportswashing#Saudihttps://t.co/xK18pIdERs
— Mark Yale (@Mark_Yale) December 22, 2022
Perhaps most interestingly though, yes, the change applies to the women's team too...
The big news last night was that the Tour de France announced it will begin in Italy next year for the first time. It marks the 100th anniversary of the first Italian win at the race and the route includes tributes to many of the greats — Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali and Marco Pantani...
> Tour de France 2024 to start in Italy for first time in history of race
The profiles look pretty punchy too...
Stage 1 / Etape 1
🚩 Florence @comunefi - Rimini @comunerimini🏁
📏 205 km💪 3.800 metres of vertical gain through the Apenines for this first stage.
💪 3.800 mètres de dénivelé à travers les Apennins pour cette première étape du #TDF2024. pic.twitter.com/a7Ak4ED1Fa
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) December 21, 2022
Stage 2/Etape 2 #TDF2024
🚩 Cesenatico - @comunebologna🏁
📏 205 km💪 6 climbs including two ascents to San Luca : punchers are in for a real treat.
💪 Des souvenirs d'arc-en-ciel pour @alafpolak1 dans la Gallisterna et double ascension de San Luca : parole aux puncheurs. pic.twitter.com/CbrgsYhRhQ
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) December 21, 2022
🚩 Plaisance - Turin🏁
📏 225 km💚 Pure sprinters will get their first chance to shine on the road from Emilia-Romagna to Piedmont.
💚 Les purs sprinteurs trouveront l'occasion de rafler un premier bouquet en allant d'Emilie-Romagne au Piémont.
#TDF2024pic.twitter.com/UMtrIsK2qX— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) December 21, 2022
And you lot are loving the look of it...
Gozzy:"No less than 3700km of climbing? That's gonna be a mega first stage! Can't wait to see the time gaps after that day."
Wouldn't that be a fun trip.
— Kirk 🇺🇦 🦢 (@santafegolfpro) December 21, 2022
Here's the New York Times feature Gersh mentioned in one of the videos we linked earlier. It's well worth a read and details how the editor of Streetsblog New York — a publication covering the movement for better walking, biking, and transit in the five boroughs — pedals around his daily routine scanning for covered plates.
Corey Kilgannon of the NYT notes drivers covering their plates to avoid detection by speed and red light cameras as well as bridge and tunnel tolls cost the city more than $100 million a year.
"I'm trying to show the political establishment that this is really a widespread problem," Kuntzman concluded. "I could fix 15 plates a day without breaking a sweat."
Mikeys American cousin??
— Feefifofum (@Feefifofum_is_i) December 22, 2022
This morning's main blog story got us thinking about the other public-spirited cycling-related causes we've covered over the years...
London's protector of junctions from dangerous queue cutting and phone use behind the wheel. Mikey has caught hundreds of drivers using their phone at the wheel, including famous faces such as Guy Ritchie, Frank Lampard and Chris Eubank...
It's not just about the celebrities though, as the extensive library on YouTube and this website proves...
Another classic...
The self-named "masked vigilante on a crusade against bad motorists" uploads videos to YouTube on the Cinquante Euros channel, and shares pictures on social media as @50_euros.
Anyone remember any others?
Reminds us of this classic from the Covid quarantine days...
Song name??
Day 4 pic.twitter.com/4rfTDz00Do— Cyrus Monk (@Cyrus_Monk) November 17, 2020
> Tacx Neo stars in household object rendition of Darude's Sandstorm