Why did the cyclist cross the road?
To get to the other side of the A33 and continue his journey on Reading's "best bike route"...
That needs some work. As does the Berkshire town's active travel infrastructure from the look of things in this clip...
It took almost four minutes to get from one side of the A33 in Reading to the other this morning. Four minutes whilst cars go streaming by, belching out fumes for us to breathe in. And this is on Reading's best bike route. pic.twitter.com/zuegM8gNoJ
— Stew Elliott (@StewCElliott) February 22, 2023
Every beg button that doesn't change the light within 30 seconds is a policy failure.
— Stew Elliott (@StewCElliott) February 22, 2023
In a civilised country the maximum wait for a crossing would be 20 seconds. If no-one has crossed for longer than 20 seconds, the light would change immediately.
— Derek (@nr23derek) February 23, 2023
This all looks very familiar considering the 'why don't cyclists use cycle lanes' discussion that is back in the spotlight thanks to the reaction to the video of Dan Walker's crash being published by The Sun.
Different location, and I'd certainly not want to ride on the A33 through Reading, but still it raises the point... when your best cycle route takes four minutes to cross the road can you really blame people for not using it?
> Objections raised to office scheme – because bike parking will cause "bottlenecks and noise"
That's all from me today, we'll be back same time, same place tomorrow morning...
National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman has opened Active Travel England's new national hub in York, The Press reports. The headquarters will be base for the organisation's drive to improve active travel across the UK.
"Our job is to get 50 per cent of all journeys cycled or walked by 2030," Boardman said.
"We are well on track to do that, working with councils across the country — essentially to enable people to be able to leave the car at home a little bit more often and have the confidence to let their kids get to school under their own steam, on foot or by bike.
"If we want millions more people to walk, wheel and cycle to schools, shops and workplaces, we need to give them what they need to make the switch. Delivering schemes that offer an attractive choice takes technical skill, local knowledge, and community involvement.
"Survey after survey has shown people want the choice to be able to use the car a bit less and would love their kids to have more transport independence, so we aim to ensure they are at the heart of creating the right solution for their area. 2023 is the year Active Travel England will start to make that happen."
Boardman went on to explain York's strong link to cycling and the city's well-linked rail network was a primary reason for the headquarters' location. Active Travel England will employ up to 100 staff, with half already in place.
"It's a perfect centre for us. It's a lovely place to work and to get around by bike as well," Boardman said.
Doesn't being a professional cyclist look fun?
'And to think I could have been in Dubai rolling around in the sun for four hours...'
Christmas has come early for the riders in O Gran Camino.
Rohan Dennis bossing it in shorts. pic.twitter.com/fiabzWTc8k
— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) February 23, 2023
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) February 23, 2023
The riders came to a halt with 20km to go, the stage called off.
Russian Embassy, London pic.twitter.com/99mFy6Gx5k
— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) February 23, 2023
Tenuous cycling content of the day... anyone ride through this this morning?
The home fans go wild!!! Sorry less of my sarcasm this afternoon...
The main takeaway from Molano's sprint win? That his dentist is top class...
🥇🥇🥇 🚀🚀🚀 YES!!! @sebasmolano_ sprints to victory on the stage 4 of the #UAETour🇦🇪!
👑👑👑👑👑💪💪💪💪💪#UAETeamEmirates#WeAreUAEpic.twitter.com/sC7kZb8nAw
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) February 23, 2023
Oh, you wanted to know about the racing? Jumbo Visma's Olav Kooij and DSM's Sam Welsford were close, but not quite fast enough to beat the Colombian who pipped them both in yet another photo finish in UAE. I say photo finish, it was tight, not quite as tight as the other day...
Big win for the Colombian and finally UAE Team Emirates take a victory at their home tour #UAETourpic.twitter.com/Fmng85HodV
— Tim Bonville-Ginn (@TimBonvilleGinn) February 23, 2023
Cav never looked like challenging on a day decided by an ultra-competitive leadout battle and rolled home outside the top 10. No disgrace in that, on a hectic finish where Caleb Ewan, Sam Bennett and Tim Merlier were all out of the picture too, to varying degrees.
Over in Rwanda after Chris Froome was caught, Callum Ormiston took the win. I'm only telling you this because the runner-up is called Walter Calzoni and is automatically my new favourite rider. G'warn the Calzoni! (Yes, I know it's spelt differently)...
Thanks to those of you who are familiar with the Reading route in question for offering some local knowledge in the comments...
PRSboy: "I occasionally cross the A33 at a different point, to get from Theale to Three Mile Cross. It's a similarly silly crossing. The best of it is having to wait in a very vulnerable position with vehicles streaming past at 50 mph."
nosferatu1001: "The junction just over the m4? That one is awful. Three lanes each way I think and a verrrrrrrrry sloowwwwww beg button that doesn't actually interrupt the sequence at all."
JustTryingToGet...: "The cycle lane on the A33 is a regular contender for 'they deserve to die for not using the cycle lane' brigade. It's not too bad during the journey (not that I use it often) but it's the final destination element that's a balance.
"When I was regularly travelling to Circle hospital I went along the Kennet instead. You need to be careful and there is a sharp blind bend but you lots of dragonflies at the right time of year (I'm easily pleased)."
And while that all might seem a bit local for anyone unfamiliar with Reading... the 'great' thing about UK cycling routes is these pains are suffered up and down the land. Isn't it great?! I'm sure we've all got something similar to relate to...
Shake: "I notice more and more of those crossing are taking ages to change. A perfectly working one at the end of my road that use to chance quickly was replaced by one that now waits for a huge break in cars before changing. All it does it make me run across when there is a short gap in the traffic."
After spending the last hour in a solo breakaway, Froome has been dropped from the peloton. He is 3' behind the leading trio. #TdRwanda23pic.twitter.com/W1IiosktmU
— 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝘂 𝗥𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 🇷🇼 (@tour_du_Rwanda) February 23, 2023
Ah well, that was fun while it lasted. Seems there was some bad luck involved...
Terrible luck for @chrisfroome who had to change wheels twice on the category 1 climb. He was caught by the bunch with around 40km to go.
Up ahead, the peloton is closing in on the remaining attackers.
🇷🇼#TdRwanda23pic.twitter.com/fXX1kbrRgH
— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) February 23, 2023
Over in the desert, UAE Tour stage four is in the final hour and we're heading for a sprint. Can Cav get his first Astana victory?
Do your worst in the comments...
Fancy watching the best in the world do battle in Scotland?
Tickets for August's UCI World Cycling Championships are on sale now (or just find yourself a quiet patch of road if you're more interested in the road events)...
Some events, namely the road, para-cycling road, Gran Fondo, trials, BMX Freestyle Flatland and mountain bike cross-country marathon you will not need tickets to watch, but for those that do you can grab yours now.
Outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she hopes the event will see people inspired "the power of the bike" to "give cycling a try for themselves — for exercise, sport, transport or even just for fun".
Who's this young rider making a break for it?
VIDEO: Very fast descent from Froome.
Froome's advantage goes up again: + 1'45''#TdRwanda23pic.twitter.com/nHTfXVTGnM
— 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝘂 𝗥𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 🇷🇼 (@tour_du_Rwanda) February 23, 2023
When I check a cycling clothing website and all the pictures are of models posing and pouting, I immediately don't want to wear any of their clothes. Shoot yer stuff on cyclists!
— juliet elliott (@_julietelliott) February 22, 2023
Personally I don't know what Juliet's talking about...
Oh, wait, how did those get there?
Did Tom Pidcock see our live blog yesterday?
Don't try this at home! Tom Pidcock shows off his mind-blowing descending skills, flying down infamous Los Angeles canyonhttps://t.co/C1o4WSk0fR#cyclingpic.twitter.com/JL1OTuSl2F
— road.cc (@roadcc) February 22, 2023
"I've been told it's a 'kids, don't try this at home' one — very true!" he wrote on Instagram, before penning some great advice...
"But kids, get out riding with your mates, have fun, I've been thousands of hours messing around on bikes with my mates before I had the skills to do this, enjoy and be safe out there."
Pidcock also cleared up some of the logistical questions about the clip, confirming he recced the descent a few times and there was a car ahead making sure the one-way route was clear.
"Blown away by the reaction to this, big respect to Safa Brian," he wrote.
If you haven't seen it already I envy you. I envy you for getting to experience watching it for the first time. On that note, I might go back for viewing number 17...
> Don't try this at home! Tom Pidcock shows off his mind-blowing descending skills