Council update on cycle lane's "excellent progress" interrupted by... motorist driving into segregated infrastructure; Alaphilippe heads off on two-hour training ride AFTER Dwars Door Vlaanderen; Our new favourite pro cyclist + more on the live blog

This scene must have missed the cut from Little Britain... the local councillor proudly showing off his hard work... meanwhile in the background (at around 40 seconds)...

Perhaps there's another clip of him praising the bin men, meanwhile behind they lob rubbish into people's gardens? This bit of live blog council gold came was spotted by road.cc reader Mike who thought we might like the delicious irony of the council "extolling how safe the new segregated cycle lanes are".

"Just look for the OpenReach van in the background about 40 seconds in, for a clear demonstration of the safety of this new lane," he promised and boy did the video not let us down.

I've called it a segregated lane due to the councillor's wording, and I think I already know the answer to this, but can a segregated lane really be segregated if the driver of a great big van can go straight into it and have to swerve out to avoid inadvertently mowing down an innocent council official? Yeah, as I said, I think I know the answer...

"Our plans to improve cycling and walking along the Shinfield Road are progressing well," the council says, although based on the comments, the locals aren't so sure...

One reply called it dangerous, while someone else said it is "the most confusing cycling lane in the area".

"On the road at bus stops, on the pavement in other areas, on a half pavement in other areas, and then at the top going to Shinfield your forced directly into the traffic light just before the traffic lights, and your probably fall off looking over your shoulder before you hit by a speeding car beating you to the narrow section at the traffic lights?" 

Now that sounds familiar...

Don't worry, we're safe...

English students spend a fortune to go to university. Shouldn’t that buy them more teaching and less partying? | Adrian Chiles https://t.co/hLlUTjjA6m

— The Guardian (@guardian) March 29, 2023

No cargo bike ramblings today either...

Why are today’s TV dramas so devastatingly difficult to follow? | Adrian Chiles https://t.co/G8xDpEopxg

— The Guardian (@guardian) March 30, 2023 

Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport...

I'm pleased at the progress we've made so far on our work to introduce a fully segregated new cycle lane along the Shinfield Road. The segregated cycle lane links to key centres of employment in Reading, such as the Royal Berkshire Hospital, The University and, of course, the Town Centre itself.

 As part of our wider Climate Emergency Strategy, this work underlines the council's wholehearted commitment to tackling poor air quality which we know exists in parts of Reading. It has never been more important to create realistic alternatives to the private car, not only in terms of tackling congestion and air quality but also for the residents and local communities who live on key routes.

 The work on the Shinfield Road precedes our now approved plans to implement further cycling and walking improvements stretching from Berkeley Avenue along the Bath Road to Castle Hill, then running over the IDR to Castle Street, as well as our recent decision to make permanent the fully segregated cycle lane along Sidmouth Street.

We have achieved significant improvements in other areas, including the routes on Redlands Road and Christchurch Road, delivered as part of the first phase of funding. We have also just submitted our bid for Tranche 4 funding to the Department for Transport – and we should find out if we’ve been successful by the end of March. This funding would then enable us to make improvements at the junction of Sidmouth Street and Queens Road to provide safer cycle links through to Kennet Side.

Oier Lazkano. Chances are that name was new to you too yesterday. The 23-year-old Movistar rider spent all day in the breakaway, looked to have lost his chance for a podium when caught by the group containing the leaders, went on the attack again and held off the peloton by no more than a second, to the delight of every cycling fan watching...

> Christophe Laporte secures back-to-back cobbled classics wins at thrilling Dwars door Vlaanderen, as second-placed Oier Lazkano steals the plaudits with phenomenal ride

Teammate Matteo Jorgenson wasn't surprised, however, having witnessed "king" Lazkano's tenacity and "intensity" first-hand... at the dinner table...

'Hi, mate, yeah they just want one of those floating bus stops on Park Lane... yeah, you know the ones, I'll leave it to you, you know what I mean...'

'No problem, boss...'

Can we get some drainage in the park lane cycle lane pic.twitter.com/ouYSLRvYnV

— CycleGaz™ (@cyclegaz) March 30, 2023

Floating bus stops have been the hot topic of late, first with the Sunday Telegraph being accused of using divisive rhetoric in "death trap" floating bus stops article. Then, a week later, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said "more needs to be done" as he pledged to "raise awareness" among London cyclists for improving safety of floating bus stops. Bloody hell, Sadiq, flooding the things until their impassable is a bit extreme...

Oh, also last weekend, London's cycling chief said he was "punched in the face" by cyclist he confronted for not waiting for pedestrian at floating bus stop.