EDIT: Turns out Dr Andy Palmer left his role as CEO of Aston Martin a couple of years back. In his time since leaving the company, he joined electric bus maker Switch mobility as CEO, before stepping down from that role too at the end of last year.
Let's start with these comments from Dr Andy Palmer...
The former CEO of Aston Martin and COO of Nissan who is, Wikipedia tells me, referred to as the 'Godfather of EVs' due to his work launching the Nissan Leaf. Palmer took to Twitter, sorry, let's try that again. Palmer took to X. Nah, Palmer took to Twitter to recall his train strike experience...
"Drove into London today (anticipating a train strike) to be met with 20mph speed limits throughout Central London, policed with hundreds of speed cameras," he said. "Another erosion of car users' rights which along with ULEZ is likely to be unpopular with voters. I guess the argument for is lower emissions and crash injuries, but I doubt there is credible research behind this.
"20mph should be reserved for around schools & hospitals where it's entirely valid. Emissions in the streets of London will almost certainly higher since one drives in a lower gear to control momentum avoiding the speed cameras. And at 20mph, I'm now swarmed by bicycles overtaking from all angles raising the risk of collision. I'd love to see the research that supports this but like so many things these days, I doubt it's supported by valid facts but rather political expedience."
Cue replies from people unpicking every single word, sharing studies and data to the contrary and just generally making Dr Palmer go very quiet on the matter...
You can literally use Google to find loads of cross-examined study about difference in braking distance between 30 and 20mph.
— PhoneKills (@phonekills) July 25, 2023
Ignorant car manufacturer executive takes a three seater sofa and two armchairs built inside a two ton metal box into a city demanding that he can drive at any speed.
Ironic that average car speed is 12.5 mph to 11.6 mph in inner London. 20.3 mph to 19.3 mph in outer London. 🤡 https://t.co/VofqpWR7l0pic.twitter.com/omapyhlXMW
— Adam Reynolds (@awjre) July 25, 2023
Of the replies linking the research and data that Dr Palmer suggested "like so many things these days, I doubt it's supported by valid facts but rather political expedience", one reply shared the link to a British Medical Journal study from 2020 titled: 'Twenty miles per hour speed zones reduce the danger to pedestrians and cyclists'.
Another popular one was Transport for London's February release stating that "new data shows significant improvements in road safety in London since introduction of 20mph speed limits".
"At sites monitored on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN), collisions involving a vulnerable road user have decreased by 36 per cent, while collisions resulting in death or serious injury have decreased by 25 per cent after speed limits were lowered," TfL concluded.
On the emissions front, research by Imperial College, cited by TfL and in this Welsh government literature review into the state of evidence on 20mph speed limits, found that "it would be incorrect to assume a 20mph speed restriction would be detrimental to ambient local air quality".
The review suggested: "Although there was a moderate increase in CO2 and NOx in petrol cars, the study reported that particulate matter emissions reduced for both petrol and diesel cars and NOx and CO2 emissions reduced for diesel cars. As road traffic is responsible for up to 80 per cent of particulate pollution, this was a significant finding which supports the case for measures which secure observance of 20 mph speed limits."
With the final preparations being put on the UCI World Cycling Championships' return to British soil, the UCI has told Britain its hardline stance on Russian athletes will affect its chances of staging future international cycling events.
That's the news being reported by The Times, the governing body's president David Lappartient writing to sports minister Stewart Andrew to say that it appears the government does not trust the UCI to ensure Russian and Belarusian athletes compete as neutrals at next month's event.
The UK government has insisted athletes and support staff sign a separate declaration that they do not support the war in Ukraine or their nation's leadership, and do not receive state funding.
> Ex-cycling team boss Oleg Tinkov renounces Russian citizenship over Ukraine war
The UCI has joined the IOC in criticising this position as it contravenes the UCI's authority to determine eligibility requirements.
The letter, seen by journalists at the newspaper, reportedly says: "With the utmost recognition for the UK's efforts and outstanding track record in hosting major international competitions, I feel compelled to convey our concern that measures like these could impact on the future assessment of bids from the UK for the organisation of UCI events.
"I sincerely believe that in any relationship, reciprocal trust is of the essence. The fact that the UK government has not shown signs of trust to our organisation will affect our trust in the UK’s commitment to the organisation of sporting events in coming years."
> Ineos Grenadiers' Russian pro Pavel Sivakov denounces invasion of Ukraine
In response, a government spokesperson said: "There is a clear consensus — from a coalition of like-minded nations, including the UK — that there should be no Russian and Belarusian state representation in sporting competitions while the war in Ukraine continues.
"At the request of national governing bodies, we provided guidance on how individual, self-funded athletes could compete in the UK on a neutral basis. This guidance respects the autonomy of sport, but makes clear that athletes should not actively support [the war or Vladimir Putin]."
Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for witnesses after an "unprovoked attack" saw a cyclist in his 60s pushed from his bike into Exeter Quay.
The force said the victim was unharmed but his bicycle was left in the water after the incident at around 8.30pm on Thursday 20 July.
A police statement read: "The man was unharmed in the incident, however, his bicycle was left in the water. The incident took place between Exe Bridge North and Exe Bridge South which is adjacent to Edmund Street.
"Police are looking to speak to the male responsible who is described as a white, with light coloured short hair and was thought to be in his late teens. He was wearing a tight white tee-shirt. He was with a group of five other people. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or by our website here quoting 50230202057."
Is it 2022 again?
🇫🇷 #TDF2023
What a crowd. 🤩🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/9sUuaquViv
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 26, 2023
The current Tour de France champ (yep, triple checked that one after the ex-Aston Martin CEO fiasco...) returned to Copenhagen to huge crowds this lunchtime.
This is precisely the sort of attention to detail I'm looking forward to at the Glasgow World Chamionship in a week or two 😅
📸roobsa on IG pic.twitter.com/pfSomFYbfq
— Mathew Mitchell (@MatMitchell30) July 26, 2023
Some of your early thoughts on Dr Palmer's 20mph comments...
pockstone: "...'swarmed by ' something.something 'overtaking from all angles, raising the risk of collision.' Glad I've never experienced such a thing whilst riding in traffic."
Car Delenda Est:"And I would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for those meddling speed cameras!"
Carior: "Ah Schrodingers cyclist — both slowing down traffic and zooming past in excess of 20mph.
"Also — not being funny but whenever I am in central London on strike days, the speed limit is not the thing slowing cars down!
"Also also — driving slower uses more petrol? really? really? That's the line you're going to take whilst you criticise people for making unsubstantiated claims — what's this guy got a doctorate in? and where from because the standards of that programme are clearly very low!"
That would be a doctorate in Engineering Management, from Cranfield University, achieved in April 2004... Wikipedia is doing plenty of heavy lifting this morning...
Another Tour de France Femmes stage yesterday, another SD Worx victory, the dominant team in women's cycling taking their second stage of this year's race, adding to their 2023 collection that includes... *deep breath*... Strade Bianche, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Flanders, Gent Wevelgem, Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Tour de Suisse, Itzulia and Vuelta a Burgos. The question on many people's lips this morning is why don't the other teams make SD Worx work?
When I was young I would never put my dishes in the dishwasher. Mum would do it & then tell me I should do it. But she did it so I didn't. One day she stopped & I had no clean dishes. So I started loading the dishwasher. In conclusion, the peloton should let SD Worx chase.
— Chloe Hosking (@chloe_hosking) July 25, 2023
Yesterday it was DSM who did the chasing, SD Worx sitting back, saving their legs, before winning the sprint with Lorena Wiebes. Puzzling, to say the least...
Anyway, that should be less of an issue today with no chance of a bunch sprint, and potentially even a GC day with the first look at Demi Vollering vs Annemiek van Vleuten...
Luke Rowe's son supporting his dad during a Time Trial is the most wholesome thing you will see this year. pic.twitter.com/ISrgiwVUCv
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) July 25, 2023
"FULL GAS NOW, ALL THE WAY TO THE LINE... COME ON, PUSH IT, UP, UP, UP... WE'VE GOT TRAINS AND DINOSAURS TO PLAY WITH..."