A survey of over 1,000 cyclists conducted by the Bristol Cycling Campaign has found that four out of five cyclists experience aggressive driving, including "extreme verbal and physical aggression".
BCC's chair Ian Pond said: "We were dismayed, but sadly not shocked."
In a blog post, BCC has also hit out at an alleged lack of enforcement action against law-breaking drivers by Avon and Somerset Police. After its partner group Bristol Road Justice (BRJ) submitted a Freedom of Information request to ask for details of the police response to 13 incidents where cyclists had been seriously injured as a result of dangerous driving, police only took statements from victims in two of the cases, and enforcement was only taken in one. BRJ also claims that there was an initial refusal and a delayed refusal to provide the information, and a response was only given after an formal investigation was launched by the Information Commissioner.
BRJ also claimed there was an "apparent reduction in enforcement action caused by inadequate staffing levels" at Avon and Somerset Police when it came to dealing with cameras submissions. According to stats, prosecutions relating to footage of drivers using mobile phones in the county have dropped from 55% in 2022 to 37% so far in 2023. On reports of close passes, it's reported that only 15% are prosecuted and 85% only receive warning letters.
In relation to footage of drivers using mobile phones, the number prosecuted has dropped from 55% in 2022 to 37% so far in 2023.
In relation to many reports of close passes, the police are taking ‘no further action’.
Where action is taken on close pass reports, a staggering 85% of drivers only receive warning letters and a mere 15% are prosecuted.
BIG COO IN THE WILD! 🐮
Reigning world champion @AvVleuten bumps into a friendly face on a training ride. Rainbow jersey might be a bit too small for you, Coo 🌈#GlasgowScotland2023pic.twitter.com/qdqdjZ1pRn
— 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (@CyclingWorlds) August 10, 2023
This Highland traffic jam perhaps gave the multiple world champ some extra time to ponder the wrapping up of her stellar career. Van Vleuten says there will still be some more racing before her retirement in September, and she will update us via her website on the finer details soon.
Sometimes, the mind just says no. Even as the pre-race favourite and seemingly going well at the first time check, Marlen Reusser abandoned yesterday's elite individual time trial, eventually won by the USA's Chloe Dygert, citing mental fatigue. While not explicitly referencing the incident, Reusser was also still recovering from a crash at the mixed team time trial just two days earlier, that her and her team still managed to win.
On the ITT abandon, Reusser told SRF: "It wasn't a mechanical problem, I wanted to give up the race at that moment. I noticed that I'm not ready, I'm not hungry."
"Angry old man shouts at clouds again."
— Chris (@Spacebanjo) August 11, 2023
The point of the electric assisted mountain bikes in my estimation is to encourage beginner cyclists to go places they would not venture on a conventional bike. Thus it does act in a way to get people more fit as they would not cycle otherwise.
— Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (@BenMill51834783) August 11, 2023
"...please don’t pretend these things have any of the benefits of a proper old-fashioned bicycle" says Hitchens in his latest musings for the Spectator, boldly (and incorrectly) titled 'Real cyclists don’t use e-bikes'. Here's a few reasons why others might think that's a load of cobblers...
> E-Bike myths debunked: 6 common misconceptions about electric assistance
With complaints on the rise about untidily-parked e-bikes in the capital, one of the largest suppliers of docked and dockless shared e-bikes - Lime - says that it supports calls for additional spaces so bikes can be parked at designated locations at all times.
Hal Stevenson, Lime's enior Public Affairs Manager, told the Evening Standard: “We have agreements in place with over 10 councils to operate our services here, each with different parking rules in place.
“There is record demand for cycling in London, including Lime e-bikes. It is clear that a standardised, London-wide service with more dedicated shared e-bike parking locations across the capital is now needed to help simultaneously facilitate growing popularity, maintain convenience and ensure tidy parking.
“The recent recommendation for 10,000 parking spaces from transport consultancy, Steer, is one Lime endorses, and will now work with Transport for London and London councils to try deliver.”
An estimated 1.25 million people have take over 12 million trips on Lime bikes since it launched in London in December 2018.
The Belgian will be looking to make up for a disappointing (by his standards) road race last weekend in the individual time trial this afternoon, and has already taken some his anger out on Scottish Strava leaderboards by taking 35 KOMs on his practice rides. In his debut YouTube video, Evenepoel is shown testing his bike and kit to optimise everything ahead of the big race, including that divisive snood/aero balaclava thingy...
Remco says he started the channel to "show [you] more insights and behind the scenes of my work and life."
Does that include power data? They never share their damn power data!
Reposting in the light of a tweet by a cycling commentator (not advocating a pile-on).
My view: It's challenging, I'm sure, but it would be so good to see those with involvement and influence in pro cycling finding ways (subtle if need be) to resist the greenwashing. pic.twitter.com/DiYmWtNZAq— Dave Walker (@davewalker) August 10, 2023
Yesterday's big story on the blog stemmed from ex-pro-turned cycling commentator David Millar taking to social media to promote the Ineos Grenadier 4x4, which received significant backlash due to the environmental and safety concerns surrounding the large high emission vehicle.
"In light of the tweet", self-described cycling cartoonist Dave Walker has shared this cartoon to remind us what kind of industries are heavily involved in the sponsorship of pro cycling teams. Uncomfortably accurate?
If Will Walker is successful in his application, we may have to stick another entry in our round-up of weird and wonderful cycling world records, because it's quite the feat.
The Alaskan claims to have completed the ultra reverse ride during the Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, and to our knowledge was the only one doing it backwards. Walker has submitted evidence to Guinness World Records, and if successful will smash the previous backwards cycling record of 209.77 miles, set by Andrew Hellinga of Australia in 2013.
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) August 10, 2023
Mathieu learning just how highbrow Britain's tabloid press is over here.
According to what was reportedly an email sent to dealers and share by The Radavist, The Minneapolis-based bike brand will no longer develop new products after 2024 and "will eventually be retired in a few years."
> Review: All-City Gorilla Monsoon
All-City Cycles is under the QBP umbrella, which also owns Salsa Cycles and Surly Bikes. The All-City brand is distributed by Ison Distribution in the UK, with a number of their bikes - a range of steel and titanium road, gravel and city bikes - for sale on the websites of numerous online retailers.
> Bike industry turmoil continues as 2pure enters administration
The email to All-City dealers continues: "In the meantime, All-City remains a powerful opportunity for your business. New inventory of exciting All-City bicycles will continue to enter the market through calendar year 2024, including new models and colorways. QBP will continue to service retailers and consumers with replacement parts and support product warranties through our current warranty program."
road.cc has contacted QBP for further comment.
Ah wow, thank you for sharing 🥰 https://t.co/gduMSFhfic
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) August 10, 2023
Becoming World Champion is always such a special feeling & today we finally got to race the same course & distance as the men! It was brilliant! And such fun to ride at speed!
Here’s to the best support & cheerleading crew 🤩🌈🥇 pic.twitter.com/HkZQ6tHZig
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) August 10, 2023
Taking some chilled time out from being Greater Manchester's Active Travel Commissioner, a cycling team founder, mum, keynote speaker and generally awesome human, Dame Sarah Storey picked up a 42nd world title by winning the C5 individual time trial yesterday. Storey led from the outset, and her time of 39:48 over the tough 28.2km course was 1:14 faster than Alana Forster of Australian in second.
Il manque pas grand chose à Victor sur le sprint ... et Pidcock .. dive bomb bien moche... #LesRp#Glasgow2023#xccpic.twitter.com/yVlvbKUjBn
— Marc (@marcrp) August 10, 2023
Taking a brief detour off-road and to the men's cross-country short track race yesterday, Tom Pidcock was accused of "crashing out" Luca Schwarzbauer of Germany as he appeared to make contact with him as he overtook on the inside of the final corner.
"I know he's Tom Pidcock and he's a superstar, but this doesn't give him the right to do that," Schwarzbauer said post-race.
Pidcock said the riders "probably touched", saying: "I went for the inside and pushed him out on to the gravel and then Luca's crashed unfortunately."
Samuel Gaze won the title, with Victor Koretzky taking silver.
Canyon were quick to congratulate the new elite women's individual time trial world champion Chloe Dygert, who capped off a remarkable return from a horrific mid-race injury three years ago with her second world title of this championships. While it's obviously all about the rider, this performance plus a certain Dutchman's epic victory at the weekend - including a fall that destroyed his shoe dial but left nothing but a couple of scratches on his shiny Canyon Aeroad - can't have been bad for the German bike brand's rep...