Some obligatory lunchtime reading for you here courtesy once again of VecchioJo, who’s waded into the recent trend of ultra-distance cycling event organisers implementing no-fly rules for participants, an environmental policy – and logistical headache – he suggests is putting “principles over practicality”…
> The privilege of race: No-fly policies only act to make cycling events even more exclusionary
(We’re also planning to discuss potential no-fly policies and pro cycling’s environmental stance in detail on an upcoming episode of the podcast too, so watch out for that one over the next few weeks.)
Cyclists in Edinburgh have again criticised plans to remove a 2km-long section of a popular active travel path in favour of a new “transformational” tram line – arguing that “less car use is the goal”, not the destruction of green, cycling space – after councillors voted to put two potential options for the tram route to consultation, while stressing that the proposals will be presented to the public “objectively”.
Last week, we reported that councillors were considering a recommended £2bn north-south tram line through Edinburgh city centre from Granton to the BioQuarter, which would extend the existing network between Newhaven and Edinburgh Airport and finally incorporate a line first planned around two decades ago during the city’s initial tram project.
Since then, the Roseburn cycle path has established itself as a popular active travel corridor in the city, with the council last year beginning work on a £12.5 million scheme to improve connections for cyclists between the path and the Union Canal.
However, the recommended proposal for the new tram route involves removing two kilometres from the cycle path and incorporating it into the tram network (a walking route will still co-exist alongside the tram line, but cyclists will be “discouraged” from using it), a design that has sparked a backlash from cycling and active travel campaigners in the city and prompted the Liberal Democrats to launch a ‘Save the Telford/Roseburn path’ petition.
A second, alternative route, known as the Orchard Brae Corridor, has also been touted, though councillors have noted that this second option’s drawbacks also include the possible removal of existing cycling infrastructure and limited opportunity to build new protected bike lanes.
> “Travesty” if tram extension plan leads to loss of “much-loved” cycle path, says councillor
On Thursday, while approving the start of a 12-week public consultation on the proposals, the City of Edinburgh Council noted that while the Roseburn route is the “preferred” design for the new tram line, the consultation “should present objectively the pros and cons of both routes”.
Daisy Narayanan, head of placemaking and mobility for the council, told the meeting that the Roseburn and Orchard Brae routes were “not equal options in any shape or form” and that the decision to recommend Roseburn as the ‘preferred’ option came after extensive discussions between officials.
She added that Roseburn Path would “no longer” be “a key cycle route”, and said that while bikes would not be “banned” once the new line was completed, the path would “not provide the same level of cycling experience as it does now”, due to an abundance of “pinch points”.
Nigel Bagshaw, a former Edinburgh Green Party councillor who now represents sustainable transport charity Transform Scotland, also agreed that the Roseburn option “provides greater flexibility as it will facilitate interchange with the public transport network at Haymarket”.
However, he also conceded that the partial loss of the Roseburn corridor as an active travel route “is a concern”.
“As an organisation we would strongly support the plans to review whether there is any prospect for retaining walking and cycling provision along the Roseburn Corridor,” he said.
> Zig-zag corners on “moronic” Edinburgh cycleway to be replaced to improve cycle safety
Meanwhile, Lib Dem councillor Hal Osler told the meeting that she had received a “wave” of emails from residents who were “horrified” at the possibility of losing a “precious linear park green corridor”, especially considering the presence of an alternative option.
And Jakob Assarsson, speaking behalf of Friends of Dalry Cemetery, called into question the council’s commitment to reducing car use in Edinburgh, pointing out that the tram line proposals only seemed to impact cycling and green space, and were based purely on financial concerns.
Trams, he said, “should not come at the expense of an existing world-class nature corridor – with bats, hedgehogs, owls, and badgers, all protected species, throughout – and an extremely popular active travel route.
“If we must have more trams, let them take space from cars. Less car use is the goal.
“Clearly the Roseburn option is preferred because it is anticipated to be less expensive. But only in monetary terms. Not in terms of the quality of the city, the physical and mental health of its inhabitants, and the wellbeing of its nature.”
With the construction process expected to take 11 years, I suspect this debate could rumble on for a while yet…
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) February 4, 2024
I really hope you didn’t need context for that particular homemade sign (because if you did, goodness knows where your mind wandered to in the process), but here it is anyway:
> Mathieu van der Poel spits at “booing” spectator on way to 7th straight win
Documents obtained by a campaign group suggest that Transport Secretary Mark Harper and the government have not blocked councils from installing low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), despite their claims.
The news comes after Transport Action Network (Tan), the campaign group currently taking legal action against the government over cuts to active travel budgets, got hold of documents which showed Active Travel England’s decision-making process regarding applications for funding from councils for low-traffic schemes.
And while in May of last year some newspapers and media figures were briefed that ministers had blocked money for LTNs, this claim that funding had been stripped or blocked is reportedly not seen in the papers, which instead revealed that the lack of funding approved for LTNs was in fact due to the schemes being deemed by Active Travel England to be not ambitious enough or of sufficient quality.
Read more:> Government falsely claimed it blocked low-traffic schemes, documents suggest
Paris’ cycling and active travel revolution shows no signs of slowing down, as voters in the French capital agreed to a threefold increase in parking charges for “bulky, polluting” SUVs.
In yesterday’s referendum, 54.5 per cent of voters approved the proposals, which are designed to target motorists who drive into central Paris from the suburbs and will see parking charges for vehicles of 1.6 tonnes or more, and electric vehicles heavier than two tonnes, triple to €18 (around £15.40) an hour.
Exemptions will be made, however, for taxi drivers, health workers, and people with disabilities.
“We’re proud of having posed an eminently environmental question at a time the environment is presented as the source of all evil,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has overseen the creation of 84km of cycle lanes in Paris and a 71 per cent rise in cycling since the end of the Covid-19 lockdowns, said after the results were confirmed.
“It’s a form of resistance here in Paris to this very concerning movement.”
Meanwhile, 27-year-old voter Juliette Bruley told Reuters: "Do you really need a SUV in Paris? I carry my son on a bike, we found solutions.”
And speaking to Forbes, Leo Murray, co-director of climate charity Possible, described the “landmark referendum” as the “latest triumph in Paris’ ongoing mission to tackle its problems with air pollution, congestion and motor traffic dominance, and is likely to inspire cities around the world to follow suit.”
He continued: “It is fantastic to see the people of Paris voting to increase parking charges for large and oversized cars. It is a great first step in reversing the recent trend towards autobesity and reducing our overall reliance on cars in cities.”
> Paris to become '100 per cent cycling city' within next four years
However, others aren’t as impressed by the new, increased charges.
“It’s going to be about 200 euros a day. That’s extremely expensive. Life is expensive, children are expensive,” 37-year-old voter Laure Picard said.
“The goal is that we stop using our car, but we need our car to leave Paris during holidays and weekends.”
“We must firmly oppose these attacks on freedom pursued under false green pretexts,” the pro-motoring lobby group ‘40 millions d’automobilistes’ said after the result was announced.
“If we don’t stop it now, this unjustified rebellion led by an ultra-urban and anti-car minority will spread like gangrene to other cities.”
Fresh from opening the scoring against title rivals Liverpool yesterday afternoon, Arsenal and England ‘starboy’ (urgh) Bukayo Saka has staked his claim for a spot on the wing in our high-flying Footballers Who Cycle XI…
> Footballers who cycle XI — the Premier League stars who love life on two wheels
Saka, Salah, or Robben? Now that’s what they call in football a nice problem to have.
Oh, and don’t worry, it didn’t take long for a Gooner to pop up in the comments calling for their No. 7 to “get a helmet on kid”…
The dominant, relentless stars of the weekend’s world cyclocross championships in Tábor – Zoe Bäckstedt, Fem van Empel, and the era-defining Mathieu van der Poel – may represent the present and future of the sport, both on-road and off-road.
But it was one multidisciplined representative of cycling’s past who arguably received the most love and adulation from the fans who flocked to the historic Czech town and its heavy course yesterday.
Three-time cyclocross champion Zdeněk Štybar bowed out of the sport at his favoured discipline’s flagship event with an emotional final lap in his home country, in front of an adoring home crowd, and on the very course he won his first ‘cross rainbow jersey back in 2010.
A last lap crash aside – which the 38-year-old said allowed him to soak up the atmosphere during his final few minutes as a pro cyclist – final races don’t come much better, and more fitting, than that.
Štybar, who added to his maiden 2010 world title with two more rainbow jerseys in 2011 and 2014, also – rather fittingly, considering who dominated yesterday’s men’s race in Tábor – paved the way for a whole generation of multidisciplined talents, such as Van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock, joining Quick-Step in 2011 and combining his generational talent on the ‘cross field with some sterling results on the road.
Those road successes include stage wins at the Tour de France and Vuelta, classic victories at Strade Bianche, E3, and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, a GC win at the 2013 Eneco Tour, and two near misses at Paris-Roubaix in 2017 and 2015.
(Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
“A lot of emotions. This was a very special week. Even after Christmas, let’s just say this was a farewell tour,” Štybar, who raced his last year on the road in 2023 for Jayco-AlUla, told HLN after yesterday’s race, which saw him finish 31st and later take to the podium to enjoy the adulation of the home crowd one last time.
“I crashed the last lap... On the one hand, I could enjoy it a little longer, but on the other hand, it was a shame because I just got my second wind and was able to continue.
“In fact, I was suddenly forced to really enjoy the spectators. That was incredible. I really shed tears on that last lap. Also, here on stage.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better farewell. Riders are always busy organising a farewell race... But here, all the Belgians and Czechs were present. I am very grateful for that.
“My career started and now ends here, with a huge number of people. I have a headache from all the shouting and from all the fans in the stands. That was incredible. A moment that I will never forget and for which I am grateful.”
Enjoy your retirement Styby, it’s well deserved.
We’ll get to the cyclocross, and those utterly dominant displays in Tábor, in a minute or two, but here’s what else you may have missed while trying to keep up with all the bike races suddenly back on TV. And, you know, actually riding your bike…
> Six teens arrested after cyclists targeted in hit-and-run crashes in Melbourne
> Near Miss of the Day 890: Scaffolding truck driver makes very close pass on cyclist
> This crowdfunded carbon fibre e-bike apparently has Michael Owen on its "ambassador team"
Well, there’s no denying the former Liverpool, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Newcastle poacher’s inherent charisma and electric personality…