Welcome to Thursday on the road.cc live blog with Simon MacMichael, Jack Sexty and the rest of the team.
07/02/2019, 16:43
Extra places released for Vélo Birmingham & Midlands 100-mile sportive
Vélo Birmingham sold out in the first instance, but if you missed out first time you can now apply for one of a small batch of extra tickets released ahead of the event on the 12th May. You can also enter the new 42 mile route announced if you fancy a shorter day in the saddle. Link to the 100 mile waiting list is here and 42 mile entries here.
07/02/2019, 15:58
Some positive bike-related news from Scotland
Great initiative @EDCouncil Fab surprise for me & kids to arrive by bike & discover we get a free swim. Hope more folk do the same! #cyclingpic.twitter.com/SAgir5Bg1X
— Susie Ranford (@susieranford) February 7, 2019
This is a great idea. Wonder if they rode there at 40mph in a 20 zone the swines? (see earlier post)
07/02/2019, 15:49
Cycling "one of the cleanest sports around", claims Geraint Thomas
Geraint Thomas: 'I'm confident cycling is one of the cleanest sports'pic.twitter.com/EaE0j1tqCd
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) February 6, 2019
While there's hopefully some truth in what the Tour de France champ says in that it's much cleaner than it was, you can imagine it didn't go down so well with sceptics on social media...
— You've Been Froomed (@YBFroomed) February 6, 2019
07/02/2019, 15:43
Valverde plans to defend world title in Yorkshire
Reigning @UCI_cycling Road Race champion @alejanvalverde isn't giving up the rainbow jersey without a fight #Yorkshire2019pic.twitter.com/tx9mbmO6d6
— Yorkshire 2019 (@Yorkshire2019) February 7, 2019
The veteran wants to attempt a defence of his crown on the tough course... although we reckon a certain Slovakian might have some say in it.
07/02/2019, 13:44
"Bicyclists doing 30mph or 40mph" in 20mph speed limits, claims Conservative MSP
"If you drive along at 20mph, as a driver, the thing you notice more than anything else is the bicyclists who are doing 30mph or 40mph" - Edward Mountain MSP (Con), lying. @1edmountainpic.twitter.com/I7NM71NlM5
— Calum Cook (@CalumCook91) February 7, 2019
These excerpts from the Rural Economy and connectivity committee are at best frustrating and at worst downright infuriating, perfectly demonstrating the problems we face when trying to promote and implement active travel measures in the UK. This quote from Edward Mountain MSP is arguably the killer quote that will make you want to tear your hair out.
07/02/2019, 13:48
London politicians out in force to condemn decision to block CS11
Bad news on CS11. Westminster Council’s legal action means
Swiss Cottage junction remains a traffic-dominated menace to people walking & cycling. We're still determined to reduce road danger in the area, but with WCC continuing to obstruct us, it'll now take longer than we hoped— Will Norman (@willnorman) February 7, 2019
Will Norman expressed his disappointment at the decision to block work to build the cycle route from Swiss Cottage to the West End, as did Sadiq Khan. CS11 was originally blocked by High Court judge Sir Ross Cranston in September, saying work can't start until “the cost benefit/analysis is premised on the whole scheme being implemented.” Westminster Council said that its residents were “overwhelmingly opposed” to proposals for some parts of CS11 but argued that despite multiple requests it had not received necessary traffic modelling and mitigation measures from TfL such that it could make an informed decision about its installation. Following this appeal, CS11 won't be happening as it stands.
Disappointing decision - but blame should be pointed at Westminster Council who continue to block plans for a safer cycling route from Swiss Cottage to the West End. We'll consider next steps, but time & investment must be focused on boroughs who want to help make cycling safer. https://t.co/7oyjZ2i8Wf
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) February 7, 2019
07/02/2019, 13:27
Chris Hoy's latest Flying Fergus children's book is out later this month
Look who's back! The new Flying Fergus book - The Photo Finish - by @chrishoy is out this month #flyingfergus#chrishoy#kidsbook#cycling#kidsbikes#newadventurepic.twitter.com/CWYIddAedo
— HOY Bikes (@HOYbikes) February 6, 2019
Written by Hoy and illustrated by Joanna Nadin, the latest instalment about the adventures of Flying Fergus is called The Photo Finish.
07/02/2019, 13:25
Cycling in the Netherlands vs everywhere else
This graphic is a clear example of how the Netherlands caters for cycling, while neighbouring countries aren't nearly as keen. https://t.co/LatXty892xpic.twitter.com/kXQG37fT51
— Momentum Mag (@MomentumMag) February 6, 2019
This heatmap is pretty telling.
07/02/2019, 13:20
Sustrans raising awareness of car overload on our roads during the school run ahead of The Big Pedal
As many as 1 in 4 cars on the road during the morning peak in England are on the #schoolrun. Closing the streets outside schools to traffic will improve air quality, make the roads safer and more pleasant environments to #walk& #cycle#BigPedalhttps://t.co/8pk8HSx4eBpic.twitter.com/3SyGMSmUfH
— Sustrans (@sustrans) February 7, 2019
The cycling and walking charity are organising the event that takes place between 25th March - 5th April, with the aim being to get schools competing for who can get as many of their pupils, staff and parents cycling, walking or scooting to school as possible. Find out more here.
07/02/2019, 12:20
Dorset community nurses now riding to appointments on e-bikes, inspired by a group trip to Holland
The Nursing Times reports that after shadowing Dutch nurses during a trip to Holland last year, Dorset community nurses have now been given e-bikes to travel to appointments to make them more visible in the community and help to change the public perception of what they do.
Hattie Taylor, from Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, told the Nursing Times about the trip to Holland, which involved six nurses shadowing six Dutch counterparts: “We followed colleagues that do similar to what we do here, but here we go out and about in our cars and there, because it’s quite flat, they all go out on bikes.
“It felt like you were doing something that was helping you keep fit as well & it helped you to get a bit of fresh air & get a different perspective than you do when you’re just sitting down in car"#NursingNowEngland ambassador @hattierocket on e-bikes https://t.co/sLd57zrUtZpic.twitter.com/9QLDRZDgPZ
— Bev Matthews RN MSc #NHS (@BevMatthews_) February 6, 2019
"They realised that it was a lot quicker sometimes on a bike than in a car, because you don’t have to wait in traffic and you don’t have to find a parking space, you just arrive. And it felt like you were doing something that was helping you keep fit as well and it helped you to get a bit of fresh air and get a different perspective than you do when you’re just sitting down in a car."
On their return to the UK the Trust partnered with Fizz bikes who rented them bikes at £35 a month, and the scheme is now fully up an running for nurses in Dorset. Taylor said they'd had a positive response from nurses and patients since the ebikes have been deployed, with the electronic assistance meaning staff don't turn up sweaty to appointments to boot.
07/02/2019, 09:58
This letter to a local newspaper in British Columbia speaks volumes about irrational opposition to cycle lanes
As the writer points out, one felled tree due to a cycle lane being built provokes outrage; 800 chopped down for a road junction, and no-one bats an eyelid.
07/02/2019, 09:45
Tributes to Paul Sherwen as hundreds attend Manchester Cathedral memorial service
The memorial service took place in Manchester yesterday of Paul Sherwen, with family, friends and former colleagues joined by hundreds of members of the public to pay tribute to the pro cyclist turned commentator who died in December at the age of 62.
Among those who attended yesterday and paid tribute to Sherwen was Ned Boulting, who worked alongside him when he and Liggett provided ITV’s commentary on the Tour de France.
Thanks to @PhilLiggett and others, an army of folk descended on Manchester Cathedral.
What we will all take home is the sense of a life lived squeezed till the pips squeaked, and a man who cared deeply about his fellow travellers.
I am so glad to have known Paul Sherwen. pic.twitter.com/k3H6d8UmRV
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) February 7, 2019
ITV Cycling also produced the following video as a tribute to Sherwen, covering his career both in the saddle and behind the microphone.
On the day of his memorial service at Manchester Cathedral, a tribute to Paul Sherwen from his broadcast colleagues and friends in the UK.
Archive courtesy of ASO/INA and stills from Graham Watson pic.twitter.com/857ElDKeQd
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) February 6, 2019