Ah, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy. That’s Clarkson, not Corbyn. Britain’s leading motormouth has gone full throttle against cyclists again, claiming we are responsible for all the trees getting cut down in London.
Today, the Grand Tour presenter, said on Twitter: “They’re going to take down all the trees to make life easier for cyclists. I mean, who voted for these people? Why.”
They’re going to take down all the trees to make life easier for cyclists. I mean, who voted for these people? Why?
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) May 21, 2019
He was referring to rumours that trees will be felled on a planned cycleway through Holland Park Avenue. A petition on Change.org claims – and we are trying to get our heads around this – that “Transport for London will be putting cyclists lives at risk to introduce a new cycle lane in this traffic-heavy area, chopping down trees to accommodate it.”
Anyone who regularly rides that route in from Acton and Shepherds Bush towards the centre will tell you it is the nastiest part of the ride, with drivers parking up at the shops opening doors in their path, and pinch points giving little room to squeeze past buses, coaches and other large vehicles.
And Clarkson should know this; he lives in the area, and despite his on-screen persona, rides a bike round there – as he did the day he was doorstepped as news broke that he had been sacked from BBC’s Top Gear Show (see the picture above).
Clarkson was swiftly schooled on the actual situation; no trees will be cut down as part of this planned, and much-needed, safe route for cyclists.
Holland Park Avenue. Trees as far as the eye can see and -contrary to some recent scare-mongering, none of these are ear-marked for felling to create part of TfL’s protected cycle route. pic.twitter.com/f5tTIpvy1h
— Tab (@mum_on_bike) May 21, 2019
Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.