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Why's there a bike in the road? If cyclists acted like drivers; Egan Bernal targets second yellow jersey; That awful emoji jacket is back; No space for cycle lanes?; Black Friday with a difference; Sea-inspired frame colours + more on the live blog

It's Wednesday live blog time and Dan Alexander is back from holiday to provide the updates as we pass the halfway point in the week...
24 November 2021, 17:36
Remember to lock that bike up, G!

Let's hope there were no sneaky 15-year-olds around after a Pinarello Dogma F... 

24 November 2021, 16:21
Tom Zoom-en goes racing...but not on a bike
2021 La Passione Boonenberg TB4 Jersey - 1.jpeg

Four-time Paris-Roubaix winner and three-time Flanders champ Tom Boonen is back racing competitively again...just not on a bike. The 40-year-old won the CN prototype class at the Benelux-focused GT & Prototype Challenge race series and told Sport/Voetbalmagazine, "it was great! Even better than any victory as a pro rider."

It's a nice problem to have when you've racked up so many Monuments that they start to lose their excitement..."Winning at Paris-Roubaix for the third or fourth time didn't even give me the same 'kick' as my first victories as a rookie racing driver. The pleasure of winning is certainly not proportional to the importance of the race. You get used to it. That's why those first steps are the most fun – also in my second career."

He did find comparison in the emotion of racing cars to a bunch sprint but still said it's a unique experience for him..."A bunch sprint, that's an explosion of hormones. After a chaotic final in which you find your way, shoot forward like a bolt, and then put your hands in the air. Bam! In my car there is less chaos, I have more control. You stay hyper-focussed and never go over the limit, even in a direct duel with another car. Once you cross the finish line, the joy is immense."

24 November 2021, 16:04
It's socks over/under leg warmers time of year...but have you considered which is "cutest"?

On those rarest dry days it's (old) white socks over my leg warmers. All other occasions it's black socks under for me. Don't all crucify me at once...sometimes I've just got to try and look 'pro' for motivation. Still, I look forward to the list of comments saying pros don't wear socks over leg warmers...

What looks cutest for you? 

24 November 2021, 15:15
"Annoying, isn't it?": Reaction to one fed up Minneapolis cyclist's novel point-making performance

Some reaction to that clever video from the States. As we said earlier, we definitely won't be trying this one any time soon, but it makes a decent point. What would the reaction be if I just decided to leave my bike here? You can get round, right?

And while we all mainly enjoyed adding "blinky orange lights of absolution" to our vocabulary, most of the reaction has been a little less facetious.

Eric wrote: "Seriously. Bike lanes aren’t short-term parking spots. The amount of times I’ve risked being hit because I was forced to swerve into traffic…"

Not everyone got it though...

Guess they'll be more than happy for you to tow their vehicle away if it's in a bike lane then... 

24 November 2021, 14:50
Local paper bingo
Bingo sign (CC BY-SA 3.0 by Peter Rimar on Flickr)

You can tell I'm back from holiday...we've got a local paper letter about those pesky cyclists breaking the rules of the road for your afternoon live blog entertainment.

Today's comes from the York Press. A.P.Cox wrote in to take issue with the news outlet's feature on the most dangerous roads for cyclists in the area. Hardly a bucket list travel guide, I know, but whatever...

The letter in full is here...but a couple of personal highlights..."What it did not say is why these roads are dangerous for those on bicycles. Could it be that the cause is cyclists weaving in and out of traffic to get to the front of the queue when they are unable to get onto the footpath because of pedestrians getting in their way?

"Or perhaps cyclists ignoring red lights and cycling through lines of traffic going in the opposite direction? Another survey should be done listing the most dangerous footpaths for pedestrians caused by cyclists riding on footpaths to avoid red traffic lights."

What a brilliant piece of entertainment that was...

The comments weren't too bad either if you want some more bingo and a local winning 'Guess The Author Before You See The Name'. 

24 November 2021, 13:06
Hitting the shops for Black Friday? Cycle home, TfL urges Londoners
Santander Cycles Pashley Factory 04 (copyright TfL).jpg

Transport for London has urged shoppers to pick greener transport options on their way home from the Black Friday sales. They've even got a discount of their own to mark the day... CYCLEBF21 will get you 25 per cent off an annual membership online or via the Santander Cycles app.

Alex Williams, TfL’s Director of City Planning said: "We’ve seen an increase in the number of personal deliveries across the capital which is affecting air quality in the capital and the health of many Londoners. 

"Black Friday weekend is one of the busiest shopping events of the year and is highly anticipated for London’s shoppers and retailers. We’re encouraging Londoners to choose greener ways of getting their deliveries such as using click and collect or getting to the shops by public transport, helping to reduce the congestion on the capital’s roads and improving air quality."

24 November 2021, 12:36
Get your diary out...Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert will meet five times over the festive season

Liam has already said "MvdP vs WVA is looking like the best bit of Xmas for me"...

The pair will renew their acquaintance on the mud at the World Cup event in Dendermonde on Boxing Day. Fair play to them. Slogging it out all year to stay in top shape. At least they'll get Christmas off? Nah, just water for these lads...

Get your Festive 500 x Christmas recovery ride in early and settle down for some Turkey leftovers and the two best in the world slogging it out...

24 November 2021, 12:23
The Bicycle Film Festival launches Friday

The London Cycling Campaign's cycling film festival launches this Friday until the 5th of December, with tickets still available. It's running virtually and will include an international selection of short films, including how cycling has combated knife crime in London, the rapidly growing racing scene in Rwanda, a portrait of Bike Rides for Black lives and much more.

Tickets and more information can be accessed here...

24 November 2021, 12:05
Oh I do like to be beside the Moana sea/ocean/lake-side... New bike colourway incoming!
2021 Chapter2 TOA Moana colourway

Chapter2 is adding a new Blue + Cyan colourway inspired by the colours of Moana (sea, ocean, or large lake in Maori) to its TOA race model; the deep navy blue is subtly offset by the fading cyan colour on the rear of the seat tube and forks.

Designed in New Zealand, the front triangle of the TOA’s Kamm-Tail aero chassis is moulded using a one-piece Latex Mandel which Chapter2 says has increased the headtube stiffness by 34% over its TERE model. All the cables and hoses are tucked away for a clean finish and the aero benefits.

Chapter2 also gives the option to have its aero MANA Bar fitted which is practical too thanks to the brand’s Quick-Fit spacers that permit easy adjustment of the bar height and quick disassembly for travelling. 

Up to 32mm of tyre clearance, vibration dampening seatstays and seatpost should also help when taking the TOA on rougher roads. 

Chapter2 says it expects to start shipping this new colourway at the end of December. Tempted?

24 November 2021, 10:52
No space for cycle lanes?

Maybe one more lane will fix it? 

24 November 2021, 10:41
One thing none of us want for Christmas...that awful emoji jacket is back

Oh brilliant, that Ford emoji jacket is doing the rounds again. It was actually first launched as part of the car brand's heavily criticised Share the Road campaign in 2020. At the time, the dismal press release said: "Our roads are busier than ever with drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians all vying for space.

"It’s no wonder that tempers are lost, and conflicts arise as our ability to communicate is locked behind windscreens and inside helmets –  resulting in more than 2,000 cyclists being killed on roads in Europe each year."

But yeah, put a sad face on your back and that'll keep you safe...

24 November 2021, 10:09
Pogačar vs Roglič vs Bernal? 2019 Tour de France champion targets second yellow jersey in 2022
Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas, 2019 Tour de France ( picture credit ASO, Alex Broadway, SWpix.com)

Egan Bernal will head to the Tour de France with the objective of claiming a second yellow jersey as his main goal for 2022. Speaking to Colombian website Revista Mundo Ciclístico, the 2019 Tour winner confirmed he'd be back at the Grand Tour he won aged 22. Tadej Pogačar's success has since somewhat eclipsed Bernal's achievement, but the Ineos Grenadiers climber says he is determined to return in top shape.

"The answer is yes," Bernal told Revista Mundo Ciclístico. "We are going to focus all our preparation and efforts thinking about competing in the Tour de France this year. It is time to return to the path that we found in 2019 and from which we have separated a little.

> Giro chainsaw massacre: Egan Bernal chased up Passo Giau by superfan lumberjacks

"I think I have fully recovered, but nevertheless we have been monitoring the physiotherapy sessions, strengthening with gym work, hoping to start the cycling year and continue without anything that could affect performance on the bike."

Bernal's preparation for 2022 has already begun and will continue at his team's December training camp in Spain. The 24-year-old's off-season began with him downplaying rumours of a rift with the team. When quizzed on the whispers linking him to a move to join Chris Froome, Bernal replied: "There is no problem. I never spoke to Israel Start-Up Nation."

24 November 2021, 09:53
New Menstrual Cycle Coaching support for women from Whoop
Whoop menstrual cycle coaching

Whoop last week announced the establishment of its inaugural Women’s Performance Collective (WPC) that commits to pursuing research and product development initiatives that specifically benefit women, and now it’s rolling out its new coaching feature to help users with natural cycles integrate their cycles into their training plan and sleeping habits. 

The menstrual cycle causes dramatic hormonal shifts throughout the month, producing different physiological responses. “In some phases you may be more able to take on strain, can work out harder and experience higher gains, while in other phases you may need more sleep,” Whoop points out.

The fitness and health tracking brand says its Menstrual Cycle Coaching will provide more accurate Strain and Sleep coaching recommendations and Weekly Performance Assessment’s informed by their menstrual cycle for users who menstruate and are not on hormonal birth control. “These insights will allow members to plan their training, adapt their sleep, and improve their overall performance.”

24 November 2021, 09:37
Not another Black Friday big discount post
Raleigh Black Friday

Black Friday is coming up but this isn’t another mega low price announcement, instead of using the day as an opportunity to sell outdated stock and drive sales in the run up to Christmas, Raleigh has revealed its donating 100% of profits made on Black Friday to its charity partner World Bicycle Relief.

Offering no discounts or sales gimmicks, it will instead donate all of its profits made this Friday to the international non-profit organisation that specialises in large-scale, comprehensive bicycle distribution programmes to aid poverty relief in developing countries around the world.  

“Viewing transportation on quality bicycles as a legitimate economic empowerment tool, all proceeds with go towards the production and distribution of specially designed Buffalo Bikes to those in developing countries - helping to provide better and safer access to education, work and healthcare,” says Raleigh. 

24 November 2021, 08:33
What if the shoe was on the other foot? If cyclists acted like drivers

It's a bit of silliness that we wouldn't recommend making a part of your morning commute but this vid, originally from Minneapolis cycling aficionado Philip Schwartz, does make a decent point about how some motorists treat active travel space...as a car park.

Gary James reckoned all that's missing are the "blinky orange lights of absolution", then it would be fine.

And while some people, seemingly missing the irony of the vehicle parked in the left of the picture, took issue with Schwartz's stunt, most of the replies were fairly positive...

Petekfil commented: "Before you criticise, he could be rushing to a sick relative, just trying to do a day's work, collecting an anvil he can't carry. Why don't cars use car lanes designed for them? Oh, and I saw a car break a red light this morning."

Now, I wonder what happens after the video cuts off...that BMW driver seemed pretty keen to keep things moving... 

Dan joined road.cc in 2020, and spent most of his first year (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. At the start of 2022 he took on the role of news editor. Before joining road.cc, Dan wrote about various sports, including football and boxing for the Daily Express, and covered the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Part of the generation inspired by the 2012 Olympics, Dan has been 'enjoying' life on two wheels ever since and spends his weekends making bonk-induced trips to the petrol stations of the south of England.

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62 comments

Avatar
quiff | 2 years ago
5 likes

Emoji jacket - I particularly enjoyed the demonstration where a cyclist, approaching a hazardous patch of tarmac, takes one hand off the bars to activate his hazard emoji. However, I do sometimes wish I could have a message board in the rear windscreen of my car like police cars have. It would be pre-loaded with messages like "I'm not moving until you put your phone down" and "I'm driving at the speed limit, deal with it".  

In other newsCouple killed may have been part of parking row  

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Tom_77 | 2 years ago
6 likes

.

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brooksby replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
7 likes

Except it's not wider than the A-road.  There's a lane the width of a single lane, on both sides of the road, plus a footway.  So, at most, its the same width as the A-road?

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
7 likes

I wonder why he bolded part of the persons name for? Is it because the person is a cyclist and Boo is trying to call him a name in a not so subtle way?

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quiff replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
10 likes

It's because Nige is unfailingly polite and courteous.

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brooksby replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
4 likes

Would you usually include the adjacent but separated footway when you're measuring width put aside for separated cycling infrastructure? 

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TriTaxMan replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
11 likes

brooksby wrote:

Would you usually include the adjacent but separated footway when you're measuring width put aside for separated cycling infrastructure? 

The reporting is being carried out with an anti-cycle spin on it.

If you look at google street maps, and go back before the images showing the works being carried out to install the cycle lanes you can see that the vast majority of the space for the cycle lanes was claimed from existing green space at the side of the road.  A small amount of space has been claimed from the road but no more than a couple of feet.

Where was all of the FURY when there was all of the green space at the side of the road that was preventing ambulances from passing the rows of cars?  Surprising isn't it how it only becomes FURY when the empty space is being used for cycling

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TriTaxMan replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
5 likes

The before Google maps image

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TriTaxMan replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
4 likes

And during the road works

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quiff replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
5 likes

TriTaxMan wrote:

A small amount of space has been claimed from the road but no more than a couple of feet.

Not even that - even the Mail article says the road was narrowed by "around a foot". I guess "Fury as road narrowed by a foot" didn't have the same impact. 

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brooksby replied to quiff | 2 years ago
3 likes

So the "fury" isn't really about the road being narrowed, but about ANY SPACE AT ALL being given to cycling?

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Rendel Harris replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
7 likes

Who wants to bet that Nigel is a supporter of the ABD?

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IanMK replied to Rendel Harris | 2 years ago
11 likes

So they think the tradegy could have been prevented by having more parking spaces. I would have thought the solution would have been NOT to give psychopaths driving licenses. 

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brooksby replied to IanMK | 2 years ago
1 like

I wonder if there's been some element of Someone buying a property with no associated/labelled parking space, then discovering there's nowhere to store their car...

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brooksby replied to Rendel Harris | 2 years ago
4 likes

Rendel Harris wrote:

Who wants to bet that Nigel is a supporter of the ABD?

Is that a genuine screenshot of the ABD? That is absolutely disgusting! surprise

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Rendel Harris replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
7 likes

Unbelievably foul, isn't it? I saw someone had put a screenshot on Twitter and like you I thought someone's mocked that up, nobody could really be that crass, but went to their account and there it is. Still up despite near-universal ridicule...though Twitter obviously has its Nigels:

 

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Rua_taniwha replied to Rendel Harris | 2 years ago
0 likes

Empty the jails. Simply give all the murderers a parking spot and life will be grand. 

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chrisonabike replied to Rua_taniwha | 2 years ago
0 likes

Rua_taniwha wrote:

Empty the jails. Simply give all the murderers a parking spot and life will be grand. 

Lateral thinking! Sadly (in both senses) in the UK cars take up a lot more space than prisoners. So it'll deffo be an upgrade for them. Not sure we should reward death by careless driving with a free parking space though...

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Rendel Harris replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
5 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

Wrong, their Tweet is ridiculous and in very poor judgement. On that basis I'm surprised you're not a supporter.

One presumes you mean "very poorly judged" - even trolls should try to use correct English where possible.

Their tweet is foul but no worse than your own victim-blaming, pro-car ("humanity's greatest achievement" as you have said) and anti-cyclist garbage, you're a match made in hell.

 

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GMBasix replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
5 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

[ I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be a statutory requirement for each new build to have at least 2 private car parking spaces off the road, rather than the current "flexible" model where everyone is incentivised to underestimate parking needs.

Excellent!

We can now add town planning and transport strategy as 2 more things you know next to nothing about.

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chrisonabike replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
5 likes

Funnily enough I observed a similar fact - that cars are all over the bloody pavement / roads - and drew exactly the opposite conclusion e.g. that we have too much space dedicated to the motor vehicle. Which is mostly sat idle - occasionally producing fumes while doing so.

I suspect that if your road was reduced to one lane only to facilitate this extra parking (particularly it being a cul-de-sac) you might find this actually did not enhance anyone's convenience. You might even have had an untidy jam on the street.

Another odd thing is that in other places where they have re-allocated a little of the car space to more efficient modes of transport some of this "traffic" miraculously ... vanishes. Maybe all those journeys (TM) didn't need to be made in cars? Maybe some of them didn't need to be made at all? Maybe if people weren't driving their cars so often there would be fewer people who have to park them badly on pavements, in cycle lanes, outside schools, on double yellows...

No point me popping up here anyway so I should leave this for Nasal Forage.

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wycombewheeler replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
3 likes

Garage at Large][quote=Rendel Harris wrote:

I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be a statutory requirement for each new build to have at least 2 private car parking spaces off the road,

Climate change?

If you keep designing for a future where the private motor car is the primary mode of travel, then that is what you will get. We need to design away from using two tonnes of metal to transport 80kg of human.

This probably takes more than just buiulidng the roads as normal and then limiting parking though.  It needs these new develpments built from concept with segregated active travel corridors, which are safe, direct and convenient, while the roads are less so. Such that th car is only used when essential, because the rest of the time it's easier, quicker and more pleasant to walk or cycle

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TriTaxMan replied to wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
1 like

wycombewheeler wrote:

If you keep designing for a future where the private motor car is the primary mode of travel, then that is what you will get. We need to design away from using two tonnes of metal to transport 80kg of human.

This probably takes more than just buiulidng the roads as normal and then limiting parking though.  It needs these new develpments built from concept with segregated active travel corridors, which are safe, direct and convenient, while the roads are less so. Such that th car is only used when essential, because the rest of the time it's easier, quicker and more pleasant to walk or cycle

Exactly this.  Each and every new development should have a requirement to have some form of dedicated cycling infrastructure and connections to existing cycling infrastructure.

Even so, most new housing developments already have 2 parking bays per property, but the problem is an ever growing number of households have at least 3 if not more cars.  I know lots of people who live in newer developments and every single time I go to visit them its like playing dodgems, with the houses with 2 cars on the drive and another 1 or more parked on the street.... oh yes with possibly another car in the garage too.

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wycombewheeler replied to TriTaxMan | 2 years ago
1 like

TriTaxMan wrote:

Even so, most new housing developments already have 2 parking bays per property, but the problem is an ever growing number of households have at least 3 if not more cars.  

Because adult working offspring cannot afford to leave the family home.

The cost of accomodation is a massive problem, despite governments of both colours routinely pledging to increase house building, demand has continued to grow faster than supply.

Such that I begin to wonder if there is a conspiracy to protect the interests of property owners by driving up prices. (not people who own their own homes, they do not benefit) but people and organisations owning large numbers of rental properties.

It is notable that while every other business was forced to take a massive drp in income, landlords were completely insulated against any financial harm.

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brooksby replied to wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
1 like

wycombewheeler wrote:

If you keep designing for a future where the private motor car is the primary mode of travel, then that is what you will get. We need to design away from using two tonnes of metal to transport 80kg of human.

Isn't the Govt now recommending that all new houses/developments are built with e-car charging points?  Which is great for that small percentage of the population who buy newbuild houses, but not so great for everyone else.  And still encourages dependency on the big metal boxes (whether battery powered or dead dinosaur powered).

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hawkinspeter replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
3 likes

I'd rather they specified secure bike parking

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chrisonabike replied to brooksby | 2 years ago
2 likes

brooksby wrote:

Isn't the Govt now recommending that all new houses/developments are built with e-car charging points?  Which is great for that small percentage of the population who buy newbuild houses, but not so great for everyone else.  And still encourages dependency on the big metal boxes (whether battery powered or dead dinosaur powered).

Exactly. To be honest I think we're locked in to replacing most cars with electric cars. I suspect we've screwed the pooch in the UK by baking in dependency on private motor transport and the expectation of it being available / desirable. It actually isn't the case - people forced to do so can adapt in amazing ways - but I don't think any government / power structure can run with a policy that seems to go against the expectation of "next year better than the last".

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efail replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
4 likes

There We Are Then.

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Pyro Tim replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
1 like

This used to be my cycle commute to work at my old job. Think I still have 3rd on the strava sector for it. It's a road that had a 40 limit, now reduced to 30, but you can only get near that at quiet time. It's normally nose to tail traffic, and has been forever. I had probably the scariest ever close passes on it at 6 in the morning, in the dark, and it desperately needed a cycle lane. What they've put in is amazing. It is still not used enough, but hopefully that will change. The main problem is what they did further down the road, which is an absolute joke. Painted an advisory lane on a road where traffic ignores it, so they queue in it, making it unuseable when busy. At least they resurfaced it, so it's not like a pump track where the buses and lorries had pushed the tarmac up into ridges near the curb

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Captain Badger | 2 years ago
12 likes

Quote:

This emoji jacket lets cyclists communicate with drivers and hopefully saves lives

Oh yeah. People get killed by drivers cos cyclists  don't communicate emojis to incompetent psychos in hermatically isolated steel boxes

FFS

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