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Jeremy Vine highlights grim reality of gridlocked London route where cycle lane was ripped out... as council due in court over early removal; Chilly commutes; Manchester to host 2023 Tour of Britain Grand Départ + more on the live blog

Bear with Dan Alexander while his fingers defrost... that was a cold one... once there's some semblance of feeling restored he'll be cracking on with Thursday's live blog...
08 December 2022, 08:53
Jeremy Vine highlights grim reality of gridlocked London route where cycle lane was ripped out... as council due in court over early removal

Christmas nearing and Kensington High Street's (now-former) cycle lane in the spotlight... it's like December 2020 all over again!

Kensington High Street pop-up cycle lane (picture Simon MacMichael)

If you're just hearing about all this for the first time, here's a little 20-second recap (for a more detailed run-down, check out Ryan's report)...

Back in, you guessed it, December 2020 the lanes were ripped out by Kensington and Chelsea council just seven weeks into an 18 month trial due to complaints from motorists and London Assembly Tory Tony Devenish that the lane — which was used by up to 3,000 riders a day, including children from local schools — was causing congestion.

> PM Boris Johnson 'ballistic' over scrapping of Kensington High Street cycle lane

As you can see from Jeremy Vine's video earlier this week, the congestion has simply disappeared since the cycling infrastructure was removed...

Anyway, the Royal Borough (they're a Royal Borough, don't you know) is due at the Royal Courts of Justice today for a judicial review over the decision to remove the cycle lane, something we'll bring you more on once we have it...

> Motor traffic journey times increase after Kensington cycle lanes removed

In the meantime enjoy another of Vine's videos of the pristine natural beauty of the High Street...

08 December 2022, 16:35
Another cheating scandal
Eddy Hoole races to win in eSports world championship qualifying (Zwift, YouTube)

How many watts could you hold for four minutes? 8.5w/kg? No, neither can Eddy Hoole according to Zwift who have banned the South African from racing for six months...

Full story: Zwift racer banned for six months and sacked by team for hacking data during world championships qualifier

08 December 2022, 15:26
Best waterproof cycling jackets: 6 of the best for 2023

08 December 2022, 15:20
Bernal's barmy off season continues

If you missed yesterday's blog?

> "Morning ride": Egan Bernal casually taps out 270km training ride at 38.5kph… 

08 December 2022, 14:29
Should we say our gift guide is for discerning cyclists or is that elitist?
08 December 2022, 14:22
Watch Tenable on your bike... oh wait, no don't do that...

Maybe Pointless would be worth tuning in from the saddle, definitely The Chase, I'm afraid Tenable is way down the daytime game show rankings in my humblest opinion...

08 December 2022, 12:56
Edinburgh Police stop riders "spoken [to] in regards to various matters including lack of lights and protective headwear"

⚠️Helmet row⚠️

We should probably clarify there are other tweets in the thread talking about conducting traffic checks as part of the festive drink drive operations, the breath tests weren't — we don't think — conducted on cyclists without helmets...

Anyway, this post went down predictably well...

08 December 2022, 11:48
Bike SKI(lls)

Anyone got any snow this morning? If so we've got just thing for you...

08 December 2022, 11:26
Put down the novelty multi-tool or wheelie bad pun mug...
08 December 2022, 11:11
France to introduce law requiring buildings with car parking to also offer secure bicycle parking
Bike rack in Cheltenham town centre (picture courtesy Cheltenham Borough Council)

The Local reports that many shared apartment complexes across France will have to come up with ways to offer secure bike parking from next year when a new law comes into effect.

All buildings with car parking options will be required to offer secure bicycle parking too. Cycling has been on the rise in France, with an 11 per cent increase during the first nine months of 2022 compared with the first nine months of 2021, and is up 33 per cent compared with the same period in 2019.

> Paris to become '100 per cent cycling city' within next four years

Some have said the new law does not go far enough though as it only applies to buildings with car parking spaces, while there are concerns about another exemption which means buildings will not need to provide cycle storage if the area where they would is 'inaccessible' for cyclists. For example, if the car park is underground and accessed by a ramp deemed dangerous for cyclists.

08 December 2022, 09:52
Manchester to host 2023 Tour of Britain Grand Départ

Four years after the 2019 edition, won by triple stage winner Mathieu van der Poel, ended in Manchester, the 2023 Tour of Britain will be back in 0161...

And a certain former Premier League referee is well up for it...

Maybe we need to add a ref to our footballers who cycle team? 

08 December 2022, 09:36
Chilly commutes

Can confirm my finger have defrosted...

Still, plenty of people getting after it despite the cold...

> How to beat winter — Tips, tricks and clothing advice for making the most of riding through winter 

> How should you layer up for winter cycling? Top tips for riding in cold weather

> Winter cycling: 11 questions you always wanted to ask, answered

And for me...

> Best winter cycling gloves 2022 — keep your hands warm and dry

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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135 comments

Avatar
eburtthebike | 1 year ago
0 likes

".........as council due in court over early removal as council due in court over early removal"

So what happened?

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to eburtthebike | 1 year ago
0 likes

eburtthebike wrote:

".........as council due in court over early removal"

So what happened?

Hearing adjourned to January 13th.

Avatar
Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
13 likes

Hello all. Been away for a few days. Did I miss anyt....... Oh FFS

Avatar
quiff replied to Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
1 like

To be fair, in my view this one has been mostly good faith healthy debate... 

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to quiff | 1 year ago
1 like

One poster relates this to a personal tragedy.  I respect where they're coming from even if I differ in my opinion on the issue as a whole.

However, some of us have forgotten the rules...

Avatar
Car Delenda Est replied to Clem Fandango | 1 year ago
1 like

Come to think of it I hadn't seen Rakia or Martin these past few days either.

Avatar
mpdouglas | 1 year ago
8 likes

Not featuring in the blog (yet), but our fine judicial system has proven once again, through the very high profile Harry Dunn case, that killing someone on two wheels with a motor vehicle is not really a very big deal! Perhaps the profile of this case and the outrage that will rightly follow in the main stream media might finally trigger a reassessment of the responsibility that getting behind the wheel of a powered vehicle brings with it. (If you haven't seen it yet, Anne Sacoolas got an 8 month sentence suspended for one year along with a one year driving ban).

Avatar
muhasib | 1 year ago
7 likes

With regard to W8HUX that is always parked on KHS possibly the owner has forgotten where they park it everyday and they could be reminded perhaps by a review of the Hux hotel on Trip Advisor.

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to muhasib | 1 year ago
1 like

muhasib wrote:

With regard to W8HUX that is always parked on KHS possibly the owner has forgotten where they park it everyday and they could be reminded perhaps by a review of the Hux hotel on Trip Advisor.

I wonder if they habitually claim to be loading/unloading and the local enforcement has given up.

Avatar
Hirsute | 1 year ago
1 like

MGIF

https://twitter.com/PassPixi/status/1600546873223548928

The shadows make it an interesting view.

We share the roads with these types of drivers !

Avatar
brooksby replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
0 likes

Desperate to reach a standstill so they could check FB*

 

*Other social media apps are available.

Avatar
brooksby | 1 year ago
4 likes

France to introduce law requiring buildings with car parking to also offer secure bicycle parking

Nice laugh

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to brooksby | 1 year ago
12 likes

brooksby wrote:

France to introduce law requiring buildings with car parking to also offer secure bicycle parking

Nice laugh

Not just there, all over France I think...

Avatar
chrisonabike replied to Rendel Harris | 1 year ago
7 likes

As the French say, cap! laugh

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marmotte27 replied to brooksby | 1 year ago
0 likes

Two things in France. The law, and the application thereof.

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rjfrussell | 1 year ago
0 likes

waht is Vine's camera/ how does it work?  how does it give that 360 degree from above effect?

Avatar
Moist von Lipwig replied to rjfrussell | 1 year ago
3 likes

I believe its an Insta360.

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to rjfrussell | 1 year ago
7 likes

rjfrussell wrote:

waht is Vine's camera/ how does it work?  how does it give that 360 degree from above effect?

It's a 360 camera on a tall pole attached to the handlebars, the software edits the pole out in processing. It's always fun on Twitter to tell people that he has a drone following him, which causes frothing outrage from drivers saying how dare he put people's lives at risk by flying a drone through central London.

Avatar
IanMSpencer replied to rjfrussell | 1 year ago
2 likes

It has 2 180 degree cameras so can create a complete(ISH) sphere. Editing software then allows you to manipulate the point of view, creating the impression of a drone.

Simpler than it looks!

Avatar
mattw replied to rjfrussell | 1 year ago
2 likes

I think it's actually a fairly short pole, though taller than a Pickelhaube. He would win the balloon puncturing contest in Those Magnificent Men. 

Only about 350mm.

Fortunately he already looked like a mebon, anyway :-).

Avatar
Hirsute | 1 year ago
5 likes

Helmet Row

https://twitter.com/EdinPolNE/status/1600800954214977537

"4 cyclists stopped and spoken in regards to various matters including lack of lights and protective headwear"

Lights ok, protective headwear ?

"Protective headwear? You mean like how a wooly beanie is great on the colder mornings, or what?"

Avatar
wtjs replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
7 likes

4 cyclists stopped and spoken in regards to various matters including lack of lights and protective headwear

Even I, an inveterate helmet wearer and user of reflective devices on ankles and spokes, would tell the Filth where to go in non-expletive terms if they stopped me on such matters and would move off smartly, indicating a refusal to be 'stopped'. 

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to wtjs | 1 year ago
1 like

wtjs wrote:

4 cyclists stopped and spoken in regards to various matters including lack of lights and protective headwear

Even I, an inveterate helmet wearer and user of reflective devices on ankles and spokes, would tell the Filth where to go in non-expletive terms if they stopped me on such matters and would move off smartly, indicating a refusal to be 'stopped'. 

I think it's entirely reasonable for them to stop people for insufficient lights, head injury rates are so low, helmets are a non issue, buth they do keep your warm hat in place when it's -2

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Flintshire Boy replied to wtjs | 1 year ago
0 likes

.

Say 'NO!' to Garstang pigs!

.

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ShutTheFrontDawes replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
0 likes

Comments on that suggesting that police are wrong to stop them because it's only a recommendation in the highway code, and not law, are frankly ridiculous.

Avatar
Hirsute replied to ShutTheFrontDawes | 1 year ago
8 likes

Not the police's job to offer moral advice and to stop people for no lawful reason.

 

Avatar
ShutTheFrontDawes replied to Hirsute | 1 year ago
0 likes
hirsute wrote:

Not the police's job to offer moral advice and to stop people for no lawful reason.

 

Do you think that the police should stop people who tailgate on the motorway at high speed?

Avatar
Hirsute replied to ShutTheFrontDawes | 1 year ago
12 likes

Yes, as that is careless driving and an offence.

Not wearing specific items whilst cycling is not an offence.

 

Avatar
Rendel Harris replied to ShutTheFrontDawes | 1 year ago
8 likes

ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:
hirsute wrote:

Not the police's job to offer moral advice and to stop people for no lawful reason.

 

Do you think that the police should stop people who tailgate on the motorway at high speed?

Highway Code 44 states "You must not drive dangerously...without reasonable consideration for other road users." "Must nots" are compulsory and tailgating can very justifiably be put into the category of dangerous driving, so that's an entirely different matter to lecturing people for not complying with the "should not" optional parts of the code.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to ShutTheFrontDawes | 1 year ago
9 likes

ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:

Do you think that the police should stop people who tailgate on the motorway at high speed?

They should stop and prosecute them for careless driving. It's very dangerous behaviour.

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