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Council update on cycle lane's "excellent progress" interrupted by... motorist driving into segregated infrastructure; Alaphilippe heads off on two-hour training ride AFTER Dwars Door Vlaanderen; Our new favourite pro cyclist + more on the live blog

It's Thursday and Dan Alexander is in the hot seat for all your live blog needs...
30 March 2023, 07:57
Council update on cycle lane's "excellent progress" interrupted by... motorist driving into segregated infrastructure

This scene must have missed the cut from Little Britain... the local councillor proudly showing off his hard work... meanwhile in the background (at around 40 seconds)...

Perhaps there's another clip of him praising the bin men, meanwhile behind they lob rubbish into people's gardens? This bit of live blog council gold came was spotted by road.cc reader Mike who thought we might like the delicious irony of the council "extolling how safe the new segregated cycle lanes are".

"Just look for the OpenReach van in the background about 40 seconds in, for a clear demonstration of the safety of this new lane," he promised and boy did the video not let us down.

I've called it a segregated lane due to the councillor's wording, and I think I already know the answer to this, but can a segregated lane really be segregated if the driver of a great big van can go straight into it and have to swerve out to avoid inadvertently mowing down an innocent council official? Yeah, as I said, I think I know the answer...

"Our plans to improve cycling and walking along the Shinfield Road are progressing well," the council says, although based on the comments, the locals aren't so sure...

One reply called it dangerous, while someone else said it is "the most confusing cycling lane in the area".

"On the road at bus stops, on the pavement in other areas, on a half pavement in other areas, and then at the top going to Shinfield your forced directly into the traffic light just before the traffic lights, and your probably fall off looking over your shoulder before you hit by a speeding car beating you to the narrow section at the traffic lights?" 

Now that sounds familiar...

30 March 2023, 15:09
Insync Bikes to cut jobs and leave Manchester headquarters due to "huge erosion" in demand
Insync Bikes (via press release)

The bad news from the bike industry keeps on coming...

The Manchester Evening News reports that jobs will be lost at Insync Bikes, with the company also set to leave its Manchester headquarters after racking up losses of almost £4 million.

The news comes after a "huge erosion" in demand during 2022, an asssessment backed up by the Bicycle Association's findings that UK bike sales fell to their lowest level in 20 years last year.

According to account filed with Companies House, Insync made a pre-tax loss of £3.7 million for the year to 31 March 2022. A statement from the board suggested post-Covid supply chains "presented some challenges"...

"2022 saw the group incurring losses on account of high upstream and downstream inventories across bards and channels. This has resulted in serious margin erosion coupled with socio-economic factors," it read.

"The group continues to receive unwavering support from the group, with £4.85m of equity being introduced by Hero Cycles during the financial period under review."

Insync is to seek a further £3 million cash injection from Indian parent company Hero Cycles during the next 12 months.

Elsewhere in the bike industry in recent times...

> Bike industry turmoil continues as Forme bikes and Lake cycling shoes distributor enters liquidation

> Specialized slashes jobs in latest sign of cycle industry downturn

> Zwift makes fresh wave of redundancies with 15 per cent of workers laid off

> Look mum no hands! announces closure of Old Street cycle café

> Halfords says cycling market is down 20 per cent year on year

> Cycling industry layoffs: Strava and Wahoo cut 15% of workforce

30 March 2023, 13:51
Dylan van Baarle OUT of Tour of Flanders

The Omloop curse continues. No male rider has ever won the Opening Weekend's main event and the Tour of Flanders in the same season. The only woman to do it? A certain Lizzie Deignan in 2016. The men's wait will definitely be going on to 2024 (at least) as Jumbo Visma have announced Dylan van Baarle is out of this Sunday's second Monument of the season.

I guess Jumbo will have to settle for the Van Aert, Laporte, Benoot trident... it's a tough life... 

30 March 2023, 11:59
Adrian Chiles strikes again
Adrian Chiles

Don't worry, we're safe...

No cargo bike ramblings today either...

30 March 2023, 11:56
Wout van Aert "almost killed" after receiving "harrowing" punishment pass from horn-blaring lorry driver
30 March 2023, 10:27
"Less than optimal": How your disc rotors shouldn't look...

Mamma mia...

30 March 2023, 09:52
"I'm pleased at the progress we've made": The view from the council
Reading cycle lane (Reading Council)

Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport...

I'm pleased at the progress we've made so far on our work to introduce a fully segregated new cycle lane along the Shinfield Road. The segregated cycle lane links to key centres of employment in Reading, such as the Royal Berkshire Hospital, The University and, of course, the Town Centre itself.

 As part of our wider Climate Emergency Strategy, this work underlines the council's wholehearted commitment to tackling poor air quality which we know exists in parts of Reading. It has never been more important to create realistic alternatives to the private car, not only in terms of tackling congestion and air quality but also for the residents and local communities who live on key routes.

 The work on the Shinfield Road precedes our now approved plans to implement further cycling and walking improvements stretching from Berkeley Avenue along the Bath Road to Castle Hill, then running over the IDR to Castle Street, as well as our recent decision to make permanent the fully segregated cycle lane along Sidmouth Street.

We have achieved significant improvements in other areas, including the routes on Redlands Road and Christchurch Road, delivered as part of the first phase of funding. We have also just submitted our bid for Tranche 4 funding to the Department for Transport – and we should find out if we’ve been successful by the end of March. This funding would then enable us to make improvements at the junction of Sidmouth Street and Queens Road to provide safer cycle links through to Kennet Side.

30 March 2023, 09:30
Alaphilippe heads off on two-hour training ride AFTER Dwars door Vlaanderen
Julian Alaphilippe (Zac Williams/SWpix)

After Christophe Laporte's Dwars door Vlaanderen win as the rest of the peloton headed off to their hotels for a warm shower and some scran, Julian Alaphilippe, fuelled by superstition, headed off for another two hours of training.

The story, first reported by Cyclingnews, is that the former world champion is "old school" and "superstitious" and possibly just wanted some punishment for Soudal-QuickStep's continued lack of success in the races they used to dominate.

"I'm off to train," the Frenchman said at the finish. "I've still got two hours to do."

The comments were backed up by team boss Patrick Lefevere who added: "There is progress with a view to Sunday" and pointed out his superstitious rider rode an extra 40km after the 2021 Primus Classic, a week before winning his second rainbow jersey.

Can the last-minute cramming land Alaphilippe another big one?

30 March 2023, 09:11
Dwars door Vlaanderen hero Oier Lazkano shows his ruthless side... at the dinner table

Oier Lazkano. Chances are that name was new to you too yesterday. The 23-year-old Movistar rider spent all day in the breakaway, looked to have lost his chance for a podium when caught by the group containing the leaders, went on the attack again and held off the peloton by no more than a second, to the delight of every cycling fan watching...

> Christophe Laporte secures back-to-back cobbled classics wins at thrilling Dwars door Vlaanderen, as second-placed Oier Lazkano steals the plaudits with phenomenal ride

Teammate Matteo Jorgenson wasn't surprised, however, having witnessed "king" Lazkano's tenacity and "intensity" first-hand... at the dinner table...

Oier Lazkano steak (Matteo Jorgenson/Twitter)

 

30 March 2023, 08:43
REVIEW: Supersapiens Glucose Monitoring System Subscription
30 March 2023, 08:32
London's most literal floating bus stop...

'Hi, mate, yeah they just want one of those floating bus stops on Park Lane... yeah, you know the ones, I'll leave it to you, you know what I mean...'

'No problem, boss...'

Floating bus stops have been the hot topic of late, first with the Sunday Telegraph being accused of using divisive rhetoric in "death trap" floating bus stops article. Then, a week later, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said "more needs to be done" as he pledged to "raise awareness" among London cyclists for improving safety of floating bus stops. Bloody hell, Sadiq, flooding the things until their impassable is a bit extreme...

Oh, also last weekend, London's cycling chief said he was "punched in the face" by cyclist he confronted for not waiting for pedestrian at floating bus stop.

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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57 comments

Avatar
Awavey | 11 months ago
2 likes

Also can we mention both Dwars door Vlaanderen winners received stuffed toy horses as prizes, which Demi Vollering has confirmed she has named Zlatana after the horse she met at Strade Bianche  1

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Awavey | 11 months ago
0 likes

Ride London have confirmed the teams for the Ride London Classique today, but theres no Team SdWorx, which means no Lorena Wiebes...interesting

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brooksby | 11 months ago
4 likes

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/no-money-available-to-...

Quote:

The narrow stretch of pavement is shared by pedestrians and cyclists next to a fast four-lane main road, and is often jam-packed with commuters coming to and from places like Brislington, Knowle, Totterdown and Stockwood. And soon 500 more homes will be built just next to it.

Legal & General, the financial giant, is planning to build 500 apartments on Temple Island, as well as offices, a hotel and a conference centre. And many of the people living and working there will also be walking and cycling on this narrow pavement and bike lane.

But there is no funding available from the £200 million which the government gave to Bristol City Council to upgrade walking, cycling and public transport routes over the next five years, according to City Hall chiefs. They did however admit that “this definitely needs addressing”.

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mattw replied to brooksby | 11 months ago
1 like

That should be included in the Planning Gain contributions of the development.

Given it is L&G they may even be guilt-tripped into a contribution.

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brooksby replied to mattw | 11 months ago
4 likes

mattw wrote:

That should be included in the Planning Gain contributions of the development.

Given it is L&G they may even be guilt-tripped into a contribution.

Bristol City Council has form for developers promising funds but then going back and saying, "Look, if we make that contribution then this development won't be profitable... Can we let it slide, this time?" and the council saying, "Yeah, that's fine...".

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ShutTheFrontDawes replied to brooksby | 11 months ago
0 likes
brooksby wrote:

mattw wrote:

That should be included in the Planning Gain contributions of the development.

Given it is L&G they may even be guilt-tripped into a contribution.

Bristol City Council has form for developers promising funds but then going back and saying, "Look, if we make that contribution then this development won't be profitable... Can we let it slide, this time?" and the council saying, "Yeah, that's fine...".

And even if the council do insist on something during the planning phase (rare), the developers often don't bother to complete the wider works. If they do get called out on it (again, rare) the 'ran out of money' excuse is a perfect get-out-of-jail-free card. Complete farce.

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Steve K | 11 months ago
8 likes

I really don't understand why the Guardian pay Chiles - who married Guardian editor, Kath Viner, in 2022 - to write this rubbish.

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lesterama replied to Steve K | 11 months ago
2 likes

Nor do many Guardian readers

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mattw replied to Steve K | 11 months ago
1 like

They have to spend their ill-gotten gains from a century of tax dodging on *something* .

 1 

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Miller replied to Steve K | 11 months ago
4 likes

He represents in the guardian the viewpoint of a simple guileless gammon, puzzled by the modern world.

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BerkshireCyc | 11 months ago
6 likes

Reading Council started the work back in September 2022. By my estimates, they've laid about 250m of tarmac so far. At this rate, I reckon they'll finish the project in 2024. From the number of times I've passed the area, it's just two workers and they're usually finished around 4.30pm. 

The cycle lane isn't fit for purpose, as demonstrated vehicles can just drift into the lane. I can guarantee delivery drivers will park in this lane. It's also really bumpy to ride on, apparently they hand flatten the tarmac instead of using a roller.

Tonyt is incorrect to state this is the first segregated lane in Reading, there are at least 3 others in Reading, though they're all very short.

It's a complete waste of money, and poorly designed.

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brooksby replied to BerkshireCyc | 11 months ago
5 likes

Have road.cc approached the council for a statement on this matter?  I mean, their own videography unit has demonstrated that the new cycle path isn't as safe as they claim... 

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Miller replied to BerkshireCyc | 11 months ago
3 likes

This afternoon I cycled on the new bit of cycle lane by Reading uni. It is short and disappears just before the traffic lights, no surprises there. But it is separated from vehicle space by a low kerb so that's something. I don't think delivery drivers will park on it but only because there's no houses on that side. For what it is, it has taken an inordinately long time to build.

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BerkshireCyc replied to Miller | 11 months ago
1 like

I rode on the University side towards Peppard Lane, its quite bumpy. The opposite side for sure delivery drivers will park on it., Perhaps that was intentional in the design

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brooksby | 11 months ago
4 likes

So not enough of a kerb to separate the cycle path from the main carriageway, and we know how much attention many motorists pay to the painted white lines...  I would have loved to see the headlines, had Cllr Page actually been taken out by the BT van or the black car following it...

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ChrisB200SX | 11 months ago
13 likes

Ah, Tony Page, referred to by local Tories as a useful idiot.

That councillor's "cycle lane" is local to me and it's absolutely f8ckin terrible, dangerous and I will practically never use it, it's right outside the front entrance of Reading Uni and I'll be going that way this evening. It's basically an extra pavement with an annoyingly/dangerous small kerb. Complete waste of active travel money. See also Wokingham Road "cycle lane" debacle. I think I counted 57 bicycles painted on one side of the road after they removed the offending "lane".

Shinfield road was massively wide, allowing plenty of room to overtake, then they recently introduced charging for parking on the next road along, Pepper Lane, which is fricking awful due to the ruts where you would cycle just wide of the parked car doors. The parking charges (in a different borough) displaced these idiots to park on the Shinfield road, both sides, completely clogging the main road for all.

Then they very recently put double yellow lines on it, problem solved, pretty much...

Except the double yellows were only to keep it clear so they could spend months removing road space to put these extra pavements in. The kerb is high enough to cause a problem for a cyclist but low enough to be easily mounted by a motorvehicle. (I have had far more dangerous overtakes during the short period of roadworks!)

What you don't see, behind the camera, is that the lane just suddenly ends about 2m before the traffic lights and the road is only about 1.5 m wide there.

I think the lane going into town just ends on the actual pavement before the side road and traffic lights outside the Uni entrance, barely 100m from the filming location.

I don't know what idiots come up with these designs or sign them off but I really don't think they ever use a bike.

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mattw replied to ChrisB200SX | 11 months ago
1 like

How high are those kerbs?

Is it still a 40mph road?

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chineseJohn replied to mattw | 11 months ago
3 likes

Road to the bike lane, my estimate it is around 30mm. It's a 30mph road.

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nosferatu1001 replied to ChrisB200SX | 11 months ago
4 likes

Indeed, th Wokingham road painted door zone death trap was awfull,and this new design is appalling.  

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HoarseMann replied to ChrisB200SX | 11 months ago
7 likes

There's no double yellow lines on the cycle lane side of the road, nor does it appear to be signed as an urban clearway or parking control zone. So it appears that parking on the cycle lane is fair game at the moment too. Pointless.

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chrisonabike replied to ChrisB200SX | 11 months ago
2 likes

Not 100% on this but hopefully this is below LTN 1/20 standard so won't get money in future unless they up their game.  (I know, LTN 1/20 isn't perfect and there are e.g. "absolute minimums" which people will reach for immediately).

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mattw replied to chrisonabike | 11 months ago
2 likes

AFAIK 1/20 is silent on the minimum elevation of a protected cycle track above the carriageway.

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ChrisB200SX replied to ChrisB200SX | 11 months ago
2 likes

I think that offending van may actually be someone down my road, he lost his 14-year-old dog on Friday. I shall check the number plate and maybe he's now famous.

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ChrisB200SX replied to ChrisB200SX | 11 months ago
1 like

ChrisB200SX wrote:

I think that offending van may actually be someone down my road, he lost his 14-year-old dog on Friday. I shall check the number plate and maybe he's now famous.

It was not the guy down my road.

I did not use the lane going into town yesterday as it is part of the pavement and just stops, which is no good to me at 25mph coming up to the traffic lights.

I did have to stop for the cars that had just overtaken me and were now blocking the road due to the incompetent drivers trying to park outside the shops just after the lights though  2 

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jh2727 replied to ChrisB200SX | 11 months ago
5 likes

The kerb is high enough to make transitioning from the main carriageway onto the cycleway difficult/dangerous for a cyclist (if you miss the entry point) - but low enough that a motorist probably won't even notice it.  Well done RBC, you've excelled yourselves.

An then further up the road after Pepper Lane we have an edge of carriageway marking about 18 inches from the kerb (which most motorists and some cyclists mistake for a cycle lane)

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ktache replied to jh2727 | 11 months ago
1 like

An idiot motorist at work was sure it was a cycle route.

It's a form of "nudge" that's meant to make the drivists knock a few mph off their speed.

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ChrisB200SX replied to ktache | 11 months ago
0 likes

I've never really understood why the white line is there, it's bizarre, it certainly doesn't stop people speeding. They could have painted it further out from the kerb and made it a cycle at no extra cost, the road is more than wide enough.

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Creakingcrank replied to jh2727 | 11 months ago
0 likes

Where's the car going in that Streetview image? 

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Steve K | 11 months ago
7 likes

That Park Lane flood is particularly bad, but it is a general clear design fault with London's new infrastructure.  Humps - mainly for bus stop bypasses, but not only those ones - create floods whenever there is heavy rain.  It's a common feature of CS7 through South London, and I've also seen it on CS3.

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chrisonabike | 11 months ago
13 likes

RE: cycle track - it though it's more like a lane.  What's missing is:
a) Separation.  As shown in the video you can seamlessly move from road to lane because they are about 4 inches apart.
b) A vertical kerb with decent upstand on the road side to "nudge" vehicles back into the road.
c) A different - standard - colour from the road and the footway so that everyone knows what this space is.

Come on people - it's not rocket surgery... Would you be confused about "where I go" in the image below?

Also note the "forgiving kerb" - it marks the side of the cycle path and indicates to pedestrians where their space is by a heigh difference.  It nudges cyclists back into the lane safely while also not reducing the cycleable space which high vertical wheel-grabbing pedal-impeding kerbs may do.  I think the UK is twitchy about these though because "trip hazard" / disabled access and standards now require at most a very small heigh difference?

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