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Who'd have thought it? Highway Code changes working wonders (+ has driving improved?); "Where's *insert your local town*?": Tough day at the office for Tour of Britain admin; Should you resit driving test at 60?; Good ol' days + more on the live blog

Your midweek blog is up and running...Dan Alexander is back behind the keyboard for Wednesday's edition...
Wed, Apr 06, 2022 09:13
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Who'd have thought it? Highway Code changes working wonders (+ has driving improved?); "Where's *insert your local town*?": Tough day at the office for Tour of Britain admin; Should you resit driving test at 60?; Good ol' days + more on the live blogHighway Code working (screenshot Jim's Wheels/Twitter video)
06 April 2022, 14:04
"Why's the race not visiting my cul-de-sac?": Tour of Britain route reaction (+ some exceptional reader local knowledge)

Happy with the Tour of Britain route?

BalladOfStruth would have been (12 months ago): "Stage six pretty much goes right by my house... about two months after I'm due to move to the other side of the UK."

captain_slog's looking forward to stage three: "ToB was brilliant last year and this year's north east stage is looking very promising: starting from one of the country's greatest cathedrals, heading up into the stunning scenery and challenging roads of Weardale and the Pennines before returning to finish at the mouth of the Wear itself. Ha'way the lads!"

Wingguy reckons we're in for a cracker on the penultimate stage too: "In support of the Tour of Britain, I grew up cycling around the Dorset hills. In my opinion the route they've put together from West Bay is absolutely fantastic and a showcase of some of the best roads, climbs and views that amazing road bike destination has to offer.

"From what I can see it drops down the steepest 'classic' Abbotsbury hill into the town. There's no shortage of sharp and steep in the Purbecks to and from Corfe, then I'm pretty sure it climbs to the top of Bulbarrow from Milton Abbas, descends the long north ridge and then back up and over the steep east side. Lovely!"

kil0ran agrees: "Sitting here impatiently to go all fanboi over the Tour of Britain route announcements. Get tharselfs down to the New Forest for the weekend of 11th/12th - finish in Ferndown on Saturday, camp overnight, ferry from Lymington and get ready for the world's biggest ever set of echelons to form on the run back to the Needles. 

"Needles Battery finish, never was a finish more appropriately named. It's Great Orme part two and will decide the race. 20% bits." We might have to check if that account belongs to race director Mick Bennett...we're sold.

But if you want an in-depth look at where the final stage might be won, kil0ran has kindly broken it down to sports director detail...

For the Isle of Wight good spots will be:

Cowleaze Hill out of Shanklin will wake things up. 7% for 1.6km, 12% at the top. Lots of space to watch there.

Ventnor - Spyglass Inn on the esplanade all the way up ZigZag hill. About 100m vertical ascent in under a km, including 25%+ bits. Really narrow and about 40kms from the finish so will be tricky to cover an attack. Only three more climbs including the finish after that. This is part of the segment (go left at the top rather than right) 

https://www.strava.com/segments/2879239

Niton Down will also be good on the way back, a long drag (3km at something like 5%) into a headwind followed by a steep descent (by UK standards). Plenty of space to watch there.

And then you've got 20kms of the Military Road which will either be glorious if the weather's good or echelon madness if it's not. Prevailing westerly will be hitting them on their left shoulder all the way along there, there's zero cover from the wind.

Final selection could be on on Compton Down east of Freshwater. Benign climb in good weather but a really steep descent could let the front few get away.

The steepest part of the final climb is at the beginning as they turn into Alum Bay. I'd imagine the car park will be used for team buses so it's one to cycle too but there are public loos for spectating. Halfway up it turns right and flattens before a short 10% section. Think mini Planche des Belles Filles. On reflection, not as tough as the Great Orme.

Take the ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth and stay near the finish. Plenty of campsites for bikepacking. I've stayed at Grange Farm in Brightstone a few times, you can see the race pass there in the morning and then have a leisurely ride up to the finish whilst the race heads inland. If you fancy a hill climb competition whilst you're there the road down to the beach is getting on for 30%, you can barely walk it.

Stick 11 September in your diaries... 

Thanks to all for the local knowledge.

06 April 2022, 13:48
06 April 2022, 13:43
Meanwhile on Twitter...

Apparently I should have gone into stand up...

Back to the comments here I go...Daveyraveygravey reckons any improvement was short-lived: "There was a brief time when the changes were first published where things were better, but it's gone back to the previous appalling level now."

SurreyHiller added: "I think there are different subsets of drivers.  Those that overtook well, and continue to do so having made no changes to the way they drive. Those who overtook before the changes which were technically 'close' but had made some effort are now a little further out.

"Those who drive like idiots continue to do so (and continue to get reported to Surrey Police with a fairly high conversion to at least a warning letter) with close passes still being close. Get this a lot on my commute because people are in such a hurry.  

"Have also seen a rise in really nice wide passes, almost completely on to the other side of the road, but in doing so nearly having a head on collision with something clearly coming the other way. Or, in Monday's commute, something coming round the blind bend.

"So in summary there are some drivers that are considerate, some that don't give a rat's arse and never have and some that are trying but just aren't very good at it."

06 April 2022, 13:38
Three police officers assaulted after arresting man for bike theft

Three police officers were assaulted after they arrested a man for a bike theft in Winchester city centre on Saturday. The patrolling officers stopped a group of males, who were carrying items believed to be linked to a report of a theft.

A stolen bicycle was later found, leading to one of the men being arrested. However, the Hampshire Chronicle reports the man attempted to flee, assaulting an officer to the face and knee in the process.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "One of the men, a 22-year-old from Winchester, attempted to run away and assaulted an officer to the face and knee in the process. He was not seriously injured.

"The man also assaulted two more officers, the first received a minor injury to her finger and the second, a male officer, was not injured. The 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm and common assault of an emergency worker.

"He has been released from police custody on police bail while our enquiries continue."

The three other men ran away from the scene but were also later found.

06 April 2022, 13:27
CyclingMikey picks up the pace...road offenders beware!
06 April 2022, 11:44
Positive signs since the Highway Code changes? We ask our readers...

A few of you have shared your (largely positive) post-Highway Code riding experiences...

Highway Code (Department for Transport)

Sir Chris Hoy reckons things have changed for the better, but do you agree?

kil0ran has a positive tale to tell: "It's encouraged me back on the roads for the first time in two years, following a road rage incident which sent me in the direction of trail and gravel riding. Only two rides in but both in rush hour and zero close passes. I'm colossally unfit at the moment and I've been surprised how willing drivers have been to hold back on the hillier bits of my routes. A definite improvement, let's see if it lasts."

TeaBasedOrganism thinks while the majority have improved, there is still a dangerous minority: "I feel like generally most peoples driving has got better, I definitely get less 'regular' close passes each ride than before. On the flipside, the really horrible drivers, the ones that were horrible before, are even worse. Absolutely the fault of the press coverage of the changes. Had a few instances while riding in a group of drivers shouting abuse, and on two occasions throwing fast food rubbish, while travelling in the opposite direction, so we weren't even in their way. They have just been so riled up about cyclists that they feel the need to be angry and borderline violent just based on our very existence. That is new behaviour (for me) since the changes and all the negative press, which is making me a bit lukewarm about them if I'm honest."

IanMSpencer reported similar: "I think the 99% are getting better, the 1% are just as bad, with a few more ideas for ranting. My pet hate is 'cyclists run red lights' which I have rarely seen, aside from pseudo pedestrian cyclists pottering around with their shopping or young lads being stupid, when I have seen so many motorists take stupid risks on a daily basis. In a typical week I will see someone overtaking a car already stopped to turn left at a red light. I wouldn't mind but the UK driver videos are full of examples, indeed, I think anyone who says 'But cyclists...' should be sent on a one day course where they have to watch 8 hours of UK dodgy driver videos."

One final one from Surreyrider who is less impressed: "Since the changes, I'd say more drivers (in Surrey at least) are aggressive, intolerant, impatient, anti-social and dangerous. Then there's a group that continue to drive just generally badly around cyclists (and, of course, another that remains considerate)." 

06 April 2022, 13:19
06 April 2022, 11:22
"Bars and tires have gotten too wide, batteries suck, road bikes are back, you heard it here first"

We're going back in time with the Bike Snob. Agree? 

06 April 2022, 11:15
06 April 2022, 10:54
Nearly one-in-three drivers believe people should re-sit their driving tests when they reach the age of 60, new study shows
Red Driving School

New research from Compare the Market found that almost a third of road users believe people should re-sit their driving tests when they reach the age of 60, increasing to more than 50 per cent at 70.

The view is held strongest in Northern Ireland, where 35 per cent of respondents held the opinion, while 31 per cent in Scotland and 28 per cent in Wales agreed.

One-in-three also said they wouldn't be able to repass their theory test. One-in-six said they wouldn't be capable of passing their practical test.

06 April 2022, 10:12
"Where's *insert your local town*?": Tough day at the office for Tour of Britain admin

It's national 'why isn't the Tour of Britain visiting my town' day. Prepare yourself @TourofBritain admin...things are about to get heated...

First up, aRe ThErE  aNy HiLlS oN tHe IsLe Of WiGhT?

Next, the Tour of England (with a wee bit of Scotland)...

At least someone gets the comedy value of route announcement day...

We'll have a more in-depth look at the route up shortly... 

06 April 2022, 08:44
Right on cue...

I'm a sucker for a bargain...it's free! 

06 April 2022, 08:39
06 April 2022, 07:58
Who'd have thought it? Highway Code changes working wonders

January's Highway Code changes arrived to a backdrop of criticism and hysteria from certain sections of the press (and a loophole-loving lawyer)...

> Expect carnage and more danger...Mr Loophole rants about Highway Code changes to talkRadio's Mike Graham

It will cause chaos, carnage, collisions and casualties, some said, yet three months on — has much actually changed?

Not really, was the consensus when we asked readers over on our forum, with some saying they'd seen slight improvements, and fewer still saying they'd seen significantly better/worse driving.

So, when Jim's Wheels, a Twitter account documenting the experiences of a South Gloucestershire rider "bimbling around on my bike", shared a video titled "A driver who has read the Highway Code! Hurrah!", we thought we'd better take a look...

Some have pointed out the driver possibly only waited as they realised they'd committed a must get in front faux pas, pushing past only to turn straight across the cyclist's path.

Perhaps Andrew Buss summed it up best...

The video began the identity sweepstake...is the driver a cyclist? Are they Dutch?

One reply summed up the disbelief on Cycling Twitter: "Well done that driver, the world didn’t appear to end, there was no catastrophic crash or whiplash." Who'd have thought it, eh?

A rarest of species, there's got to be space in the Natural History Museum for this clip...

Sir Chris Hoy recently had his say on how the Highway Code changes have improved his riding experience, saying he's had fewer close passes, although former UCI president Brian Cookson argued some drivers are still taking "unquantifiable risks".

> “Long may it continue”: Sir Chris Hoy says that he has experienced fewer close passes since the Highway Code revisions

"Anyone else noticed fewer close passes when out on your bike since the change in the Highway Code?" the retired track star said.

“Could be a coincidence, but I’ve just had an amazing couple of hours on the road and not a single scary moment! Long may it continue."

What do we reckon? Are the changes filtering through to road users? Have you experienced less close passes? Let us know in the comments...

Dan Alexander

Dan is the road.cc news editor and joined in 2020 having previously written about nearly every other sport under the sun for the Express, and the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Dan has been at road.cc for four years and mainly writes news and tech articles as well as the occasional feature. He has hopefully kept you entertained on the live blog too.

Never fast enough to take things on the bike too seriously, when he's not working you'll find him exploring the south of England by two wheels at a leisurely weekend pace, or enjoying his favourite Scottish roads when visiting family. Sometimes he'll even load up the bags and ride up the whole way, he's a bit strange like that.

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50 comments

Avatar
kil0ran replied to kil0ran | 2 years ago
0 likes

I know it's not really a test for a pro but its a shame that it looks like they've left out Cowleaze Hill on the IoW. Hopefully they're using the really sharp Ventor/Brightstone route which has 25/30% sections. Mini Mur de Huy that.

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kil0ran replied to kil0ran | 2 years ago
1 like

I take it back, Cowleaze is in laugh

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Pyro Tim replied to kil0ran | 2 years ago
1 like

Def not New Forest, too flat, you'll only see them for a second. Get to the Purbeck hills and watch there, that's my plan. Might see if my 8 year old is prepared to try the 20%ers

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kil0ran replied to Pyro Tim | 2 years ago
1 like

I was thinking more of staying there after watching the finish in Ferndown, that way you've got a nice leisurely ride to Lymington for the ferry for the final stage. 

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Pyro Tim replied to kil0ran | 2 years ago
1 like

Luckily fo me, I live 5 miles from Ferndown, so no need to camp. You'll still have to deal with the nasty New Forest drivers that drive at you without slowing down, and probably the illegal parking too.

Okeford hill, and East Creech would be my tips, having ridden most of the route many times. I'll be heading to Creech, but it's steeper in the oposite direction to their travel. Not much space to watch though, but on the climb they're doing, you can see the tank range and the sea.

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

The climb at Abbotsbury is a bitch too. Remember hitting it at the end of a hilly 60 miler. It hurt.

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kil0ran replied to Pyro Tim | 2 years ago
0 likes

For the Needles finish, I wonder if they might use this option, all the way up to the rocket testing site

https://www.strava.com/segments/16504823

Final 400m at something like 13%!

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Pyro Tim replied to kil0ran | 2 years ago
0 likes

kil0ran wrote:

For the Needles finish, I wonder if they might use this option, all the way up to the rocket testing site

https://www.strava.com/segments/16504823

Final 400m at something like 13%!

I've done that one, it's tame really, although it was at the start of my ride. The wind may have a bearing too.

Avatar
kil0ran | 2 years ago
6 likes

It's encouraged me back on the roads for the first time in two years, following a road rage incident which sent me in the direction of trail and gravel riding. Only two rides in but both in rush hour and zero close passes. I'm collossally unfit at the moment and I've been surprised how willing drivers have been to hold back on the hillier bits of my routes. A definite improvement, let's see if it lasts. 

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nniff | 2 years ago
2 likes

I haven't done much commuting into London since 'the before time'.  I used to ride in every day and  I have noticed that the number of cycle red light jumpers now has increased dramatically.  It used to be occasional, but it seems to be every set of lights now.

The incidence of cars speeding has also gone up I think - in 30 mph areas and in the increasingly common 20mph areas particularly

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lonpfrb replied to nniff | 2 years ago
0 likes
nniff wrote:

I have noticed that the number of cycle red light jumpers now has increased dramatically. It used to be occasional, but it seems to be every set of lights now.

Interesting. What pattern of behaviour is that?

  • Novice, unwilling to stop with effort to restart
  • Intermediate, unwilling to loose segment time
  • Something else...

Please let us know what you have seen?

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nniff replied to lonpfrb | 2 years ago
0 likes

lonpfrb wrote:
nniff wrote:

I have noticed that the number of cycle red light jumpers now has increased dramatically. It used to be occasional, but it seems to be every set of lights now.

Interesting. What pattern of behaviour is that?

 

  • Novice, unwilling to stop with effort to restart
  • Intermediate, unwilling to loose segment time
  • Something else...

Please let us know what you have seen?

 

The original format used to be someone on a bike-shaped object who would let nothing stand in the way of their generally sedate progress.

To that has been added far more 'common commuters' and, depressingly, people who really should know better, with decent bikes and roadie clothing to match.  Electric bikes too.  Previously, the demographic was pretty much exclusively male, but not any more

It's got so bad now that I prepare for a close pass from a bike, one side or the other, whenever I stop at a red light.

The slow ones are  worse, as you now get stuck behind them because of the CS7 segregating wands, unless you can pick a spot in the traffic and nip past.  This is heading in and out of London from the south

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TeaBasedOrganism | 2 years ago
2 likes

I feel like generally most peoples driving has got better, I definitely get less 'regular' close passes each ride than before. On the flipside, the really horrible drivers, the ones that were horrible before, are even worse. Absolutely the fault of the press coverage of the changes. Had a few instances while riding in a group of drivers shouting abuse, and on two occasions throwing fast food rubbish, while travelling in the opposite direction, so we weren't even in their way. They have just been so riled up about cyclists that they feel the need to be angry and borderline violent just based on our very existence. That is new behaviour (for me) since the changes and all the negative press, which is making me a bit lukewarm about them if I'm honest.

Avatar
IanMSpencer replied to TeaBasedOrganism | 2 years ago
1 like

Generally, I think the 1% are really bad drivers and horrible people who are vile to anyone and you would probably cross the road if you saw them walking down the pavement. The shouters tend to be either builders in sign-written vans or young lads in my experience.

But you are right, the being shouted at by someone who goes out of their way to do it, wind window down, slow, and the venom with which they do it is deeply unsettling.

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lonpfrb replied to TeaBasedOrganism | 2 years ago
0 likes
TeaBasedOrganism wrote:

On the flipside, the really horrible drivers, the ones that were horrible before, are even worse. Absolutely the fault of the press coverage of the changes.

The Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP is Minister in charge of "The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) helps to drive growth, enrich lives and promote Britain abroad."

Hate crime against an identifiable SPORT in the DIGITAL MEDIA should be her concern, especially given the government initiative for Active Travel.

We can't very well complain if we don't take the opportunity available in the democratic process. Please write to your MP, too..

Avatar
IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
6 likes

I think the 99% are getting better, the 1% are just as bad, with a few more ideas for ranting.

My pet hate is "cyclists run red lights" which I have rarely seen, aside from pseudo pedestrian cyclists pottering around with their shopping or young lads being stupid, when I have seen so many motorists take stupid risks on a daily basis. In a typical week I will see someone overtaking a car already stopped to turn left at a red light. I wouldn't mind but the UK driver videos are full of examples, indeed, I think anyone who says "But cyclists..." should be sent on a one day course where they have to watch 8 hours of UK dodgy driver videos.

Avatar
Oldfatgit replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
1 like

Looking at things from a non-cycling point of view, there is no such thing as 'pseudo pedestrian cyclists'.
If you are on a bike, you are a cyclist.
It doesn't matter if you are 5 or 105, teen on a BMX, Deliveroo, hobbyist, endurance or serious time-trialer, once you cock that leg and get on that saddle - to the world you are a cyclist.
And we're all tarred with the same brush.

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IanMSpencer replied to Oldfatgit | 2 years ago
0 likes

Quite true, yet motorists don't seemed to get tarred by their 1% do they?

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Surreyrider | 2 years ago
1 like

Since the changes, I'd say more drivers (in Surrey at least) are aggressive, intolerant, impatient, anti-social and dangerous. Then there's a group that continue to drive just generally badly around cyclists (and, of course, another that remains considerate). 

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Miller replied to Surreyrider | 2 years ago
1 like

Surreyrider wrote:

Since the changes, I'd say more drivers (in Surrey at least) are aggressive, intolerant, impatient, anti-social and dangerous. Then there's a group that continue to drive just generally badly around cyclists (and, of course, another that remains considerate). 

I've never liked cycling in Surrey, it's a bad combination of narrow lanes and entitled drivers in German cars. But without the cars, or off road, a lovely place to ride.

 

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