Chris Boardman slams "myopic" Streetspace ruling (and Shaun Bailey wants to compensate taxi drivers who brought case); BMX'er unconscious after ice cream parlour roof stunt; Police recover 22 stolen bikes + more on the live blog

Remarkable ruling when no street has actually been ‘blocked off’ and no one has had access denied. The only thing stopped has been rat running. I sincerely hope this myopic ruling is overturned. https://t.co/YYmiluk8wP

— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) January 21, 2021

Boardman has added his thoughts after the LCC released a full statement earlier (further down the page). 

He said: "Remarkable ruling when no street has actually been ‘blocked off’ and no one has had access denied. The only thing stopped has been rat running. I sincerely hope this myopic ruling is overturned."

While the ruling is been considered a blow for active travel, Mrs Justice Lang suggested that TfL and the Mayor should “substantially” revise their plans, and that even if they lose, more time can be granted before the quashing orders are issued for pop-up cycle lanes and LTNs brought in since the start of the pandemic. Those disappointed will also be enthused by plans for active travel in Paris, which were rejected by a judge before being given the go-ahead again following an appeal. 

Those disheartened about the court ruling on Streetspace should remember this judgement is through a specific lens; the way streets work is complex and multifaceted.

Paris’ plans were also successfully challenged by lobbyists but the decision overturned.https://t.co/gVDVS06A4Y

— Adam Tranter (@adamtranter) January 21, 2021

Is there another machine as low cost and high value as a bicycle?
Annual service, new seat, new brakes, new gear cable.
£62 all in.

— George Monbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) January 21, 2021

Edinburgh will host the penultimate stage of the Tour of Britain later this year on Spetember 11. The finish will be in Holyrood Park, at the base of Arthur's Seat. A quick look on Strava found a 1.4km climb at a steady 5.8% average to the top of the landmark. Could we see a cheeky uphill sprint?

The Tour of Britain is due to start in Penzance on September 5 and will live up to its name, finishing in Aberdeen eight stages later. Edinburgh last hosted the race in 2017, when the first stage left the city en route to Kelso where Caleb Ewan won the bunch kick.

London Cycling Campaign (LCC) has also released a statement on Streetspace being ruled as unlawful by a High Court judge. LCC were disappointed by the outcome but stressed the decision shouldn't have any impact on current schemes. The statement said: "Judicial Reviews look at the process of decision making and how it is recorded and we believe, like TfL, that Streetspace is both necessary and justified. 

"TfL, the Mayor and boroughs should of course consider the needs of disabled and elderly people in every scheme. However, these represent a minority of trips by taxi, and while they are important to consider, it is also imperative that we give increasing priority to public transport, cycling and walking for the sake of all Londoners."

LCC also suggested that the legal challenge is the latest act of the taxi industry opposing any scheme that seeks to cut car use in favour of active travel and emphasised there is no requirement yet to suspend or remove any Streetspace infrastructure.

Sam Bennett says he wishes people in Ireland would focus less on the sport's negative past. Speaking at the launch of NOW TV dublinbikes, which he starred in a brilliant ad for, Bennett said: "I think that unfortunately – and it’s a part that I don’t ever like to go into but – in Ireland they only focus on the bad sides of it but there’s so much good stuff to cycling and it’s such a fantastic sport that I just feel like it gets trashed a lot.

"It hurts because I’m a genuine guy and I work so hard that I don’t like that the image is destroyed at times."

The Irishman has named another Tour stage win as his big goal for 2021 but would also like to win a first WorldTour one-day race. Currently, Bennett is scheduled to start his season at Paris-Nice before a double-header of big one-day races in March with Milan-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem. 

It was a nice return to racing for Luke Durbridge overnight in Australia. With the rest of the world barred, the Aussies are making the most of what would usually be the Tour Down Under by racing a revised four-stage Santos Festival. Durbridge won the first stage by over two minutes having attacked solo with 80km left. The highlight of the week should be the third stage which takes in the iconic finish up Willunga Hill. Can anyone beat Richie Porte? 

Dorset vehicle crashes caused 25 deaths in 2020, according to a report by the Bournemouth Echo. Although records show that 16 lives were lost, the figure doesn't include crashes on private roads, those due to a medical episode or "unvalidated" incidents that are still being investigated. With these included the number is 25. Deaths were marginally down from 27 in the county in 2019, however during the first national lockdown there was a three-month period without a death. Five deaths in vehicle collisions were recorded in July alone.

On August 19, a 70-year-old cyclist died in hospital two weeks after being involved in a crash with a Ford Mondeo driver, while two pedestrians were killed in September.

Inspector Joe Pardey from Dorset Police told the Bournemouth Echo: "We are particularly keen to tackle the five biggest killers on our roads known as the ‘fatal five’. These are: drink and drug driving, excessive and inappropriate speed, not wearing a seatbelt, driver distractions such as using a hand-held mobile phone and dangerous/careless driving."

What can’t he do?😜#Wout2024 #samenwinnen pic.twitter.com/9TGXYoA2gn

— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) January 21, 2021

We shared the rumours about this a couple of weeks back but this morning it's been confirmed...Wout van Aert has signed a new contract with Jumbo Visma to keep him with the Dutch squad until 2024. On the deal he said: "I really wanted to extend because I have become a lot better with this team. I think everyone has seen that I have made huge steps forward as a rider in recent years. I was always in shape when I needed to. I owe a lot to the team to be able to work towards my goals. The decision that I wanted to re-sign was was made pretty pretty quickly in my mind. We have become the best team in the world. It was best for me to stay."

Yesterday, Wout showed he's got some strong form ahead of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships next Saturday...He's flying... 

Too fast to handle @WoutvanAert☄️💥⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Dgx04XjelM

— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) January 20, 2021

When you claim your spot at the Carrefour de l'Arbre early for Paris-Roubaix 😉 https://t.co/OM9aThkSZk pic.twitter.com/Uy1bBFEZTr

— Simon MacMichael (@simonmacmichael) January 21, 2021

Shaun Bailey has gone further than just supporting the High Court's ruling that Sadiq Khan's Streetspace initiative was unlawful — the Tory London mayoral candidate wants taxi drivers to be compensated. Responding to the ruling, Bailey tweeted: "@SadiqKhan will you apologise and compensate the taxi drivers who lost business during the pandemic due to the restrictions?"

Streetspace was first rolled out in London last summer and was introduced to transform London's streets to accommodate active travel better, but was challenged by the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association and the United Trade Action Group. The two groups argued the measures were unfair on taxi drivers and that taxis had failed to be distinguished from "general traffic". Bailey claims this led to lost business for which they should be compensated.

In her ruling Justice Lang said Khan and TfL "took advantage of the pandemic" to rush through "radical changes". The Interim Guidance to Boroughs was also quashed, which means TfL and the Mayor must "substantially" revise their plans. The guidance has led to many pop-up cycle lanes and LTNs being built.