BMW driver filmed assaulting cyclist digs hole on social media; Separate queues for auto + bikes at Halfords; Andy Murray takes up cycling; £13m cycling + walking boost for South West; Winning the Tour "like a drug", says Bernal + more on the live blog

@Jhtse could you email me your preferred contact details so we can have this matter fully investigated. Thank you. Raj.Kohli [at] met.police.uk. I hope you aren’t too traumatised by what happened.

— Chief Supt Raj Kohli (@MPSRajKohli) June 23, 2020

Happily there is a screen shot of your challenge to the criminal justice system. I will, of course, advise the magistrates your view of them.

— Chief Supt Raj Kohli (@MPSRajKohli) June 23, 2020

He still hasn't deleted the account, and now Chief Superintendent Raj Kholi has got involved and doesn't have much time for the man's threats or mocking of the justice system. We'll be sure to update on how this one turns out... 

Halfords is splitting its queues between "auto" on the left and "bike" on the right. I'm rather delighted at the difference in queue lengths. pic.twitter.com/SMNIK0FrQT

— James (@JamesBlurbs) June 23, 2020

With record numbers getting old bikes out the shed and buying new ones alike, the need for mechanical assistance and buying advice has surged... and Halfords have even taken to splitting their queue for 'auto' and 'bike' customers, with the auto queue empty and the line for bike services about eight-deep at this branch. Other retailers/LBS's are available of course; but with Halfords catering to drivers and cyclists, this photo sums up the demand for everything two-wheeled as opposed to four in one place. 

He's certainly not the first to join in with Britain's lockdown cycling boom, but the two-time Wimbledon champ has revealed that after his wife bought him a bike for his birthday, he now grand slams on the pedals for up to an hour and a half on his regular rides around Surrey. 

Murray wrote in his BBC column: "I've been out quite a bit on routes fairly close to where I live in Surrey ever since. I usually ride for 60-90 minutes and one of my favourite rides is Box Hill, a famous route in the Surrey Hills, where the Olympic cyclists rode during London 2012.

"When I've been out, I've been trying to beat the times I've done the week before. It is a nice way to compete against yourself and give you something to aim for. With the tracking apps you can also keep an eye on what your friends are doing too; it's often a good source of banter."

Murray didn't exactly endear himself to the cycling community back in 2012, when he claimed that "there's very little skill involved in the Tour de France" when asked to draw comparisons between anti-doping efforts in tennis and cycling. He later backtracked, and now eight years on, perhaps he's a few tricky descents away from totally changing his mind...

No change this morning. Please do something about this @lpoolcouncil @mayor_anderson @siobridg @sharonconnor28 @CllrNickSmall @Merseysidersp https://t.co/al8VAMC1RB

— LiverpoolWanderer (@LiverpoolWande1) June 23, 2020

After our lead story on yesterday's live blog reported that a pop-up cycle lane in Liverpool had become what the spotted described as a 'temporary car park', a new video has emerged today which shows that numerous cars are still parked on it, with Liverpool City Council yet to respond. 

Lol why will I be scared of the police boohoo😂😂👮‍♂️ only a fine 🤣🤣🤣give it a rest you got a mouth like most of this people when it comes down to it u will be standing there like a little girl like I said ill happily give you a visit no problem 😂😂 address plz I did promise 😉

— Lucus (@Lucus02461434) June 23, 2020

The man claiming to be the driver in a video in which he assaults a cyclist following alleged dangerous driving is continuing to post on a newly created Twitter account. He claims he is not scared of the police, believing he will only be handed a fine for his offences. He is also challenging others who have denounced his actions, asking for their addresses and threatening to visit them. 

U dm urs i promise to come by try it

— Lucus (@Lucus02461434) June 23, 2020

...asks Darren C in the comments, as most of the improvements mentioned in the press release are for central Bristol and its suburbs. 

We asked the West of England Combined Authority to tell us how much of the cash is earmarked for places outside of Bristol, and they replied saying that there will be pavement widening on numerous streets in Bath City Centre, changes to road space in Thornbury and various upgrades in South Gloucestershire. This includes a £2.9million investment to improve cycling and walking in Stoke Gifford, and the clearing of overhanging branches and vegetation on some of the busiest cycle routes in the county, including on the Bristol to Bath Railway Path and the A4174 Ring Road.

Reckless aggressive driver almost ran us over, then decided to stop in the middle of the road to harass us. Untaxed @BMW 5 series estate VO11 LYK in Camden, London. Thanks to everyone who stopped to check we were ok. @metpoliceuk @MikeyCycling @London_Cycling @cyclegaz @SadiqKhan pic.twitter.com/Xo2Aez0Xpt

— JT (@Jhtse) June 22, 2020

Around 12 seconds into the clip filmed in the London Borough of Camden, a man on a bike says to the driver of the untaxed BMW: "You nearly ran her over, are you going to apologise?", before the driver then attempts to kick the cyclist off his bike. The driver then goes back to the vehicle - which is left in the road with the hazard lights on - and takes off at speed. The MET Police and numerous others commented under the post on Twitter to urge the person who uploaded the clip to report the incident. 

Hi, has this been reported to the Police? Please DM if not. https://t.co/dinxYKkXmT

— Met Contact Centre (@MetCC) June 22, 2020

Totally unacceptable violence. @jhtse have you reported this to Police? If not, please can you do so. Please email the crime / incident reference numbers to VisionZero [at] met.police.uk and my team will make sure the matter is promptly looked into & investigated. Thank you!

— Andy Cox (@SuptAndyCox) June 22, 2020

PLEASE report this

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) June 23, 2020

Bizarrely, someone claiming to be the driver has replied to the thread saying that there are "to (sic) sides to a story", but apologises for the reaction. 

I am the person in the video there's always to sides to a story you shouldn't shouted abuse at me I didn't run you over so why lie funny how they recorded the ending you should tell them what happend in the beginning but I apologise for the way I reacted

— Lucus (@Lucus02461434) June 23, 2020

In another tweet, the owner of the account - with a profile picture showing a car that has the same registration plates as the car in the clip - posted: "Lol had to join yesterday after seeing all this". We've a feeling the account won't be live for very long...

The West of England Combined Authority have announced that £3 million will be spent on short-term measures to help with social distancing while cycling and walking, and the further £10 million will be used for 'longer term solutions' to encourage active travel in the region. 

The West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said: “During the lockdown many people have taken advantage of quieter roads to walk or cycle more regularly. This new funding is helping to make sure we can safely move around our communities again, but also aims to create a long term, positive legacy of more cycling and walking in the region as restrictions ease. We have a real opportunity to capture the positive changes we have seen to improve the physical and mental health of residents and cut carbon emissions, improve air quality and ease congestion across the West of England.”

Changes are already been implemented by local councils in the South West, including a reallocation of road space in Bristol suburbs such as Clifton Village, Downend, Filton and Staple Hill. All temporary measures will be reviewed, with the possibility to form part of 'longer-term solutions' if successful. 

We all know that it's cyclists leaving litter all over the place... Well this morning's ride I see one has left a sofa on what is normally quite a busy country road. Impressive what you can carry in jersey pockets.

— Oli 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@dudeoli) June 23, 2020

But seriously, pick your gel wrappers up folks.