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news
"Same Chris, it’s the darn bike holding me back!": Fans react to Chris Froome’s "equipment" blame-game; Are taxis public transport? Cyclists "disappointed and angry" as Oxford LTN allows taxis; Cycle hangars blocked by parked cars + more on the live blog
SUMMARY
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Chris Froome disc brake wheel change screenshot 1 - via Instagram Reels23 June 2023, 15:14
"Same Chris, it’s the darn bike holding me back!": Fans react to Chris Froome’s "equipment"
Oh no, here we go again. "Washed", "delusional", or "coping mechanism"?
Before you come raging at your poor live blog host, that's not me, just people on the internet using those words for the four-time Tour de France winner.
But as I said earlier in the day, eras do come to an end, and maybe this is it for the legendary rider?
It was all going well until Froome gave an interview to GCN, where he might have let his hubris get the better of him for a split second, and that's given all the ammunition to fans to have cheeky digs at him.
The Israel-Premier Tech rider said: "Physically I was ready, but unfortunately I was unable to show my full ability at the races assigned to me due to equipment issues."
And as soon as these words were uttered into the ether, the age-old can of disc brakes was opened, and out crawled all the memories of several instances of Froome blaming his disc brakes for his not-so-great performances.
It's not like the 38-year-old hasn't been mired with "equipment" controversy before. He has swayed from hating disc brakes, to being all aboard the hype train, and then went back to detesting them, even publicly posting a video of a slow wheel change on Instagram for which he got a lot of flak.
> Fed up Froome denounces disc brake wheels on Instagram Reel
Our mysterious forum contributor, Secret_squirrel true to their name, were the first to move with lightning-fast reflexes: "Oh me first me first!
"Equipment issues".... it was those pesky disc brakes wasnt it Chris?"
squired also didn't pass on the free hit, going so far as to pull a reference from the depths of WWE (or WWF depending on how old you are): "Chris Froome is fast becoming the Ric Flair of cycling - "I've got one more in me"."
SimoninSpalding, who reportedly can't be bothered about LTNs and taxis today, had time for Froome's comments: "I have long been a fan of Chris Froome, but this is getting ridiculous.
"IF the equipment he is being given is genuinely $h!t, but he is the best ride on the squad, then his results would still be better than his teammates and he would be picked. UNLESS he is suggesting he is given inferior equipment to that of his teammates which would be a strange decision in light of his purported salary.
"I am afraid he should have accepted his best days were over the first season back post his crash and retired with some dignity."
> What’s wrong with Chris Froome’s disc brakes?
Sean Dowden wrote on Facebook: "Circling the drain. Blaming equipment on his lack of results. Just retire.", while Richard Docherty was more pitiful: "Sadly a decision out of his hands. Maybe time to bow out and move into coaching and/or team management."
To Froome's misery (chap's got enough already), Twitteratti weren't so kind, going straight for the jugular.
He needs to stop blaming equipment and accept he's in his twilight years and past his best
— @Ian2Wheels (@Ian2Wheels) June 23, 2023
It’s the reason I’m not a pro cyclist. Just keep having equipment issues!
— Nathan Harland (@Brough1979) June 23, 2023
I want to say a bad workman blames his tools but Chris isn't a bad workman. He does however crank on about tech issues a lot! I'm sorry Chris but everyone else is using the same tech! It doesn't add up! 🤷🏼♂️
— Ian (@gnarlyrebel01) June 23, 2023
Equipment issues? It’s ok to say that my body won’t take the stress, the pain, the focus needed to race and win a 3 week tour. You’re 38 and won 4 tours….time to join the European Gravel racing circuit. https://t.co/iL3NfrdK2B
— Frites en Mayo - 🌮🍺🚲🇧🇪 (@FritesEnMayoBE) June 23, 2023
Me? I don't really have much of an opinion about the guy, so I can just sit back and watch people being petty.
23 June 2023, 08:55
Are taxis public transport? Cyclists "disappointed" and "angry" after Oxford LTN allows taxis in and replaces bollards with cameras
Oxford, a safe space for low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) admirers, but also a punching bag for traffic neighbourhood critics.
The Oxfordshire County Council held a meeting yesterday to discuss the Cowley LTN and it was decided that the bollards at Littlemore Road, Littlehay Road, Crescent Road in Cowley will be replaced with automatic number plate registration (ANPR) cameras, and emergency service vehicles, taxis and Royal Mail will be allowed to pass through the LTNs.
As you'd expect, emotions were running high.
"The LTNs were a grubby deal done by [city] Labour with the [county] Tory administration. It’s a disaster from start to finish. I fear for safety of my residents. This council should be charged for manslaughter if anything happens. It is a class war," said a City councillor.
Another speaker said: "We are to be hemmed in with cameras. This city is under siege from its own council, the enemy from within. You do not care that our lives are imploding. We are sacrificial lambs on the altar of your egos. This is the scream of a city."
Sajad Khan: “I am representing black cab drivers. We’ve been getting stuck in traffic jams. We are having to refuse bookings if it means getting trapped in traffic. We are asked to make a huge investment in 2025 in zero-emission taxis. Not everyone understands the taxi trade.”
— Oxford Clarion (@OxfordClarion) June 22, 2023
But amidst all the commotion, active travel experts were left wondering: If it ain't broke, why fix it?
Data released last week showed that air pollution levels across Oxford saw an overall improvement during 2022, with overall NO2 levels down by 8.3 per cent, and a 24 per cent drop when compared to pre-pandemic (2019) levels.
Zahara Plummer from Oxford Livable Streets said: "LTNs have brought about safer streets and cleaner air. We support the use of ANPR cameras for emergency services. But including taxis was not consulted on. People don’t believe that what’s consulted on will be the recommendations put forward."
Cllr Dan Levy, county Active Travel champion said: "There are real benefits to physical barriers: they mark out a safe space for walking, cycling, playing games. I can see the benefit of blue badge holders being allowed access, but not taxis. Taxis will go through in large numbers."
Scott Urban, @urban_turbo: “The unshakeable truth is that the Cowley LTNs are working as designed. So why ANPR? The emergency vehicles already have a clear route through each of the LTNs via unlockable bollards. Limit ANPR use to where there is a bus route.”
— Oxford Clarion (@OxfordClarion) June 22, 2023
And besides, people were left baffled at the inclusion of taxis among the remitted vehicles, with many cyclists wondering, "Are taxis public transport now?"
At least, Lid Dem Cllr Andrew Grant thinks so...
“Taxi numbers are predicted by officers to be low. I don’t accept that taxis always speed; they are professional drivers. Public transport is third in the hierarchy after walking and cycling. Are taxis a form of public transport? Yes they are.”
— Oxford Clarion (@OxfordClarion) June 22, 2023
The decision has not gone down well...
I'm so disappointed and angry. We weren't consulted on these exemptions. This will make our LTNs high-traffic again, full of taxis which in my personal experience are some of the most reckless drivers in the city. @AndrewGant3 what we're you thinking? https://t.co/HzjMtOGFYL
— Laura F (@dantsis87) June 22, 2023
when your #LTN isn't actually a #LTN https://t.co/C4rfyf5AYH
— Bob From Accounts 🚲 (@BobFromAccounts) June 22, 2023
a compromise I expected and one that'll please no one, but they clearly listened to the mobility concerns of many and made a decision. Whether it helps anyone give up their car I dunno, the main issue seems to be school run and commuter traffic here. https://t.co/hvDXyAxgB4
— Tom Lloyd (@tomlloydwrites) June 22, 2023
What do you think? Do taxis form an integral part of transport, thus making them indispensable to the overall public transport infrastructure? Or is it going to increase road danger and keep rat running high, while not incentivising people to take up cycling?
23 June 2023, 16:19
BBC dives into cycling helmet debate again... here's what people think about it
If you haven't heard (about) it yet, BBC Radio 4's consumer programme Sliced Bread went to take a deep dive into the cycling helmet debate yesterday, as if we haven't seen enough of it already.
But this time, they decided to have psychologist and road safety researcher Dr Ian Walker on, so maybe there was a chance it would be a bit better?
But apparently not, the Beeb being the Beeb somehow managed to fudge it up, like usual. Here's what road.cc reader Richard Burton thought about it.
I initially heard the bit of Dr Ian Walker, so thought that it was good, but it was the usual deliberately biased BBC approach, with an "expert" explaining how good helmets were at preventing death and injury with no examination of the facts, and although they mentioned CUK, they didn't have anyone from it to comment, and only featured helmet proponents or neutrals like Dr Walker.
But if you'd rather avoid that and listen to something from yours truly, we had the latest episode of the road.cc Podcast release yesterday, and take a guess what's it about...
Oh would you believe it?! The chance, the coincidence, the fate, the providence!
Ryan got to chat with Mark Limb of Queensland University of Technology, the very reseacher behind the shocking finding that took the world by storm.
Many of our readers had also shared their own experiences of the humanising or dehumanising effects of different clothing choices. So, the road.cc Podcast got in touch with one of the academics behind the study, Dr Mark Limb, to discuss hi-vis, helmets, and the various perceptions of cyclists on the roads in Australia, the UK, and beyond.
PS. Ryan, Suvi and me also discuss the highs, lows and mids of Netflix's shocking offering that has also taken the world by storm, Tour de France: Unchained.
23 June 2023, 16:10
Rob-beryl? Vandalism hits Greater Manchester’s cycle hire scheme again
“The Greater Manchester Cycle Hire Scheme has been hugely popular so far, with almost 1million kilometres ridden since its launch, and the majority of people are using the bikes as they should,” he said.
“Unfortunately, a recent spate of vandalism has meant that fewer bikes are available than normal and we would like to apologise to anyone that has recently been unable to access one.
> Vandalism hits Greater Manchester’s cycle hire scheme again
23 June 2023, 14:21
🏴🌈Special tartan with UCI rainbow for World Championships
If you're heading out to Scotland for the UCI Worl Championships and you are looking to buy a tartan at the same time, you fall into a very specific set of people, but you're in luck because there might be something special for you.
The tartan, which is inspired by the iconic rainbow stripes of the UCI jersey and the blue of the Scottish Saltire flag — has been designed and woven by long established weavers, Lochcarron of Scotland, a founding member of The Scottish Tartans Authority.
UCI President David Lappartient said: “It is a fantastic initiative to produce a tartan to mark the first ever edition of the UCI Cycling World Championships. The tartan will be a lasting reminder of an event that wrote a new chapter of cycling history and a reminder that this inaugural edition took place in Glasgow and across Scotland. Long after the competitions are finished, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will live on in the tartan created in their honour.”
It will also be worn by 2023 UCI Worlds hosts and hostesses at the medal ceremonies.
23 June 2023, 12:14
Ultimate power couple: Tadej Pogačar and Urška Žigart become Slovenian time-trial champions... but Flemish newspaper still refuses to refer Žigart by her name
What's it gotta take?! After coming agonisingly close to win the Tour de Suisse, only to be pipped 75 metres before the finish line for her maiden Tour win, Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad ran a headline, referring to the Slovenian rider Urška Žigart as "Pogačar’s girlfriend".
It led to a lot of backlash, even Pogačar reposting on his Instagram a joke headline referring to him as Žigart's boyfriend (in what I would like to reiterate was a joke first made by Mr Mallon a full day before Canadian Cycling Magazine got to it; yes we take our jokes very seriously at road.cc).
> The best way to deal with a silly headline... Tadej Pogačar edition
And if that wasn't pandering and embarassing enough for the Flemish newspaper, they were at it again yesterday, posting this on Twitter.
(and his girlfriend) what a bunch of idiots. Not reading this garbage anymore. https://t.co/DRHJGuShPc
— Pieter De BOISERIE 🔶🇺🇦 (@pdeboiserie) June 22, 2023
They're never going to learn, are they?
who is Tadej Pogacar????
— abby 🎗️ (@wildewisteria) June 22, 2023
23 June 2023, 12:06
"Damn disc brakes!", "freaking SRAM!"... Froome "disappointed" with team selection, says he couldn't show "full ability due to equipment issues"
2023 Cycle Show Chris Froome, by Cycle Show
Some quotes from the man himself, after missing out on this year's Tour squad for Israel Premier Tech:
"I’m obviously disappointed with the decision. The Tour de France holds an incredibly special place in my heart.
"Physically I was ready, but unfortunately I was unable to show my full ability at the races assigned to me due to equipment issues.
"I respect the team’s decision and will take some time before refocusing on objectives later in the season and returning to the Tour de France in 2024."
> Chris Froome blames “equipment” after being left for Tour de France, insists he will race in next year’s race
23 June 2023, 11:33
Pogačar raring to go for third Tour title as he remarks injury came at "a perfect time"
2023 Fleche Wallone - Tadej Pogacar (Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
If there were any doubts about Pogačar's form going into the Tour de France next week, I think he has well and truly put them to bed with an absolutely dominating performance at the Slovenian time trials yesterday.
He beat the second-placed Marko Pavlič by a whopping 5 minutes and 14 seconds, and even outdid his 2020 time by 27 seconds, setting a time of 29:43 with an average speed of 31.699 km/h for the 15.7km course.
The 2020 and 2021 Tour winner, then told UAE's national news that his scaphoid wrist fracture injury at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April came at "perfect time".
"Naturally I didn't want it to happen like that, but I was due a long break and I guess the injury just forced me to rest a bit more," he said.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a barnstorming season so far, already winning two tours: Vuelta a Andalucía and Paris-Nice, before proving his all-round capabilities with monster performances during the spring classics seasons, winning the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold and La Flèche Wallonne.
> Incredible Tadej Pogačar wins Tour of Flanders with stunning solo move
Is there anything the Slovenian steamroller can't do? Get a particular Flemish newspaper to call Urška Žigart by her name. More on that shortly...
23 June 2023, 10:43
TdF blues: Another blue kit in the peloton
We've got Cav and company's latest trim for the Tour de France, and it's something I'm seeing a pattern with all these new Tour kits: They are blue.
⚡️🔥 What a news!
Astana Qazaqstan Team presents the new design of its @GiordanaCycling jersey which will be wearing by the riders at the @LeTour, which starts in Bilbao on 1st July.
📰👉Read more: https://t.co/SqS40SZthI#TDF2023 #AstanaQazaqstanTeam pic.twitter.com/JGZybVtG5u
— Astana Qazaqstan Team (@AstanaQazTeam) June 23, 2023
Okay I am not going to lie, I think the kit is amazing. But, are we going a bit overboard with the blues?
First DSM, Bora, and now Astana. Add Bahrain's and Movistar's blue-tinted kits, and potentially Groupama with a blue-ish kit, it's going to be a sea of riders in the peloton, quite literally.
> Team DSM unveil new name and new very, very, very, very dark blue kit
If I had nothing better to do I would moan about how having similar coloured kits in the peloton is boring and not a good overall watching experience for the viewers, no matter how good they look individually, and it seems that I exactly have nothing better to do other than moaning about a kit on the live blog. Jolly times!
At least Uno-X has a bright red kit! Now, bring on Lidl-Trek!
23 June 2023, 10:16
Edinburgh special! Cyclehoop hangars open only 1/4th the way because... parked cars are blocking the lid
Edinburgh Council is back at it.
We have had drivers blocking cycle lanes, but blocking cycle hangars? That's a new one.
You know what’s great? @cyclehoop bicycle hangars🚲
But you’ll only be able to open them 1/4 of the time because @Edinburgh_CC didn’t put parking restrictions near them, so you can’t open the doors and use your bike to go to work…#edinburgh #cycling #sustainabletravel pic.twitter.com/tYNqLKdWyK
— Tom Woolnough (@TomWoolno) June 22, 2023
But seriously, imagine you get off your work and go to the hangar to fetch your bike, and then you see this. What would you have done?!
23 June 2023, 09:32
End of an era? Chris Froome left out of Tour de France by Israel Premier Tech
Chris Froome (copyright Zac Williams, SWpics.com)
Oh my word. I guess that's what eras are, they came to an end.
Once in a generation rider, four-time Tour winner Chris Froome has not been selected by Team Israel Premier Tech for the Grand Tour squad, set to start next Saturday if you weren't aware...
Israel's line-up selection released today morning, and the team wrote it was a "a versatile team aiming for stage wins".
"I believe that each of our eight selected riders has what it takes to be victorious in this race," said the team's Sports Manager.
Besides Froome, South African rider Daryl Impey was also left out of Israel Prem Tech's squad.
End of an era 😢 https://t.co/nTFAc8JJ01 pic.twitter.com/hBBfL238Lg
— Beefeater Bend🎶🍻 (@tdfbeefeaters) June 23, 2023
It sucks but this might mean that the time's finally running out for the 38-year-old. He's out of contract at the end of the year, and the Brit had earlier revealed he had been struggling with a minor tendon injury at the start of the year, but that the Tour remained "the ultimate goal".
"It’s the race in which I’ve had my nicest feelings, where all the best riders in the world compete in their best form," he said. "Obviously I’m not going to go to the Tour to fight for the overall, but if I can try to go for a stage win, that would be great."
Besides, the four Tour wins, Froome also won a Giro and two Vueltas, cementing himself as one of the greatest of all time. But since his crash in 2019, he has only finished in the top 10 once, climbing with aplomb at the top of the Alpe d'Huez and finishing third in last year's stage 12 of the Tour. His last stage win came at the 2018 Giro, his last Grand Tour win too.
You are going to be missed Froome, a lot. Who will be the butt of our long-running young-man/old-man jokes, who will we wait for to pile up on disc brakes... what I'd do to watch Cav and Froome have a go at it, one last time at the Tour...
Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after completing his masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Cymru, and also likes to write about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.
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69 comments
The very great Hank Wangford (aka Sam Hutt, top gynaecologist and president of the Nudist Mountaineering Club, seriously I am not making this up) used to have a lead guitarist whose nom de guerre was Hertz van de Rental. Very good he was too.
That's a coincidence, when my dad was in the RN years ago, he knew a couple of guys from the Dutch Navy based here on an exchange programme, one of those was called Hertz Van Rental. The other one was Naafi Van Driver.
Slightly unrelated, but I swear I used to serve with Jack Blair (naval menswear). At least, he always pitched up at the end of the jetty within 5 minutes of the gangway being put in place.
Crap cyclists though!
A rented car is private transport.
Incorrect.
Boris bike?
Keep making assumptions.
Taxis are public transport... until they are in use, then they are private transport.
Regardless, it makes no sense that they should be able to bypass the LTN restrictions.
Here's a thought - have Royal Mail every considered using bicycles?
Of course it may make their more lucrative parcel delivery services more challenging, but they will still be on a level playing field as Amazon, Evri, DPD etc...
Indeed - they may be dragged back to (electric) "bikes"* again by the other delivery services.
* probably better to call them "pedal-assisted delivery cycles" as the ones I've seen tend to have 3 or more wheels. FWIW I'm happy to call them "ebikes" as long as they stick to the "no assistance above 15.5mph. I'd probably even give them a pass for a bit more motor assistance for shifting weight (>250W). I wouldn't want to let the whole "completely motorised" genie out of the bottle (and onto what cycling infra we have) though. If there's one thing the delivery business shows it's that ruthless competition quickly leads to completely shafting employees, members of the public at large and the taxpayer in general.
I think it's safe to say they've considered it.
Not for a while though.
Wasn't the Royal Mail selling off their stock of bicycles not so long ago or donating them to some charity in Africa? I had the chance of buying one but didn't have the cash at the time. Growing up our postie would ditch his bike at our place to deliver to the street by foot before grabbing it to get to the next street.
Elephant bike.
If you like big animals there's also the Buffalo bike.
All good (and the better "technology transfer" efforts care about creating jobs in the local service industries too) but as someone said on a Fairtrade seminar (I paraphrase) - "thanks for the consideration you guys, but why are aren't we (Africans) selling our quality products in Africa"?
Anyway, putting that neatly to one side, I'm also pondering where the Abelio Scotrail rental bikes went? I think they were essentially Batavus Personal bikes with equipped with front carrier. Presumably when Abelio lost the contract they should have been available for a song. Real boat-anchor hefty - but a "proper Dutch bike" (which I didn't understand when I tried one back in the day but appreciate now). Never saw them available though?
Yes. That's the one. The Abelio bikes would also have been good to get the hold of. Something bomb proof for the Glasgow/Renfrewshire roads.
They did, refurbed as "Elephant Bikes", it was "buy 2 get 1" with the other being sent overseas, I nearly bought one (two), wish I had. They were Pashley IIRC and I think one of the writers of this parish has one.
Yep - a Pronto - from Pashley, think you can still get one if you want. Not "cheap" though although good value I'd say. TBH while I'd like to buy local unless I really wanted "unofficially can carry several humans" if I was going to spend the cash I'd probably save a bit more and go for a something from Workcycles - a slightly "lighter and tighter" Secret Service with front carrier. Requirements and tastes vary!
Now though hopefully I won't get another bike for time - as long as the LBS can fix up my "slightly thieved" Cube Travel Ex.
This seems like a non-debate:
If the cab driver is dropping off or picking up inside the LTN then they can use the route into and out of it that residents use when driving and charge for the extra time/distance.
If the cab driver is dropping off outside of the LTN then they don't need to go into the LTN and they can go around it and charge for the extra time/distance.
Cab drivers win, residents win. Cab fares are slightly higher for those using cabs to get around which is a shame for them but if that causes a reducting in cab usage they will either drop their fares or the number of vehicles on the road will reduce, which is good.
One day, the black cab drivers (and that almost 100% means "drivers of black cabs") will lose whatever hold they have over politicians. I will laugh and laugh as their expensive private services are no longer allowed in lanes reserved for bikes and actual public transport, and they can no longer stop where they feel like.
The use case for motor vehicles roaming the streets on the off-chance someone wants to go somewhere is practically zero now nearly everyone has an internet-enabled computer in their pocket, and there's no reason for their drivers to maintain privileges that might have made sense 60 years ago. If that forces a number of the gentlemen I've encountered to get a job which doesn't involve driving and does involve declaring their earnings, that's just a bonus.
Have a look at what Waymo and Cruise are up to in the US.
That day is not too far away.
When/if they're reliably safer (all round) than human-controlled vehicles, that's a small positive at least. I'd rather see journeys made by single/small group motorised vehicles reduced by 90% or so to only the truly essential ones that can't be done any other way, but if I can't have that I will settle for the LTDA watching their influence drain away.
LTN with bollards = expensive
LTN with ANPR = revenue generating
I couldnt possibly comment on the desire for the second over the first by Oxford council...
LTNs with bollards are not expensive.
The Beech Grove LTN we had for 18 months in Harrogate (before irresponsible North Yorkshire Council took it out again) cost £10,000 to install, which is peanuts in highways terms.
ANPR is a lot more complicated. Admittedly I have no idea how the costs stack up against fines.
Depends how many times you have to replace the bollards vandalised by otherwise law abiding motorists
Discussion (hopefully not trolling): is opposition to "15 minute cities" the new Brexit / "take back control" issue?
As in: it reflects genuine discontent (at least by some) and worry / fundamental distrust of some bigger authority and the creeping imposition of rules. However achieving "success" won't solve the issues people are complaining about (at least in the medium term)? Certainly it doesn't get the better of "them" - although maybe just being bolshy is seen as a win?
(Yes, obviously Brexit potentially allows us more freedoms / keeps the corruption closer to home thus nominally more accountable. I'm also comfortable with people wanting to choose more local control even if it might be costly / make life more risky ... However I think a lot of people assumed that the change would fix some systemic issues or make us richer in less than a generation or two).
Stickers on the shared use cycle path of all places* - down with 15 minute cities. They've obviously not adapted their material to the proposed Scottish 20 minute ones (20 because Scots are tougher!)
But "down with this sort of thing" because ... cats! Good animal theme going here...
* Maybe not so crazy - after all UK cyclists are often pretty bloody-minded, independent types...
Hmmm. Draconian was the word that came to mind 😉
Also - no to the man because ... 90s comedians! To be fair they picked one who really likes cars!
Luckily some people do like the idea (actually I think they stuck these over some pro-trans-rights stickers).
Finally - I think it's possible to be both anti-establishment AND complain that said establishment has screwed the public pooch and should make amends. True - it's taken several generations but we are where we are because of political choices. From the outset the state at all levels was very eager to jump into bed with the motoring lobby pretty much to the exclusion of all other transport.
So even if we don't really trust "them" we should also be campaigning for the freedoms for our kids, for those with disabilities, the old, people who just don't want to sign up to the extremely expensive and ultimately problematic practice of having a motor vehicle. Or who'd like to take back some of the vast space we now devote to motoring.
Yes- that does now require rolling back some of the unbridled freedoms from the motorist. And which - "because tech" - may open potential avenues for abuse of power in the future. (Already too late for that and not that not challenging motornormativity will will stop 'em of course).
Sounds like the screaming of a polarised minority to me. Provided they are licensed and accountable I have no problem with Taxi's (in particular black cabs) being considered public transport. They fill a necessary gap - being much more flexible than a bus. I would probably exclude some/all mini-cabs due to the extremely poor licensing & compliance.
I suspect they are one of the top recipients of confirmation bias too. ( I got close passed by a taxi - therefore most taxis are close passers). Not helped by some of the militant anti-cyclist Black cabbies on twitter who harrass Mikey on a regular basis.
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