Cyclists think they are subject to 'pavement code not Highway Code' says minister; Anti-LTN campaigners 'manipulate' traffic levels; TdF stage by stage guide; Bahrain Victorious release Tour de France jersey as crypto-art + more on the live blog

Conservative front bencher Lord Wolfson of Tredegar made the remark as he took questions in the House of Lords on traffic offences.

The Lancashire post report, that the minister said: “We can all think of examples around the world where there is a different culture in the way that road space is used.”

He added: “Of course, one has to remember that everybody who uses the road is subject to the Highway Code.

“That includes both the drivers of juggernauts and, if I may say so, cyclists, who sometimes appear to think that they are subject to the pavement code.”

> Transport minister: Responsible cyclists CAN ride on the pavement

A new bike hire scheme has launched on the Royal Canal in Ireland.

The Royal Canal biking trail stretches for 130 kilometres all the way from Maynooth in County Kildare, through Meath, Westmeath, Longford, through Ireland’s Ancient East into the Hidden Heartlands.

The Royal Canal Bike Hire hub is situated at Maynooth Harbour, Co Kildare, with a drop-off location in Enfield, Co Meath - both located next to train stations, The Irish Mirror reports.

The organisers of the Giro have announced the winners of their 'awards' from this years race.

Unsurprisingly, Bernal was given most protaganistic rider but he also won the 'amore infinito prize' for taking off his rain jacket at the end of the brutally, cold and wet stage 16.

Lorenzo Fortunato was named as the 'revelation' while the best team spirit went to Ineo for Martinez's emphatic encouragment of Bernal at Sega di Ala on stage 17. 

The Team BikeExchange rider will compete at the Tour de France on a bespoke-painted version of Bianchi’s flagship Oltre XR4.

The hand-painted frame was designed by Bianchi Reparto Corse, and features iridescent inserts as well as a personalised message in the paintwork.

Matthews said: “My Oltre XR4 is beautiful, thanks to this hand-made Italian paint job. For the way I ride and the stages I can do well in, this bike has everything: it’s super aero and it sprints fast."

The bike also has the word 'believe' printed on the top tube.

Matthews continued:  "In a race where there are difficult moments, a little slogan like this can make a difference. I must believe in myself, I can push hard and, I can achieve my dreams.”

One of the leading opponents of traffic changes in Hackney is desperate to manipulate figures so as to strengthen her case. This cynical plan should be condemned. pic.twitter.com/2wUyJNaasc

— Hackney LCC (@hackney_cycling) June 24, 2021

Anti-LTN campaigners have been accused of encouraging motorists to 'drive up and down the road' to manipulate traffic figure levels as the council continue to receive feedback and data from residents regarding the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. 

The comments, posted in the 'Horrendous Hackney Road Closures' Facebook Group, read: "Could everyone in the group who drives please drive up and down Dalston Lane for the next few days...

"I now have an official traffic/pollution monitor based at mine in advance of the court case and yesterday was the quietest day in a long time." 

If you've never cycled in a Low Traffic Neighbourhood before, here's two minutes of pedalling around Islington and Hackney yesterday evening: pic.twitter.com/yTnrnJkvms

— Jon Stone (@joncstone) June 24, 2021

Jamie Bridgwater, from Stourport, was driving a Mercedes Sprinter van when he struck Brian Humphreys' bike on Temple Row, Willenhall, on June 15 last year, The Express and Star report.

Bridgwater, 33, 'failed to allow sufficient room' to overtake Mr Humphreys which led to the near-side headlight colliding with the handlebar of the bike, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Bridgwater, was arrested at the scene after testing positive for cannabis and was later found to be over the legal limit for THC. 

Mr Humphrey's son Ian described his father in it as the 'strongest man' he's ever met who was "so alive" and the life and soul of any get-together. 

The kindness of strangers
Love the NHS.
Love London.
Love Londoners
A thread :

I've been cycling daily in London for over 25 years. A couple of weeks back, shit happened. No idea how or why, in a split second, over the handlebars, I face-planted at speed into Shoreditch High St

— Bob From Accounts (@BobFromAccounts) June 23, 2021

What a heartwarming thread this is for a Friday. 'Bob from Accounts' had a very nasty sounding crash in Shoreditch this week but 'within seconds' four helpful Londoners came to his rescue.

The group moved him off the busy road and looked after him while they waited for an ambulance to arrive. 

Restaurant woman brings me water first, then a straw, realising I can't hold the cup. She offers to store my bike in the restaurant she works in. Scottish ambulance man Ross arrives in 10 minutes. I'm doing my best not to pass out after looking at my left wrist and right shoulder

— Bob From Accounts (@BobFromAccounts) June 23, 2021

After the paramedic came and cut off his backpack and clothes he was taken to hospital where Bob confirmed 'going towards the light' is really a thing. 

Wake in Royal London Trauma Unit, pain freeish and off my tits. Ross still by my side 4 hours later. He's found my phone to text and call my wife. Wrist crushed many places. Scapula, clavicle and the top of my humerus resembling a bag of Doritos that had been sat on.

— Bob From Accounts (@BobFromAccounts) June 23, 2021

So, although Bob, as he himself says, is now 'partly built from stainless' steel he intends to keep cycling and still 'Loves London, the NHS and Londoners'.

If you have the time, it's well worth reading the whole thread. 

Team Bahrain Victorious revealed a special one-off jersey at the Tour de France presentation last night - which they will now be auctioning off as a piece of crypto-art. 

Known as the ‘Maillot Disruptif’, (wonder where they got that idea from) the jersey highlights the impact obesity and diabetes has across the world. 

Following the presentation, the jerseys were destroyed, never to be physically seen again... but one has since been minted as a piece of crypto art known as an NFT (Non-Fungible-Token) that will be auctioned off, raising money to combat these diseases.

A few weeks ago Colnago received some backlash when it became the first cycling brand to jump on the NFT trend. 

The criticism was largely centred on the environmental impact of the computing power necessary to maintain blockchain technology (rather than the NFT itself).

This article from The Verge explains just why blockchain technology and its use to determine ownership of NFTs has such a big environmental impact, mentioning among other things that Ethereum, the cryptocurrency that the Colnago and the Bahrain Jersey were purchased in, “uses about as much electricity as the entire country of Libya.”