YouTube ranter rips into cyclists during bizarre cancel bike lanes video; Reaction to TfL road safety shocker; Dan Bigham "seven watts" off Hour Record; DnB by bike: Cop edition; BMX skills; Not Black Friday; But cyclists + more on the live blog

Don't think it was covered, but it's what I was getting at in the comment quoted above: "[the TfL video] looks uncomfortably out of step with the upcoming Highway Code changes to introduce a hierarchy of responsibility"

sorry, I just automatically assumed you were talking about it in that style we use with that oft delayed review of sentences for driving thing

I didnt think for an instant the government had actually gone and announced  something, certainly not this past week

including new rules to tackle dangerous overtaking and ‘close passes' with a recommended minimum distance

This appears to be a dangerously optimistic interpretation of what will change following the introduction of these 'new rules'. What will change is nothing- the police forces who already do prosecute for close passing, such as Sheffield NW NPT and the famous Inspector Kevin Smith and occasional ally Dame Sarah Storey, will continue to do so. The forces who couldn't care less about cyclists, among which everyone knows I am about to include, yet again, Lancashire- who have never prosecuted anyone for close-passing- will continue to refuse to prosecute no matter how bad the offence. The excuse is always the same: there is no such offence as close passing so we can't do anything. They will just continue to completely ignore perfect video evidence of passing like this below, relying on the fact that when the cyclist is killed or seriously injured any camera evidence will be destroyed, so they can simply rely on the statement of the driver that the cyclist suddenly shot out in front of him and he didn't stand a chance, tick the box for 'insufficient evidence' and get back to the station in time for tea.

well we wait to see how any police force react to any such guidance published in an updated highway code, but its far harder for the examples youve posted to be ignored when you can demonstrate clear breaches of guidance issued & approved by parliament.

or this

IanMK wrote:

...I would have thought a man of your stature would know all about cars, I couldn’t possibly have hit your wing mirror because your car has door mirrors.

If I could upvote you more than once, I would

It's a great story and I'd love to be so quick-witted and cool in such a situation. I'm impressed!  But I'm not sure if the guy's attitude towards cyclists will improve (or at least not get worse) as a result...

anke wrote:

 But I'm not sure if the guy's attitude towards cyclists will improve (or at least not get worse) as a result...

Road Safety is not really anything to do with his attitude towards cyslists. It is everything to do with his ability to navigate 2t of metal competantly and safely around our road network.

I have an analogy for you that I think you might like (not).

It has been revealed over the past couple of weeks that out illustrious leader Boris Johnson is an incompetent liar that may well be suffering from mental health issues. Some of his own party have been very disrespectful, talking about him behind his back, saying nasty things to the press about him and even writing letters in private saying that they don’t think he’s competent.

The pressure being applied to him by these voices will almost certainly not improve his decision making & leadership ability. However, if those voices remained silent would he become a more competent leader with his mental health issues cured, well unfortunately not. So the best thing to do is not let him run the country anymore or at least until he proves that he can do the job competently.

IanMK wrote:

So the best thing to do is not let him run the country anymore or at least until he proves that he can do the job competently.

I totally agree - but how can you transfer this insight to millions of poor drivers -- or which steps would you take about them?

IanMK wrote:

Over the past few weeks I’ve been wondering if Nige has been right all along, TfL certainly agree with him and even the Beatles taught us that “all you need is love”.

The other day whilst out cycling I accidently struck the mirror of a passing motorist with my elbow. I caught his eye, smiled and waved whilst mouthing my apology. He suddenly hit his breaks and pulled over. This is more like it I thought, we’re going to have some friendly banter about how we can all live in harmony just. To my surprise he leapt out of the car and started ranting about how I had deliberately hit his wing mirror and how I shouldn’t be cycling in the middle of the road.

Unperturbed, and addressing him in my most apologetic and humble voice, I said “I’m so sorry that you feel my presence on the road is a threat to the paintwork of your car, that was not my intention when I set out to get some exercise this morning. It’s obvious that you dearly love your overly large, fossil fuel consuming, planet destroying chosen mode of transport in the same way as I love my bicycle. Additionally, despite being a cyclist I do actually have people that love me and they would miss me if I wasn’t around.

He stood there open mouthed going very red in the face (I thought it was probably embarrassment for his actions). I decided that this was the opportunity to press on “I would also like to bring some other minor points to your attention. Firstly, I wasn’t riding in the middle of the road I was cycling in the middle of the lane, secondly if you had given me the recommended 1.5m clearance I would have been nowhere near your car and finally, and I would have thought a man of your stature would know all about cars, I couldn’t possibly have hit your wing mirror because your car has door mirrors.

At that point he seemed to explode and started using language that I thoroughly disapprove of. As I happily cycled off, with him still ranting about entitlement, road tax and vermin I thought to myself – I think they may all be wrong.

I so want this to be true....

Captain Badger wrote:

IanMK wrote:

Over the past few weeks I’ve been wondering ... I think they may all be wrong.

I so want this to be true....

You know it to be true, even if it is fictional.

Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story

anke wrote:

"Reaction to TfL's "outrageously poor" road safety video"

...is not a very balanced or objective title, is it?!

But it's reporting the reaction, which has been generally (as far as I can see) critical and the phrase is in inverted comments because it is a quote.

You should develop some empathy then you may understand why people reacted that way.

Not a very balanced or objective ad.

"Balanced and objective" does not necessarily mean giving every perspective equal weight and merit. In fact, it often means the opposite.

anke wrote:

"Reaction to TfL's "outrageously poor" road safety video"

...is not a very balanced or objective title, is it?!

 Outrageously poor - two words.  Road safety - two words.  

Perfectly balanced.

Unlike the frothing lunatic who tried to kill me yesterday morning with a 6 inch close pass on a single track road; then stood on the brakes to turn into a drive, then decided to drive at me instead, and then stop and get out, frothing and ranting, all before 8am.  Seemingly my 25mph wasn't enough for her 20 yards before her turn-off, and I had the temerity to tell her that 'That was really poor driving'. Mouth on her as foul as a southern water sewage outflow., and a general demeanour to match

Although very occasionally to keep you on your toes, there are some actual Welsh ones:

Wales

Hold your horses, there is a bit of coastal Denbighshire, roughly between Prestatyn and Rhyl. However, it's as flat as a pancake, so Geriant is definitely taking poetic license.

Owd Big 'Ead wrote:

Hold your horses, there is a bit of coastal Denbighshire, roughly between Prestatyn and Rhyl. However, it's as flat as a pancake, so Geriant is definitely taking poetic license.

True but the screenshot of Geraint Thomas's post shows he mentioned Penarth, which is near Cardiff and nowhere near Denbighshire.

Not only is Denbigh some distance from the Liverpool Bay and there are far too many leaves on the trees in his tweet for it to be anywhere near Wales at the moment.

Simon E wrote:

Owd Big 'Ead wrote:

Hold your horses, there is a bit of coastal Denbighshire, roughly between Prestatyn and Rhyl. However, it's as flat as a pancake, so Geriant is definitely taking poetic license.

True but the screenshot of Geraint Thomas's post shows he mentioned Penarth, which is near Cardiff and nowhere near Denbighshire.

Two different posts. Owd Big 'Ead is talking about the one mentioned in the live blog itself, in which G tags 'denbigh', not the one in Pete's comment, which mentions Penarth.  

It's definitely Monaco _ I know the area. Just look at the vegetation and hills. Also if you zoom in you can see a hotel / residence with an outdoor pool. Something you wouldn't bother with in Wales as it would only be usable 1 week a year (in a good year)