Researchers hope to run 'drivers passed by themselves' study after high-speed close pass test; Cyclists discuss "optical illusion" cycle lane that drew Rees-Mogg ire; Bizarre Express story blames TikTok for 'half-wheeling trend' + more on the live blog

This video comes from Katja Kircher of the Swedish transport research institute VTI who last weekend collected data on how experienced cyclists felt when close passed by the driver of an HGV at distances of one to two metres, at speeds of 50 and 80km/h (31 and 50mph)...

Last weekend we collected data on how 23 experienced road cyclists feel when being passed by a truck. We tested 50 and 80 km/h and 1 m, 1.5 m and 2 m clearance with a standard and an extra long truck. Many thanks to all volunteers and the team! pic.twitter.com/bufzhvKvm4

— Katja Kircher 🚴‍♀️ - @katjakircher [at] mastodon.nu (@KatjaKircher) April 27, 2023

Results to follow, but I'm sure you can all take a decent guess at the way that would make you feel. Katja explained it will take a while to analyse the data but made a policy suggestion that in these real-world scenarios drivers should be "switching lanes, and on narrow roads going over to the other edge and slowing down should be the rule. Clear and easy to understand and to enforce".

Interestingly, she also said she would like to repeat the study but have drivers "passed by themselves" to evaluate the same manoeuvre from both perspectives. "But as demonstration it should maybe be part of taking a driver's licence — that would reach many more people," Katja added.

We're going to get in touch with Katja to find out more...

Not to be for Matteo Jorgenson, beaten by Juan Ayuso by five seconds...

😬🫣 @MatteoJorg | #TDR2023 @TourDeRomandie

🎥 @Eurosport_ES pic.twitter.com/uVEv9EGwOA

— Movistar Team (@Movistar_Team) April 28, 2023

The UAE Team Emirates rider takes control of the race and now leads by 18 seconds ahead of the Movistar American going into a big weekend of climbing. Tomorrow, the race climbs to 2,090m and the summit finish at Thyon 2000 before a couple of big climbs on Sunday finish the week of climbing.

> Trek-Segafredo part ways with rider who shot and killed cat belonging to San Marino's former head of state

Right, let's try to work this one out together. We get hundreds of press releases from brands, companies, manufacturers, PR companies and more, all fighting for publicity for their products and campaigns... one of today's is this from Endura...

This is Endura's 'Don't Badger Me' campaign, aiming to put the leave back in annual leave... get it? Apparently the Scottish cyclewear manufacturer — who raised eyebrows last month by designing the "world's most graphic cycle helmets" featuring CAT scans of cyclists' brain injuries to encourage helmet wearing — has now "acquired the help of the world's most fearless animals to stand up to badgering bosses, colleagues and clients".

The initiative urges Brits to rid their minds of work worries and enjoy their free time by putting the laptop away and getting behind the handlebars, we're told. Interesting stats provided: four out of five (81 per cent) of Brits spend some of their free time thinking about work... AND since 2002 the honey badger has held the title of 'most fearless animal in the world' by the Guinness Book of World Records. Well, there you go...

In short, go for a bike ride this bank holiday weekend. Unless you're a pro cyclist... then go for a bike ride but don't think about the fact you're going for a bike ride...

STOP PRESS

LATE EDIT... they've offered quotes from a honey badger...no, really...

Horace the honey badger said: "As a honey badger, the two things that define me are giving zero fks and loving the great outdoors. Now I get to merge the two, by playing my part in allowing the brilliant Endura customers to enjoy the UK’s wonderful outdoor environment, all while standing up to irritating bosses and clients by telling them to do one!"

Brilliant.

Some thoughts on the study from Sweden, with a bit of discussion in the comments about the role cycling could take in learning to drive...

kil0ran: "Unless there's a strong medical exemption I think cycling should be part of the test. If they haven't learnt to cycle then they can always ride a trike. Can be an e-bike too for the unfit. If not all drivers then definitely professional drivers on something other than a car licence."

tigersnapper: "I think it would be a great idea for all drivers to at least go through the close pass scenario even if no cycling is included in the test, as suggested by Kil0ran.  Although for some I suspect it would be 'now I know how scary it can be I'll do it all the more'!"

the little onion: "I think this would be a great alternative to those demonstration mats that the police are using to show appropriate distances during close pass enforcement!"

 And more generally on the theme of close passes (and the effect on your bibs)...

HoldingOn: "For me, the best analysis after that kind of close pass isn't my heart rate, but the colour of my shorts." The instant AG2R edition, as suggested by the little onion...

SimoninSpalding: "1m/ 80kph+ HGV = f***ing scary. Even worse if it is windy. Part of my old commute home had a couple of miles of national speed limit A road with no cycling provision so this was an everyday experience."

> Driver flips car onto side... minutes after seriously injuring cyclist in hit and run

Seems a lot were riders - even a low upstand kerb is maybe too steep an angle?
But yet again! Why does a High Street and not the approaches need a cycle track?https://t.co/FWxnwX7Fewhttps://t.co/IcKTMHMj9Yhttps://t.co/fNyQbyayw7 https://t.co/bl2xXmG57F

— Jitensha Oni @jitensha_oni [at] mastodon.online (@jitensha_oni) April 27, 2023

Some reaction to this one from yesterday...

> Jacob Rees-Mogg calls "optical illusion" cycle lane a "failed experiment" after 59 injuries in a year 

road.cc reader Matt got in touch as a regular user of the infrastructure and told us...

I regularly use Keynsham high street as a pedestrian and cyclist. I'm thankful that the council is putting money into the town.

I don't have any major issues with the design. I'd probably have swapped around the red lane and the middle section maybe. It could obviously be better. But also I'm a bit stunned by how many people trip.. has anyone thought the more you look the more you see? The stats need comparing to something else to put it into context.

The changes have made traffic considerably slowly and safer for pedestrians and cyclists and the high street has a real buzz compared to the narrow pedestrian lanes before.

There are still issues with congestion but until people chose not to drive how will that change.. Changes are made by people, and places are nicer with less cars.

In the comments, the little onion said: "So there is a pedestrian risk with a trip hazard on a kerb, due to colouring, profiling etc. This could be resolved easily enough with appropriate painting. But the solution is to scrap the cycling provision entirely, and increase vehicular traffic? Am I understanding this correctly?"

Global Nomad said it "sounds like inconsistent design details — one of the first lessons when dealing with public surfaces is to provide consistent relationships — why steps should all be the same size/height and why boundaries likewise — sounds like the relationship in levels between the pavement, cycle path and road  keep changing.

"What you know from one section doesn't apply a few metres down the road. Small steps or level changes can often be more dangerous than larger ones due to being harder to spot. As usual JRM avoids analysis and twists a solution to fit a different problem."

hawkinspeter: "Calling for the lane to be removed is kinda stupid, when the issue is obviously the particular implementation. Wouldn't it just be easier to repaint the kerb?"

Anyway, happy Friday!

Arte de por uma fita de guidão pic.twitter.com/uEHoi49Igo

— O País do Ciclismo (@opaisdociclismo) April 28, 2023

Now all you need is to decide which bar tape to wrap...