Comedian Rob Beckett says he has 'never seen a cyclist smile';15mph speed limit to be introduced in City of London next year; Police officers conduct patrols on bicycle due to lack of fuel; Hundreds of cyclists rave in tunnel + more on the live blog

The City of London is planning to introduce a blanket 15mph speed limit to 'save lives', according to a planning document due to be discussed in a transport committee next month. 

Bruce McVean, acting assistant director of transportation at the City of London Corporation, said: “A request for in principle support for a 15mph speed limit will shortly be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport. 

“If this is agreed, we will begin work on an experimental traffic order (ETO) to introduce a City-wide 15mph limit, with the aim of having this in place before the end of 2022.”

“Through the Transport Strategy we have committed to eliminate death and serious injuries on the City’s streets by 2040."

As well as introducing a 15mph speed limit the City of London also aims to widen pavements in a “Pedestrian Priority Programme” that will “give more priority to people walking.” 

There will also be an expanded cycle network with links from Aldgate to the protected cycleway on the Thames Embankment, Forbes report. 

The City of London previously planned to introduce a 15mph speed limit in 2019. At the time, AA president Edmund King said it would not make much difference because motor traffic in the Square Mile has “moved no faster than a horse and cart for 100 years anyway.”

Indeed, as the author of the latest article, Carlton Reid, pointed out, 15mph is actually about double the speed most vehicles travel at in London. 

London's planned 15mph speed limit would be about double the current average car speed. #BetterByBike https://t.co/b2guyLBGTW pic.twitter.com/D0KNZYEwwE

— Carlton Reid (@carltonreid) September 28, 2021

Police are appealing for witnesses after a cyclist was killed in a suspected hit-and-run crash on the edge of the Surrey Hills.

It happened in Horsham Road, Cranleigh, at 18:05 BST on Monday, when the rider was struck by a white vehicle which failed to stop.

The cyclist was treated by paramedics but pronounced dead shortly afterwards. His next of kin have been informed.

Police are searching for the driver and have appealed to any witnesses or people with dashcam footage to get in touch.

Did you see fail to stop collision 6.05pm today in Horsham Rd #Cranleigh?
Cyclist sadly died following collision w/white vehicle, search underway to locate driver. Rd closed in both directions. DM us w/info ref PR/P21208623 pic.twitter.com/coR9WPWQua

— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) September 27, 2021

Drum & Bass On The Bike was out on the streets of London this weekend with hundreds of cyclists turning up.

Hundreds of Cyclists Rave in a tunnel in The City of London. @domwhiting pic.twitter.com/FEJpDUbDQt

— Subject Access (@SubjectAccesss) September 26, 2021

Comedian Rob Beckett has come under fire after he posted a Tweet claiming he has ‘never seen a cyclist smile’.

He was immediately challenged by lots of cyclists who pointed out if riders didn’t look happy on the roads it was probably because they had just narrowly avoided being wiped out by an SUV.

I’ve never seen a cyclist smile.

— Rob Beckett (@robbeckettcomic) September 28, 2021

While some questioned whether the Tweet was meant to be ironic, one man, Dave Walker, commented: “Hi Rob. We’re quite a happy bunch really. But around town look serious as we’re concentrating on not being hit by a wayward driver.”

Mate, we've been laughing non stop for the last 5 days pic.twitter.com/PkF6dImfjT

— John Lamb (@sheffieldlamby) September 28, 2021

Another, Chris Day, said: “Hi Rob, 99 per cent of the time I'm riding my bike I'm really happy - I'm getting fresh air, endorphins, it's keeping me slim and healthy, plus I'm saving a shedload of money. The 1 per cent I'm not happy is when I get cut up or close passed by angry, impatient motorists. I hope this helps.”

Cyclists also flooded the thread with lots of photographs of happy, smiling people on bikes - including a nice one of Beckett himself.

There you go. pic.twitter.com/hAUWHEfeHp

— John Smith (@JohnMwep) September 28, 2021

CCTV released by North Yorkshire police shows how easy it is for thieves to cut through cheap bicycle locks - even in broad daylight.

This theft took place in Lendal, York, at 2.45pm on 14 August. The bike stolen was a Carrera Vengeance electric bike, which is grey with red stripes.

PC Jamie Gibson said:  “The victim has secured their bike to a cycle rack with a lock, however the lock is cut and the bike is stolen within seconds.

“The CCTV footage demonstrate how thieves can quickly steal a cycle which has a cheap or poor lock. To help deter opportunistic criminals, we strongly recommend using an approved locking device.”

World Tour team Deceuninck - Quick-Step is auctioning off a one of a kind S-Works Tarmac SL7 with the proceeds going towards a new climate change initiative in France. 

The frame is raw carbon, and instead of paint, the texture is drawn on by hand.

The bike also has the message #ItStartsWithUs mirrored in chrome supposedly to 'force the person looking at the design to reflect on themselves and remember that they too play a role in the fight to save our planet'.

If you want the chance to get your hands on this unique bike (although it is only in a 56cm frame) then you can enter here.

Based in Brittany, the climate project is one of the first ‘Label bas Carbone’ climate action initiatives in France.

This scheme reduces the carbon footprint by 'sequestering CO2' and planting more than 3000 local tree species by the end of 2021.