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Pizza restaurant's sign warns they won't serve anyone parked in pop-up cycle lane; Cyclist moves trap allegedly laid by dog walkers; 1 in 5 would pay more tax to fix potholes; Drivers STILL using pop-up as car park; Turbo nutrition + more on the live blog

It's Friday! Jack Sexty is here to provide your lead live blog coverage today, with other members of the team chipping in intermittently.....

SUMMARY

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03 July 2020, 15:20
"The lane is for cyclists": Pizza restaurant create signs warning they will not serve anyone who parks in pop-up cycle lane

Civerinos Slice of Edinburgh have installed the signs in an effort to prevent drivers from parking in a recently installed pop-up cycle lane at the Forrest Road junction outside their restaurant. In the smaller print underneath the main notice, Civerinos say they won't serve or take deliveries from anyone parking in the lane.

They say they've took action to "try and protect cyclists and pedestrians at the Forrest road junction to try and stop people parking on the pavement & bus lane. We have encouraged our neighbours to do the same. Stay safe.. be nice... eat pizza."

It would be wrong to congratulate this bold move without a suitable pizza pun...

03 July 2020, 15:47
First you needed turbo-specific clothing... now you need indoor nutrition, say Science in Sport

Team Ineos' nutrition sponsor have just launched the Turbo+ range, claiming that the cooling menthol formula can enhance your performance in the heat... so we can't just use it in the heat as well then? In any case, the range includes gels and a powder formula and is available now... full story here

03 July 2020, 14:54
An e-bike for $17? Seems legit.
e-bike for 17 dollars - via facebook.PNG

Probably best not to click on this if it does pop up on your Facebook feed...

03 July 2020, 14:29
British Cycling announce latest update on return to racing, and confirm no national championships will take place in 2020
Ben Swift wins 2019 national championship road race (copright SWPix.com)

British Cycling have have given an update on the sport's route out of lockdown today, announcing that regional level racing is still suspended until 1st August and no national level events can be held until at least 1st September - ruling out any major national championships in the UK this year. 

The lifting of a suspension on all club and group activity was announced in British Cycling's 'The Way Forward' document on June 18th, but they've clarified that the regional races allowed to take place will not include road racing or sportive-type events. British Cycling say: "We are keenly aware that road racing is the passion of a great number of our members. While we were able to reintroduce small club rides on June 18, we believe there are particular challenges when it comes to reintroducing this discipline as well as other mass-start events on the public highway, including sportives.

"These challenges include the impact on the communities whose roads we use, field sizes and the support required from emergency services. Therefore, it is likely that when mass start road events do return, they will do so first on closed circuits."

03 July 2020, 12:58
"I'm saving you from a manslaughter charge": video of mountain biker moving trap allegedly laid by dog walkers goes viral (WARNING: strong language)

In the (sweary) clip, the mountain biker filming claims that the two dog walkers have deliberately laid branches across a path in Epping Forest. Although they don't actually admit it, the conversation would suggest the cyclists have seen the pair putting the traps down.

The argument continues, with the male dog walker shouting "I'm not saying you can't cycle", but accusing the cyclists of riding dangerously. The cyclist filming says he is saving the pair from "a manslaughter charge" by removing the traps, with neither side backing down.

It's the latest in a growing list of incidents in which self-styled vigilantes have put traps down with the intent of deterring/injuring cyclists, including one where two pensioners admitted to putting traps down on a path in North Yorkshire. Police confirmed that they interviewed two women - a retired teacher and a former parish councillor - about the incident after footage of the pair circulated on social media.  

03 July 2020, 11:23
1 in 5 would be willing to pay 10% more council tax to fix Britain's battered roads, finds new survey
Pothole (copyright Simon MacMichael).jpg

The survey from innovative pothole repair company Roadmender Asphalt found that almost 1 in 5 of those questioned would support a 10% rise in council tax for road repairs, that could amount to an extra £2.5 billion a year just in England. 69% of those surveyed also said they now prefer to cycle or drive to work rather than take public transport due to risks posed by COVID-19, and 32% said that commuting is the most stressful part of their day because of poor road quality. 

To fix potholes, Roadmender Asphalt use a new material specifically designed for the job called Elastomac, and have called on councils to use their services for more cost-efficient and effective repair long-term. Their CEO Harry Pearl commented: "Experienced by councils up and down the land, the problem with pothole repairs is they are carried out using a process built around materials designed for building roads rather than fixing them. As a result the process is more costly, inefficient and ineffective than it needs to be, rather like playing squash with a tennis racket. You can do it but it’s far from ideal."

If there's one thing drivers and cyclists can all agree on all of the time, it's that potholes are a whopping great pain in the backside...

03 July 2020, 11:49
Plus his answers to more obligatory questioning about helmets.
03 July 2020, 11:19
Get even, get a bike

Says Olympic champion Elinor Barker. 

03 July 2020, 11:10
How not to go tubeless, with Alex Dowsett

After trying and failing with a regular pump and giving his floor a good helping of sealant as well as his tyre, on the advice of his dad the Israel Start-Up Nation rider eventually deploys a CO2 canister to get his new tubeless tyre on the rim (we have it on pretty good authority this won't work with some tyre/sealant combos). If you want our advice in written form, check out this handy how-to guide

03 July 2020, 10:55
Lancashire, Dorset and Leicester among most ambitious councils for cycling, says Cycling UK
pop-up cycle lane pic.PNG

This is based off which councils took their full allocation (or more) from the first round of Emergency Active Travel Fund cash, with the three counties named above named as the most ambitious. It wasn't all good news though, with Surrey off of Box Hill fame only getting 50% of what was available to them - full story to follow. 

03 July 2020, 08:20
Cyclists get run over, literally

As observed by some of those commenting on this bizarre viral video - that we believe first circulated on TikTok - the girl 'running over' the cyclists appears to be attached to a rope to make things a little less likely to end up with broken bones. It goes without saying that if you own a gymnasium, a harness and have a dozen friends with bikes who like riding round in circles, don't try this at home...

03 July 2020, 09:32
Bikes transforming streets again, this time in Paris

No modal filter needed here, there's simply just so many bikes that cars are now second fiddle. After being comfortably re-elected earlier this week, Paris Mayor Anne Hildago is going full steam ahead with her plans to transform the French capital into a cycling and walking mecca. Cycle lanes have been promised for every street in Paris to make it a “100 per cent” bike-friendly city when the project is complete. 

03 July 2020, 09:04
Citroën launch new limited edition city bike with Martone Cycling
Citroen new bike_velo-rider-women-femme-the-citroenist-by-martone-taille-44-citroen

The car brand have shied away from superbikes like various other car brands that have dipped their toe into cycling over the years, aiming the new 'Women Rider Citroënist by Martone' squarely at city mobility. The three-speed machine has a basket and double kickstand for elegant parking outside achingly cool Parisian cafés, and also retains the signature red chain that features on all Martone bikes. 

A unisex version already existed which is currently reduced to €760 down from €950 on Citroën's Lifestyle website, and the new Women Rider model is priced at €784. 

03 July 2020, 08:10
Drivers still determined to park on Liverpool pop-up 'car park'/bike lane... even after double yellows were installed to stop them

Thanks to complaints on social media and a hearty dose of pressure from the media, Liverpool Council council promised to act  when it was found that a pop-up cycle lane in the city centre was effectively being used as a 'pop-up car park', forcing cyclists back out of the lane. 

The road that made headlines with up to 20 cars parked in a 0.2 mile stretch has now had double yellow lines painted on it; however as photographed by Philip Marshall, there are still drivers determined to park in the cycle lane. When they were first made aware of the illegal parking, Liverpool Council said: "Enforcement options are being looked at but it is hoped behaviours will change as these new pop-up lanes bed in. However, if car parking persists action will be taken.”

It appears not everyone's behaviour is changing just yet...

03 July 2020, 08:50
"Where would you rather live work and shop?" Before and after a street is closed to motor traffic

This before and captures perfectly how the installation of a modal filter to prevent 'rat-running' drivers can totally transform a street. 

Jack has been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of the website including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named Editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master's degree in print journalism and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it's a long story). 

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40 comments

Avatar
Hirsute replied to Cargobike | 4 years ago
1 like

There must be a standard to work to though and inspections. Fail the inspection you don't get paid until it is done to the required standard.

I think the main problem is they won't fix an adjacent one that they can see needs doing but for which they have no work order and hence no income for doing it. This leads to a poorer, overall surface.

Avatar
Awavey replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
1 like

most councils who are responsible for highway maintenance will admit when pushed on it,they check at best only 1 in 10 jobs of work carried out.

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Notbuilt2climb | 4 years ago
9 likes

The problem we have is that many motorists know that the likelihood of them getting caught, fined or prosecuted for illegal parking, exceeding speed limits, going through red lights, closes passes etc etc is significantly less than the chance they will 'get away' with it.  

Councils and local law enforcement often don't have the fiannces or resources to do anything about it.  However, the car pictured on double yellows is pretty clear and Liverpool police should not ignore it.

Avatar
caw35ride replied to Notbuilt2climb | 4 years ago
4 likes

I always assumed that traffic wardens were paid by the ticket...clearly not.

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hawkinspeter replied to caw35ride | 4 years ago
8 likes

It'd be so easy to stop anti-social parking - just have a suitable app that allows the public to video dodgy parking and provide a small bounty for doing so. That'd encourage people to walk around their neighbourhood more whilst also supplementing their income and hopefully getting more fine money into the treasury. Some people might see it as a war on the motorist, however.

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qwerty360 replied to hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
2 likes

The councils did do something about it:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-bans-use-of-cctv-spy-cars-...

CCTV enforcement was banned because it worked. CCTV 'spy car' were recorded to issue more tickets an hour than an average warden in a month in some areas iirc... It was viable to keep all the existing wardens employed, but most in cars, paid for by the end of day 3 in extra fines collected...

Avatar
Hirsute replied to caw35ride | 4 years ago
0 likes

Civil enforcement officers
Unless it is outsourced, they will be a salaried employee.

Avatar
nniff replied to Hirsute | 4 years ago
0 likes

hirsute wrote:

Civil enforcement officers Unless it is outsourced, they will be a salaried employee.

They will still be salaried even if outsourced. They are not allowed to be set incentives or targets.  Performance is managed by expected reasonable norms.  Penalty charge notices generate revenue for Local Authorities, but both directly employed and outsourced enforcement officers have a cost.  The balance that a lot of LAs struggle with is to spend more on enforcement to generate better enforcement and an off-setting revenue.  A company cannot guarantee a level of return, nor can it actively incentivise enforcement officers to issue more tickets.  If they are successful, the number of offences and associated revenue will fall - there is a balance.  Less competent LAs tend to spend less on enforcement because it keeps costs down......

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brooksby replied to Notbuilt2climb | 4 years ago
2 likes

I suspect what might be going on there, too, is that the local residents don't have off-street parking and think it is their right to park on the road next to / near to their house.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 4 years ago
3 likes

"Drivers still determined to park on Liverpool pop-up 'car park'/bike lane... even after double yellows were installed to stop them"

Dangerous parking; police, report today, and every day until it stops.

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