Cyclist told to get on the cycle lane... by an ambulance driver; Driver carrying timber hits cyclist; Making of the Hope/Lotus bike; Man wanted on prison recall found cycling on A1M; FairFuel UK says PM has "Lycra-clad advisors" + more on the live blog

To compound his ignorance, this driver then states (when I catch him at the traffic lights), if I was to get knocked off on this stretch of road, it would be my fault! How can drivers pass their assessments thinking this? @OFFICIALWMAS pic.twitter.com/95vNFTqG8o

— Your Average Joe (@FrankleyMan) August 4, 2020

In the first clip uploaded by FrankleyMan, he claims that the driver of the ambulance to his right is "yelling at him" because he is not riding on the cycle path, which is on one of the new blue cycle routes in Birmingham. 

In the second clip, the cyclist can be heard saying: "It's not compulsory to use the cycle path", after which the driver of the ambulance can be heard saying: "If you'd have got hit on that road, whose fault would it have been?"

The cyclist is correct that it's not compulsory to use the cycle lane, and added that he chose not to use it because he was travelling between 25-30mph. West Midlands Ambulance Service replied: 

"Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We will definitely follow this up. Clearly, you don't have to use the cycle path. As for whose fault it would be in an RTC would depend on the circumstances. Sorry about this and thanks again for bringing it to our attention." 

They also asked the cyclist to confirm the location and help in identifying the ambulance. Hopefully the driver is offered some serious retraining...

As expected, all we get are insults from myopic cyclists who are simply anti drivers. Yes, cyclists drive & vice versa , but once & for all lets ALL COME TOGETHER for benefit of ALL road users not just the privilege aggressive minority who only want free to use cycle lanes @Iromg

— FairFuelUKCampaign (@FairFuelUK) August 4, 2020

Somehow the fringe organisation's founder has had an editorial published in the Daily Express, claiming that the London Mayor "knows there are votes in Lycra" and that the Prime Minister has "Lycra-clad advisers". 

He also says: "Although only 3 percent of journeys nationally are made by bike, their special treatment is set to decimate small businesses, the self-employed, low income families and city economies.

"The PM's policy is a subsidy for the already well off middle class."

As far as we know cycling is infinitely more affordable than driving, but what do we know? FairFuel UK are now complaining about negative comments they have received over the article, saying: "As expected, all we get are insults from myopic cyclists who are simply anti drivers. Yes, cyclists drive & vice versa, but once & for all lets ALL COME TOGETHER for benefit of ALL road users not just the privilege aggressive minority who only want free to use cycle lanes." 

The Dundee Evening Telegraph reports that John Tait was visiting his daughter's caravan at Riverview Park in Monifieth, when he was knocked out during a collision with a cyclist. Mr Tait said he was walking to his car on the path beside the caravan park at around 10pm, when he was hit from behind "out of the blue". 

The 83-year-old suffered a broken right humerus and his lip was torn off, which was reattached by a surgeon. Unable to recall the incident, Mr Tait says he was told the cyclist stayed with him after calling an ambulance, and also accompanied him to hospital. 

He added: “It was getting dark and I was wearing all dark clothing. This was partly all my own fault.

“I think he was pretty badly shaken up and possibly also hurt and I was told his bike was pretty mangled.

“Nonetheless he stayed with me and even came to the hospital with me. I used to be a racing cyclist and I know these bikes are expensive. I would love to speak to him.

“I really hope someone reads this and puts us in touch.”

Speaking on his latest podcast, Wiggins believes that Egan Bernal would have "cracked" if the stage wasn't abandoned due to landslides 20km from the finish on the Col de l'Iseran, and thinks that Geraint Thomas would have won then gone on to claim yellow. He also thinks the Welshman is still top dog going into this year's Tour.

He said:  "I think had we had the stage to Tignes completed last year, I think Bernal would have cracked and Geraint would have won the Tour that day.

"'Now you’d have to say, because Bernal was allowed to win the Tour de France last year, with Geraint as defending champion, the same should apply the other way around this year and Bernal is not granted that automatic right to defend the race.

"I actually think Geraint will win the Tour de France this year, no question about it, I don’t think there is an argument within that team."

Mani Arthur from the Black Cyclists Network was also a guest on the show, discussing the lack of diversity in cycling and ways to improve BAME representation in the sport. 

ROAD UPDATE: A cyclist was hit by a vehicle on @SeatoSkyHighway and emergency crews are onscene. Please provide them with room and lanes both North and South should be opening shortly. @NEWS1130Traffic @DriveBC_LM @MountainFMradio

— Squamish RCMP (@SquamishRCMP) August 3, 2020

The Twitter account for the Squamish Royal Canadian Mounted Police force posted the above yesterday, urging drivers to provide cyclists with enough room when passing. This didn't tell the full story though, as the cyclist who was hit decided to reply to the post... 

Update: I’m in Lions Gate. Broken clavicle, scapula, and eight ribs, punctured lung, but happy to be alive. Fucking mad. This hit me from behind going 80 km/h https://t.co/fZjAA1GL40 pic.twitter.com/n4nUw5BRHr

— Todd Nickel (@toddnickel) August 4, 2020

It emerged that the driver who allegedly hit Todd Nickel was carrying a large amount of timber, with most of the load hanging off the side of pick-up that was transporting it. Shockingly but unsurprisingly, Mr Nickel claims he was hit - presumably by the timber - while the driver was travelling at 80km/h, and he broke eight ribs, his clavicle, his scapula and also punctured a lung. 

We live in an era of out of control car culture.
This driver will get nothing in the way of punishment that remotely comes close to being on par with the pain and suffering this moron inflicted willingly upon another human being.

— Bobbie Bees (@BobbieBees) August 4, 2020

Correction Squamish RCMP, a cyclist was hit by a driver who thought piling lumber so far out the side of their pickup that it overhung the bike line entirely was wise/safe/legal and is lucky to have not decapitated another human in the course of their reckless stupidity.

— Ben Belshaw (@notthebees87) August 4, 2020

We don't need to fill you in on just how dangerous this was, and numerous people who replied to both Squamish RCMP and Mr Nickel said the description of the incident didn't quite match just how incredibly reckless the driver's actions were. Describing the ordeal as "f**king mad", Mr Nickel said he was simply "happy to be alive". 

The cyclist had a trailer that said he was going to Dorset... but it appears he didn't get very far, as he was caught by the police on the A1M in South Yorkshire. The cyclist also reportedly told cops he would "carry on regardless", which was to no avail as he will now be transported back to prison. 

Continuing our niche cycling product retail special this morning... ever wondered what a couple of old bikes combined with a shopping trolley would look like? Us neither, but a German inventor is selling this one-off (we hope it's a one-off) contraption for a grand total of £1,413.62 on Etsy. 

The description says: "The bike is very conspicuous and causes amazing looks! With seat at the front for a toddler and the shopping cart for purchases or other transports.

"The bike has a 3 gear circuit and various new parts. The battery-powered lighting for front and rear is also new!"

That's all very well, but as far as we can tell there appears to be no front brake. People on social media don't seem to be convinced of its merits either... 

Yep. It's bad. They wrecked two useful bikes and a shopping trolley to make one useless un-streerable piece of scrap iron.

— Custom PC North West (@cpcnw) August 4, 2020

I think it’s there to make you think about the difficulties in transferring the shopping from the trolley to the bike and parking the trolley whilst holding your loaded bike.

— Anita Anderson (@Anytar) August 4, 2020

Still want it? Well the seller says they would prefer pick-up from Germany, but you can always ship yourself which apparently costs £942.42... bargain!