Labour MP uses falling tree clip to argue against Low Traffic Neighbourhood plans; Helmets not designed to reduce injury "when impacts involve a car", says Giro developer; Cyclists attacked by rogue buzzard; Bike theft 'up by 50%' + more on the live blog

Scary incident in South Ealing. Luckily everyone unscathed.

Makes this proposed madcap scheme that will gridlock the hood and cause mayhem for emergency vehicles even more ludicrous. Please object https://t.co/5SjhNV4Xns https://t.co/KwO6Er7Knj

— Rupa Huq MP (@RupaHuq) July 5, 2020

Rupa Huq, who is the MP for Ealing Central and Acton (and sister of television presenter Konnie Huq), has puzzled social media by saying that terrifying footage of a tree falling inches away from a bystander makes plans for a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in the area "even more ludicrous."

What has the tree falling over got to do with anything other than the wind... Showing quite a bias with this tweet.

— marksuttonbike (@marksuttonbike) July 6, 2020

Paging @LabourCycles . Cos really this is a deeply problematic tweet. 1. The tree isn't linked to the scheme. 2. The scheme isn't madcap or ludicrous nor will it cause gridlock and mayhem. What does is motor traffic in your hood that is already destroying lives of poorest.

— Simon Munk (@psimonk) July 6, 2020

how have you managed to link the falling of a tree to emergency service access?

— 🤞🏻Andy 🤦🏼‍♂️ (@andymatthews) July 6, 2020

As far as we can tell, Huq is trying to say that emergency vehicle access would be negatively affected if cars were restricted on the road... which most likely wouldn't be the case with less traffic around. The petition she's cited claims that local residents are unhappy with the proposed plans for a LTN between Bramley Road and Airedale Road. It says: 

"The proposed plan is impractical and counterproductive to the LTN objectives. Should the proposed plan be submitted and accepted in its current form, it would force the road traffic from the existing 400+ residential units affected, through one single-lane residential street. The proposed plan is counterproductive to LTN objectives as it will increase the traffic along the route at least threefold (more than negating the anticipated 15% reduction from such a scheme). Furthermore, the traffic will not be able to flow bi-directionally as the route is too narrow. The cause is likely to be significant congestion which will increase engine idling and fuel consumption thereby delivering a negative impact on the quality of air which is already exceptionally poor.

"We note concerns that congestion may cause problems for emergency service access. Our elderly, vulnerable and residents in poor health have increased dependency on emergency and medical services during this COVID 19 pandemic when timely interventions are sometimes critical."

A lot of people seem to disagree...

Rupa, it’s the excessive number of vehicles being driven on short journeys that gridlock the neighbourhood. Not active travel schemes that allow for a more space efficient means of transport.

— Richard Warner (@rgwarner) July 6, 2020

Rupa, you’re one of the most sensible MPs I’ve seen on TV.
This tweet is not sensible.
I cannot fathom how you are linking low traffic neighbourhoods to falling trees.

— Najeeb Khan (@najeebster) July 6, 2020

This is an outrageous comment. Less cars = quicker response for emergency vehicles. Please retract. @LabourCycles

— Ruth Mayorcas (@RuthMayorcas) July 6, 2020

Ukranian e-bike innovators Delfast - who hold the world record for the biggest range on an electric pedal-assist bike (a claimed 321km, or 200 miles) - have attempted to set another world record by getting their supercharged TOP 1.0 model to pull a Yak-18T aircraft weighing 1.7 tons. They failed, but have made a video about it anyway. 

"The trial happened to be not as successful as expected, and yet it was very productive and effective for the team", explain Delfast.

"The TOP 1.0 is designed for long distance riding and was not originally intended to perform such tasks. This explains the results received by the team in the course of the experiment.

"Particularly, it was observed that the e-bike’s motor has enough power to move the aircraft. Yet, the bike did not make a move. The reason was that the safety shutdown system was activated."

CEO Daniel Tonkopiy has promised to find a way to bypass the electronics that shut the engine off when trying to haul such huge loads, so eventually they can make Delfast models to be used by farmers and distribution workers that can pull loads that weigh over a ton.

With a top speed of 80km/h and a huge 3,000 watt rear hub motor, it goes without saying that you'll be needing a licence and insurance to ride the latest Delfast Top 3.0 on public roads in the UK...

In an interview with Cycling Industry News, Giro's Senior Brand Development Manager Eric Richter says there are "many misconceptions about helmets", and that when it comes to collisions with motor vehicles, it isn't possible to design a bicycle helmet specifically built to protect the user: 

“We do not design helmets specifically to reduce chances or severity of injury when impacts involve a car", said Richter.

"... the number of variables is too great to calculate – the speed of the car, the mass, the angle of impact, the rider, the surface, the speed of the rider, did the driver or rider swerve a little or hit the brakes before impact. All of these variables and more are unique in every instance, and there is no way to accurately predict what is going to happen or the forces involved.

“We are mindful of the different types of brain injuries including CTE, and ongoing advances in understanding them. But the common factor in brain injuries is force transmitted to the brain. That common factor is the realm where we have potential to make a difference, and it does not change over time. Therefore we emphasise a simple, unwavering mantra: Less energy to the brain is better protection. On the other hand, the understanding and emphasis around various types of head and brain trauma will continue to evolve, and the effects from an impact or multiple impacts are unknowable variables due to the fact that each impact is a unique event and every rider is unique and changing over time. So, by keeping our primary focus on reducing energy, we keep moving ahead in a way that can theoretically benefit every rider in every impact.”

In answer to the article's question "Are helmet standards overdue a revision?", Richter says that creating new helmet standards to increase rider safety is "much broader and deeper than most people realise", because "no two standards are the same, so different helmets require different test protocols":

“In the last few years, greater emphasis on addressing rotational forces has had a significant impact on helmet design, technology, engineering and testing. Therefore, understanding the effects of rotational motion on the brain, and working to reduce rotational forces by integrating technologies like Spherical Technology and the MIPS Brain Protection System into helmets during the last 5-10 years is the most visible example of how head protection is evolving in response to increased knowledge.”

British bike clothing brand Le Col has unveiled a new Recycled Pro Air jersey that’s made from recycled sea plastics.

The recycled nylon comes from Nurel, and is said to undergo a mechanical process that reduces CO2 emissions by 53%.

“The recycled elastane, sourced from Asahi-Kasei that has a plant in Germany, ensures less handling of hazardous chemical compounds, less air emissions and less energy consumption,” says Le Col.

The breathable 3D-mesh jersey is designed for use in temperatures from 20°C upwards, and is said to weigh just 103g (size medium).

Other brands already use fabrics made from recycled materials, of course. The Scimitar Eco1 Recycled Cycling Jersey that we reviewed recently is made from recycled plastic bottles, for instance.

The Le Col Recycled Pro Air Jersey is available in men’s sizes XS to 3XL and is priced £120.

Get more info over at Le Col's website. 

Driving too close to people cycling is an offence and can result in 3 points on your licence. Today we launch our #GiveCycleSpace campaign across Scotland - RT to support. pic.twitter.com/172ljeC3NB

— Cycling Scotland (@CyclingScotland) July 6, 2020

Cycling Scotland's #GiveCycleSpace campaign has launched today, and the charity say that as well as the headline stat, their new survey of 1,500 Scots found that 80% say overtaking cyclists is "frustrating". Two thirds also didn't realise they could get three points on their driving license for close passing, and the percentage of those who admitted to not always giving at least 1.5 metres when passing a cyclist was 34%. 

Cycling Scotland's Chief Executive Keith Irving says their 2020 campaign is "more important than ever", as statistics show that Scotland has seen a 77% increase in cycling during the lockdown: 

“Cycling reduces our carbon footprint, improves our air quality and is fantastic for the nation’s health, and for those reasons we have to make sure this renewed enthusiasm for cycling continues and expands", says Irving. 

“People driving need to be aware of vulnerable road users around them and give at least a car’s width and even more when passing at higher speeds. Often that means waiting at a safe distance until there is space to pass.

“Many people don’t realise that driving too close to someone is damaging even when no contact is made and can put people off cycling. Concern about road safety is also the main reason people don’t get back on their bike.”

There's more info on this Cycling Scotland's road safety campaign here. 

I guess it’s okay to park where you like because I needed a Five Guys! It be good for enforcement here becuase simple asking for people to RESPECT the rules isn’t working! pic.twitter.com/OBPYuV2eBz

— Thomas O Cornwallis (@UrbanistTOC) July 5, 2020

Sadly as we reported last week, the sight of new pop-up cycle lanes also serving as car parking spaces is becoming all too familiar. 

Yoshizo - the grandson of the company's founder Shozaburo Shimano - has passed away after suffering chronic heart failure. He served as Shimano’s President of American trade from 1965 until he was made president in 1995, and finally the chairman in 2001.  He also served as president of the Bicycle Association of Japan, remaining an honorary Chairman since 2011. 

Shimano said in a statement: "The contributions he made to Shimano’s business cannot be measured and his impact will be felt forever.

"On behalf of our management team and employees, we extend our deepest condolences to his family.

"The funeral has been held by close relatives, with his surviving wife, Ms. Ikuko Shimano, representing the family."

New data from insurance firm Urban Jungle suggests that bike theft is on the rise again during lockdown, with claims up by a half in the past month. This backs up research from Admiral, who said they saw claims rise by 46% back in May. 

Urban Jungle also say enquiries for bike insurance are up 60%, and thieves are becoming more sophisticated when it comes to picking which bikes to steal. CEO Jimmy Williams says: "Thieves have a great knowledge for which brands and models are expensive. We rarely see bikes worth less than £500 being stolen.

"Bike-related insurance claims are nearly all for theft, which is particularly common across big cities - there were around 287,000 victims of a bicycle theft from July 2018 to June 2019 in England and Wales."

Worryingly for those who think their bikes are completely safe stored in on-street Bikehangars (pictured above) is that thieves 'appear to have worked out how to get into' them, claim Urban Jungle. The award-winning bike storage solution developed by Cyclehoop was first introduced in London, and they are now regular fixtures in residential streets across the capital.  

Urban Jungle recommend cyclists join Bike Register, buy a decent lock, park it somewhere well lit and busy and remove accessories to lessen the chance of your pride and joy being pinched. 

*Since this blog post was published, Cyclehoop have since been in touch and told road.cc: "Over the past few months during the lockdown, cycling has seen incredible growth with record numbers of bicycles being sold across the nation. Unfortunately, cycle theft has also jumped with thieves targeting cycles stored in sheds, garages and gardens. As a result, we have noticed an increase in attacks on Bikehangars using new methods and tools. Working in partnership with the councils, we have designed and fitted additional security features to eliminate this problem."

Busy getting a haircut, or experiencing the 'new normal' at your local? Here's what you missed in the world of cycling...

Britain's looming bike shortage: why you should buy your next bike now 

Bikeability training to be offered to adults in England from August

Near Miss of the Day 435: Close pass followed by right hook

Star cricketer arrested after cyclist killed in Sri Lankan capital

Another thief has been jailed for stealing bikes from Nottingham NHS workers

Nairo Quintana hit from behind during training ride

Video: Atlanta police officer borrows cyclist’s bike to catch murder suspect