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news
road.cc newsPedal for Scotland charity ride 'a disaster' say locals who couldn't cross roads
Residents of Linlithgow have said that the Pedal for Scotland event last weekend was a “disaster”, with large numbers of cyclists preventing locals from going about their daily business.
Thousands of cyclists joined the 50-mile ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh, which raises money to help combat child poverty.
But Lorna Johnston, a resident of Linlithgow, told the Linlithgow Gazette: “Whoever thought closing the main road from Linlithgow Bridge, through Linlithgow and onwards needed their heads looked at.
“People could not cross the road because cyclists continued to speed on, ignoring the crossings and people were putting their lives at risk because of this lunacy behaviour.”
Keith Irving, Cycling Scotland Chief Executive, said: “The route through Linlithgow and lunch stop at the Peel is one of the highlights of the day for many people.
“Before and during the event, we remind all participants to follow the highway code and to be mindful of other road users and the communities through which the event passes.
“We will continue to review traffic management to determine the most safe and effective arrangements for event participants and communities along the route.”
Last week we reported how last Sunday’s Pedal for Scotland has become the latest cycling event to be hit by sabotage. Large numbers of riders sustained punctures after nails and tacks were found littering the road between Limerigg and Avonbridge in Stirlingshire.
Herald Scotland reports that Alpine Bikes, the firm providing mechanical support, were inundated with people who had punctures.
Andy Butler, senior buyer at the firm, said that the tacks had been dangerously placed on a fairly narrow road, causing up to 50 punctures within a short space of time. Extra mechanics were sent in to help out and additional inner tubes provided, but Butler says it was still a challenge to cope with the volume of punctures.
"The tack incident caused a constant queue of around 30 people for more than four hours, even though each mechanic was finishing a repair every five minutes. Some very sporting riders even stopped to pick up tacks in an attempt to clear the road – whoever those people are, we are grateful."
One of the participants, Kenny Laird from Glasgow, said that the tacks didn’t just find their way into tyres.
"There was lots of people, one after the other, stopped at the side of the road with punctures. It was a mixture of carpet tacks and slate nails. I heard of someone who got one in their knee. They must have come off in among them.
"I was fortunate enough to avoid getting a puncture but I passed at least 30 small groups of people helping each other. My wife, who was also cycling, said she could hear the hiss of people's tyres going down around her."
Latest Comments
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"...the beeswax-based covering magically shuns off whatever might be lurking in the corners. Even after multiple rides, when the bars rattled about...
- chrisonabike 2 hours 13 min ago
I've always wondered - why does the one-armed person in the cloak have their hand in the one-armed person with the cane?
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t-boned
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I didn't know the blue RA saddle was a holy grail - I had a 1986 RA bought new in 1987 with a blue saddle that lasted me very well until 2002 when...
- newbankgyratory 3 hours 51 min ago
Solution: Put these up everywhere. Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/traffic-signs
- Rendel Harris 4 hours 48 min ago
Glad you like it - this week was the first proper commuting week since I got it, 250kms nice and warm but not boiled, indeed - and when the...
- Rendel Harris 6 hours 21 min ago
As what you have said is demonstrably untrue, given that the event is organised and has been for the last four years by a professional events...
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Accessibility issue. Of course by necessity / co- evolution the Dutch generally provide a fairly "one size fits standard bikes" parking solution -...
- Steve K 8 hours 4 min ago
I'm there now too, if anyone wants a follow/wants to follow me. @cyclingtheseaso
- Shepton 8 hours 40 min ago
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27 comments
So the story is based on one woman complaining. Storm in a teacup.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_motion
The secrets of the universe do lie in a cup of tea.
Were mad because they clogged the road. Forget the fact that some anti cyclist put tacks in the road and caused more delays.
FFS Just try crossing ANY busy road at any rush hour and see how many speeding drivers will see you waiting and stop to let you cross. Often drivers don;t stop even for pedestrian crossings on green. OF course the ones moaning are perfect and do stop.
Another point is I live adjacent to the Great North Run route, and had to use a very convoluted route to get home as all the direct roads were closed in particular directions. In addition the 50000+ runners and spectators caused traffic for several hours. No one here complains about that being a "disaster". Cycling needs to (and is) become the new running.
This thread useless without pics of Lorna Johnston. Is she a fat pie eater?
Liking the "Bill & Ted" reference, well done that person.
We've just come back from a week based in West Calder. Linlithgow is a nice little place, but the signs outside the cafes said that cyclists were welcome - don't think everyone thought it was a 'disaster'.
Steady now. Down with that sort of thing.
>Locals in uproar cos they cannae waddle across the road to the chippy and the offy...
oh, the hilarious regional stereotyping...
>Sectarian Orange marching hatred fuelled bigots parading through town? Why of course.
In Linlithgow? They have the Marches, but not that sort.
Sorry, but yes they do have that sort of bigoted shit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udf4Zk3VZ9I
Lorna Johnston, a resident of Linlithgow, told the Linlithgow Gazette: “Whoever thought closing the main road from Linlithgow Bridge, through Linlithgow and onwards needed their heads looked at.
“People could not cross the road because cyclists continued to speed on, ignoring the crossings and people were putting their lives at risk because of this lunacy behaviour.”
she says it herself CLOSED ROAD event therefore crossings and/or lights can and will be ignored.
And as others have already said half a day out of the year and their whole lives are ruined, ah shame.
Independence would of course sort this kind of thing right away.
Eh?
Because it is the panacea that solves everything, regardless of context.
Eh?
The way that it is sometimes portrayed, Scottish independence will lead to a perfect world: bowling scores will be way up, mini golf scores will be way down; peace and harmony will reign across the land and the lion shall lie down with the lamb.
Something like that anyway...
Patronising sh*te.
??? Which particular patronising sh*te are you referring to - a person, a comment, or how the Scottish independence movement is sometimes perceived by people who aren't in the Scottish independence movement?
"An' tha'll nivver tek awehh... ah FREEDOM to crawss ah roads!"
A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
Says Wiki.
Must have been a hell of a day.
correct, now Lockerbie, that was a disaster... mucked up my head for years afterwards...
I was one of the poor buggers who walked the fields the next morning finding and marking the bodies...
Oh the irony!
Sat here reading this whilst watching cycling on closed and barriered roads in Lonon.
If you actually read the story there is a woolly reference to the event being quite a "talking point" with some in the town "hailing it a disaster"
One person is quoted about being annoyed about not being able to cross the road.
Not exactly a riot of outrage is it?
Locals in uproar cos they cannae waddle across the road to the chippy and the offy...
50,000 people running the Great North run through Newcastle and Gateshead pretty much shutting the area down. Wonderful. A cycling event. Kill them!
Sectarian Orange marching hatred fuelled bigots parading through town? Why of course.
Cyclists raising money for charity? Burn them all!
Superb, I doff my hat to thee.