Police deny "victim blaming" in helmet tweet; Bike raffle start-up launches; Varnish loses tribunal appeal; Richmond Park reopens all roads to cyclists (on weekdays); Sunweb rider sent home for shopping trip + more on the live blog

Kingston, Richmond, Sheen & Roehampton Gates are open for access to the nearest car park only, Monday to Friday. All other park roads remain closed to motor vehicles. #richmondpark pic.twitter.com/RTNftfW91f

— Royal Parks Police (@MPSRoyal_Parks) July 14, 2020

After announcing that some roads would close to motor vehicles in bid to combat through-traffic last week, in their latest coronavirus update Royal Parks have now said that Cycling in Richmond Park is now welcomed "at any time" on weekdays, and on all roads within the park; this includes the shared access Tamsin Trail. At weekends, it's still only commuting keyworkers and under 12s with family who can cycle in Richmond Park. 

The tweet above show notices going up reminding drivers that Kingston, Richmond, Sheen & Roehampton Gates are open for access "to the nearest car park only" for drivers. Some car parks in Greenwich, Bushy and Richmond have also reopened today, but no through traffic is allowed in any of those parks. 

The cyclist fell on top of Haughmond Hill in Upton Magna, Shropshire just before 8pm on Monday, reports the Shropshire Star, with ambulances and the local Fire and Rescue service called in to assist. He was treated for 'potentially serious injuries' at the scene before he was carried a distance of around half a mile to an ambulance, with emergency services in attendance for at least three and a half hours. 

The cyclist was then transported to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further assessment.

After it was announced at the start of the month that the UK's blanket e-scooter ban was to be lifted, it's been confirmed that the very first trial is taking place in the Tees Valley, including the towns of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesborough, Redcar and Stockton-on-Tees. Only rental scooters are legal, speeds are limited to 15.5mph and they can't be used on pavements, just roads and cycle lanes as laid out in the government guidance document. 

More areas will follow, with plans for a trial in London's Square Mile released today. The City of London Corporation have agreed to participate in the trials providing they meet City Corporation requirements, as "the schemes present an alternative transport that allows for social distancing." 

Alastair Moss, Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, commented: “This is a timely opportunity to look into how e-scooters can play a role in supporting a shift to sustainable travel to compliment walking, cycling and public transport options in the City.

“The safety and comfort of all who live, work and visit the Square Mile is paramount, so we will need to be satisfied by Department for Transport and TfL guidance before the trials are implemented.

“Any eventual trial will be thoroughly monitored so that we are fully assured that hired e-scooters can safely play their part in making the City fully accessible with sustainable transport.”

While online raffles for pretty grand prizes are nothing new, Rafflebike is perhaps the first we've seen of it in the bike industry... and on offer in the inaugural round of raffles is a GoCycle GX e-bike (entry £4) a road bike worth up to £3,799 (entry £6) and a Garmin Edge 1030 Plus (entry £2.50). 

Rafflebike say they've took care of the ethical side of things by being transparent on entries and odds for each giveaway, capping entries and having each competition regulated by The Institute of Promotional Marketing. It was developed during lockdown to "provide the burgeoning cycling community with regular opportunities to solve their n+1 problem" so says Co-founder Henry Wisdom: 

“Cycling has a loyal following but is nonetheless an expensive hobby to have whatever your level. We founded Rafflebike to put some of the very finest cycling gear in the hands of those who want it, for £6 rather than £6k.

“If we can bring some joy to any one new cyclist by moving their current bike up a few tiers or give an established rider that gravel bike which will allow them to explore a new aspect of this wonderful sport, then I’ll call Rafflebike a success.”

If you could use a new bike and fancy a flutter, visit the Rafflebike website here. 

A British Cycling spokesperson said: “We believe that British Cycling’s relationship with riders who represent this country is not one of employer-employee but that of an organisation supporting dedicated athletes to fulfil their potential. This view was supported in law by the first tribunal, a verdict confirmed by today’s dismissal of Jess’s appeal.

“We had tried to reach a resolution with Jess much sooner, so we regret she was advised to pursue the route of an employment tribunal when other avenues were open to her. Because of our responsibility to represent the best interests of every rider who hopes to compete at an Olympics or Paralympics, that decision meant we had no option but to oppose her case.

“Since Jess raised her concerns about the Great Britain Cycling Team in 2016, we have implemented significant changes to the culture and processes of our high-performance programme. Four years on, and while we are always seeking to improve, we are happy to say that the well-being of staff and riders in our high-performance programme continues to be our highest priority.”

Emily Chalkley, a Senior Associate at specialist employment law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, said the verdict was "welcome news" because of the huge implications a ruling in Varnish' favour could have had on the way sport and elite athletes are financed in the UK. 

She says: "The Varnish case is seen by many as the ‘test case’ for employment status in the sport industry, and as such today’s outcome will be welcome news to the sporting world. If Varnish had been successful it could have set precedent and potentially give over 1,000 athletes UK employment rights and pension rights.

"The legislature needs to do more to clarify employment status, otherwise we may see many more athletes follow in her footsteps and bring expensive and complicated employment status claims in the employment tribunal.

"Varnish still may seek to continue the fight in the Court of Appeal. A successful appeal could have huge effects on sports funding, as UK Sport could be forced to restructure its funding programme, paying national insurance on behalf of athletes and pension contributions for the first time.

"It could also lead to athletes making backdated financial claims. HMRC are likely to have a close eye on this case particularly in light of their current focus on employment status for tax and is likely to ‘go after’ British Cycling/UK Sport for unpaid PAYE and NICs, if she successfully appeals."

After the Fine Gael politician Alan Dillon made calls for a mandatory helmet law for cyclists in Irish parliament last month, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has now categorically ruled it out after citing "international evidence" that such a law could lead to a drop in cycling numbers. 

Ryan said: "International evidence is that mandatory helmet legislation acts as a major disincentive to cycling such that the net impact of the legislation on public health is significantly negative."

Ryan, the leader of Ireland's Green Party and a former bike shop owner, recently secured a huge financial boost for cycling and walking in the country, with €360 million going towards schemes such as protected cycleways and expanded pavements over the next five years, according to Forbes; indeed, 20% of Ireland's total transport budget will be spent on cycling and walking, with two thirds going towards public transport. 

Ryan's response to Dillon's proposal was the first time he had made his opinions known publicly regarding calls for mandatory helmets.

It's July 14th, Bastille Day in France, vive Le Tour..! pic.twitter.com/bT3QIcMiul

— Graham Watson (@grahamwatson10) July 14, 2020

Which would have meant Tour de France and more Tour de France, but then that thing happened...