“You’ll get ten tickets a day doing this”: Motorbike rider in cycle lane almost sweeps oncoming cyclist and close passes Jeremy Vine; Cyclists hail Stuttgart’s rack railway with bike trailer; Fancy a role in a Danny Boyle movie? + more on the live blog

ktache wrote:

Just this week I'd wondered where this was going and had intended to ask if anyone had seen anything pop up about it, but forgot.  Hoping the driver has preemptively taken themselves off the road permantly. 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/28/the-what-ifs-crush-you-p...

It beggars belief that after a major safety failure, the driver isn't automatically prevented from driving until they can demonstrate that they can do so safely. I can't think of other areas where a potentially deadly incident doesn't have mitigations put into place until the facts are determined.

hawkinspeter wrote:

It beggars belief that after a major safety failure, the driver isn't automatically prevented from driving until they can demonstrate that they can do so safely. I can't think of other areas where a potentially deadly incident doesn't have mitigations put into place until the facts are determined.

Probably there are some counterexamples (Health and Safety haven't taken over the asylum yet).  However it should make people take notice, if only ... we saw driving as a more significant / consequential operation than putting on a pair of shoes and walking somewhere, or cooking.

Or: thousands of people are directly affected by road deaths each year.  Each experiences tragedy more or less intensely.  But also - some of them have to drive - and this would be asking millions of people who drive or currently rely on motor vehicles to (potentially) accept restrictions.

It's going to be tough ask.

Finally those in charge can be happy to ignore / go against the feelings of portions of the population, but not usually a large majority.  And not if they don't see some substantial benefits for themselves / their pals or - for the odd ideologue - their chosen causes.

MattKelland wrote:

For a truly terrifying horror film about cyclists, maybe Boyle should make 28 Years Later about dying cycling retailers who are gutted and gruesomely reanimated by Mike Ashley.

BRAAAANDS!

I'm pretty sure it would be classified as a motorbike under UK law (requiring at least an A1 licence). But we don't agree with "collective responsibility" round these parts, so the actions of one motorbike rider don't reflect on any others. 

That said, the registration plate MJ18 ULT is linked to a red Honda CRF which this vehicle clearly isn't, so we can add false plates and in all liklihood a raft of other offences (rider almost certainly not insured, possibly unlicenced, possibly stolen vehicle, possibly using stolen vehicle to commit further crimes etc.)

As soon as I saw the video, I thought; unlicensed rider, stolen bike with stolen plates; that sort of criminal wouldn't give a second thought about committing traffic offences, given how many young thugs use similar scooters to commit crimes of theft and violence.

The other day I captured a black Audi (what else?), reg EN16VEY, not breaking any specific law but driving erratically enough to make me suspicious.  It doesn't appear to be a valid reg.  But I couldn't find any way to report this.  Suggestions?

. . wrote:

The other day I captured a black Audi (what else?), reg EN16VEY, not breaking any specific law but driving erratically enough to make me suspicious.  It doesn't appear to be a valid reg.  But I couldn't find any way to report this.  Suggestions?

Looks valid to me although on a black Mercedes C Class. Last V5 issued 25th April (2 days ago) so maybe plate was being transferred. 

This kind of scooter is a motorbike, unless the engine is less than 50cc in which case it is classed as a moped.

I suspect that riders of motorbikes with manual clutches think they have higher riding standards, but the reality in London is that there isn't any difference.  I've been cut up and close-passed by motorbikes of all types.  I've seen motorbikes of all kinds riding on pavements.  And riding in cycle lanes.

Motorbikes with manual clutches are able (and occasionally) do that thing where they pull in their clutch and go to the rev limit to scare people.  Like using the horn but less obviously an offence, but likely still is.  You can try this on a motorbike with an automatic (e.g. centrifugal) clutch, but the effect won't be the same.

Old Ridgeback has ridden a variety of 2 wheeled vehicles in their time. It's just a subtle comment on the differences between mopeds and m/cs.

Most commonly, motorcyclists blip the throttle when changing down a gear, not to scare anyone. It's a good habit because smoother down-changes reduce the risk of rear wheel skids. 
 

Less commonly, a motorcyclist might blip the throttle instead of using the horn. Their hand is already on the throttle while riding, whereas some horns are badly placed and take a moment to locate.

Pub bike wrote:

I suspect that riders of motorbikes with manual clutches think they have higher riding standards, but the reality in London is that there isn't any difference. 

As a former motorcyclist, including a year (many years ago) as a motorcycle courier, and current many thousands of miles a year cyclist in London, in my experience there is a vast difference between the skill levels, courtesy and care for cyclists of moped riders and motorcyclists. Moped riders tend to be young, inexperienced and risk taking, whereas motorcycle riders tend to be older and more careful, if only to protect their expensive machines. Of course there are exceptions - I had a proper row with a bellend on a Fireblade just this week who thought it was ok to undertake me at 40mph in a 20 zone (caught up with him at the next lights) - but on the whole I'd say as a cyclist there are ten dangerous incidents with moped riders for every one with a motorcyclist. This ratio is of course skewed by the number of 'ped riders who are doing food deiveries.

Also, if the rim is weak enough that you are able to damage the rim with a force you can withstand with your grip then either your surname is Bjornson, Hall or Hooper or you are going to damage the rim as soon as you try and ride the bike. 

Miller wrote:

Tubeless is just new tech to learn. Have you decided to stop learning?

Certainly not. But I can choose not to learn about things that I don't need or want to.

At the moment tubeless tyres fall into that category. So far clincher tyres and inner tubes work for me and I cannot see any problems that going tubeless would solve. I'd rather use my valuable time responding to comments on road.cc.

For me, and I do both, it all depends when and where you are going to spend the time. 

Yes I can change a set of tyres on my 26 inch MTBs in an hour, talced, lined up, the lot. Means I can swap to my ice spikes whenever needed, or onto my full summers if ever the conditions warrant. But then there's the putting in the spare tube at the side of the path, and because of a strange tube tape combination thing last summer, when I get to the shed at work when I want to be going home. And the occasional evening patching my latex tubes. Then there's the inability to find the source of the flat, putting in the spare tube while hoping for the best, and sometimes not getting it.

Now my 27.5+ takes an entire evening and better to leave the full weekend, just I case, the tape can fail a bit, or something ain't right. Swilling the sealant every so often. But the joy of pulling out a thorn, or multples at hedge cutting season, and watching a few bubbles of sealent and continuing to ride. Each one a tubed ride ruiner.  Changing the tyres and finding massive thorns you were completely unaware of. In five years of riding, not a flat, not even needing a pump when out. Even when I got a sharks tooth flint causing a hole that required an anchovy, in the wet, cold and dark. Pleased to use. Yes the taping is awful, and breaking the seal between bead and rim can be a nightmare. But I'm happy.

I will not convert my 26 setups to hobo tubeless, but for my low pressure Ultimate Commuter, couldn't be better.

Shake wrote:

Re 28 days later. You can sign up here???

https://www.castingcollective.co.uk/artistes/urgent-casting-calls#northeast

"with lean strong physiques"

More body shaming !

Yikes. That said, if you can see there is no gap in front of the truck and you have an escape route you think you can access in time, this might not be as bad as it looks. I wouldn't do it, not with a cement mixer.

I see it everyday. Today, a cyclist going along C4, in London, and then across Tower bridge same route as me. Every red light jumped swerving between cars at junctions then up the inside of a moving double decker on Tower bridge. I reached my turn off at the same time as him, so he gained zero time for all of that. You do that everyday, you have a significant chance of coming a croppper one day. No point in taking the risk

And more of a leader than a trailer.

Looks more useful on balance than the bike escalator (Trampe bicycle lift, Norway).  Bit slow, that...

That Trondheim lift is pretty cool, tbh. It is very niche, going up a killer short hill to a residential area.