"I've never seen it without someone parked in it": Cyclist waits 15 minutes for Amazon van driver parked in bike lane to move; Alberto Contador warns Tour de France rivals "unbeatable" Tadej Pogačar "looks unstoppable" + more on the live blog

Looks good

brooksby wrote:

Clevedon seafront latest:

https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/23/council-paints-yellow-lines-that-look-lik...

Quote:

A North Somerset Council spokesperson said: ‘The new surface road treatment in Clevedon is designed to make the area safer by helping slow traffic down.

‘We expect many more visitors to come to Clevedon after the Pier to Pier Way opens later this year, which will bring more walkers and cyclists to the area.

‘These works have made the area safer for all and also supports our commitment to provide sustainable travel routes across the area.

‘The scheme has provided seven new crossing points, improved pedestrian and cycle user safety and will bring additional parking to the area.

‘The new buff coloured surface marks new pedestrian crossings, the space between car parking and the cycle lane as well as on the roundabout.

Maybe I'm admitting to being a terrible driver, but I think I would get confused on that road with those markings... though at least I slow down when I'm confused.

Nah mate. The terrible drivers just plough through.

ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:

Didn't the 'unbeatable' Pogacar get beaten only last weekend? I must have dreamt it.

I think something's probably been lost in translation, he meant he looks like he will be unbeatable in the Tour de France, clearly he didn't mean he expects him to win every race he enters.

Rendel Harris wrote:

ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:

Didn't the 'unbeatable' Pogacar get beaten only last weekend? I must have dreamt it.

I think something's probably been lost in translation, he meant he looks like he will be unbeatable in the Tour de France, clearly he didn't mean he expects him to win every race he enters.

Ah, when Contador said "I think he is going for the classics this year", I thought he must have meant classics. You know, like Milan San Remo (aka The Spring Classic, aka La Classicissima). Not quite sure how that could be lost in translation. My mistake perhaps.

Yes, he does mean that he's going for the classics and so that's a caveat as to his unbeatability in the Tour, depending how much the early season takes out of him, still pretty sure AC didn't mean TP was going to be unbeatable in every race he enters.

Rendel Harris wrote:

Yes, he does mean that he's going for the classics and so that's a caveat as to his unbeatability in the Tour, depending how much the early season takes out of him, still pretty sure AC didn't mean TP was going to be unbeatable in every race he enters.

So he's "unbeatable" and "unstoppable" in one race of the season, unless he decides to actually race in others? Sounds like we've got a great season on our hands. I seem to remember people saying something similar of froome the year Thomas took his first TdF win.

Any cargo bike (max 1 m wide) would simply park on the road (yellow lines shown - no loading ban in place) - not wide enough to cause an obstruction or the pavement / bike lane - again no known cargo bike is anywhere near wide enought to block access in the way that Amazon van (2.5 m wide)  is doing. Genuine answer.

The replies on that Twitter thread are insane.  I wonder if those people are just as tolerant when a HGV parks and blocks a road while unloading...?

Imagine the anger if that amzon van driver had stopped in the road lane for 15 minutes just to fuck about with three people's unecessary crap from Papa Jeff!

Certainly Amazon vans do so round where I stay.  However everyone does, including driving instructors (happy to take a break on double yellows for 15 minutes between lessons), the posties (van fully on the pavement), the council (blocking junctions / cycle path just 'cos that was the nearest point)...

Ah posties are allowed to park wherever they want, because of the Royal crest/warrant they have and their duty delivering the King's mail.

In fact I think it's a legal offence to delay or prevent a postie from delivering the mail because of that royal link.

Unfortunately the rest just copy the posties and without a council bothered to tackle it properly, it simply becomes default driving behaviour.

Ah, that will explain why one of them overtook me as I was in the middle of the lane, arm outstretched to turn right.

You do know it's not illegal any more, at least if you turn on your flashing lights of absolution? Road markings are mere decoration.

Is it not time that some entrepreneur filled the obvious gap for a small, light wheel clamp?  Such delivery drivers are running to a tight schedule, and if it takes them an hour to remove a clamp, but parking there only saves them two minutes, the effect could be dramatic.

Also incredibly satisfying.

eburtthebike wrote:

Is it not time that some entrepreneur filled the obvious gap for a small, light wheel clamp?  Such delivery drivers are running to a tight schedule, and if it takes them an hour to remove a clamp, but parking there only saves them two minutes, the effect could be dramatic.

Also incredibly satisfying.

That'd likely be considered criminal damage in the same way that Tyre Extinguishers are considere to be damaging private property.

But a clamp doesn't damage the vehicle, it merely inconveniences the driver.

In the same way that letting the tyres down for short periods doesn't damage the tyres?

Temporary impairment of value or usefulness is enough: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/criminal-damage

quiff wrote:

Temporary impairment of value or usefulness is enough: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/criminal-damage

it's also a specific offence under POFA2012

But it rather depends on identifiying the suspect, and how would they do that?