Lane Discipline

Chef James Martin has received an absolute kicking from the cycling fraternity for a sub-Clarkson attempt at humour in his Daily Wail column on Saturday in which he test drove the electric Tesla sportscar, using its silence as a way to sneak up on cyclists and run them off the road.

Now if he did do this then he's basically revelling in driving in a manner to endanger other road users; if he didn't then he's inventing something to try and make himself look like a bigshot hard man who is pandering to the motoring lobby. I really did think the guy was a smug pratt anyway, and have to admit to taking a bit of pleasure in seeing him fail with his attempt to drive the Mille Miglia a year or so ago in an incredibly expensive classic sportscar.

He seems to live the life of a premier league footballer, but with a little less class...

The original article is here.

Comments on the website went against him, and then were first stopped, and then removed altogether by the website. Hell, even Bradley Wiggins, 4th place rider on the Tour de France this year, joined in after Cath (his wife, who, incidentally, I've just interviewed for my website) pointed him in the direction after he finished today's Tour of Britain stage. Comments at the moment suggest Saturday kitchen this weekend may be deluged with calls, and a critical mass may even be arranged near where he lives...

Anyway, the pic above is over the third 'best' cycle lane in Edinburgh which is part of a video countdown I'm gradually putting onto YouTube (yes, that 'best' is completely imbued with sarcasm). Incidentally, did anyone see the research this week that showed cycle lanes can actually make life more dangerous for cyclists? It's something a lot of us have known for a long time - basically it comes down to this, with a cycle lane motorists automatically think (probably sub-consciously) that the space afforded by a cycle lane is therefore a safe distance to pass. Never mind proximity to the kerb; narrow lanes; sunken drains within the lanes; potholes; and so on, as long as they stay on that side of the line it's safe.

On roads without lanes there isn't that marker and so people are naturally more cautious in passing riders. And it also doesn't create a feeling in the cyclist's head that he must stay over to the left. Counter-intuitive to many, but nice to see some recognition of something a lot of us have felt for a long time. The answer? God only knows - seems to be physically separated lanes, or more respect from and to other road users. I'm not sure which is possible, let alone likely, especially given comments like those of Mr Martin.

Oh, and the Scotland on Sunday had an article on its front page this weekend about cyclists possibly being made to pay 'road' tax. Anyone whose read anything I've written before will know that 'road' tax doesn't actually exist - this also explains a bit of the logistical problems with such a scheme. The thing is, the article was based on a question in a consultation paper from months ago, and after ana rticle going on to the third page of the paper there was a tiny paragraph at the end with a quote from a parliamentary representative who stated that, "...the government has no intention of taxing cyclists." So that was an accurate and worthwhile article then.

I despair.

In other news, Cycling Plus magazine is looking for a staff writer. Appears to be based in bath, but who knows, they may allow remote working. I can dream at the very least.