"Angry and frightened": Could Birmingham safer roads protests inspire Dutch-style cycling revolution in Britain?; Primož Roglič to skip Tour de France and target Vuelta; Are 15-minute cities a "working class nightmare"?;+ more on the live blog

Yesterday was a big day in Birmingham.

Hundreds of protestors lined up at Kings Heath to protest the increasingly dangerous state of roads, with seven hit-and-runs in less than a month, killing four cyclists, including a 12-year-old boy.

The busy junction in Birmingham was the spot where a young girl and a child were struck by a driver last week. It was also the spot where 13-year-old Hope Fenell was riding her bike when she was struck by an HGV driver in 2011. While the driver got a prison sentence of six months, Hope lost her life.

"It was extremely poignant, we went there because of the hit-and-run on Thursday, but opposite the railings where we were, there's a memorial to Hope," Paul Manzotti from Better Streets for Birmingham, the campaign group behind the protest told road.cc

"It's been 12 years, and very little has changed. People are angry and frightened about the state of our roads. There’s a real determination and a lot of people have reached the point of 'enough is enough'. We have been at the words stage, now we want action," he said.

The protest was marked by emotionally charged people chanting "Shame on you" at drivers overtaking dangerously, speeding, changing lanes — all behaviour that lead to deaths on streets, said Manzotti.

Today people in Birmingham came together to say "Enough is Enough". Four people have been killed on our roads in the last month, two of whom have been children. Last week a child and their older sibling were run over on their way to school. @for_birmingham is demanding action pic.twitter.com/nJummIIFWZ

— Sarah Chaundler (@ChaundlerSarah) June 18, 2023

The community of KingHeath make clear #EnoughIsEnough - we need zero tolerance enforcement and an end to the culture of car is king. As a mum, Councillor and residents I will work with @for_birmingham to ensure that our right to be safe on our streets is heard👊🌹 pic.twitter.com/cpriPYowON

— Lisa Trickett (@LisaTrickett41) June 18, 2023

As a parent there isn’t a day goes by when I don’t fear for my children as they leave for school. Every day I witness aggressive dangerous driving…. It was only a matter of time before a spate of horrors would fall upon our community.

— Sarah Chaundler (@ChaundlerSarah) June 18, 2023

> Campaigners call for an “end to road violence” after three cyclists, including a 12-year-old boy “killed by motorists” in three weeks in Birmingham

Just the last weekend, Better Streets for Birmingham had organised a similar protest, and Paul said that they weren't hoping to have another one so soon, but things haven't improved, they have only got worse.

And another week before that, Adam Tranter, the West Midlands' walking and cycling commissioner called for urgent action to "turn the tide on aggressive driving in Birmingham" in an open letter.

“We cannot accept this as normal. Everyone should feel safe using our roads but through a combination of design, policy and enforcement priorities, this is not the case,” wrote Tranter.

For context, the white van driver had moved onto the other side of the road in order to bypass the protest. He was immediately confronted by those in attendance and forced to move back onto his side of the road pic.twitter.com/QnsBTckHr9

— Caoimhe (they/she) 🏳️‍⚧️🇮🇪💛🤍💜🖤 (@Caoimhe4now) June 18, 2023

Mothers and fathers attending the @for_birmingham demonstration in Birmingham call for safer streets across our city.

We shouldn't have to fear for our children as they walk to school or make their way around this city... but we do#stopdekindermoord@ShivajiShivaLaw pic.twitter.com/SDdJv98EO6

— Sarah Chaundler (@ChaundlerSarah) June 19, 2023

> Calls for urgent action to "turn the tide on aggressive driving in Birmingham" after two cyclists killed in hit-and-runs

Manzotti told road.cc: "We are calling for the mayor’s office and the council to have a press conference and call it what it is: an emergency. We want them to mobilise, we want a visible police reaction on antisocial driving, much greater traffic enforcement and a zero tolerance policy to antisocial driving."

Better Streets for Birmingham's Mat Macdonald spoke at the protest: "We demand a national legislation that will ensure that those who kill or maim with their thoughtless actions behind the wheel have their keys and vehicle immediately removed from them and never returned.

"Driving is not a right, driving is a privilege. And those who have no intention of respecting the responsibilities that accompany that privilege should never be let loose on our roads."

But in the wake of a spate of serious crashes, killing children and adults alike, could this spark a nationwide movement, similar to the Dutch protests of "Stop de kindermoord", translating as "Stop the Child Murder", which led to the cycling revolution in the 1970s?

Back in 1976/77/78 there were similar "Stop de kindermoord" (Stop the child killings) protests in The Netherlands, demanding more protective measures for cyclists. And these protests worked. pic.twitter.com/m1MHKg88c1

— TheSysX 🇳🇱🇪🇺🚴🏾🏁 (@TheSysX) June 19, 2023

Manzotti said: "It's unfortunate that it's happening almost 50 years later here in a similarly tragic way, but we would love to see safer streets for everyone. We are only focused on Birmingham, but if other groups want to join and take up the mantra, then of course we’d say go for it. The Dutch just got together nationally and said we have to change, so yes, I would love to see that happen here and if a national movement comes out of this, that would be brilliant."

It seems that other cities are joining in: Manchester is organising a Remembrance Ride on 20 June demanding safety for all on Greater Manchester's roads, in memory of those who lost their lives, like the 19-year-old Nawaf Alghamdi, who was killed while cycling.

Do you think there's a potential for this to break out and lead to national mobilisation? Is there a chance that Britain is set for its own cycling revolution in the wake of increasing road casualties of not just adults, but children as well?

In the meantime, enjoy this brilliant crowdfunded movie "Stop Killing Our Children" focusing on Hope Fenell's death in Birmingham, produced by the ETA and narrated by BBC journalist John Simpson. The film also features contributions from Hope's mum, Chris Boardman, Dr Rachel Aldred, Dr Ian Walker, George Monbiot and the founders of the Stop de Kindermoord movement, among others.

At a Slovenian press conference today, 2023 Giro d'Italia winner Primož Roglič announced that he's most likely to race at the Vuelta a España next, confirming weeks of rumours that he won't be taking part in the Tour de France this year.

The Slovenian rider also said that he'll be missing be the national championships too, after a brutal Giro which saw him win the race in a dramatic fashion in the penultimate stage time trial up the Monte Lussari with 15 per cent gradient climb.

> Primož Roglič's ex-ski jumping teammate was Giro d'Italia spectator who helped with crucial post-mechanical push

Roglič has had a tough last few Tour de France showings. In 2020, he rode brilliantly for the most part, taking a 2 minute advantage over Pogačar into the second-last day TT, only to be bested by a mammoth performance from his compatriot and eventual winner.

Then the next year, he was once again one of the favourites to win, but his hopes were dashed after a crash on stage three where he lost over a minute. Despite regaining time in a brilliant time-trial in stage five, he struggled once again in the stage eight, the first one in the Alps, before eventually being forced to pull out of the race in stage nine.

Primoz Roglic at 2022 Tour de France - Copyright A.S.O. Pauline Ballet

And in 2022, he started the Tour slowly, falling behind GC protagonists Tadej Pogačar and teammate Jonas Vingegaard. Once again, he lost over two minutes to the leaders after an unfortunate crash in stage five saw him dislocate his shoulder, which he bravely and almost unfathomably put back on himself during the stage. 

He assumed the role as a domestique within Jumbo Visma, riding to get Vingegaard to the yellow jersey, but his team decided it was best for him to withdraw before the final rest day of the race, amidst some rumours that it was to save his legs for the Vuelta.

> Tour de France: Primož Roglič leaves race, heatwave sees UCI Extreme Weather Protocol invoked

To not go for the yellow jersey this year then probably comes as a proactive decision by Roglič and the team, which might help him to focus solely on the Vuelta. The Slovenian has won the Spanish Grand Tour in 2020, and would be looking to repeat his feats once again, before having a crack at the final Monument Il Lombardia as well.

Will Jumbo Visma miss having Roglič in France? Or will this be a masterful ploy by the Belgian team to do a clean sweep of all three Grand Tours in a year? Only time will tell.

Oxford 15 minute cities protest (Dave Vetter)

The 15-minute cities are back in the zeitgeist (did it ever leave?), and New Statesman has joined the debate. Or at least, New Statesman's columnist Michael Lind has.

In an op-ed titled "The 15-minute city is a working-class nightmare", with subheading as "A car-free lifestyle is only possible for those whose profession and income permit it", the mostly left and progressive newsmagazine has published a piece which won't have surprised me if I read it in the Telegraph or Daily Mail.

The piece begins with discussing all the conspiracy theories surrounding the subject, including the conspiracy theories of Great Reset and the socialist agenda, which were even invoked in the Parliament by our very own Tory MP Nick Fletcher. Great start.

Lind, a self-described American libertarian, then goes on to make a number of seemingly compelling points to the layman, mostly in the form of classic whatabouts and howwills: "What about employees having to go to central offices or warehouses?", "How will public transport work in the suburbs?", "What about cheap retail megastores in the suburbs?", and perhaps, the most interesting: "How will ambulances get to victims if cars and trucks are banned?"

"Redesigning cities to make reliance on public transport more viable isn't viable because the cities I know are designed for cars" 🤦

American cities have ridiculously low density by global standards https://t.co/mlWljVqQMu

— Peter Berry (@pwb) June 19, 2023

Wow if only emergency services vehicles could in some way be exempt, as necessary to their function, from the usual rules governing private motorists. Idk maybe they could have special lights or markings to clearly distinguish them idk.

— M O R G Y (@RJMrgn) June 19, 2023

Maybe they didn't see this: Emergency response times fall for the first time in ten years in Paris due to cycle lanes

Or maybe, maybe, I have fallen into the trap. Ah, my bad.

this is just a fake question, nobody should engage seriously with something as unserious as this

— ravished by the rake's runaway bride (@leokitty) June 19, 2023

Where's yer mates, Jan and Lance?

The Move at Mallorca, Spain, a fancy-schmancy "luxurious" event by Wedu where rich people can pay a couple thousand pounds to get a front row seat with none other than the seven time Tour winner Lance Armstrong for four days of "professionally guided cycling, daily post-ride massages from professional soigneurs, food and beverages, professional bicycle mechanics, and laundry service", is back this year in September.

Oh, and there will be a special cave diving excursion for a "fun bonding experience" too. Ah yes, Lance Armstrong, the guy known for doing fun bonding stuff and all.

Très bien et merci beaucoup, mais non.

The guests for this year's event have been announced, and they feature non-professional cyclist Lance Armstrong, his partner-in-crime Jan Ullrich, George Hincapie, Johan Bruyneel, Mari Holden... and Lance's mechanic from the 2000 Tour de France Dave Lettieri (who will "prep" your bike everyday and help with mechanicals).

We shall wait to see if any other mid-90s or early noughties members of the peloton care to show up, like last year, when Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins decided to drop by to say hello.

> Why was Mark Cavendish riding with Lance Armstrong this week?

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong)

And as you'd expect, the response wasn't the most favourable online.

And I wouldn’t be disappointed if he was retired. But as a active pro cyclist I don’t think he should be with people who have lifetime UCI Bans. Whatever you think of the ban. I don’t want to be overly critical - just I am disappointed.

— Jess Notzing (@JessicaNotzing1) September 26, 2022

Jeez Kav.. lay down with dogs, get fleas..

— keydefender (@keydefender1) September 27, 2022

Can someone pick Jonathan Vaughters out of his EF van and drop him in the Spanish island for a couple days in Septmeber? Now that's a Netflix documentary I would watch.

All this is, of course, subject to Armstrong getting back safely from his make-believe fake Mars habitat.

> Has Travis Tygart gone too far this time? Lance Armstrong is being sent to Mars… for a reality TV show (hosted by William Shatner)

Seriously this is getting out of hand, hitting both Tour of Slovenia and the Baloise Belgium on the same day? If UCI pro cycling teams can't get their bikes thousands of pounds worth of gear and bikes recovered, good luck pestering the Met to get that Specialised Allez back. If anything, I hope someone is pitching a movie about the heist to Guy Ritchie...

> Bike thieves target pro teams at Tour of Slovenia and Baloise Belgium Tour

While the world spun and everyone went about their weekends, Ryan made sure that you have lots of great stuff to catch up on, if you haven't already. And what better way than starting the blog with a weekend roundup.

> “I wanted to win for Gino, everyone today raced for him”: Mattias Skjelmose dedicates Tour de Suisse victory to “wonderful” Gino Mäder

> Oops! Teammates celebrate ‘victory’ arm in arm… only to be pipped by rival right at the finish

> New cycle-friendly cattle grids fail to stop cows escaping and roaming free on bike path, causing “rush hour gridlock”

> Tour O The Borders organiser slams council’s “utterly ridiculous and disingenuous” claim that it is not responsible for sportive’s demise

> Lorry driver who killed Davide Rebellin arrested in Germany – almost seven months after retired classics star’s death

> New cycle paths “like putting a motorway down the high street”, say residents