Tribars: not for urban use

Following on from our coverage of the fact that its sporty cars that lose from the 20 mph zone, we should look at the impact of the figures on bicycles.

Before anyone points out that bicycles are exempt from the limit, consider that if it becomes a speed that people expect, then going above it would create problems for people assuming you are heading more slowly. Though as any tax-dodger will point out, most people passing your or pulling out assume you are near-stationary and plan their manoeuvre  accordingly.

Even so, fast bikes don't have a place in the city. Stick to 20 or less: and if you can do that on the uphills you've earned those numbers.

What it does mean is that just like fast cars, tribars aren't needed in the city, nor are carbon wheels or polka-dot socks.

Yet here we see someone doing 6-8 mph in exactly that setup.

And while it's nice to see that they are staying way below that 20 mph limit, they do have their arms on the tribars. Which is another way of saying "their hands are a long way from the brakes".

As they reach the end of Kensington Place, they approach the give way point at Lansdown Road, where this lack of braking ability almost catches up with them. Because there's a Range-Rover heading north from Lansdown Place —below that 20 mph— and the cyclist needs to make a bit of an emergency swerve from going into it. Which could have damaged the paintwork on the car as well as written off some carbon wheels.

Bikesnob is always taking the piss of triathletes. It doesn't really apply here, but it does send a message to all: plan ahead, keep your hands near the brakes especially as you approach junctions where you are expected to give way.

Note the yellow lines on the road. This is the Clifton Village RPZ, as you can see on a weekday it is now a wasteland.

Clamp-down in Clifton

Some people might be shocked by the number of cars in the Clifton area sporting DVLA-untaxed-vehicle clamps on the last Sunday in January

Not us. We know how easy it is to forget to MOT, to tax, to insure your vehicle. Especially near christmas time. Have you ever tried to queue in a post-office for a new tax disk when there is a queue of people in front of you is trying to post presents? Putting off getting a new tax disk until later in the year is the only action that makes sense.

This is why we think the DVLA should show some forgiveness here. But no, they drive round Clifton on a weekend, just to fill up their quote. But look at this picture: a cyclist, walking their bike on the pavement. Does the DVLA clamp them? Not a chance.