Don't ride in groups or we will be stopped cycling completely.

[Andy in Germany]

Do you not have bike-bashing stories in the newspapers?

I don't come across them really, we don't have the same "us vs. them" narrative towards different groups in Germany, in fact politicians and local authorities go out of their way to prevent that if hey can.
It probably also helps that cycling is a fairly accepted way to get about.
Cycling as your main form of transport is seen locally as a bit eccentric...

 

[antnee]

Well I might as well add my twopence worth What seems to happen around here is lots of solo cyclists and some family groups i.e two parents and a child and looking at my fly byes on Strava majority are only doing under 50 miles I don't go much above 30 Well its so busy with all that traffic Laughter

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Mod note:

A number of off topic posts have been deleted - I might have missed the odd one; apologies if I have.

Please stick to the theme of the thread - there are other threads in NACA to discuss wet markets, authoritarian regimes etc.

Many thanks.

 

[matticus]

On positive news possible closure of some roads to make bike lanes.

That's excellent news!

(you'll cheer me up even more with a citation :x )

 

[lane]

That's excellent news!

(you'll cheer me up even more with a citation :x )

Can't remember. Look on BBC news review of the day's papers that's where I saw it.

 

[lane]

Still getting cyclists passing me at less than 2m when I am out cycling.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Can't remember. Look on BBC news review of the day's papers that's where I saw it.

Did a search and couldn't find anything other than a reference to the fact that roads in Germany and elsewhere are being closed to make way for bike lanes. Doesn't seem to be happening in the UK, other than a speculative article in the Times that says "Roads in built-up areas may be converted into car-free zones" and road.cc saying Hackney council "could be the first in the UK to cut rat running traffic on neighbourhood streets [...] to help people walk and cycle safely during the COVID-19 pandemic."

So it doesn't look like it's true in the UK ... not yet at least. But it is a possibility.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...can-exercise-safely-during-lockdown-l2dp03v8m
https://road.cc/content/news/emergency-measures-stop-rat-running-drivers-announced-272655

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Guess or fact & if fact how do you know?

It's a fact; my brother is with BT and a recent email to staff confirms this, it says:
“We’re providing anonymised, aggregated mobile and wi-fi data to support Government’s efforts to determine the efficacy of its communications and countermeasures. “

Other providers will be doing the same thing. It's not readily verifiable by way of a link you can read for yourself but I'm sure any of the providers would back it up if asked directly.

 

[mjr]

It's a fact; my brother is with BT and a recent email to staff confirms this, it says:
“We’re providing anonymised, aggregated mobile and wi-fi data to support Government’s efforts to determine the efficacy of its communications and countermeasures. “

Other providers will be doing the same thing. It's not readily verifiable by way of a link you can read for yourself but I'm sure any of the providers would back it up if asked directly.

Another great reason to use airplane mode while cycling if you're not on-call.

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's a fact; my brother is with BT and a recent email to staff confirms this, it says:
“We’re providing anonymised, aggregated mobile and wi-fi data to support Government’s efforts to determine the efficacy of its communications and countermeasures. “

Not really surprising. My knowledge of this area is a bit old, but I know that as long ago as about 6 years ago O2 made such data available as a commercial proposition to organisations like retailers who wanted to understand footfall patterns and customer flows. E.g. https://www.decisionmarketing.co.uk/news/mobile-data-ups-morrisons-footfall

 

[Mike_P]

Still getting cyclists passing me at less than 2m when I am out cycling.

I had one this afternoon, I had pulled across to the centre to turn right and the other cyclist going the other way stayed around 1m from the centre for no necessary reason.

 

[matticus]

It's a fact; my brother is with BT and a recent email to staff confirms this, it says:
“We’re providing anonymised, aggregated mobile and wi-fi data to support Government’s efforts to determine the efficacy of its communications and countermeasures. “

Other providers will be doing the same thing. It's not readily verifiable by way of a link you can read for yourself but I'm sure any of the providers would back it up if asked directly.

This was mentioned in the Saturday Times many weeks ago. Possibly even before lockdown i.e they were just interested in how modes/rates of transmission related to actual movement.

 

[matticus]

Still getting cyclists passing me at less than 2m when I am out cycling.

Mr lane (and a question for others worrying about this) may I ask:
Are you worrying because you yourself are vulnerable health-wise (or live with one such)?
Or is your main concern that these things increase general virus spread?

 

[snorri]

That's excellent news!

(you'll cheer me up even more with a citation :x )

At least they're thinking about it
https://spice-spotlight.scot/2020/04/14/coronavirus-covid-19-remaking-our-streets/

 

[lane]

Mr lane (and a question for others worrying about this) may I ask:
Are you worrying because you yourself are vulnerable health-wise (or live with one such)?
Or is your main concern that these things increase general virus spread?

I think people should follow the Government guidelines it is not difficult. Ignoring the guidelines can increase the chance of virus spread either to me or others.