Tour of Britain - parked cars

ne0sk

Watching the coverage on TV I'm surprised at just how many vehicles are parked along the routes.

Tell me, is it just the Grand Tours that are granted vehicle free stages?

The Pro's are clearly very experienced but the dangers of parked vehicles are seemingly being ignored.

Thoughts?

DavidJB

Oh no a few parked cars. 100's of UK amateurs race every week on open roads with on-coming traffic.

cookeeemonster

DavidJB wrote:

Oh no a few parked cars. 100's of UK amateurs race every week on open roads with on-coming traffic.

Helpful answer.

cougie

Even in the GT's you still get parked cars.

GT's usually get closed roads for racing on. The TOB is a rolling road closure - so there can be cars getting flagged down by marshals or police just a few mins before the riders arrive.

I guess the pros are used to this - they do a lot of races. Mostly we just see the classics or GT's which do have the budget and clout for closed roads.

thegibdog

cougie wrote:

Mostly we just see the classics or GT's which do have the budget and clout for closed roads.

You've watched Amstel Gold, right?

But yeah, rolling road closures and lower resources mean the roads can't be cleared of all vehicles. I think the attitude of entitlement that people in this country feel with regards to driving their cars wherever they want to on the roads (which drivers pay for etc!!) and a general lack of consideration also play a part. I've been up Gun Hill a few times for the ToB and was amazed that people chose to park their cars on the descent rather than park off the course and walk a mile or so up the hill. And these people were cycling fans!

DavidJB

CookeeeMonster wrote:

DavidJB wrote:

Oh no a few parked cars. 100's of UK amateurs race every week on open roads with on-coming traffic.

Helpful answer.

I wasn't trying to be helpful I was making a statement.

Grill

Both my cars were parked on the side of the road when they rode through my town a couple days ago. Considering that there was A) nowhere else to park and I was not asked to park elsewhere, I don't see the problem. They're skilled enough to not run into cars on the side of the road.

chris_bass

Grill wrote:

Both my cars were parked on the side of the road when they rode through my town a couple days ago. Considering that there was A) nowhere else to park and I was not asked to park elsewhere, I don't see the problem. They're skilled enough to not run into cars on the side of the road.

Having seen the video of that team sky rider slamming into the barrier I'm not so sure I'd be that confident!

Grill

Chris Bass wrote:

Grill wrote:

Both my cars were parked on the side of the road when they rode through my town a couple days ago. Considering that there was A) nowhere else to park and I was not asked to park elsewhere, I don't see the problem. They're skilled enough to not run into cars on the side of the road.

Having seen the video of that team sky rider slamming into the barrier I'm not so sure I'd be that confident!

Team Sky don't count. They couldn't keep upright with training wheels.

chris_bass

haha - fair point!

Pituophis

thegibdog wrote:

cougie wrote:

Mostly we just see the classics or GT's which do have the budget and clout for closed roads.

You've watched Amstel Gold, right?

But yeah, rolling road closures and lower resources mean the roads can't be cleared of all vehicles. I think the attitude of entitlement that people in this country feel with regards to driving their cars wherever they want to on the roads (which drivers pay for etc!!) and a general lack of consideration also play a part. I've been up Gun Hill a few times for the ToB and was amazed that people chose to park their cars on the descent rather than park off the course and walk a mile or so up the hill. And these people were cycling fans!

The "cycling fans" appear to be the biggest hazard of the lot to be fair!
It never ceases to amaze me that people think it's "ok" to jump out in front of someone in the middle of a race. I'd like to see it become acceptable for the motorcycles to run them over. :evil:

cougie

Chris Bass wrote:

Grill wrote:

Both my cars were parked on the side of the road when they rode through my town a couple days ago. Considering that there was A) nowhere else to park and I was not asked to park elsewhere, I don't see the problem. They're skilled enough to not run into cars on the side of the road.

Having seen the video of that team sky rider slamming into the barrier I'm not so sure I'd be that confident!

Which one was that ?

fatsmoker

This one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXzpvw40_i0&feature=youtu.be

gubber12345

thegibdog wrote:

cougie wrote:

Mostly we just see the classics or GT's which do have the budget and clout for closed roads.

I've been up Gun Hill a few times for the ToB and was amazed that people chose to park their cars on the descent rather than park off the course and walk a mile or so up the hill. And these people were cycling fans!

never underestimate the stupidity of some people....and to whoever said for it for the motorcycle to run over the people who stand in the way of cyclists on the hills and run along side getting in the way......a cricket bat across the mouth, f**k but them pricks annoy me.