SKY TV are already reporting ( hourly ), the " Profitability " that will come ther way
of the Yorkshire Traders as a result of the Grand Depart of Le Tour from Leeds at the end of June 2014 . Banks are making Money available to those that will be Feeding and housing the anticipated 1 1/2 Million expected to line the routes that the Pro Racers will travel over during the 3 days of Racing in ENGLAND!
In awarding the 101st Le Tour to the Syndicate preparing the "Grand Depart " , a Contract was signed defining WHAT could be done in association with " Amaury Sports Org. rules & reg.s " ! These R & R would be closely scrutinised to see that ASO does not miss any Profit Potential !
Media has already reported that the Syndicate has tried to recoup monies from a variety of Sources to cover expenses such as " Policing ( http://road.cc/content/news/93003-row-simmers-over-yorkshire-tour-de-france-police-funding ) & Public Utilities "! Wonder if there is any " Profit Element " to be gained from the Elementary School Lessons ? Gary Verity has been broadcast repeatedly stating that Banks are "Relaxing Lending " as well as Hyping Up other " benefits " to Yorkshire !
When i met him behind the Finish Zone in Paris at the conclusion of the 2012 Le Tour , he was keen to do all to see that the " Yorkshire Bid " was a success ! When i met him in Nice the day before the TTT of the 2013 Le Tour he was still promising that ALL we discussed was on track . In the many conversations that we had, it was uppermost in my mind , that FINALLY the PARA Community would be treated as EQUALS ! I have not seen the program of Events in Leeds on the day of the 1st Etappe , so cannot comment on whether he has been allowed to follow through ? AND YES Gary , i still want to see the Champion Para Cyclists of Europe INVITED to race the Route , whether they choose to ride , will be THEIR Decision , but how could @TTChamp ( Colin Lynch ) refuse , since he lives nearby ?
Chris Prudhomme was with France TV when we first met . He milked me for ideas about how i managed to ride the Le Tour daily in advance of the Etappe . He made " promises 2 that he wouldd do ALL HE COULD for " Paras Sport " when he became " THE MAN "! Well i have seen 2 Para Racers allowed on the ITT Course , The French National Time Trial Champion , lawrence Thioronet and the Czech European Time Trial Champion . The Czech was ALL " atwitter " before the day , not seen ANYTHING since , about HIS ride !
Both GARY & CHRIS , could if they wish , make the 101st " Le Tour ", MEMORABLE !
ALL they need to do is PROPOSE to European Governments that CYCLING an endangered activity be safeguarded by a change of MOTORISTS ATTITUDES ! Daily , being bullied by Vehicle drivers , is not the way NEWCOMERS to Cycling , want to lead their Life ! Politicians rarely consider the DANGERS that are posed by METAL Coffins on wheels , to those in street clothes OR EVEN Lycra , as they negotiate the Road hazards on the way to Work , Shops , Sport or other activities , on a VEHICLE that has 2 points of contact with the road of about the size of " Postage Stamps "! Policing Authorities file the blank " Incident/accident forms " in their " SELF SUICIDE drawer ? Great Attitude by those drawing salary for "Protecting and Serving their community " ?
WELL GUYS , here is SOME of the Ideas that YOU can put into effect :
Motoring Rules needing ATTENTION
1/ 1M pass at under 30kph
2/ 1 1/2M pass at higher speeds
3/ NO PASS of Cyclists in SChool Zones , on or under Bridges
4/ NO Pass of Cyclists within 100M of Road Junction ( doubt it is legal for vehicle to pass vehicle in these circumstances ?)
5/ No PASS by/of ONCOMING Vehicle when Cycle is on OTHER LANE OF ROAD
6/ SIGNALLING of Passing Manouvre and return to lane
7/ Use of Hazard lights to indicate following a Cyclist when requried to slow due to traffic
8/ ALL Large Vehicles to display a Decal depicting " Safe Pass Message "! Even larger 4 x 4 Chelsea Tractors & Tinted windowed vehicles9/ Allow Under 16yo to ride Footpaths & Over 60yo at upto 15kph , particularly when accompanied .
10/ Requirement for Police Officers under 35yo , to do Cycling Duties , as Plain Clothes Officers , 5 shifts each month .
11/ Advance Zone at Traffic Lights
12/ Treating Red Light as GIVE WAY on a Left hand Turn at under 20kph
13/ Acceptence of Video Camera evidence for Court proceedings
14/ Introduction of a Federal Vehicular Manslaughter Law , as in Italian Road Code
15/ Should be a prohibition of the use of the Vehicle horn at the rear of a Cyclist ( friends would tap AFter passing ?)
Used these ideas in reply to @amygillettfdn &
http://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/federal-mp-jamie-briggs-says-laws-should-force-motorists-to-leave-onemetre-gap-when-overtaking-cyclists/story-fnii5yv4-1226793989625#comments
Hopefully James will WAKE UP the P.M. tony Abbott , he doesn't reply to any contact , let alone Cycling matters ! Show pony ?
Le Tour has a BOOK , " Livre de Route " ! In 2012 on page 7 there were RULES ( Bonne Conduit ) ! In 2013 there were a few changes , BUT , even though i wrote Chris in 2012 , there was no introduction of a "Driving Test " for ALL Acreditated Personnel ! Few seeing on the Television , a France TV Guest Van , run the Race Leaders off the Road in 2012 , would dispute the NEED for Drivers to be TESTED ? Flecha and Boogerlands being Profis had the courage to finish the Race in Paris , but WITHOUT fighting out that day's finish !
THIS YEAR A.S.O. can trumpet the ABOVE Initiatives to a WORLDWIDE Audience ! There are elements of Authority persuing SOME of the above , BUT ; WHY NOT help the Cycling Community ?
Lives could be saved ! Cyclists could be able to leave HOME with the Certainty of returning from their journey ? Even MORE people could be encouraged to use the Cycle to fulfill POLITICIANS' Desires to see Cycling " Reduce Pollution and Traffic , Improve Health and other Initiatives "!
Perhaps YOU may even choose to create an answer to this request :
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ioc-chairman-thomas-bach-create-an-international-umbrella-cycling-safety-organisation
WHO KNOWS , the 101st Le Tour , might even make EVERYONE happy !
Addition 3rd Jan 2014 :
Those of you that follow my Tweets will know that i have been " rubbishing " SKYNews " for their " Self promo Ads " at 1620gmt which included references to the " Widow of the 7/7 bomber "! Even if they had nothing else , WHY would you give " terrorists " a platform/time of day ? Seems that after including David Cameron in a couple of tweets , those "self promo ads " have been set aside , hopefully for EVER ! On New Years Day , SKY TV , aired a segment that included the " Gary Verity speaking about Le Tour " , as mentioned above ! Each day since at 1620GMT , just before the sport segment , i always try to watch , they NOW include a repeat of his musings on the benefit that Le Tour will bring to Yorkshire . He is particularly pleased with himself , in that Le Tour is encouraging the BANKS , to loosen the " Lending/Loan Strings ", thus allowing Small Business to invest in the Hospitality Trade in preparation for the event and the ongoing further Tourism that will be anticipated .
Further to this are the following initiatives in Cambridge and Oxford :
http://road.cc/content/news/105631-apply-grants-totalling-%C2%A320k-host-cambridge-cycling-activities-around-tour-de
http://road.cc/content/news/105549-oxford-city-council-launches-%C2%A35-training-adult-cyclists
