Concerning footage filmed at Sunday's Portsdown Classic road race in Hampshire showed the moment an impatient taxi driver apparently ignored marshals and drove onto the course, almost causing a collision with riders.

The footage filmed by Charlie Bailey and shared on his Instagram story (link is external) showed an incident on the route during yesterday's National B-level race near Waterlooville, an event held, as is standard in the UK, on open roads with rolling road closures enforced by motorcycle outriders and event staff

Posts from competitors and spectators on social media suggest the event was well run, no mean feat given the widely documented challenges facing race organisers in the UK, this incident apparently the result of one road user's impatience.

A source told road.cc the driver, seen in a car displaying taxi licence plates and Uber livery, "ignored the [motorcycle-riding] outrider" before "a car in the convoy stopped and made it clear that the race was approaching". Despite this, moments later the driver was filmed pulling out onto the course, metres away from riders, the sound of disc brakes heard as a collision was fortunately avoided.

"No criticism of the organisers this was a really well-run event," the spectator told road.cc. "Yes, the junction could have had a marshal, but if we need a marshal at every road then no road racing will take place in this country. In the end members of the public stood in the road."

road.cc contacted the race organiser and Uber for this story, but had not heard back at the time of publishing. Footage of the incident re-shared on social media by another spectator Tim Nisbet, whose son Cormac was competing, received a seemingly automated reply from Uber's 'Support' account stating: "We take this very seriously! Please fill out the form by submitting the details of your concern. You can still submit your concern without an Uber account. We'll be in touch to help as soon as possible."

The Portsdown Classic is the new branding for the race previously known as the Perfs Pedal road race, current organiser Seb Ottley stepping in after previous organiser Mick Waite announced in October it would not be continuing in 2024 due to the ongoing challenges of running races in the UK.

First-hand accounts seen on social media show Sunday's event, won by Sam Culverwell of Saint Piran, was popular with riders and spectators, and there has been plenty of praise for its organisation.

Former WorldTour rider Alex Dowsett was one of the riders to take part, the former Hour Record holder saying it was "great to see so many people out racing and spectating".

However, Dowsett also shared footage on Instagram of a major crash that happened during another part of the race

"Hope everyone that went down is nursing scratches or less only, very lucky to not lock any brakes or be hit hard from behind," he wrote. "This was the win of the day for me, avoiding this whilst it happened in front, behind and to my left and right. I do have a tyre burn on my left calf though which is a little sore..."

Last March, we reported on safety concerns surrounding National B races in the UK, one team manager calling on British Cycling to do more to support clubs and organisers who host races. Those comments came after one of Jakes Hales' Ride Revolution riders was airlifted to hospital after crashing into the back of a stationary vehicle that had been stopped on the course at the Dulwich Paragon Wally Gimber Trophy in East Sussex.

The rider suffered "a really bad cut on his neck from when he went through the rear windscreen" which needed urgent medical attention to stem the blood flow.

Last month, British Cycling shared its elite road racing taskforce report recommendations for "reinvigorating" the flagging domestic scene.

Chaired by Ed Clancy, who also competed in Sunday's Portsdown Classic, the task force engaged with more than 250 people across the sport in the UK to consider the composition of the elite national calendar, the challenges facing the rapidly dwindling number of domestic teams, and opportunities to grow the reach and profile of local races.

The report focused more on promoting racing, rather than specific safety issues, and was published a week before British Cycling said it hopes to deliver the Tour of Britain and a women's edition in 2024, following uncertainty and its removal from the UCI calendar.

https://road.cc/content/news/uber-driver-almost-hits-cyclists-british-road-race-306705

On 12/02/2024 08:12, Simon Mason wrote:

> Concerning footage filmed at Sunday's Portsdown Classic road race in

Yes... concerning the footage... what about it?

Or did you "think" that the word "concerning", is an *adjective*?

LOL!

> Hampshire showed the moment an impatient taxi driver apparently ignored self-appointed marshals and drove onto the course, almost causing a collision with chav-riders.
>
> The footage filmed by Charlie Bailey and shared on his Instagram story (link is external) showed an incident on the route during yesterday's National B-level race near Waterlooville, an event held, as is standard in the UK, on open roads with rolling road closures enforced by self-appointed motorcycle outriders and officious self-appointed event staff
>
> Posts from competitors and spectators on social media suggest the event was well run, no mean feat given the widely documented challenges facing race organisers in the UK, this incident apparently the result of one road user's impatience.
>
> A source told road.cc the driver, seen in a car displaying taxi licence plates and Uber livery, "ignored the [motorcycle-riding] outrider" before "a car in the convoy stopped and made it clear that the race was approaching". Despite this, moments later the driver was filmed pulling out onto the road, metres away from chav-riders, the sound of disc brakes heard as a collision was fortunately avoided.
>
> "No criticism of the organisers this was a really well-run event," the spectator told road.cc. "Yes, the junction could have had a marshal, but if we need a marshal at every road then no road racing will take place in this country.

No racing on thr road?

A consummation devoutly to be wished, shirley?

> In the end members of the public stood in the road."

The road?

Not "the course"?

:-)
>
> road.cc contacted the race organiser and Uber for this story, but had not heard back at the time of publishing. Footage of the incident re-shared on social media by another spectator Tim Nisbet, whose son Cormac was competing, received a seemingly automated reply from Uber's 'Support' account stating: "We take this very seriously! Please fill out the form by submitting the details of your concern. You can still submit your concern without an Uber account. We'll be in touch to help as soon as possible."
>
> The Portsdown Classic is the new branding for the race previously known as the Perfs Pedal road race, current organiser Seb Ottley stepping in after previous organiser Mick Waite announced in October it would not be continuing in 2024 due to the ongoing challenges of running races in the UK.
>
Racing on the highway is ILLEGAL, issn't it?

> First-hand accounts seen on social media show Sunday's event, won by Sam Culverwell of Saint Piran, was popular with chav-riders and spectators, and there has been plenty of praise for its organisation.
>
> Former WorldTour chav-rider Alex Dowsett was one of the chav-riders to take part, the former Hour Record holder saying it was "great to see so many people out racing and spectating".
>
> However, Dowsett also shared footage on Instagram of a major crash that happened during another part of the race
>
> "Hope everyone that went down is nursing scratches or less only, very lucky to not lock any brakes or be hit hard from behind," he wrote. "This was the win of the day for me, avoiding this whilst it happened in front, behind and to my left and right. I do have a tyre burn on my left calf though which is a little sore..."
>
> Last March, we reported on safety concerns surrounding National B races in the UK, one team manager calling on British Cycling to do more to support clubs and organisers who host races. Those comments came after one of Jakes Hales' Ride Revolution riders was airlifted to hospital after crashing into the back of a stationary vehicle that had been stopped on the course at the Dulwich Paragon Wally Gimber Trophy in East Sussex.

id the owner of the vehicle get compo off the chav's fridge-freezer
insurance?
>
> The rider suffered "a really bad cut on his neck from when he went through the rear windscreen" which needed urgent medical attention to stem the blood flow.

That sounds like a high speed crash.
> Chav-
> Last month, British Cycling shared its elite road racing taskforce report recommendations for "reinvigorating" the flagging domestic scene.
>
> Chaired by Ed Clancy, who also competed in Sunday's Portsdown Classic, the task force engaged with more than 250 people across the "sport" (LOL!) in the UK to consider the composition of the elite national calendar, the challenges facing the rapidly dwindling number of domestic teams, and opportunities to grow the reach and profile of local races.
>
> The report focused more on promoting racing, rather than specific safety issues, and was published a week before British Chav-Cycling said it hopes to deliver the Tour of Britain and a women's edition in 2024, following uncertainty and its removal from the UCI calendar.
>
> https://road.cc/content/news/uber-driver-almost-hits-cyclists-british-road-race-306705
>

QUOTE: Concerning footage filmed at Sunday's Portsdown Classic road race in Hampshire showed the moment an impatient taxi driver apparently ignored marshals and drove onto the course, almost causing a collision with riders. ENDS

"Judith" was apoplectic when "she" learned that UK marshals had the same power as police officers in stopping "traffic".

On 14/02/2024 01:13, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: Concerning footage filmed at Sunday's Portsdown Classic road race in Hampshire showed the moment an impatient taxi driver apparently ignored marshals and drove onto the course, almost causing a collision with riders. ENDS
>
> "Judith" was apoplectic when "she" learned that UK marshals had the same power as police officers in stopping "traffic".

Isn't it an offence to impersonate a police officer, eveb a US Marshal?

The report refers to "rolling road closures enforced by motorcycle outriders and event staff". Unfortunately I don't think that iis the case in UK. I'm pretty sure that only police can stop moving traffic and enforce this and event marshals can only warn other users of the event taking place etc with BC accredited marshals having the same powers as "lollipop crossing wardens" to stop traffic. So broadly speaking you can only appeal to the good sense of other Road users. Not a criticism of the event at all but the fact is only police can stop traffic.But perhaps I'm mistaken?

reply quote

Avatar
HLaB replied to CreepingAlong | 36 min ago
0 likes

An accredited marshal can stop traffic and its an offence to ignore them but case in point shows folk do .

On 14/02/2024 12:39, Simon Mason wrote:

> The report refers to "rolling road closures enforced by motorcycle outriders and event staff". Unfortunately I don't think that iis the case in UK. I'm pretty sure that only police can stop moving traffic and enforce this and event marshals can only warn other users of the event taking place etc with BC accredited marshals having the same powers as "lollipop crossing wardens" to stop traffic. So broadly speaking you can only appeal to the good sense of other Road users. Not a criticism of the event at all but the fact is only police can stop traffic.But perhaps I'm mistaken?
>
> reply quote
>
> Avatar
> HLaB replied to CreepingAlong | 36 min ago
> 0 likes
>
>
> An accredited marshal can stop traffic and its an offence to ignore them but case in point shows folk do .

Only a police officer (or traffic warden) in uniform may direct or
dictate to traffic. Self-appointed "marshals" have no such authority and
neither should they have it. Even a CID officer can't control traffic,
unless donning a proper police uniform first.

JNugent <jennings&co@mail.com> wrote:
> On 14/02/2024 12:39, Simon Mason wrote:

>> An accredited marshal can stop traffic and it’s an offence to ignore
>> them but case in point shows folk do .

> Only a police officer (or traffic warden) in uniform may direct or
> dictate to traffic. Self-appointed "marshals" have no such authority and
> neither should they have it. Even a CID officer can't control traffic,
> unless donning a proper police uniform first.

Cyclists seem to make up the law as they go along, provided they benefit
from it.

--
Spike

QUOTE: enthic | 1 day ago
0 likes

For reference, Section 31 Road Traffic Act 1988 and Section 66 Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, authorises a chief officer to allow any person to place an appropriately authorised sign on a road in order to give directions to traffic. ENDS

Correct - when I was in Hull Thursday Road Club we were responsible for all signage and directions in all road races and time trials.
And all marshal's duties including stopping traffic.

On 14/02/2024 14:45, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: enthic | 1 day ago
> 0 likes
>
> For reference, Section 31 Road Traffic Act 1988 and Section 66 Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, authorises a chief
> officerto allow any person to place an appropriately authorised sign on a road
in order to give directions to traffic. ENDS
>
> Correct - when I was in Hull Thursday Road Club we were responsible for all signage and directions in all road races and time trials.
> And all marshal's duties including stopping traffic.

A human being (if that term correctly applies to chavs on chav-bikes and
their chav-apologists) is NOT a "sign", authorised or otherwise.

Even a thicko like May Sun knows that. Or he should, at least.

A self-appointed chav acting as a "marshal" has no power to stop or
direct traffic.

And impersonating a police officer is an offence.

Off-road marshals are vital to the sport; without them, events in the off-road disciplines would not be possible. If you are interested in being a marshal, this page will help you find out more.

An off-road race marshal is race-facing, they use flags to warn riders of hazards or to stop a race. An off-road race marshal may also answer questions from spectators, or issue instructions to keep the course and security zones clear. However, their main focus is to keep the course clear and safe for the riders.
Responsibilities and duties

Off-road race marshals:

ensure the course is clear and there are no hazards to riders (or to spectators on or near the course)

use flags and whistles, during practice and racing, to inform of hazards, or stop riders, as required
communicate any incidents on the course and report injured riders to the chief marshal
make repairs to the course as necessary
check that riders are following the correct route and report any infringements to the chief marshal
provide basic information to spectators

Appointment, times, and locations

Off-road race marshals accept offers of appointment at events in advance. Events can be nationwide, but appointments are usually made locally. Events are usually on weekends or evenings; however, larger events may be held over multiple days including weekdays. Off-road race marshals perform their role before, during and after an event in conjunction with the event organiser, other commissaires or officials, and event support personnel as required..
Event insurance

Event officials benefit from liability cover under British Cycling’s liability insurance for registered events. Further details can be found here.