Danger man

It looks like the Yentob birthday bash is still to come. Yesterday was pretty standard; to the Charlotte Street Hotel for Terry Gilliam's private screening of "The Zero Theorem", which completes the trilogy with Brazil amd 12 Monkeys. Thence to the Groucho.

Somewhere along the way, Mr Yentob celebrated 67 years by breaking the law. Cycling on the footway (pavement) is an offence under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835 as amended by Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1888.

News from the peleton

Arriving with your fearless blogger unsigned, uncredited, and slightly under-explained, a set of grainy JPEGs from the bunkers of Henry Wood House, W1. The BBC has retained use of the basement, and used it for a mixture of cars and bikes, because of the limited provision in the twinkly new building, the other side of All Souls church.

However, my confidante suggests that, over the weekend, the balance has swung in favour of the car. Could it be that there are more drivers joining the BBC at senior management and executive levels ? This, in an organisation led by champions of cycling such as James Harding and Alan Yentob ?  I expect to be reassured that the missing racks have been accommodated elsewhere. If only the number plates hadn't been blurred, eh ?

Thursday 0900 Update: I am duly reassured that the balance between cars and bikes has been maintained, and the re-organisation is simply to get better circulation.

Wheelies

A veritable fleet of executive Brompton bicycles now leaves Broadcasting House at the end of the working day.  Director of News James Harding and Newsnight editor Ian Katz have joined Alan Yentob as proud owners of the folding bike, manufactured in Brentford.

As for the current debate on the safety of commuting by bike in London, Alan Yentob lowers the odds by cycling on the pavement through Bayswater, on the way home to Notting Hill, powered by size 8 Nike Air Max Ones.  Let me know if you spot the others behaving similarly.