BBC helmet cam film to explore cyclist-motorist conflict

[Glow worm]

Really should know better then to follow links to the Daily Wail. Disgusting attitudes but then it's become the norm to hate cycists and it wasn't help by the way the programme completely failed to explain why cyclists adopt primary

I doubt you'll never get your average Daily Hate Mail readers to get the concept of safe cycling and why we need to take primary. You'd have more luck teaching monkeys to play scrabble. The DM's readers world seems a curious place where mind numbing stupidity and outrage rules, combined with a complete inability to understand basic logic.

Well done Gaz for doing the programme, don't let the bar stewards get you down.

 

[fossyant]

Mickle made a very good point about us being an 'out group'.

We have one TV programme and everyone and his dog are calling cyclists 'bad'. OK, just how many 'Road Wars' episodes are there then - hundreds, nearly all vehicle drivers, the odd cyclist, but no-one is calling all drivers maniacs - you'd think so watching it.

Can't-win.com !

 

[davefb]

Mickle made a very good point about us being an 'out group'.

We have one TV programme and everyone and his dog are calling cyclists 'bad'. OK, just how many 'Road Wars' episodes are there then - hundreds, nearly all vehicle drivers, the odd cyclist, but no-one is calling all drivers maniacs - you'd think so watching it.

Can't-win.com !

on those road wars, for balance they should spend ages with the chavs on why they steal cars innit.. I'm assuming they decided that "one sided" video wasn't "fair"..
i'm also looking forward to the bbc1 documentary on wife-beating which has the bloke explaining how "she was ASKING for it"...

Mind you, hopefully the reaction of people like the head of AA to the program (and the many others) might help things..

 

[albion]

No we don't.

You always get the mob kicking into action but they are certainly still a minority.
And yep, some of the same lot would say the above.

 

[dellzeqq]

Quite. Not what I would have done and perhaps a little too antagonistic, but not wrong per se. I imagine this clip is from Gaz's earlier days with a helmet cam. The 'playing to the virtual audience' bit suggests it was. I too found him a little too pleased with himself in the TV show,.

Sorry, Boris, you thought that Gaz was a little too pleased with himself? Really? You of all people?

 

[Crackle]

[QUOTE 2192122, member: 1314"]Saw the programmes last night and am afraid I agree with Ian Austin, Joint Chair of the Parliametary Cycling Group who described it as"stupid, sensationalist, simplistic, irresponsible nonsense" in that Daily Mail link. That's not down to the drivers or cyclists but the producers and editors. Real debates about road safety in the programme were a merefig leag and. the tales from the Roadpeace person and the cab driverwas, I'm afraid, cliched soap opera. Droid, I'm afraid, needs counselling or a good mate to talk to. I felt sorry for him.

The programme should never have been made.[/quote]

I largely agree but Maggers posted something on his blog which is surprising and uplifting.

http://www.magnatom.net/

 

[Glow worm]

Even though it would be nice to have the same respect as other road users, the fact is that cyclists don't. You are a slow moving obstacle and an annoyance. If you were driving a tractor down a country lane and were a conscientious driver, you would pull in to let traffic pass. So as a conscientious cyclist, you shouldn't expect to ride in the centre of the road if you are considerably slower, and expect not to annoy other drivers.

Presumably we should all be riding in the gutter then ?! I'm not being funny but if we were all to follow your advice we'd be getting off every few hundred yards. Sounds like you'd be better off on the bus. Why feel the need to 'get out of the way' of cars anyway? In most towns at rush hour, they're only crawling along from one jam to the next. Frankly, it's the cars that get in my way on my commute, doing 5 mph max, blocking all the roads.

 

[User482]

Even though it would be nice to have the same respect as other road users, the fact is that cyclists don't. You are a slow moving obstacle and an annoyance. If you were driving a tractor down a country lane and were a conscientious driver, you would pull in to let traffic pass. So as a conscientious cyclist, you shouldn't expect to ride in the centre of the road if you are considerably slower, and expect not to annoy other drivers.

Every day, I'm held up on my commute by cars. Motorists are slow moving obstacles and an annoyance. Not once has a car driver pulled in to let me past.

Conscientious motorists shouldn't expect to drive in the middle of the road and expect not to annoy cyclists.

 

[PK99]

. What was stopping him completing the move properly and waiting for Gaz to carry on ahead and follow behind him? It's the same MGIF mentality that results in so many close call left hooks, injuries and even deaths.

It's not only the Cab driver who shows that mentality in the video. Partway through, when Gaz's attention is already on alert to the potential for conflict with the cab, the cab stops at the lights at the head of a central bus lane with a clear road ahead. A little bit of forward thinking says the cab is going to pull away and travel faster than the cyclist (Gaz comments on having anticipating a close pass, so what I'm about to say is not my hindsight). Best move would have been to stop behind the cab and the conflict situation goes away. Instead. Gaz applies MGIF thinking and overtakes into the ASL cyclists' box. ASL boxes are not compulsory and in this case would have been best avoided.

 

[summerdays]

Motorists are slow moving obstacles and an annoyance. Not once has a car driver pulled in to let me past.

Though to be fair, quite a number have let me out of a side road when they didn't need to. Actually thinking about it, some even have moved to increase the gap to allow me to filter past (equally some have moved to close any gap!!!)

 

[Boris Bajic]

Sorry, Boris, you thought that Gaz was a little too pleased with himself? Really? You of all people?

I think I'm just pleased enough with myself. Like Goldilocks and the chosen porridge.... Just right. Any more pleased might be a little too pleased.

It's everyone else who is wrong. Everyone.

I was hoping my posts to date had made that abundantly clear.

 

[Bassjunkieuk]

Though to be fair, quite a number have let me out of a side road when they didn't need to. Actually thinking about it, some even have moved to increase the gap to allow me to filter past (equally some have moved to close any gap!!!)

I've had that happen a few times, and other very often but it is pleasing to know they are paying attention even when moving slowly or sat still. I he driver will typically get a thumbs up or acknowledging wave.

 

[Pale Rider]

I thought the lawyer who got thumped was self-righteous and smug in the interview.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Every day, I'm held up on my commute by cars. Motorists are slow moving obstacles and an annoyance. Not once has a car driver pulled in to let me past.

Conscientious motorists shouldn't expect to drive in the middle of the road and expect not to annoy cyclists.

I agree completely with your point about conscientious motorists. It can be irksome when they have the opportunity to do so and choose not to.

However, my experience with drivers differs significantly from yours. Motorists frequently pull in or move to one side to let me through on my bike.

Usually they are oncoming drivers, but sometimes even those going in my direction. I feel that more would, but we cyclists can be hard to spot in a mirror. I have a habit (from my motorcycling days) of 'getting in the mirror' of drivers who are impeding me. I have no idea whether it makes a difference.

 

[Sore Thumb]

What a pointless article. Highlighting the ignorance of twitter users without saying "look at these numpties" Why give them a broader audience for their mindless hatred?!
Gaz, I hope you're ok.

Oh my god......

I've read some hatred against cyclists, but this is just getting worse its truly scary. I just could not read some of the comments they are just unbelievable.

Can you make death threats on twitter and get away with it. Is this not against the law or is it only against the law if you are not a cyclist?

This hatred is getting out of control. I've read that in some states in America they have laws that protect cyclists against harassment, maybe something in this country.

I know is the daily hate paper but come on this is too much.

Gaz I hope you go to the police regarding these twitter posts. People should not be able to hide behind twitter and think they can make death threats.

Some like Gaz and some don't, we can all have an opinion but this over steps the line.