MrHappyCyclist
Riding the Devil's HIghway
- Location
- Bolton, England
No, I don't think so. I'm sure there are far more dickheads on the bad road users side than there are on the good road users side.
BBC helmet cam film to explore cyclist-motorist conflict
- Thread starter Mr Haematocrit
- Start date
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Devonshiredave
Active Member
- Location
- Brackley, Northants
You don't have to be a cyclist to think that other road users are muppets. Turning right on a mini roundabout this morning, I had to stop in the middle of the road because of an idiot who hadn't seen me and nearly broadsided my car. He proceeded to gesticulate that he was letting me go. Thanks for that mate, but don't get the arse with me because you haven't woken up yet and failed to see a two tonne SUV with his lights on turning in front of you! I'm thankful I wasn't on the bike because I'd probably be in hospital now!
Bassjunkieuk
Veteran
- Location
- London
I had a similar muppet experience earlier, whilst out driving to collect the kids from a Xmas production rehearsal I'm heading through a nice busy local highstreet. Progress is a little hindered as it's Sunday so a parking free-for-all only to suddenly need to jump on the brakes as I'm met by a chap driving on the wrong side of the road towards me so he can turn right from about 2-3 cars back from the junction. It seems simple things such as waiting or even indicating where too much trouble for him and I just got a sheepish "sorry" wave as he swings in a bit tighter then expected ;-) Sometimes the high vantage point I get in the mini-bus is a bonus :-)
Miquel In De Rain
No Longer Posting
the programme shows that the battle between two wheels and four has never been so intense.
Cringe.
Cringe.
Ste T.
Guru
So its not just kids the BBC is happy to screw over.
I see Melanie Phillips is getting in on the act as an h'orderve befor the main course on Wednesday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2242003/Arrogant-abusive-oh-smug--cyclists-think-law.html
I see Melanie Phillips is getting in on the act as an h'orderve befor the main course on Wednesday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2242003/Arrogant-abusive-oh-smug--cyclists-think-law.html
srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
Whereas the Guardian's TV previewer, who (unlike the MPs) has actually seen the film, says it's much better than the pre-publicity would have you believe.
Sad to say, but Melanie Philips is right about a significant proportion of cyclists in London - as a pedestrian I am faced almost every time I walk out by hazards on the pavement or on crossings from law breaking cyclists.I often have to step aside or stop to avoid being hit.
I have just spent a few days in Lille and, a few months ago, a few days in Bruges. In both cities I came across cyclists on pavements and in pedestrian areas and on crossings, but always the cyclist was cycling with care and ceding priority to the pedestrian. I have had similar experiences in other European cities.
Maybe the issue is not cyclists per se but that a significant proportion of we Brits are simply antisocial twots?
I'd also observe that virtually all the bikes i saw were sit up and beg potterers and contrast that with the "broke my PB Waterloo to the city" culture among many London commuting cyclists
Bassjunkieuk
Veteran
- Location
- London
I'm sorry but I get rather tired of hearing about the "majority" of cyclists who regularly flout the law. Studies have shown that the riders who do jump red lights are a minority. Even cycling along CS7 this morning as I was a reasonably large group of 10-15 riders and at each lights and it was the same 2-3 riders that would jump. I even put up a video the other day of a pedestrian who yelled at a cyclist who'd jumped a red light and joked to the rider alongside me that the pedestrian will just "forget" about the 5 other riders and myself who did stop.
Unfortunately the only thing that RLJing cyclist serve to do is give lazy journos & Daily Mail some extra page hits as well as seemingly giving everyone a stick to beat all cyclists with. I'd love to see them do an article about drivers breaking speed limits, using their mobiles and also jumping red lights etc.
Unfortunately the only thing that RLJing cyclist serve to do is give lazy journos & Daily Mail some extra page hits as well as seemingly giving everyone a stick to beat all cyclists with. I'd love to see them do an article about drivers breaking speed limits, using their mobiles and also jumping red lights etc.
Devonshiredave
Active Member
- Location
- Brackley, Northants
To quote Ms Phillips " In other words, cyclists are no better or worse than the rest of us". Exactly Ms Phillips. No better or worse. Your article is a pointless rant given page space and you berate The Times efforts to bring safer cycling to the fore.
No one in the cycling community would say all cyclists are angels, far from it and every group has it's offending minority. Maybe you should in future take a sideways glance to your right before stepping off the pavement like I do when entering a junction on my bike or in my car just incase some moron has neglected to obey the law. This lesson is given to children. Look right, then left, then right again. Had you bothered with this simple task, you would have had no article to write at all!
Lets put this debate to bed, and let's all try to treat each other with a bit of respect. If everyone treated each other the way we'd like to be treated ourselves, we'd all get along just fine!
The comments posted after the article gives us some idea of the mountain society has to climb in order to have equal coexistance on our roads. I can't see it happening any time soon and I think the arguements will rage long and hard after the programme is aired on Wednesday.
Sore Thumb
Guru
I wonder if my hits to my helmet camera site will go up after Wednesday and also a possible increase in nasty comments.
I wouldn't be surprised if it does.
I'd be keen to see a few more positive interactions being uploaded over the next week by Helmet Cameras, as anyone viewing youtube at the moment could be forgiven for believing there is a war on the roads...
Sore Thumb
Guru
I tend not to see any cyclists on my commute so to generalise out of proportion, I tend to see motorists mainly behaving Badly on most days.
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
I suspect traffic to the smaller channels not featured will probably not see that much of an increase.
Those featured in the show and those who already have big channels will probably notice an increase but even then I doubt it will be that much. Over the past 3 months I have averaged just over 200,000 views in a month.
