BBC helmet cam film to explore cyclist-motorist conflict

[PaulSB]

...and you're still TRL549, Paul.

Improving cyclist behaviour will make not one jot of difference to the way motorists act towards cyclists. We are an out-tribe, a minority that gets bigoted abuse and is blamed collectively for the sins of a few. Bad cyclist - all cyclists are bad. Bad motorist - only that driver is bad. Worse still, cyclists aren't the ones causing the slaughter on the UK's roads. Until you start looking at the real problem, the slaughter caused by drivers and the bigotry some express towards cyclists, you are part of the problem.

Presumably the CTC are TRL549 as well?

From Roger Geffen's blog re tonight's programme:

"We are invariably at one with the motoring groups in saying that all road users – drivers and cyclists alike – should respect the rules of the road and the safety of other road users. We also agree that the emphasis must be on promoting responsible behaviour, rather than hyping up conflict. Although some cyclists do vent road-rage at drivers, and some drivers do express some deeply irrational cyclist hatred, the idea that this is normal is also a pure media myth. In a recent public opinion survey, just 10% of respondents agreed with the statement that 'cyclists are a nuisance'. Levels of cyclist hatred are greatly exaggerated by the media, as are the ideas that drivers all hate 20 mph speed limits and speed cameras (in fact, support for these measures is 72% and 75% respectively)."

Paul

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Just to remind cyclists that before the BBC's hour of war tonight, ITV4 are showing an hour of revolution. Track cycling from Manchester at 8pm.

So if anyone asks you at the coffee machine at work whether you watched that programme on cycling you can launch into a discussion of the merits of Armitstead versus Vos.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p7q2l

 

[potsy]

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Don't give the secret away

 

[Matthew_T]

Errrrr, hang on. Is it on BBC 1 or 2? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0122n1g

 

[Bassjunkieuk]

It's on BBC1, already got it setup to record. Interesting to see the brief comments from the "touchy" taxi driver ;-)

 

[Matthew_T]

It's on BBC1, already got it setup to record. Interesting to see the brief comments from the "touchy" taxi driver ;-)

"All I heard was 'bang, bang, bang'" No, Gaz banged once, you then said 'hey, hey, hey'.

"If I wanted to hit him, I would have turned into him" You already did that mate.

"I may have overreacted a little" You dont say?

 

[Bassjunkieuk]

Indeed I can't believe how faced with the footage he thinks his driving was in any way acceptable. He has a clear lane (admittedly blocked ahead but that's normal there) however trying to force your way into the bus lane whilst a cyclist is there isn't on.

He says he didn't turn his wheels but he certainly does swap/drift lanes, either that or he might want to check the tracking....and as Gaz says if he's close enough to knock on the vehicle then he is TOO CLOSE. End of discussion.

 

[Sittingduck]

Normally I would avoid this kind of thing like the plague, as I suspect it will wind me up but I am going to watch it and see. Somehow I think cyclists will come out of it looking bad

 

[Matthew_T]

The clip with the taxi driver didnt put cyclists in a good light.

"I asked him if he was trying to kill himself"
"He then came up to my window and spat in my face"
"I thought 'charming'".

 

[Bassjunkieuk]

The clip with the taxi driver didnt put cyclists in a good light.

"I asked him if he was trying to kill himself"
"He then came up to my window and spat in my face"
"I thought 'charming'".

I'd never spit on a taxi driver. Even if he was on fire

 

[arghill]

Having seen the trailer and read the article on the BikeBiz site I no longer want to watch it

 

[Matthew_T]

I am going to watch it just for amusement more than anything. From reading articles and watching clips, I doubt it will be educational. I am also going to watch for bits brought up which are incorrect or put cyclists in a bad light (specifically the 'road tax' sh1te).

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

The unfortunate truth is that so-called cyclists pay no Road Tax. Which they seem somehow to believe means that they are not required to stop at red signals.

This is not so.

This act of auto-disenfranchisement removes them instead from any sort of purposeful debate on this or any other related forum.

I'd like to say that hanging is too good for them, but things have got so bad recently that I'm beginning to think that the thing they use to kill people for whom hanging is too good is too good for them too.

And the thing that's worse than that.

So what I want to say it that hanging and the next worse thing and the next worse thing after that are all too good for them.

Which is really the point, I suppose.

Have you considered gibbet lights?