BBC helmet cam film to explore cyclist-motorist conflict

[ManiaMuse]

Compared to my rural roads it is....bury and Manchester can be busy at times. All the footage of London showed so much traffic.


I bet colinj is palpitating just watching it..

In many ways more traffic is a good thing. More traffic = slower average speeds = accidents less serious when they do occur (ignoring of course getting squashed by a left turning lorry type of accidents).

Plus, as stated above, safety in numbers. London drivers in my experience are very aware of cyclists, even if they still act like idiots occasionally. I feel much safer cycling in London than in Nottingham where there are far fewer cyclists.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Got 2 minutes in, switched it off. Watching a 24 year old web developer use the actions of others to justify his foul language and confrontational behaviour turned me straight off. He carries on like that and soneobe'll stab him before he's 30.

That's Gaz, from this forum.

I didn't feel they showed enough of you in some ways Gaz - mainly in the way (and you've mentioned it yourself both on here and you tube) that you've evolved in how you handle things. Gone are the shouting, sarcastic hand clapping days, and a lot more of Gaz's videos now show a measured, calculated approach that should be emulated. His SillyCyclists channel is the most educational thing for cyclists on YouTube!

It could have done with a touch of even handedness too. Perhaps it's only London (I've never cycled there) but had someone followed me around for the last two years, they'd have a load of boring footage, with only one single close pass to talk about!

We aren't going to get it on this forum, but I'd love to know what a truly independent viewer made of it all - as non of the interviewees from both 'camps' were willing to have their views swayed at all, clearly!

 

[musa]

sorry?

imo the production of it was loosley put together ie missed bits out that could have been important

thats my two pence on it

 

[summerdays]

It made interesting viewing with my daughter, especially as I kept on talking to the telly or wincing at times (even though I'd seen a number of the clips before).

I'm hoping that drivers might learn a little from the program about giving cyclists a little more space, and cyclists might learn particularly from the lorry parts, about how care is needed around lorries.

 

[mickle]

I thought Gaz did brilliantly. Well done lad!

 

[400bhp]

I really didn't like it, but it kind of was what I expected.

They talked about cyclists resorting to controlling the roads without mentioning that it is part of the highway code, recommended by cycling training courses and official cycling advice. If they had just explained why cyclists might be out further from the kerb (doors opening etc.) it might have been worthwhile. But to include the footage of that idiotic courier race was the final straw for me - it is akin to having a documentary about motorists by showing joy-riding.

I was willing Gaz to say that - whether he had been paraprased I don't know.

The courier clip - I wonder if a previous version of the "documentary" had the clips runiing throughout, then at the last minute they canned it, slapped it at the end and then made some half assed comment about some organised courier race. It almost felt they were trying too hard to make it a 50/50 cyclist/car crap road user piece.

 

[slowmotion]

As musa said, I thought that the mother who went to the RMC AGM was just wonderful. The taxi driver with 50 years' experience rather grew on me too. I don't think any viewer would have had their opinions/preconceptions changed though.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Tbf the road users in Manchester and bury are pretty considerate. I've had a few run ins when I first started commuting there, but now I know the hotspots and ride differently in them I no longer feel the urge to rip drivers heads off.

The video clip where the fat bird and chav got out of the car was in bury....not too far from Cooksons.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

albeit the cycle layout and facilities are sh*t in london what do the other cities provide?

now i aint crediting tfl but there is a system if you want to call it that in place

Yes, judging by footage you have much a better cycling system than here in Glasgow.
Only thing is, if the going gets tough we can escape in a quiet side street, or along the river Clyde cyclepath, or use a park as a shortcut. There is ways to avoid heavy traffic.
London for us in the sticks seems quite hectic in comparison
No doubt cycling there takes more skills than the ones I currently have.

 

[trampyjoe]

It was different wasn't it.

Might bring my bike down to the big smoke for some cabbie baiting soon...

 

[steve broughton]

i used to bike to work when I lived in London in the late 80's, daily ride from Walthamstow to the British Museum, and it doesn't seem all
that different now than it was then, had a few altercations and a few near misses, the young lad, cyclegaz?, did seem to me a bit of a pompous little shoot who went out looking for trouble and the most reasonable one was the old duffer cab driver.

 

[Cycling Dan]

i used to bike to work when I lived in London in the late 80's, daily ride from Walthamstow to the British Museum, and it doesn't seem all
that different now than it was then, had a few altercations and a few near misses, the young lad, cyclegaz?, did seem to me a bit of a pompous little s*** who went out looking for trouble and the most reasonable one was the old duffer cab driver.

Inception!

 

[ianrauk]

Yes, judging by footage you have much a better cycling system than here in Glasgow.
Only thing is, if the going gets tough we can escape in a quiet side street, or along the river Clyde cyclepath, or use a park as a shortcut. There is ways to avoid heavy traffic. Same as in London. Thousands of quiet backstreets and parks.
London for us in the sticks seems quite hectic in comparison It is hectic, but it's not just London, other cities are the same.
No doubt cycling there takes more skills than the ones I currently have. I doubt it

 

[CopperCyclist]

Haha you're a bloody joke. Where am I using the actions of others to justify swearing?

You missed it. The correct reply would have been along the lines of "Using other peoples action to justify my swearing? If you're going to ****ing post **** like that you can **** off you ****er"

 

[Gasman]

And not a single mention of R04d T*x. Remarkable.