BBC helmet cam film to explore cyclist-motorist conflict

[dellzeqq]

I have theory that I apply when I am driving, anyone who is using their own power to travel deserves the right to be given way too, it costs me zero energy to appy a brake and the move on, pity every motorist does not apply the same.

The bridge in that clip is a nightmare, and as proven by Gaz's cam, it doesn't matter how strong your primary is you will still get some twunt try and push by. Not only is it a short sharp up hill it is double white lines and thin, no way could you safely get a car in each direction + bike, it is used by several bus routes and a blind brow of the hill, only and I mean only a plonker would try and overtake a bike there.

where is that bridge, Loco? It looks familiar, but I can't place it.

 

[Schneil]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sages-death-threats.html?ICO=most_read_module

Poor Gaz! The comments from the Daily Fail readers aren't too nice!

 

[Andrew_P]

where is that bridge, Loco? It looks familiar, but I can't place it.

Runs off from the huge roundabout near Clockhouse Road Beckenham and up towards Spring Park Golf range Addsicombe

 

[Andrew_P]

Or maybe easier ref runs up directly from Tesco's Beckenham

 

[dellzeqq]

that's not how it works at this junction. There are more bikes than cabs by a factor of ten - or more. Bikes gather at the front. Cabs race around the right and cut in to the bus lane about 400 metres up. Gaz was waiting for that to happen because he's seen it before, but if the cab driver hadn't cut Gaz up he would have cut somebody else up. So.....are all the cyclists (and there are often thirty waiting at this particular light) supposed to pull to one side and let the cab by?

sorry, and I should have said - the problem arises because of the bus lane. I'm a big fan of bus lanes, but in this instance it would be sensible to do the thing they've done in Upper Street and ban taxis from the red tarmac to the northeast of the junction. What happens is the cyclists gather at the front, the cabs go in to the centre lane (which is the bus lane) and when the light goes green they try and pass the cyclists without moving in to the right hand lane any more than they have to, and then, once the stationary buses just to the west of the junction have been passed, they turn in to the left to miss the right turn lane at Union Street and to take advantage of the bus lane toward Clapham North. It's not the world's biggest problem because we are many and they are few, but it is routine. So, we, all of us, watch out for the horrors, and, happily, you can mostly hear them coming.

When I'm on my own I travel pretty much at the speed limit, and there is no way the suckers are going to cut me up. When I'm with Agent Hilda I ride ahead and outside of her (usually on the Brompton) and, if a cab comes up behind me, give the driver the eyebrow of disapproval until such time it's safe to pass - taking account not only of my position, but those cyclists who are ahead of me.

 

[Glow worm]

give the driver the eyebrow of disapproval

Love it! I'm going to have to stop clipping my eyebrows!

 

[Scruffmonster]

Ha ha ha.

Therein lies the problem.

 

[summerdays]

There was a scene on the programme (sorry forgot who it was) but he was getting tooted from behind. He was taking centre position and you could see that the traffic infront of him was pulling away into the distance - ie., travelling a lot faster than he was at that point. The guy tooting basically couldn't get past and was getting aggrivated. In that instance, I think the cyclist was in the wrong.

At a junction whether I'm slower or faster I am usually in the middle of the lane for my safety - if it holds up a motorist for a few seconds, for my own safety so be it. We wouldn't actually need to use this position if motorists were far more considerate and aware of cyclists - and didn't try left hooking us etc.

 

[Andrew_P]

At a junction whether I'm slower or faster I am usually in the middle of the lane for my safety - if it holds up a motorist for a few seconds, for my own safety so be it. We wouldn't actually need to use this position if motorists were far more considerate and aware of cyclists - and didn't try left hooking us etc.

I the more I think about primary the more it irritates me that it is needed in the first place.

Why on earth the BBC didn't keep on repeating this god only knows, oh wait...

 

[gaz]

that's not how it works at this junction. There are more bikes than cabs by a factor of ten - or more. Bikes gather at the front. Cabs race around the right and cut in to the bus lane about 400 metres up. Gaz was waiting for that to happen because he's seen it before, but if the cab driver hadn't cut Gaz up he would have cut somebody else up. So.....are all the cyclists (and there are often thirty waiting at this particular light) supposed to pull to one side and let the cab by?

As you have said, many cyclists would have come behind me and in front of the taxi, that is the way this junction works.
I would have gone on the same green that he did, and look how long it took for him to catch me up, I think that backs up the notion of more cyclists being behind me.
Sittingduck has already said he recongises this taxi from around the same time as it was filmed as it cut him up as well.

I am assuming that it was Gaz who inspired the whole money making show in the first place.
It was obviously all centred around him.

I still allude that the overall message was educational, though I doubt laws will get changed or any mandatory sentences introduced for such as 'causing death by failing to indicate' etc..

No, I was not the first cyclist to be contacted, in fact they were only aware of me after magnatom pointed them in my direction.

where is that bridge, Loco? It looks familiar, but I can't place it.

It's Croydon Road A222 going out of elmers end. a hump back bridge.
I sounded a bit out of breath when the driver got out as I was giving it my all over there, I don't want to hold people up.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sages-death-threats.html?ICO=most_read_module

Poor Gaz! The comments from the Daily Fail readers aren't too nice!

It's been a tough day, i'm more annoyed because the mail is reporting that I'm getting death threats. Which is not true. A few people have said some crap on twitter, not directly too me and that is no worse that what I get on youtube daily.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

I've just been reading the Daily Mail comments, Gaz. Keep your chin up, son! You're doing a great job! Don't let the buggers get you down!

 

[PK99]

that's not how it works at this junction. There are more bikes than cabs by a factor of ten - or more. Bikes gather at the front. Cabs race around the right and cut in to the bus lane about 400 metres up. Gaz was waiting for that to happen because he's seen it before, but if the cab driver hadn't cut Gaz up he would have cut somebody else up. So.....are all the cyclists (and there are often thirty waiting at this particular light) supposed to pull to one side and let the cab by?

I'm not talking about the general operation of the junction, i'm talking of the specific circumstances of the video where Gaz has already identified a dodgy driver yet Gaz MGIF

 

[Scruffmonster]

I the more I think about primary the more it irritates me that it is needed in the first place.

Why on earth the BBC didn't keep on repeating this god only knows, oh wait...

View attachment 16062

I want this. Everyone wants it. But in a city, this is mostly not practicable.

I know it should be, but it never will be.This comes down to planning and traffic management and a whole world of things that are decades away.

 

[Beebo]

It's been a tough day, i'm more annoyed because the mail is reporting that I'm getting death threats. Which is not true. A few people have said some crap on twitter, not directly too me and that is no worse that what I get on youtube daily.

Hi Gaz,
Just seen this in the Standard, you seem to be setting the record straight.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/tran...reth-williams-gets-death-threats-8393175.html

Keep up the good work, we all still love you! It will all die down in a few days.

 

[MrJamie]

the production company did two particular things to Gaz that I think where underhand:

1 - the licking of the lips - it did and offered nothing.

2 - did anyone notice the camera was lower, looking up towards Gaz (may not have been intentional though) while every other camera was level with the interviewees head/eye?

*edit - spelling

Strangely enough I thought the same about the camera angles, but skipping through on iPlayer it seemed they did it to everyone including the angry cabbie. I think Gaz was just tilting his head back that exaggerated it, which i think is a glasses wearer centering the lenses on what youre looking at thing, but they got him doing it a lot, like the lip licking and smirking. I guess they thought they needed to make the stereotype so that the majority would relate.

The one thing that does get me is that people don't seem to realise that more people cycling especially in heavy traffic areas frees up space on the road and that if they did successfully scare all the nuscience cyclists off the road there would be a huge amount more traffic.