Blind, aggressive, shortsighted... or just stupid drivers?

[trustysteed]

Not just patronising, silly as well...

how so?

 

[Origamist]

i've never viewed any of the footage because as i've said, i just don't get the point.

Which makes you sound like a bit odd when you're criticising people for posting footage that you have not viewed! What's more, not all of the film/incidents are identical and follow the same pattern.

Recently, Cotterpin has been filming cycling in order to show the council some of the probelms cyclists face after the councillors refused to ride a bikes and see for themselves.

 

[trustysteed]

why do i need to actually view the footage in a thread that clearly states 'bad motorist!' or 'was i in the wrong' blah blah?

 

[Origamist]

why do i need to actually view the footage in a thread that clearly states 'bad motorist!' or 'was i in the wrong' blah blah?

Err, because they're not the same thing. What's more, you don't have to take a thread title literally. In this case, it was leading a question, but if you viewed the film you might disagree with the thread title. As you studiously refuse to view the films, it's hard to take your opinion seriously as you have an opinion based on other peoples' opinion!

 

[Arch]

perhaps someone can tell me why they think posting a video of these incidents would be relevant to the rest of us? what are my chances of having the same incident happen to me by the same motorist on the same road in the same town of somewhere i don't live or ride?

Plenty of reasons. For one, sometimes you just want to say "look at this numpty!", in the same way as you'd tell an anecdote in a pub. For two, sometimes people can suggest ways to avoid a repeat through better roadcraft. For three, sometimes people want reassurance that they haven't done something badly. For four, as Origamist says, you just don't have to look at them...

I was in an office the other day with a view over a busy (but nose to tail) road with a Keep Clear gateway to a hospital, and a pelican crossing. In about 10 minutes I saw dozens of transgressions of various sorts, some more minor than others. The police should just set a traffic officer with a radio in a window like that, and have a man on the ground ready to pull over offenders.

 

[hambones]

Not much wrong with the 3rd incident to be fair - just a bit of a moan for the sake of it.

I would contend that things will improve when it gets darker as I feel far more visible than during twilight which is a notoriously dangerous time to be riding.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

i don't think the police monitor youtube in order to control traffic offences so i'm just not seeing the point?

i'm also not really seeing the point why anybody else here would be interested in viewing them? it always follows the same pattern:

1) cyclist posts video showing example of bad driving etc
2) cyclist asks forum members to confirm that cyclist was in the right and motorist was at fault when cyclist is convinced he was in the right anyway, just pretends to be unsure so he can get attention from other forum members
3) forum members agree with cyclist, nasty motorist
4) all forum parties content that cyclist honour has been maintained

i'm obviously missing something. perhaps someone can tell me why they think posting a video of these incidents would be relevant to the rest of us? what are my chances of having the same incident happen to me by the same motorist on the same road in the same town of somewhere i don't live or ride?

Perhaps admin should create a video footage category purely for these.

Lol - don't remember asking if anyone thought I was in the right/wrong... the title of the video is not a direct question looking for an answer, it is merely asking the viewer to make up their own mind about the events.

The video, for your information, contains a clip in which I get overtaken rather closely by someone who coud have left plenty of room (like the car behind him did)... followed by a lady who is approaching on the opposite side of the road and who julls pulls across in front of me to turn into her drive (very, very slowly so I have to brake from about 20mph to a near standstill) and a chap who zooms past me giving me plenty of room only to reach the traffic lights about 50m ehaed which were turning to red anyway.

I haven't pretended I am unsure whether I'm "in the right" to get some attention - there are some who have asked questions about my positioning (and I respect their opinions) and offered their own thoughts - as I merely posted it to show more of what we cyclists deal with on a daily basis... as Arch says, more of an anecdote about some recent behaviour I have encountered. Nothing more, nothing less.

Has my honour been maintained... unsure... not bothered really either. It's just a video... maybe it's you who needs to chill out!

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Not much wrong with the 3rd incident to be fair - just a bit of a moan for the sake of it.

I would contend that things will improve when it gets darker as I feel far more visible than during twilight which is a notoriously dangerous time to be riding.

No moaning done really, just asked the question "Why?" as the overtake was pointless to reach the traffic lights which were changing. I did say the overtake was good (apart from him speeding somewhat to get past me).... is that all classed as 'moaning' then? Oh well, so be it.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

i'm obviously missing something. perhaps someone can tell me why they think posting a video of these incidents would be relevant to the rest of us? what are my chances of having the same incident happen to me by the same motorist on the same road in the same town of somewhere i don't live or ride?

Pretty minimal I would have thought... but by that logic, what's the point in showing the Evening News each night?...

Wwhat are the chances that I'll get mugged by the same person who mugged someone else in a town that I don't live in?
What are the chances that I'll ever be a 2 year old with cancer who needs 1/2 million for some life-saving operation?

It's of interest for people to see the world we live in. It doesn't have to directly affect their lives in the same way as it has mine or anyone else's. Seems pretty straight forward to me...

 

[goo_mason]

Trustysteed: "Tonight Matthew - I'm going to be Mr Hippo!"

 

[hambones]

Hmmm maybe not worth commenting on then despite the invitation to post as such. No-one wants to be given the rolling eyes treatment. Oh well....

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Hmmm maybe not worth commenting on then despite the invitation to post as such. No-one wants to be given the rolling eyes treatment. Oh well....

Oh, I'm sure there's far worse than that!

 

[kelsen]

Nothing in that footage that I haven't come across on my daily commute into London, certainly not enough to make me give them a second thought. Yes, there are bad drivers out there, but there are equally bad cyclists and pedestrians too. TrustySteed makes a valid point in that there is definitely a 'us and them' mentality between cyclists and motorists which is probably exacerbated by posts like this one. Somebody is either competent or they're not, regardless of whether they are walking, cycling or driving. How many of us would admit to being a bad cyclist or driver? Probably not many if at all.

Shouldn't Sh4rkyBloke be posting footage of bad cycling as well to educate us all in examples of blind, aggressive, shortsighted... or just stupid cyclists?

 

[Origamist]

Yes, there are bad drivers out there, but there are equally bad cyclists and pedestrians too. TrustySteed makes a valid point in that there is definitely a 'us and them' mentality between cyclists and motorists which is probably exacerbated by posts like this one. Somebody is either competent or they're not, regardless of whether they are walking, cycling or driving. How many of us would admit to being a bad cyclist or driver? Probably not many if at all.

Shouldn't Sh4rkyBloke be posting footage of bad cycling as well to educate us all in examples of blind, aggressive, shortsighted... or just stupid cyclists?

1. I was a poor driver and am a so so cyclist.

2. If you have the time/inclination to search, you will find films of poor cycling posted on this board for discussion.

3. "Bad" drivers and "bad" cyclists/pedestrians are not directly comparable. Who creates the greatest danger to others and who has the greatest burden of responsibility?

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Shouldn't Sh4rkyBloke be posting footage of bad cycling as well to educate us all in examples of blind, aggressive, shortsighted... or just stupid cyclists?

I've no problem in doing that... but if I did a vid for every RLJing cyclist I'd be doing them all day!!

I do actually have some footage of a young lady on a bike doing a rather foolish manuouvre, and may get around to posting it.. the fact is though that it's the drivers that put my life at risk when they do something silly, not the bikes (usually).