Hyperbole, Bad Riding, or Typical

[BrumJim]

Article is here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-16871328
Now this is my home patch. Aston nick is no more than 5 minutes walk from my office, and Stourbridge is home to several CCers on here, and a bit further than my Saturday morning ride to Halesowen.

I've never been clipped by a wing mirror. In 2.5 years of daily cycling, and much longer regular riding I've been knocked off once by a car, three times by other cyclists. On the other hand, I tend to avoid roads as much as possible, taking the cycle route through the park, and the canals out of town if the weather isn't against me.

Am I lucky, or is the subject of this article doing something wrong? Or exaggerating for effect?

 

[BSRU]

Maybe he needs some "Bikeability" training, the article gives very little information about his riding experience.
As someone who cycles on the road I know better road positioning can have a big affect on close passes/left hooks/SMIDSYs.
It does not eliminate them it just reduces them.
Also he may be taking a route that is not really suitable but the article does not really enlighten us.

 

[2Loose]

James Cracknell did...

I have had my jacket sleeve clipped by wing mirrors on more than one occasion in rush hour traffic and I must sympathise with the bloke in the article.

People seemingly unaware about how wide their vehicles are, along with making a turning while misjudging my speed are the two most common annoyances\fears on my commute.

 

[ferret fur]

Yes, by all means blame in the victim in the absence of any other evidence.

 

[jamin100]

oh god i hope my missus doesnt watch that tonight or i'll be banned from taking the bike to work all together!
Its does worry you a bit though. My commute is 11 miles and so far I've had no incidents at all but hopefully thats because im not riding in either rush hour....

 

[growingvegetables]

Am I lucky, or is the subject of this article doing something wrong?

Maybe he's just cycling on the road?

I tend to avoid roads as much as possible, taking the cycle route through the park, and the canals out of town.

 

[400bhp]

WTF is a ViP liaison officer?

Usual crap hyperbole.

No real description of the person's cycling skills or the route taken. I suspect a lot of new cyclists take the route they would take by car.

 

[dawesome]

That's appalling journalism, the whole article is based on the presumption cycling's more dangerous because injuries and deaths have risen, without even bothering to mention the increase in cycling rates. It may well be that cycling's safer if the increase in miles cycled is greater than the rise in incidents.

You are about as likely to be killed or seriously injured on a bike as winning the lottery. I have no idea why when it comes to cycling the BBC's reporting is so piss poor.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

I wouldn't say it's anymore dangerous cycling around these parts as anywhere else. The number of cyclist killed on the roads is going to increase because the number of cyclist on the road is increasing rapidly. More people are getting on there bikes and commuting. I've noticed a steady increase in the last 18 months.

 

[hennbell]

Poor journalism, feeding the cycling is dangerous drive a car mentality.

 

[mumbo jumbo]

My patch too BJ. I wonder why this chap went to the press in the first place? If he thinks he has had his desired effect that's pretty sad. It's a very unbalanced piece. There are plenty of cycling groups in the Midlands who would have been well placed to provide some balance to the piece but the journo was just to lazy to seek it out. Poor editorial control.

mj

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Poor journalism, feeding the cycling is dangerous drive a car mentality.

+1 on that, I watched the program and didn't think much of it, I also thought some of his riding was a bit ify.