BBC helmet cam film to explore cyclist-motorist conflict

[grumpyoldgit]

If drivers think I'm deliberately blocking their way when I ride assertively then, so be it, I will command the road.

Or he might have said Cry God for Harry, England, and Saint George ,but I dont think so.He was conned into thinking he was making constructive TV,his quote cant be justified,so why try?

 

[jonny jeez]

What a pity the rest of his contributions to the programme were a mix of ignorant ranting and anti-cyclist generalisations...

Quite, hence my surprise

 

[Scruffmonster]

Some of us do both and Magnatom campaigns effectively.

I know. I did acknowledge this quite strongly.

I have no issue with cyclists that are genuinely doing positive, proactive things that result in real world results.

 

[dellzeqq]

Well I thought that Gaz did brilliantly. I know the junction well, and you either streak away when the lights change and get in front of the cabs, or resign yourself to being passed by one of the buggers and probably cut up. The cab driver in the video put Gaz at some risk (although not much because he's a bit spry on the bike) and launched in to one without any justification whatsoever - he was at fault, not Gaz.

What did surprise me was that no other cyclists stopped. I've seen cabs seriously mobbed around Stockwell. If I see a driver threatening a cyclist (and it's usually women who are being threatened) I'll always stop and help out.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Gaz's "I command the road" comment wasn't the only one that was edited to look good, IMO. Probably the "Yeah I know what they're like" comment from the PC was too. The overall position of the programme is clear.

 

[Andrew_P]

Well I thought that Gaz did brilliantly. I know the junction well, and you either streak away when the lights change and get in front of the cabs, or resign yourself to being passed by one of the buggers and probably cut up. The cab driver in the video put Gaz at some risk (although not much because he's a bit spry on the bike) and launched in to one without any justification whatsoever - he was at fault, not Gaz.

What did surprise me was that no other cyclists stopped. I've seen cabs seriously mobbed around Stockwell. If I see a driver threatening a cyclist (and it's usually women who are being threatened) I'll always stop and help out.

I was amazed at the crowd outside the cafe watching as the guy on the bike got thumped in Bexley, not really surprised I supoose just dissapointed.

 

[dellzeqq]

to be fair that happened very quickly. And the assailant, John Nicholls of Dartford was restrained by somebody.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Or he might have said Cry God for Harry, England, and Saint George ,but I dont think so.He was conned into thinking he was making constructive TV,his quote cant be justified,so why try?

I was simply giving an example how the actual words used can be de- or re-contextualised by editing.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

I was amazed at the crowd outside the cafe watching as the guy on the bike got thumped in Bexley, not really surprised I supoose just dissapointed.

One guy did step in,iirc.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

to be fair that happened very quickly. And the assailant, John Nicholls was restrained by somebody.

Yes, his passenger, who knew JN had completely lost it.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

I was simply giving an example how the actual words used can be de- or re-contextualised by editing.

I know,but if anything,it made it worse.When at the bottom of a hole,throw the shovel away.

 

[Andrew_P]

to be fair that happened very quickly. And the assailant, John Nicholls of Dartford was restrained by somebody.

One guy did step in,iirc.

Didn't know that just saw the person standing there arms folded.

 

[fossyant]

Car crash TV - watched half of it - think the rest needs a bottle of wine before hand. Not seen trafficdroid's contribution yet

 

[PK99]

Don't take everything at face value, it's easy to cut around what I said, there would have been sentences before and after those statements which puts them into context.

I like most of the stuff you post, both here and on youtube and think overall your contribution is positive.

But mebbe you should ask yourself if the edit was deliberate distortion to push the producers agenda or whether it was a fair reflection of the overall attitude you presented in the interview and elswhere.

Just picking on your Croydon Cyclist post 21 October. I understand the adrenaline driven expletive outburst, but 10 seconds later you pull up alongside and verbally tear the driver a new one before he has a chance to speak. Mebbe, the driver, like the motorcyclist in the full clip from the programme last night, would have been equally contrite had you first of all pointed out to him just how close and dangerous his pass had been. You seemed to assume his pass had been deliberate. If he had given you a mouthful then the moral high ground would have bee retained (along with further evidence) by simply telling him we was on video and would be reported to the police

I don't ride with a camera but have done as i suggest following close passes, often with positive results. One occasion a while a go in Teddington, I asked the guy to wind down his window (by gesture not rapping on it) and said I felt he had been too close, his response was that I had been a long way out from the parked cars, I told him that was to keep safe by avoiding the door zone the same way he drives some way out. His response was to apologise "I hadn't though of it that way"

In my experience, most conflict on the road arises from ignorance, misunderstanding and simple error. To think or speak in terms of "War" and "Us and Them" is counter productive to the objective of making the roads safer.

 

[Andrew_P]

To be fair as I said in my earlier post the biggest risk for me riding in London traffic would the ability to catch up with the drivers before the adrenaline subsides and my normal easy going personality returns.

I am sure I would adjust to it in a c'est la vie kind of way, but it would take a few run ins before that would kick in.