BBC helmet cam film to explore cyclist-motorist conflict

[redcard]

Well if you come to where I live then I can garuntee you that you would at least triple those figures.

If you went to where Gaz lives I'm sure you would also be able to triple his figures. Easy!

 

[Jon2]

No, I liked him. Clearly a well-meaning guy, but he really needs to learn when to shut up. The part where he broke into tears recollecting his 'encounter' showed that he's probably quite fragile. I mean, apart from the confrontation part, how many of us have had close shaves like his? I had something very similar happen to me recently, with a tractor pulling a massive piece of machinery: he passed me too close and then cut me up, nearly hitting me with the blade of his plough thingy. I don't cry about it, though.

I got the impression that the incident he was upset about was not recorded on camera, he said something along the lines that the incident was what made him create traffic droid.

Also, his clip that was shown where he was nearly taken out by a van and trailor, yes his road position could have been better, but that doesn't change the fact he passed by two vans, one on each side at the same time. Both were far too close to him, and very scary would be an understatement. I don't know if it's what people here intended, but saying his road position was wrong seems to be trying to justify the actions of the two drivers.

Edit: Someone may have to correct me, but didn't traffic droid say something about being knocked off in the incident he was upset about? I'm sure that would upset me more than the close passes.

 

[Andrew_P]

Edit: Someone may have to correct me, but didn't traffic droid say something about being knocked off in the incident he was upset about? I'm sure that would upset me more than the close passes.

I have been aware of him from YT before this programme and frankly thought he was a bit of a nutter, but as with most things in life there is a story behind how he behaves. Unless his reaction to an accident "that could have killed me" 3 years ago was made up the fella is only managing to carry on cycling (clearly something he loves) through the superhero persona of TrafficDroid, a cloak for his ongoing fear of getting wiped out again.

Thats how I thought it came across.

I also totally agree with the road postion thing, it should not matter where you are in road no other humans should take such risks with others more fragile than their mode of transport with such a small margin of error.

Same goes for gutter riders or soft secondary riders the FACT is cars lorries etc should nver pass at under a metre. Sad fact is that primary even has to exist in cycling on shared road networks

 

[benborp]

Yeah, I think any of us might have reacted emotionally at the time - for some that emotion could be aggression, others might break into tears; but he was recollecting something that happened several months ago, and it's still affecting him such that he breaks down when talking about it.

The process of recounting a traumatic experience in these kind of interview situations can have quite a profound effect. Especially with the footage in front of you.
I was interviewed over an incident that was shown last night. Those few seconds of aggression had had little effect over my day to day life in the months that followed. Recounting them as a witness in court wasn't particularly nerve-wracking. But being questioned about my feelings over the incident rather my actions was more challenging. I was also taken back to the place where it happened. I had only passed through the area once before, for about a minute on the day of the attack and yet it felt as if I was returning to somewhere from my childhood. It was a very strange, emotional, experience.

Anyhow, Cynthia Barlow, through RoadPeace, has issued a press release:
http://www.roadpeace.org/resources/PR_061212_War_on_Britains_Roads.pdf

 

[Andrew_P]

I don't use a helmet cam, I never have, and I can't imagine I ever will.

Nor me, but my views on those that do has softened in as much as I am quite glad they do, hopefully in the future it might make a few people think twice before doing something silly or even worse like the Bexley incident.

 

[veloevol]

No, I liked him. Clearly a well-meaning guy, but he really needs to learn when to shut up. The part where he broke into tears recollecting his 'encounter' showed that he's probably quite fragile. I mean, apart from the confrontation part, how many of us have had close shaves like his? I had something very similar happen to me recently, with a tractor pulling a massive piece of machinery: he passed me too close and then cut me up, nearly hitting me with the blade of his plough thingy. I don't cry about it, though.

real men cry

 

[BentMikey]

No, I liked him. Clearly a well-meaning guy, but he really needs to learn when to shut up. The part where he broke into tears recollecting his 'encounter' showed that he's probably quite fragile. I mean, apart from the confrontation part, how many of us have had close shaves like his? I had something very similar happen to me recently, with a tractor pulling a massive piece of machinery: he passed me too close and then cut me up, nearly hitting me with the blade of his plough thingy. I don't cry about it, though.

Oh no mate, I think you misunderstood. He was recalling his (I think fairly serious) crash caused by another driver entirely some time ago, and that particular video brought it all back to him. It's since that crash that he got the cameras and became the droid.

 

[Matthew_T]

I wonder why they didn't look you up, then.

They were searching early this year. I got my cam in March and hadnt uploaded anything worth watching really. Things have changed now.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

On the programme it said the average speed in London is 11mph, I live in a large village close to a large town, I use lanes , minor and trunk roads as well as the Motorway on a weekly basis and over a couple of months my car computer is telling me my average CAR speed is 27mph, and i cycle at an avarage 15mph on the bike.

So does it make it safer to be able to travel at the same speed as cars, being in amongst them, or is safer to be going slower, so once a car has passed its gone on its merry way.


I prefer the latter, but not sure if it’s the safer option as I have only cycled in the City once and after ten minutes thought “sod this”.

You get used to it,it's no big deal.

 

[Sandra6]

Well, I enjoyed it for what it was, a random compilation show. It didn't really make any points and will no doubt fuel the anti-cyclist mob and amuse or irk the actual cyclists depending on their mindset.
I loved the guy with his cards "you'll be on you tube in 48hours" Classic. The way he caught the RLJer was brilliant - then left him hanging when he offered a fist bump!!!
I was quite surprised with what Gaz actually looks like, I never imagined him like that - not that I spend many an hour imagining you or anything Gaz
Apart from the courier's racing, I'd seen all the clips before, but it was good to hear the story behind them in more detail.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

I got the impression that the incident he was upset about was not recorded on camera, he said something along the lines that the incident was what made him create traffic droid.

Also, his clip that was shown where he was nearly taken out by a van and trailor, yes his road position could have been better, but that doesn't change the fact he passed by two vans, one on each side at the same time. Both were far too close to him, and very scary would be an understatement. I don't know if it's what people here intended, but saying his road position was wrong seems to be trying to justify the actions of the two drivers.

Edit: Someone may have to correct me, but didn't traffic droid say something about being knocked off in the incident he was upset about? I'm sure that would upset me more than the close passes.

I think you're right on all points

 

[PK99]

They were searching early this year. I got my cam in March and hadnt uploaded anything worth watching really. Things have changed now.

some might disagree with your view on that

 

[Jimmy Doug]

real men cry

Don't get me wrong on this - I'm not saying he's a wimp. I'm the first man to cry. I was saying that the fact that he still cries shows that his experience has traumatised him more profoundly than I think the incident shown on film should. But, I think Jon2 raised some important points about this.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

@Gaz. I'd really like to know how you feel about that taxi driver now. Have you seen him since the 'event'? I know my attitude towards him softened as the show progressed. At first I thought he was an agressive thug.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

some might disagree with your view on that

Heh,I was going to reply to this but im too polite.