BBC Panorama this evening

[sidepod]

Cycling Mickey makes an appearance. Discuss.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Great bloke.
Fully support the cause.
He’s doing nothing wrong in my book.

 

[Corradobrit]

What was shocking to me was the lack of repercussions for killing multiple riders. Its the Wild West with minimal consequences for the perps. I would not ride on the public roads in the UK, irrespective of what the Highway Code says. Some douchebag riding too, but that is no excuse for mowing down cyclists.

 

[soulstyledevon]

What was shocking to me was the lack of repercussions for killing multiple riders. Its the Wild West with minimal consequences for the perps. I would not ride on the public roads in the UK, irrespective of what the Highway Code says. Some douchebag riding too, but that is no excuse for mowing down cyclists.

It’s shocking how he killed two and walks away with a suspended sentence…
Should be automatically 10 years in prison for killing a cyclist, no ifs, but’s or maybe’s…

 

[sidepod]

Just another example of how the world is brimmed full of ****s !!!

 

[Amarillo]

It’s shocking how he killed two and walks away with a suspended sentence…
Should be automatically 10 years in prison for killing a cyclist, no ifs, but’s or maybe’s…

I don’t see why killing a cyclist should be treated differently from killing a pedestrian (or any other road user).

On 8 January 2006, Robert Harris killed four cyclists, including a 14 year old child, and injured a further 8 cyclists. He was fined £180 and given 6 points on his licence for driving with three bald tyres - that’s it!

If a builder were to put up defective scaffolding which later collapses and kills four and injures eight they’d be in court for manslaughter.

So why isn’t killing people when driving a defective vehicle treated as manslaughter?

 

[soulstyledevon]

Agree should be a mandatory sentence, unless the driver can claim no fault, which I would say is almost impossible.
This would encourage better driving towards cyclists.

 

[Amarillo]

Agree should be a mandatory sentence, unless the driver can claim no fault, which I would say is almost impossible.
This would encourage better driving towards cyclists.

The only reasonable way to do that would be to make dash cams mandatory to allow the motorist to prove no fault.

On a more controversial point, I think that I encounter fewer bad drivers because about 99% of my cycling is in everyday clothes and no helmet. My theory is that cycle specific clothing somehow dehumanises cyclists in the view of many motorists.

 

[sidepod]

My theory is that cycle specific clothing somehow dehumanises cyclists in the view of many motorists.

Probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever read.

 

[Amarillo]

Probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever read.

You don’t have to agree, but before writing it off as ridiculous, look at the de-humanised label given to a certain type of cyclist: “mamil”.

And there’s the research of traffic psychologist, Ian Walker:
Drivers give, on average, 8cm less space to cyclists wearing a helmet.

Want to be bike-safe? Don a wig, not a lid | BikeBiz

Earlier this year, Dr Ian Walker published research that said White Van drivers passed closer…

bikebiz.com

 

[Azteccamper]

I bought myself a new road bike last year (Giant Defy Advanced2 if anybody wants it) to get back into cycling after cancer treatment - but finding the roads just too much of a risk around South Wales. Yet love it when in Europe. Thinking of going down ebike route for cycle paths, etc

 

[Corradobrit]

I bought myself a new road bike last year (Giant Defy Advanced2 if anybody wants it) to get back into cycling after cancer treatment - but finding the roads just too much of a risk around South Wales. Yet love it when in Europe. Thinking of going down ebike route for cycle paths, etc

Yes, riding in Europe is a completely different proposition. So many many cycle routes and designated trails for bikes in and around Hannover. So good in fact I have been using a bike exclusively for the past year while I wait for my Cali Coast to be delivered. The pedestrians get the short end of the stick though and they need eyes in the back of their heads as most cycle routes are on pavements with just a change in surface or a red brick dividing line.

 

[soulstyledevon]

The only reasonable way to do that would be to make dash cams mandatory to allow the motorist to prove no fault.

On a more controversial point, I think that I encounter fewer bad drivers because about 99% of my cycling is in everyday clothes and no helmet. My theory is that cycle specific clothing somehow dehumanises cyclists in the view of many motorists.

Yes you could install a dash-cam.
But the way I see it. If you killed a cyclist, you weren’t driving with due care.

Cyclist vs car, cyclist always comes off worst. I doubt any cyclist died through their own fault. When I cycle, I anticipate all drivers will do something unexpected or dangerous. I never assume for them to drive correctly and I always cycle at the mid point of the lane of travel.

 

[Amarillo]

Yes you could install a dash-cam.
But the way I see it. If you killed a cyclist, you weren’t driving with due care.

Cyclist vs car, cyclist always comes off worst. I doubt any cyclist died through their own fault. When I cycle, I anticipate all drivers will do something unexpected or dangerous. I never assume for them to drive correctly and I always cycle at the mid point of the lane of travel.

It is not a matter of whether a cyclist has died as a result of their own fault, but whether the cyclist has died as the result of the driver’s fault.

I was once cycling along the A20 through Lewisham with a coach behind me. My handlebar broke and I came off my bike. Fortunately the coach driver came to a stop inches from me, but it could have ended differently. Had the result been fatal it would not be reasonable to find the coach driver automatically guilty unless there is a law that drivers must leave a safe stopping distance between their vehicle and any cyclist.

 

[soulstyledevon]

It is not a matter of whether a cyclist has died as a result of their own fault, but whether the cyclist has died as the result of the driver’s fault.

I was once cycling along the A20 through Lewisham with a coach behind me. My handlebar broke and I came off my bike. Fortunately the coach driver came to a stop inches from me, but it could have ended differently. Had the result been fatal it would not be reasonable to find the coach driver automatically guilty unless there is a law that drivers must leave a safe stopping distance between their vehicle and any cyclist.

Don’t, you’ll have them all asking for bike MOTs next.
Surely a vehicle should leave a safe stopping distance no matter what vehicle it follows…???

 

[sidepod]

It’s called the Highway Code. Something along the lines of “drive according to conditions” which basically means drive in such a way as to avoid any possible situation.

 

[CannellWalker]

Cycling through Lewisham many years ago I had someone try to kick me off my bike,,

 

[Amarillo]

Cycling through Lewisham many years ago I had someone try to kick me off my bike,,

It is a regular occurrence in Lewisham. Gangs lie in wait on the NCR21 (Greenwich to Eastbourne long distance cycle route) as it follows the River Ravensbourne and Pool through Lewisham, push people off their bikes and steal their bikes.

 

[Amarillo]

Don’t, you’ll have them all asking for bike MOTs next.
Surely a vehicle should leave a safe stopping distance no matter what vehicle it follows…???

There’s a difference between a “should” and a “must” in the Highway Code. The latter is enshrined in law.

 

[andyinluton]

Yes you could install a dash-cam.
But the way I see it. If you killed a cyclist, you weren’t driving with due care.

Sorry, it isn't that simple.
There was a tragic case in the news yesterday of a six year old killed by a lorry being used as the reason to ban them from driving through a village, I think it was in Somerset.
The cyclist was still learning & accelerated down a hill, didn't stop at a T junction and rode into the side of a moving lorry. How on earth in any way shape or form is that the drivers fault.

 

[The Merle]

Yes, riding in Europe is a completely different proposition. So many many cycle routes and designated trails for bikes in and around Hannover. So good in fact I have been using a bike exclusively for the past year while I wait for my Cali Coast to be delivered. The pedestrians get the short end of the stick though and they need eyes in the back of their heads as most cycle routes are on pavements with just a change in surface or a red brick dividing line.

Nicky Hayden (MotoGP rider) was killed in Italy on a push bike so can be just be as dangerous on the roads.

 

[Corradobrit]

Nicky Hayden (MotoGP rider) was killed in Italy on a push bike so can be just be as dangerous on the roads.

Well having lived in Italy I wouldn't ride any 2 wheeled conveyance on the highway there. I was thinking the rest of Europe, at least those countries that have made a reasonable fist to segregate the cyclist from the motorist. I've only ridden in Germany and Denmark, and find there is far better cohabitation and respect between the 2 groups in those countries, as more than likely, people occupy both spaces and enjoy both modes of transport.

 

[GrannyJen]

I've had disagreements with others on here regarding cyclingMikey, and I still do.

I think vigilante cyclists riding around with camera's on their head confronting motorists with "Gotcha" just causes more angst. I've had two people prosecuted since August without confronting anyone, and to be honest a policeman knocking on someones door with a video to show someone and "can't you see how dangerous that was?" would do far more than concocting ambushes so as to confront vigilante style other road users.

 

[Amarillo]

I've had disagreements with others on here regarding cyclingMikey, and I still do.

I think vigilante cyclists riding around with camera's on their head confronting motorists with "Gotcha" just causes more angst. I've had two people prosecuted since August without confronting anyone, and to be honest a policeman knocking on some blokes door with a video to show someone and "can't you see how dangerous that was?" would do far more than concocting ambushes so as to confront vigilante style other road users.

Mickey claims not to be a vigilante because he merely photographs and reports. He doesn’t arrest or mete out “justice”.

Other than the scale of the crimes reported it is no different to someone handing in dash cam footage of a bank robbery.

 

[andyinluton]

Mickey claims not to be a vigilante because he merely photographs and reports. He doesn’t arrest or mete out “justice”.

Other than the scale of the crimes reported it is no different to someone handing in dash cam footage of a bank robbery.

If he did just photograph & report I doubt anyone would have a problem with him.
He comes across as deliberately antagonistic & escalates every situation.

Someone handing in photos of a bank robbery doesn't normally wind up the robber, prevent them from getting away & force them to put the money back all after they've been filmed.