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MCR cyclistVideo: Some drivers "genuinely apologetic" says Manchester helmet cam rider
A Manchester cyclist who uses helmet cam footage to try and shame drivers into improving their behaviour has spoken of his successes in getting apologies from some drivers — but is still remaining anonymous because of abuse from others.
The 24-year-old from Rusholme rides 500 miles a month through the meanstreets of Manchester and posts his videos on his YouTube channel MCR CYclist.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “Drivers who were abusive on the roadside when incidents have happened then view the footage and get in touch to say they are now seeing it from a whole new perspective and are genuinely apologetic. On those occasions, I take down the video because it’s done its job and the drivers seem genuinely aware that what they did was wrong.”
“If I get just one driver to change their ways - and potentially save a cyclist or pedestrian from harm - then what I’m doing is worth it.”
Here's his compilation of his greatest hits - literally in a few cases.
He says uploads only videos where a driver's action has caused serious risk. “If I’m in danger or if I had to take some form of action to prevent myself or others being harmed I upload it.”
Nevertheless, he's asked that his identity be kept hidden so he doesn't get targeted while riding.
“The police have seen my videos and they have spoken to some drivers and considered taking action so I get quite a lot of abuse," he said.
“I don’t want to be vulnerable if people recognise me on my way to work for my own safety.”
John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.
He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.
Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.
John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.
He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.
Latest Comments
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Radar tells me their closing speed, if they are slowing and how far away. Then I decide to say a prayer. The change of light pattern is incidental.
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Quite so, which is why our village 20mph zone covers the whole residential extent. Of course, enforcement is another thing..
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No, that's very doubtful while proper testing would be fully destructive.
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In that £1000 exactly scenario, beginners should probably be made aware that pedals will be extra.
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What's wrong with dropping down on to the Millenium Bridge, or the swing bridge, then the brief, but satisfying climb back up the hill? #training....
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The relatives might of course disagree, but in general I'd countenance a relatively light sentence* if only we could fix it so that those who...
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Id forgotten that I got a second hand set of project two's for my getting to work bike over twenty years back.
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David9694 - you were right! These new autonomous vehicles really are conspiring to run out of control!...
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51 comments
Duncann
Sorry the pedestrian has right of way ALWAYS. If you hit one with a car, motorbike, bicycle you will be in the wrong.
Blame can't be universally and irrevocably assigned - it's neither legally nor morally just.
I'm in favour of strict liability, which puts the onus on the more 'dangerous' mode user to explain themselves - but that relies on the *possibility* that they might NOT have been wrong.
We all have a duty of care to ourselves and others, particularly to the more vulnerable - but that's not the same as saying, "You're bigger, therefore it's always your fault no matter what the circumstances". You are effectively arguing for the prosecution of train drivers who hit trespassers. Trains can't stop quickly or swerve to avoid, of course, but - in some circumstances - neither can bikes (or cars, buses, trucks). Judgement must be case-by-case.
I'm off home. I won't look or wait before crossing the street. I have right of way, and if I get hit by a bus it won't be my fault.
No one ever has 'right of way'. You sound like motorists going on about 'road tax'.
Manchester is an absolute SHIT HOLE, the drivers are some of the worst in the country.
The appalling behaviour is actively encouraged by GMP and Manchester council due to their persistent failures to act and their total incompetence.
I've started using the pavement for probably half my commute, the roads are just too dangerous and I'm a cyclist with decades of experience.
Police and council are the main culprits, Manchester authorities have a culture of accepting criminal behaviour, probably due to the fact they behave in a similar manner.
What an utter hypocrite. You could draw a fire triangle with Commute/Pavement/Criminal written around it and a picture of you barreling along the pavement inside. I hope you don't ride into a child's push chair because you have decided it is safer for you than the road.
Intriguing - could you expand?
Indeed: "Always drive in such a way that you can stop within visible distance". the most fundamental rule of driving.
In the video above, Reckless #2 was a prime example of how *not* to ride in traffic.
This guy has never heard of defensive cycling in traffic……… or looking behind him which would have prevented 99% of those close passing left hooks or buses pulling in on him ……… Another helmet cam numptee.
He's primarily a wannabe film maker.
Surely the line from ChairRDRF should read;
Indeed: "Always drive/ride in such a way that you can stop within visible distance". the most fundamental rule of using the road.
Load of fuss about nothing.
what utter nonsense. I ride in and out of Manchester every single day, 49km round trip. I can safely say that in the past year Ive seen maybe one instance of dangerous driving.
Reckless Driver 3 is, of course, a prat. But the van immediately afterwards? What is the problem there? He sees a car and a bike both turning left (my keyboard is dead, coffee incident...turning is supposed to have inverted commas around it as clearly the rider has been forced left...).
So he sets off. The bike then re enters the main road from the right had side of the side road...once the van has already started moving. Also...wheres the shoulder check from the cyclist when moving back to the main road?
yes, it is driver 3 at fault. But the van driver can only go on what he sees. The cyclist is at fault for driver 4 (and many other incidents in this clip).
Some sweeping generalisations there. You don't say what you mean by "putting themselves at risk" or "almost will motorists to drive badly" (such power over the actions of others) but I suspect you may mean riding in primary position.
I think the usual stages in the development of a camera cyclist are: ride in the gutter -> experience lots of near misses -> learn to ride properly (bikeability) -> experience lots of driver aggression -> start wearing a camera -> get accused of deliberately looking for trouble.
Reality is definitely somewhere between these two statements. Nothing like the internet for polarizing opinions.
not quite. one appears to be a baseless rant accusing all sorts of people of all sorts of things. the other is personal experience. unless you've been on my wheel all year, im not sure how you can disagree with my experiences.
Far be if for me to characterize another persons personal experience, but if you ride as much as you claim and have seen 'MAYBE ONE' (that's one or possibly none) example of bad driving in a year then you were not paying attention. I suggest you are indulging in hyperbole like Urban_Manc if only a little better phrased. I called BS on your statement just as you did on his. Quid pro quo Clarice.
Congratulations on understanding what maybe one means.
However, Dr Lecter, you appear to now be referring to BAD driving, rather than my earlier mention of DANGEROUS driving. Changing the goalposts doesn't help your cause.
I suggest that you know nothing of my riding experiences this year, or indeed the difference between a statement and an observation.
So I wrote bad instead of dangerous, of course I was paraphrasing because that is the nature of conversation, I was not changing the meaning of anything. This being an internet forum you are just looking for opportunities for pedantry. I don't know or care what you do on your bike, but your 'maybe one' statement is just utter rubbish if you cycle in the city. Clearly you don't like being called out and put in the same pot as Urban_Manc but your 'personal experience' is no more valid than his. See if you can come up with another version of your 'you're not me so I am right' shtick.
So I wrote bad instead of dangerous, of course I was paraphrasing because that is the nature of conversation, I was not changing the meaning of anything. This being an internet forum you are just looking for opportunities for pedantry. I don't know or care what you do on your bike, but your 'maybe one' statement is just utter rubbish if you cycle in the city. Clearly you don't like being called out and put in the same pot as Urban_Manc but your 'personal experience' is no more valid than his. See if you can come up with another version of your 'you're not me so I am right' shtick.
I was always under the impression that the Highway Code told you when to give way to other road user, rather than say you have "right of way". Subtle differences, but one that matters.
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