BBC announces documentary focusing on cyclists and motorists in 'The War On Britain's Roads'

TiNuts - while commending your open-minded view, I think such intelligent programming to which you refer is all but non-existent.

My Dad has first-hand experience of Panorama looking for an environment that suited the intended 'findings' of the programme, with complete lack of interest in the reality.

Unfortunately, entertainment is valued far more highly than education.

I will be more than happy to be wrong, since I would like driver-cyclist relations to improve. I just retain a degree of cynicism regarding the makers of TV programmes and/or the nature of products which will be bought up by the various channels.

Just for fun, anyone like to do a 'Road Tax' sweepstake for this programme?

Just state the time at which you believe the words "road tax" will be mentioned together in a sentence and in that order, the context or speaker are irrelevant.

The correct time will be the one showing when the programme is watched in iPlayer on a PC/Mac browser (just in case the other platforms are slightly different)

Winner gets.. I dunno... a 5% increase in their sensitivity to vertical compliance.

I'm going to stake my claim at 11 minutes 18 seconds.

Four minutes. Liking this game already.

Copied from The Cycle Room Facebook page.
Dear Mr Preval
Reference CAS-1422506-17FWBY

Thank you for contacting us regarding the upcoming BBC One programme 'The War On Britain's Roads'.
I understand you’re unhappy because you feel the above programme will portray cycling and cyclists in a negative light.

I'm sorry you feel this way. We feel this timely documentary highlights a growing issue on Britain’s roads, from the viewpoint of both the motorist and the cyclist. As more and more people take up cycling as a way of beating the traffic or just keeping fit on their commute, the potential for conflict between cyclists and drivers has increased massively.

We will seek to provide the information which will enable viewers to make up their own minds; to show the reality and provide the forum for debate, giving full opportunity for all viewpoints to be heard. We aim to reveal a shocking picture of life on Britain’s roads from both the perspective of the cyclist and drivers.

I'd also like to assure you that I've registered your complaint on our Audience Log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that’s made available to all BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive board, channel controllers and other senior managers. The Audience Logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions on future BBC programmes and content.

Once again, thank you for contacting us.
Kind Regards

I agree that the programme needs to be seen before judgment is passed. However, just the title is sensationalist and wildly innacurate. If it were a 'war', it would be a massacre of a wealthy, high tech weapon-rich state against sticks and stones. One thing which is often missed in these discussions is just how vulnerable and unprotected cyclists are compared to motor vehicle drivers, sat in a couple of tonnes of metal, padded by bags and seats etc., while cyclists are protected by nothing. Is it any wonder, then, that cyclists are on edge and defensive when their lives are regularly threatened by said tons of metal, while the threat to drivers is more along the lines of being irritated, or held up for a few seconds, or,horror, sustaining a scratch to paintwork.
I say this as a driver as well as a cyclist. I'm always aware when driving of how safe I feel in relation to cyclists.

A lazy and cheap way of documentary making for, what is to many of us, a mundane daily activity.....

F*ck off BBC and don't waste what little money you have nabbing the footage from the public just to cause a bit of sensationalism.

FWIW - 20+ years of cycle commuting and racing, very few incidents for me; never needed a camera, don't intend to buy one. This, of course, is up to the individual and how they feel on the road, newbie or just not confident, or what hobbies they enjoy - youtube and video editing is not for me.

I see more road idiocy by cyclists daily than by motorists. This will do more harm than good IMHO.

Well folks - having actually watched it I think you all owe the BBC a big apology. They did a fairly good job I think. They certainly put both sides, even those who were quite clearly in the wrong. However I'd say that the programme overall was in favour of cyclists. Particularly impressive was the cycling policeman who caught someone on a motorbike.