BBC Sussex has deleted a tweet in which it asked "Who's to blame here? The cyclist or the van?" in relation to an incident in which a van driver, who was subsequently sacked, was filmed forcing a cyclist off the road.
Footage of the incident received blanket media coverage over the weekend and as we reported on Sunday, once it came to the attention of the managing director of Vidette UK Ltd, the company the van belonged to, the driver's employment was immediately terminated.
> VIDEO: Van driver forces cyclist off road; QC offers help to sue
Despite the company's firm action and apology, BBC Sussex framed the incident on Twitter this morning in a way that suggested the cyclist, who managed to remain upright and escaped without injury, may have done something wrong.
Its tweet was condemned by a number of Twitter users, including cycling campaigners, media figures and even West Midlands Police, and was later deleted - but not before a screengrab had been taken of it by several Twitter users, including the Guardian’s Peter Walker.
. @BBCSussex seem to have deleted their absurd "who's to blame?" tweet on van driver forcing cyclist off the road. Here it is for posterity pic.twitter.com/KptzUXyCeu
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) May 9, 2017
@BBCSussex @sussex_police Some say there's no such thing as a stupid question @BBCSussex with a world first #partoftheproblem #findwallbanghead #helpusnothinder
— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) May 9, 2017
@BBCSussex You are irresponsibly promoting assault with a van as some sort of debate. Like @Trafficwmp say, you are part of the problem.
— Chris Gerhard (@chrisgerhard) May 9, 2017
After the original tweet had been deleted, BBC Sussex claimed it had been trying "to stimulate debate," adding that "the wording was ill judged."
CYCLING Thank you for comments about our earlier tweet. We are very interested in the cycling safety debate .... 1/2
— BBC Sussex (@BBCSussex) May 9, 2017
CYCLING .... but in attempt to stimulate debate the wording was ill judged. We are now removing it. 2/2
— BBC Sussex (@BBCSussex) May 9, 2017
However, a number of people replying questioned why the broadcaster even felt that there was a "debate" to be had in the first place.
@BBCSussex It is not the *wording* that was ill-judged. It was the premise.
— Jon (@ormondroyd) May 9, 2017
@BBCSussex Can you talk me through the thought process please? I'm not getting it. Would you do that for any form of assault not involving a vehicle?
— Cab Davidson (@gnomeicide) May 9, 2017
@BBCSussex You've apologised for bad wording, but you should actually apologise for thinking that there is something to debate here.
— Laura Smith (@laura_smythe) May 9, 2017
Here's the footage that prompted BBC Sussex to ask who was "to blame."
Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.