Live blog: Kensington and Chelsea turned against cycle lane after 450 emails; Video – Cyclist won’t let motorist take shortcut down wrong side of the road, then the police turn up; MSPs vote against 20mph speed limit + more
SUMMARY
“That dent in your bonnet is your own fault”
“It’s happened before and it will happen again,” we said when reporting a driver’s attempt to head down the wrong side of the road to turn right at a junction in Regent’s Park earlier in the week.
Well, here it is happening again.
The video, which was again supplied by CyclingMikey, stars an irate Mercedes driver who simply cannot comprehend why the cyclist is asking him to go back.
After driving into CyclingMikey three times, he gets out of his car, at which point the police turn up.
The motorist was issued with two tickets – one for the driving offence and one for a public order offence.
The attempted shortcut cost him 25 minutes.
The driver from earlier in the week has also been sent a notice of intended prosecution.
MSPs vote against 20mph speed limit
We saw this one coming. The BBC reports that MSPs have voted down a bill seeking to make 20mph the standard speed limit on residential streets in Scotland.
Campaigners say a default 20mph in built up areas would improve road safety for the most vulnerable road users, and without a national standard, and a simplification of the “labyrinthine” process to reduce speeds, there will be a “postcode lottery” of safety on Scotland’s streets.
British Cycling said the bill, “presented MSPs with a golden opportunity to make our streets safer and more welcoming for people travelling by bike or on foot, giving them a real alternative to travelling by car.”
However, in a letter sent to Sustrans Scotland, the Scottish transport minister, Michael Matheson, said he would not back a blanket reduction of the national speed limit.
A majority of MSPs on Holyrood’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee then decided not to recommend approval of the bill, arguing that the “one size fits all” approach proposed was inappropriate.
MSPs voted accordingly. Friends of the Earth Scotland called the move “a damning indictment of a parliament that pays lip service to the need for a reduction in car use”.
Congratulations...
Cycling Mikey's on TV now
A video’s doing the rounds of a member of the public stopping a driver going the wrong way along a road to avoid traffic nearby.
Is it good to be a vigilante and call people out like this when they’re breaking the law or doing something wrong? Or is it best left to the cops? pic.twitter.com/CZAUlDJr8u
— Jeremy Vine On 5 (@JeremyVineOn5) June 14, 2019
The clip below is now up for debate on Channel Five show ‘Jeremy Vine on 5’ this morning. Responses on Twitter are mixed so far, we’ve stuck the telly on record to see what Jeremy’s panel and audience make of it.
People will die because of "cynical political stunt" says cycling commissioner after Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea ditches support for Holland Park cycle lane
Jeremy Clarkson and Felicity Kendal are among those who have spoken out against the proposed scheme.
Jim Davidson news!
To all you twitter moaners re my coment on my home town. It is purely the congestion and traffic I cannot bare but all you lefties can still call me racsist if if gets you off Charlton? You can bypass London and go through Kent.
— Jim Davidson (@JimDOfficial) June 14, 2019
Jim Davidson began trending on Twitter yesterday evening thanks to this charming post, in which he said he’s “never coming to London again” because of “khan” (sic). For the sake of argument we’ll assume he means Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.
Twitter then helpfully reminded Davidson – whose act features jokes about gay people and the disabled – that he was in fact due to appear at the Dorchester to ‘entertain’ people literally that evening.
This morning Davidson attempted to clarify his London boycott by saying: “It is purely the congestion and traffic I cannot bare”…
Why the entertainer might want to bare himself to traffic, we don’t know, but on the subject of moaning about congestion while driving around London, Davidson does have previous – he’s complained about the building of Cycle Superhighways in the past, and was caught on camera by the BBC shouting that “Jeremy Corbyn is an environmental disaster” during the Extinction Rebellion protests from the comfort of his large SUV.
George Bennett has an opinion on Juan Jose Cobo
Cobo was stripped of his 2011 Vuelta a Espana win earlier this week.
In 2012 I was flying to tour of Beijing, I was sitting next to this fat mechanic from Movistar. About half way through the flight I realized it wasn’t a mechanic but the “winner” of the previous years vuelta. Everyone knew he was taking the piss- shame it took this long
— George Bennett? (@georgenbennett) June 13, 2019
Mail and Telegraph suggest Birmingham cycle lane has somehow caused congestion despite zero change to motor vehicle capacity
If you’re in a car, the road’s exactly the same. There was always congestion. This isn’t that complicated.
A cyclist's view of Holland Park
Regarding Kensington and Chelsea withdrawing support for the Holland Park cycle lane, our own Simon MacMichael rides that way regularly.
He says:
I cycle through Holland Park Avenue regularly, and it is the single worst stretch of road for cycling between Ealing and the West End.
Westbound is fine – it’s a slight downhill, there’s no parking on that side, and there’s a decent chance of catching a green wave on the lights heading towards Shepherds Bush.
Eastbound, though, is something else altogether.
More often than not, the motor traffic is queued up, the car parking along the parade of shops means there is a constant risk of getting doored, pedestrian islands cause pinch points but that doesn’t stop motorists – including those driving buses or coaches – trying to squeeze past, and on top of all that you have to be vigilant at every junction for potential left hooks.
All this in a two or three hundred metre stretch of road.
The boroughs that *get* cycling – Ealing is one, even without Mini Holland money – are doing some terrific work.
Kensington & Chelsea, plus Westminster, don’t – and given their central locations, that is an absolute disgrace.
I’m not a bike commuter, I don’t ride a road bike in London, and I don’t wear Lycra – the stereotype that opponents of segregated infrastructure would have you believe.
I just ride my ex-Royal Mail bike in everyday clothes with my little dog in the basket, and all I want is to get into town in one piece.
And every time I get through Holland Park and up the little kick to Notting Hill Gate, I let out a little sigh of relief.
30mph cyclists "more alarming" than 50mph motorists says Dartmoor Speedwatch Group
Our favourite quote, about cyclists riding within the speed limit: “I really think it’s about time something was done about this group of people who seem to be invisible to the authorities but pose a very real danger on the road.”
Kensington and Chelsea turned against cycle lane after 450 emails
Even more on Kensington and Chelsea withdrawing support for the Holland Park cycle lane.
The Guardian reports that they did so after receiving 450 emails against the scheme. The newspaper points out this is under 0.3% of the borough’s population.
You can read Simon’s account of what the road’s currently like for cyclists a little further down the page.
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Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn’t especially like cake.
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Latest Comments
I'll counter that by saying the Bryton 750se I have drives me nuts at times. Inconsistantly picks up on routes created on Komoot and the app re-syncs every few seconds when trying to set up the device and sends me back to the home screen. The most infuriating one is that I turned live track on. Once. It now won't turn off and repeatedly flags up the live track is starting, and then disconnecting every few seconds whilst riding. I haven't timed it but it wouldn't suprise me if 10-20% of the time the the screen is covered with an error message. That's been about 6 weeks now. Other than that it's great :/
RE: Police launch road safety operation... by clamping down on cyclists using footbridge Meanwhile in Glasgow, Police Scotland are riding their motorbikes over the pedestrian and cyclists only bridge. https://x.com/FietserGlasgow/status/2065106152917012523?s=20
@Paul J Van Schip certainly seems a bit of a dick, but he's a European and multiple World Champion on the track, pretty sure you don't get there without having some talent in your legs.
Poor Vincent cannot get over the simple fact that given the choice people prefer dedicated cycling spaces, rather than pretending to be cars like vehicular cyclists.
What is the point of the fancy air sensor if it can't account for changing weather conditions?? If all you care about is a delayed approximation of aerodynamic watts in steady conditions, you don't need any special sensors for that. Just your speed on a decently flat course is enough to approximate rolling resistance and drivetrain losses. And the rest must be aero. If you assume a less aero body position at the same watts, your speed will drop while rolling resistance also drops, which means approximated aero watts goes up. And that's enough to demonstrate what you've shown in your testing protocol ("I sat upright and the number went up a little while later").
Your correction is accurate - it's almost always been "the (lack of) thought that (doesn't) count". "Massive" - less than a billion a year spent on active travel (trying to catch up / building a network across the entire country) Not massive - 6 billion every year (2026-2030) spent on road *maintenance* of existing "already built, goes everywhere, very convenient" road network for inactive travel Ultimately the reason "cycle infra" is *needed* is those unbelievably colossal amounts spent every year (and for more than a century now) on making mass motoring not just viable but apparently the "best choice" for most journeys. As the Dutch and others have shown, the majority of people *are* prepared to cycle and even mix with very light, slow local motor traffic *if* cycling is also made safe and convenient for the whole of their journey (including secure parking at both ends). (The history of the financial drivers of the current situation are a complex topic but note that while people complain about "crumbling roads" and underfunded motor infra - with some reason - by us continuing the fuel duty escalator freeze (for example) we're actually helping motorists pay *even less* for that activity / subsidising more of the cost of driving than ever.)
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
74 thoughts on “Live blog: Kensington and Chelsea turned against cycle lane after 450 emails; Video – Cyclist won’t let motorist take shortcut down wrong side of the road, then the police turn up; MSPs vote against 20mph speed limit + more”
Fair enough refusing to get
Fair enough refusing to get out of the way on your normal journey but I’m not sure of the wisdom of hiding up in the bushes.
He’s going to end up getting lumped by someone.
hirsute wrote:
According to the Youtube video a cyclist was hit by a van whose driver was performing this very maneouver, at this location. If he is willing to invest his time into this, I think it is admirable.
jh27 wrote:
According to the Youtube video a cyclist was hit by a van whose driver was performing this very maneouver, at this location. If he is willing to invest his time into this, I think it is admirable.
— hirsuteI don’t dipute any of that, I just think he is going to come unstuck with this tactic when he meets a rabid driver.
He was fortunate the Police turned up when they did, although why the driver was not marched off for assault is unclear. The Police need to be more proactive in this spot.
What is the video btw ?
hirsute wrote:
Sorry, it was in the description of this video, on YouTube. Looking more closely, it doesn’t say specifically that it was at this location.
— Update, in one of the YouTube comments, Mikey clarifies:
“Only about 40 minutes. This guy turned up in the first 5 minutes. Didn’t get anyone else because unsurprisingly nobody dares to do that with a police car there. With the Doctors video I got 6 drivers in about 40 minutes that day. The reason I’m waiting for these drivers is that this is a notorious blackspot, and a cyclist was knocked off here recently by a van driver doing the same shortcut. Lots of the Regents Park cyclists are complaining about these idiots and have had close calls with them.”
jh27 wrote:
It’s moot now as we have this post which covers the same scenario.
hirsute wrote:
Is he, what probability over getting rammed/sid swiped/driven over whilst cycling on the roads?
I’ve been waiting over 30 years for a motorist to not just get out their motor and give it a gob full of shite but for them to get physical, they are ALL gutless cretins, that includes the young pups in their 20s/30s, big mouths and that’s it.
It does all depend on your background and your mentality as to how far you’ll go/stand up, it’s been a very, very long time since I had a fight and for that I am thankful because these things can and do end really badly. I know that some people will carry a weapon but for me I think if you’re gonna start brandishing a blade/bat/lump of metal or start throwing punches then you’d better know what you’re doing because if that’s how it’s going to be then it will be no holds barred. I guess I’m one of the fight persons but I fully respect those that flight, there’s no shame in it whatsoever, it is an equally valid option, we all have our choices to make rightly or wrongly for our own preservation AND our own mental well being.
I just think the chances of getting lumped/stabbed/battered with a lump of metal/bat is massively more remote than getting struck on the roads by a motorist using an even bigger weapon.
ATEOTD you can’t not applaud him and IMHO it’s everyone’s right to protect other human beings from harm, whether that be directly or indirectly.
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
Sure, in the course of a normal journey.
I think the odds change a bit if you hid up in bushes looking for trouble.
I’m not generally a fan of
I’m not generally a fan of deliberate confrontation, and with the wrong driver it could end very badly but my hat is doffed to Mikey – That is a thing of beauty. It could not have panned out better with plod turning up when they did, the driver getting a fine, points and a nice self inflicted dent as a wonderful reminder of the incident every time he looks at it.
Mungecrundle wrote:
Except that the only thing of which it will remind him will be the fackin’ cyclist who got in his fackin’ way when he wasn’t fackin’ doin’ nuffink wrong, innit?
From now, until the day that he draws his last breath, that selfish c**t will never accept that he has done anything wrong. He is simply the ‘victim’ of a ‘vigilante’ cyclist. Of a ‘lycra lout’ who ‘thinks he owns the road’, but who ‘doesn’t know the difference between red and green’, and who ‘is always on the fackin’ pavement’. And all of this without payin’ no fackin’ road tax.
And all of his friends will nod sympathetically, and tell him what he should have done to that ‘cant’, if the Old Bill hadn’t turned up when it did.
I am constantly amazed that so many commentators on road.cc appear to completely underestimate the depth of the enraged, visceral hatred that the British driving public has for the British cyclist.
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:
I have to agree, this action just promotes an us and them conflict.
I’d like to see Mikey discarding his cycling gear and doing this as a concerned citizen rather than as a cyclist.
Or better still involve the police.
bikeman01 wrote:
Oh, no. That’s not what I’m saying. The ‘them and us’ mentality exists, but very little of it is fed by cyclists, or – despite somewhat bizarre claims to the contrary – by road.cc.
The British driver sees himself as a victim. He is utterly convinced that road traffic laws are too harsh (and genuinely does not see the de facto – and often de jure – impunity with which he cuts a swathe through the British landscape, killing animals, people and the environment on his way), and that he is a ‘cash cow’ for the British exchequer. One of his main allies in this plaintive whining about how he’s hard done to, is the right-wing press – which in 21st century Britain, is essentially ‘all of the press’.
The myth of the ‘war on the motorist’ didn’t just materialise out of thin air. Nor was it coined by the car drivers, most of whom are too demonstrably thick to conjure up anything more imaginative than ‘pay fackin’ road tax!’ as they whizz past at 50 mph in a 20 mph zone, safe in the knowledge that plod won’t do anything because most of them don’t give a flying shit, and because the ones who do, have been roped into sitting in front of a PC every day by their inspector, checking to see whether any comedians have dared to say anything derogatory about Nigel Farage.
The right-wing press in the UK – with the Daily Mail, the Sun and the Express at the forefront – can only be described as utterly evil, and their profitable contracts with the Road Haulage Association, the automobile manufacturers and the petrochemical multinationals, are what pushes them to champion the most destructive means of mass transportation that our species has yet invented, to the detriment of anyone who thinks that he or she can get about without an internal combustion engine.
So no. They don’t hate us because of what this guy does. They hate us because we exist.
bikeman01 wrote:
It IS ‘us and them’ and no amount of wishful thinking or bemoaning the sterling efforts of folks like Mikey will resolve that. I’ve spoken about it on Twitter when this video originally appeared. I hit that blind left hand corner many times a week as part of my commute and as part of 100’s of cyclists chainganging Regents Park. If that driver and everyone he’s already nicked did that infront of a crew on that corner it would be ugly. Mikey is stopping serious incidents from happening. For that he has my respect.
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:
Exactly this.
Out on bike on Wednesday doing a couple of errands. Taking the lane on quiet residential road, as cars parked on the right, so no space to overtake – van driver behind me revving engine in an intimidating way trying to get me to move over to let him pass, despite red traffic lights ahead – narrow bridge – and a couple of other cars already waiting there. The lights went green as we approached, but more of the same conditions past the bridge until turning onto main road. Driver finally had room to safely get past, but busy making “wanker” signs at me for holding him up for a few seconds over less than 0.1 of a mile!
While good on him for taking a stand and preventing some possible head-on collisions, with both other vehicles and cyclists, I agree with Hirstute and Morgoth – you’ve made your point, now let the police deal with it, before someone really gives you a kicking or, like Legs suggests, he takes it out on another cyclist somewhere else with worse consequences.
LastBoyScout wrote:
No, I think more people should do it. I just think that if you’re going to do it, then make sure you’re able to defend yourself when the inevitable attack comes from the self-entitled, verminous dog called ‘the British driver’. Whether that’s a weapon or your fists, is up to you.
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:
I can see your point. I think that driver honestly has no idea what he did that was wrong… FFS he’s even trying to argue the point to the police!
Pity Mikey wasn’t holding a d-lock when he fell onto the bloke’s bonnet…
Yes, great outcome. Now
Yes, great outcome. Now would be a good time to quit the jumping-out-of-bushes bit while you’re ahead.
Good for him, keep up the
Good for him, keep up the good work.
These drivers could easily collide with a pedestrian or cyclist or even another vehicle 🙂 . So his calm confrontational method is very effective in dealing with the self righteous
CyclingMikey, many thanks.
CyclingMikey, many thanks. We need more people like you. Perhaps cyclists need their own Extinction Rebellion?
You can see why he does this, as several cyclists are shown pulling out left into the middle of the road at some speed, because there is no traffic from the right. This is a collision waiting to happen, and CyclingMikey is saving broken bones and lives.
burtthebike wrote:
According to the video, it is a collision that has already happened.
My favourite bit about the
My favourite bit about the whole incident was right at the end of the video when CyclingMike sees a bike go past and says “gorgeous bike”. He’s just a fan of cycling who has the means and cajones to confront these idiots.
I for one thank him for taking a stand against irresponsible drivers – hopefully a nice fine, some points, and a healthy dose of reflection are needed.
If I did something like that where I live, I doubt the police would find my body for a couple of months given the lack of resource my local police force has. Hopefully my wife would notice I wasn’t around as much.
That is a very dangerous
That is a very dangerous closed junction, you can’t see much until the last minute of your approach from either side, and your priority is the check the right for traffic in your intended lane. It’s painted with double yellows for a reason, to keep it clear of obstacles. I’ve flown round there thousands of times when I used to ride the park, as I am entitled to do, it would be a bloody nasty collision for anyone hitting a car head or side on
That’s a deliberate collision
That’s a deliberate collision and using the car as a weapon so hopefully more than a couple of FPNs.
Isn’t Mikey the guy who pulled the emergency stop on a bus a couple of years back? Was also on this site.
However, he’s going to end up getting seriously injured or properly lamped if he keeps doing that. Perhaps the Met should do an enforcement blitz there for a few days rather than leaving it to the general public?
So you create a situation and
So you create a situation and then complain about the situation…..
I can see the guy in the cars logic, he wants to turn right and the road is clear, nobody is coming and in fact traffic moves easier. He’s not expecting to be ambushed by someone who didn’t really want to use the road at all and is just being a twat.
Typical nonsense from those without a driving licence with no perspective on how the roads work for all users.
Meanwhile the video taker will probably turn left on a red light later that day…..
Rick_Rude wrote:
The problem is if you’re joining that road it’s a tight corner with poor visibility and you’ll only be checking to your right (quite apart from the fact what the driver is doing is completely illegal)
With left turns you have an expectation that there won’t be anything on the wrong side of the road, otherwise give way lines would be utterly pointless
Rick_Rude wrote:
Of course you can see the entitled anti-social twat driver’s “logic”. It’s the same “logic” you use, isn’t it? The ‘might is right and I don’t care about anyone but myself because rules are for other people” logic.
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
I see more of what goes on that you as you don’t even have a driving licence and have probably never had to take in the world at more than 15mph. It’s easy to be right and not make mistakes on a bike when you’re travelling so slowly. I know this from from experience of nearly all forms of motorised of transport (apart from lorries) as well as cycles. You’re more biased than me about what should be the rights and wrongs of using the road, even though you clearly can only see the cyclists view.
This said I think you’d be pretty good at driving the outrage bus. ALL ABOARD!
Rick_Rude wrote:
As someone with a driving licence for 20+ years, driving daily, i find:
-It’s easy not to drive on the wrong side of the road.
-It’s easy not to repeatedly drive into someone standing in the road until your bonnet is dented.
Rick_Rude wrote:
Obvious troll is obvious.
Rick_Rude wrote:
Thought so – entitled petrolhead who only cares about himself and sees the world through a windscreen. Are you one of the berks who nearly knocked me down when driving on the wrong side of a traffic island when I was crossing the road as a pedestrian? Sounds like it.
(Similar logic to “How can you complain about people stabbing people when you dont’ carry a knife in the street” “You can’t object to racism unless you’ve been a member of the BNP”)
Rick_Rude wrote:
Statistics are that 80% of cyclists also drive. I’ve held a driving licence for 25 years and my daily commute to and from work by car is 35 miles.
I see appalling illegal driver behaviour every day, including recently having nearly been taken out by a red-light jumping fellow motorist. If a cyclist does that there’s barely any risk to me at all.
In the meantime here’s an article about one insurance company’s views on the insurance risk for drivers who also cycle, informed by a scientific study, not anecdote.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2018/10/09/cyclists-are-better-drivers-than-motorists-finds-study/#376caf536f6c
Rick_Rude wrote:
What a tiresome troll you are. Go back http://www.rhafansite.com now… And brag about the cyclists you upset…
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
The ‘might is right’ attitude is the default. I’m at home today – one of the perks of being near the end of my tenure before the big move – and decided I fancied some snacks. The big Tesco is about a mile and a half from here. I drove. Because every single time I go out, it’s aggro. Close passes, threats, left hooks. Dare to remonstrate – as I usually do – and they’ll get out of the car to challenge you. Often, a knife is displayed or – as in one particular case that the police saw fit to ignore – a firearm.
This is the point where I should say something like, ‘government policies are failing’ because they’re not encouraging active travel. But government policies are geared to make cycling as dangerous and inconvenient as possible, so as to increase use of the motor car.
In that respect, they are fabulously successful.
Legs_Eleven_Worcester wrote:
It does seem that way in practice. Generally they send the message that everyone is expected to be in a car most of the time – if you aren’t, then it’s made clear that you are a second-class citizen. What’s most annoying is once they’ve finished making it as inconvenient and dangerous as possible to go anywhere by bike or on foot, then they start pronouncing that obesity and health is a matter of ‘personal responsibility’.
I don’t want a nanny-state, I just want a state that doesn’t actively try to prevent me looking after my health.
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:
And this is merely one of the astonishing things about the tory party election for who is going to lead our country; not a single mention of the environment, transport, NHS, just who took coke twenty years ago and what an utter twat Boris is but the tories prefer this pound shop Trump to the rest.
Rick_Rude wrote:
I can see his logic too. But are you really saying it is OK to ignore a keep left sign (mandatory order), drive the wrong side of a traffic island, on the wrong side of the road into the path of oncoming traffic whilst approaching a junction where visibility is compromised and out of which any traffic emerging is most certainly going to have their concentration focused on vehicles coming from their right, just to save yourself a few seconds and tell yourself it is OK to do that because a cyclist somewhere might possibly jump a red light later in the day?
Are you really saying that?
If you are, and if you have one, then please hand in you driving licence and get yourself retrained before before venturing out behind the wheel on the public roads again.
Rick_Rude wrote:
Only the driver can’t see what is happening at the junction to the right and has no idea if any number of road users will appear. Then what will he do – I find that stopping is not an option for a lot of drivers.
I hoped you noticed that within 2 seconds of hte car being stopped a cyclist moves up the side of the car. Were they just supposed to get out of the way if Mikey had not beeen there? Do you really think the driver had clocked a cyclist was coming ?
My perspective on how roads work is that you should not drive on the wrong side of the road if it is not clear and you can’t complete the manoeuvre safely nor should you overtake at a junction.
You seem to saying its ok to drive on the wrong side of the road if you can get away with it.
Rick_Rude wrote:
So in other words, ignore any parts of the highway code or law that you don’t agree with?!
Rick_Rude wrote:
I have a driving licence, as well as a motorcycle licence. On my motorbike I could quite happily take that corner at 20mph, and I only have to check my right as I’m turning left. At no point in any of my training or testing for my licence was I told to look out for drivers on the wrong side of the road when turning left. In fact, looking left is pointless once you’ve confirmed nothing is on your inside and you’re positioned properly, your focus is traffic on the right because that’s where traffic is supposed to be.
Perhaps you should spend a little little time learning how the roads work for all users?
Nick T wrote:
I always look left before turning left, just in case someone is crossing the road (particularly in an urban situation like that) or in rural areas in case someone is overtaking toward the junction, which has happened more than once.
Nick T wrote:
As the old saying goes: –
There are Bold Pilots and there are Old Pilots, but there are very few Old & Bold Pilots. The same rule applies to Motorcyclist and from whay you’ve said about your riding style you’re very unlikely to make it to latter category.
Capt Sisko wrote:
Beat me to it.
I’ve got a driving licence and a motorbike licence and I wouldn’t take that corner without checking left, as there could be ANYTHING there.
Your instructor(s) may not have told you to look out for drivers on the wrong side of the road, but you DO get them, as evidenced by this video, and not just because they are impatient. You also get pedestrians crossing, traffic jams, parked vehicles, road works, oil slicks, debris, etc, occasionally waiting to catch you out…
Nick T wrote:
Duplicated. Sorry.
Nick T wrote:
Triplicated. Sorry (again).
P.S. How do you delete a post?
Capt Sisko wrote:
Umm, you can’t. Best you can do is delete the content and replace with a full-stop.
PRSboy wrote:
You can now – or at least a delete button appeared on the button left of a post I wanted to bin (when editing it) the other day which seemed to work
Nick T wrote:
You should look left though on a normal road.
Often now on side roads, parked cars mean to carry on along a road, you are on the wrong side and have to pass a junction too, so it’s important to ensure that is it clear when you pull out.
I take care now as either party.
Although in the layout in the video, with the large concrete barrier, there would be no expectation of someone being on the wronog side. Well, I suppose there is now…
Rick_Rude wrote:
Except that the typical Mercedes doesn’t come equipped with RADAR that allows its driver see around corners and it isn’t fitted with sirens or flashing lights that might alert those who are approacing the junction. Also, you can bet that if they are approaching the junction on the wrong side of the road, and the wrong side of the traffic refuge island, they will also be cutting the corner.
What makes you think that the person recording the video has no driving licence, I don’t know if the youtuber who recorded the video has ever said if he holds a driving license – not that a driving licence is required to use the road. Also, you can’t really argue that the (presumed) licence holder is superior, when he does something that every instructor would fail him for – something which (according to the video) has already lead to a collision, at that exact location.
jh27 wrote:
Or indicators, for that matter.
Rick_Rude wrote:
Except….
People (on bikes and in vehicles) come from that turning quite fast if theres no traffic coming up from Park Square East/Marylebone Road and do not expect traffic to be on the wrong side of the road.
It is used by a huge number of cyclists as a commuting route and from the early hours as a training loop.
You’re defending a self-entitled idiot who was driving on the wrong side of the road and placed his convenience above other peoples safety.
You are an idiot and a dangerous one at that.
zanf wrote:
Except….
People (on bikes and in vehicles) come from that turning quite fast if theres no traffic coming up from Park Square East/Marylebone Road and do not expect traffic to be on the wrong side of the road.
It is used by a huge number of cyclists as a commuting route and from the early hours as a training loop.
You’re defending a self-entitled idiot who was driving on the wrong side of the road and placed his convenience above other peoples safety.
You are an idiot and a dangerous one at that.
— Rick_Rude
Stop wasting time on this oxygen thief. He’s a troll – ignore it and move on
Rick_Rude wrote:
Really hoping (against all odds it would seem) that I missed the sarcasm in this post.
For info I have a driving licence and also a more than rudimentary knowledge of the highway code (having read it a few times both before my test nearly 20 years ago and since) and the driver drove down the wrong side of the road and even the wrong side of the traffic island because he couldn’t be arsed waiting. There is no logic to the drivers behaviour just queue jumping arrogance, entitlement and lack of respect for others both other drivers in the queue in front of him waiting patiently and road users coming the other way including those coming round the blind bend into the lane he decided to use illegally.
For you to even try and explain it as logical reflects very poorly on yourself.
Actually, just remembered my
Actually, just remembered my one triumph for rights of way on 2 wheels was someone reversing back over a bridge to let me cross when she could clearly see me (my priority – clearly signed at both sides of the bridge) and should never have started to cross in the first place.
I didn’t actually do anything at the time, but the noisy motorbike, leathers and dark visor must have been intimidating enough to make her back off of her own volition – I’d stopped the bike to make it very awkward, but not impossible, for her to get off the bridge.
I’d likely never have got away with it on a push bike – in fact, I tend to avoid that bridge altogether on a bike for fear of a head-on with a car half-way across it, regardless of direction or rights of way.
Whatever people may think
Whatever people may think about the Mikey’s tactics here, it really is highlighting a genuine problem. Too many drivers do this at this point. You could go stand there for half an hour during any morning rush hour and you will see multiple drivers do the same thing – it’s really not isolated incidents. They see the queue ahead and swing out to the right to get past it. The problem is (beyond the simple law breaking) that most of the time they haven’t really looked to see if the route is genuinely clear, because it is impossible to see from that position what is going to be coming round the corner. By the time the car has swung across to the wrong side of the road cars or cyclists may have turned left. It is hugely dangerous and I have seen a number of very close calls in just the last few weeks, with cars almost having head on collisions and cyclists having to take evasive action.
Given that it is such a common occurence here, I would like to see a temporary enforcement camera installed. Have Heavily fine every driver on the wrong side of the road, and hopefully it will act as a deterrant and thereby improve safety for all users of the park.
A motorcyclist doing exactly
A motorcyclist doing exactly the same thing (ignoring a keep left sign) trying to save a ‘few seconds’ hit my wife as she crossed the road with her bike to get to the island.
The result is that she now has a knee replacement and has been medically retired from her job.
There is simply NO excuse for ignoring these signs.
shishman wrote:
Agreed. There’s a similar crossing on Blackheath, on my morning ride. Here, if you’re interested..
https://goo.gl/maps/FSCA16egQHgVNWTWA
There’s almost always stationary traffic there in the morning. Keep heading north east and you get to the entrance to Greenwich Park. I was crossing there, looked right and headed to the central bollard, glancing left as I did so. Became aware of movement out of the corner of my eye to my right. A motorcyclist was on the wrong side of the road, shouting abuse at me to get out of his fucking way.
cycle.london wrote:
She was crossing here:
https://goo.gl/maps/HNFLMYVEk9mKtrer7
As she lay on the floor the motorcyclist said ‘It was either you or a car’
Cycling Mikey is in the right
Cycling Mikey is in the right. And it’s very worrying that car drivers think i’s ok to make such a move, which could lead to a nasty crash.
But he is likely to get smacked some day by an over-aggressive driver. If I was him I’d just video the drivers making the illegal turn and submit the evidence to the cops. He could make himself visible and if asked, say to the drivers that’s what he plans on doing. Doing things his way he will merely fuel the dislike of cyclists amongst the minority of over aggressive idiots who shouldn’t be allowed to use a skateboard, let alone car.
Basically, I think a less confrontational approach would be more effective.
That said, it was very amusing when the cop car turned up.
CyclingMikey you absolute f*
CyclingMikey you absolute f*@kin hero
There are all these comments
There are all these comments about how Cycling Mikey ought to have left it to the police…
Is that the same police who (allegedly) will tell callers their crime number so they can go claim on insurance, but not do anything more, if someone tries to report a burglary?
The same police who we’re told not to bother unless its really really REALLY urgent, because they don’t have the resources or the time to deal with anything less than an ongoing terrorist incident?
brooksby wrote:
Since when has it been legal
Since when has it been legal to go down a one way street the wrong way, no matter how short?
The island was put there by the designer for a reason.
Two solutions. The police put a static camera there, and record all the drivers going the wrong way, and keep collecting fines until motorists get the message. Nice little income for the Met
2nd install some of those cats claw thingy’s so any cars going the wrong way get their tyres ripped to shreds.
maviczap wrote:
That wouldn’t work because idiotic c*mstains like this one would find some way to block the camera…
You’re not rude Rick, nor a
You’re not rude Rick, nor a bastion for how things were, you’re not even a very good gammon… But you are a bell end!
You should always look both
You should always look both ways when going left or right at junctions. Imagine the situation where a T junction on a more open road. A car begins an overtake of another vehicle just as you appear turning left but only looking right. A serious accident taken place because of two factors, the driver overtook at the wrong time, and you didnt look left.
Having taught my kids to drive and cross the road too, for their safety-LOOK BOTH WAYS !
It could save your life
CXR94Di2 wrote:
I agree it is important to look left for traffic on the wrong side.
Note: Highway Code Rule 167
“DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road”
Khan congratulated on making
Khan congratulated on making London a Davidson-free zone https://newsthump.com/2019/06/13/sadiq-khan-congratulated-for-making-london-a-jim-davidson-free-zone/?fbclid=IwAR3i5kIxMHqZzZT5ic9MHdGfqdq2VSTZ-LlLiqZdGcI7cmEOGVVbB_-k8iI
Can our London lot confirm
Can our London lot confirm that shutting the park gates at rush hour as mentioned in previous articles would get rid of the traffic at that junction or make it worse? As far as I’m aware, all the traffic is filtering our of one of those gates and without that access, they would have to take a different route.
4I’ve seen two Mikey videos
I’ve seen two Mikey videos for the first time this week. Watching them gives the same rush of adrenaline as reading the Terrible reviews on tripadvisor.
Mixed feelings about this video, if he’s basically making a point of waiting around at this junction in anticipation of these junction-cutters. I get glared at by old ladies if I go the wrong way around a surface car park. Anyway, the police who turned up seemed very nice to him, but I’d be surprised if there weren’t some words of advice that we haven’t seen to Mikey to desist. Plenty more fish in the sea if so, I guess.
It’s curious that Mr Merc saw it as OK to use his car as a weapon, but not his own fists. Several people have commented that Mikey is deliberately putting himself in harm’s way and that he will indeed get “lumped” one of these days. When is someone “asking for it” and when if ever is it ok to give it them?
I wonder too what the conversation among Mr Merc’s peers will be, and when he has to explain his dings to others. “Why was the bloke blocking the road?” will he tell the truth about why, it would be a tall story if he tried to lie, And where does it go from there? “Fair play to him” or “what a ******”?
Compare and contrast with the “two doctors” sketch, where at least we don’t get shunted by the car and a lot of swearing. Were they doctors? The woman passenger looked and sounded the sort, but there was a lack of specifics.
Hypothetically, If they did establish their credentials, “here look, Mrs Turbot with her gall bladder complaint, 15 minutes from now, half a mile that way” does that change anything, or not?
We get a lot of coutesy with my mother in her electric wheelchair crossing the road – she has no chance at fisticuffs, but a motorist would surely lose the argument on social media against the 87 year old amputee. Awful that it probably comes down to that calculation to choose to be nice.
+1 one the “hard-pressed motorist” concept. Just remember, the world’s biggest bullies make the world’s biggest victims. Boo-hoo.
David9694 wrote:
we have ambulances for when it’s an emergency. And paramedics on bikes.
David9694 wrote:
You are asking for a rational reason for an irrational response.
In the video the driver hits Mikey twice, so in the eyes of the driver “he was asking for it”.
I’m afraid many drivers get a bit rabid if their behaviour or status is challenged especially by a mere cyclist. From the youtube comments
“He is probably pissed off because he cannot afford a proper Merc and even bought the poverty spec. When morons spend money for a badge and I bet it had the Renault Engine.”
We have ambulances for that sort of emergency.
Mikey is an absolute legend
Mikey is an absolute legend and both of his videos this week had me laughing my arse off. If he has the balls to wait at the corner for clowns like this guy, and to stand his ground when confronted, then good on him. I know I wouldn’t. And for those who expect the police to sort it out, when exactly are we hoping for them to start?
Mercedes driver. Clearly
Mercedes driver. Clearly thought the Krautside lane on motorways also extended to the Royal Parks
Isn’t there currently a
Isn’t there currently a vacancy for PM in the UK?
Cycling Mikey, get your application in!!!
Cycling Mikey, with balls
Cycling Mikey, with balls like that you could take the Sa Calobra KOM – downhill, naturally. Kudos to ya!