Jeremy Vine has made the case for drivers being told not to overtake cyclists in major cities, adding that he would like to see motorists pull over if they see him behind them "because they know I'm faster".

In comments made to the Sunday Times (link is external), the BBC and Channel 5 broadcaster and presenter outlined his views on urban cycling, covering overtaking, dangerous driving, infrastructure, the frustration of motorists, recording close passes and more, starting by saying he used to be "anti-cyclist" before he started commuting by bicycle, but is now a "totally paid-up member of the cycling fraternity because I just found it wonderful".

The part of the interview that will make the headlines is Vine saying he believes "we shouldn't allow any overtaking of bicycles in big cities".

"That's one step. And I'm starting to think I want cars to pull over if they see me behind them because they know I'm faster," he added. "You look at it from their point of view: they bought this vehicle that they saw advertised speeding around a mountain at 120 miles an hour, and they can only move at seven. And they can't accept the fact that cyclists are faster."

Vine, an outspoken proponent for safe cycling infrastructure, also said that proper segregation is crucial, telling the newspaper that "painting a lane just doesn't work".

"Drivers ignore it. They sit in it, they park in it, they veer into it. We need to have segregated lanes, and there just aren't enough of them. There are 15,000km of roads in London and 175km have a segregated cycle lane, so we're nowhere near having as many segregated lanes as we need," he continued, pointing out that he believes many more people would cycle if they were not forced into frightening situations with dangerous drivers.

"At the moment, they think: 'No way am I putting my life in the hands of some van driver who's been up until two in the morning taking drugs' or whatever. They just don't like the odds. At some point they'll realise the odds have shifted in their favour and they'll start cycling.

"My wife has told me I'm not allowed to drive any more because I drive too slowly. This is a very unusual situation in a marriage. And the reason I drive so slowly is that I'm suddenly so aware of the danger of two tonnes of metal that will go at 60mph if I just touch my right foot.

"The thing that makes the roads dangerous isn't even the cars, it's the driver's mind. And drivers, a lot of them, are still in the 1970s. They still believe they literally own the road. So we get this stuff about 'We were here first' or 'We pay tax and you don't'. And until we change that mindset, we haven't got a chance."

The Vine on 5 host also spoke about camera cyclists recording footage of bad drivers, topical given this week's comments from Nick 'Mr Loophole' Freeman — the lawyer who specialises in defending celebrities in court for their traffic-related cases, often by using legal technicalities.

Freeman spoke about CyclingMikey, real name Mike van Erp's reporting of motorists using their phone behind the wheel, accusing the cyclist of making an "industry" of submitting footage and sharing it on social media.

"Using a mobile phone in a car is dangerous and it is right that it's prohibited. But I don't think we want to live in a snitch society. I'm not saying the public don't have a role to play but, really, isn't that the role of the police?" Freeman asked.

Speaking on the matter, Vine said he had reported "between 40 or 50" videos to the Metropolitan Police website himself and called CyclingMikey a "brave guy".

"He sent me [a video] and said, 'What do you think of this? I'll put it on my YouTube, but you put it on your Twitter.' And I think the last time I looked it was at 18 million views, so it's the most viewed thing I've ever put out. And it's not even mine. It's infuriating."

https://road.cc/content/news/jeremy-vine-calls-ban-overtaking-cyclists-cities-303497

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> Jeremy Vine has made the case for drivers being told not to overtake
> cyclists in major cities, adding that he would like to see motorists pull
> over if they see him behind them "because they know I'm faster".

Technically speaking, St Jeremy had put forward a point of view; it hardly
amounts to ‘a case’.

> In comments made to the Sunday Times (link is external), the BBC and
> Channel 5 broadcaster and presenter outlined his views on urban cycling,
> covering overtaking, dangerous driving, infrastructure, the frustration
> of motorists, recording close passes and more, starting by saying he used
> to be "anti-cyclist" before he started commuting by bicycle, but is now a
> "totally paid-up member of the cycling fraternity because I just found it wonderful".

St Jeremy finds cycling ‘wonderful’ apart from all the drawbacks that he so
frequently complains of. Hmmm…

> The part of the interview that will make the headlines is Vine saying he
> believes "we shouldn't allow any overtaking of bicycles in big cities".

I wasn’t aware that St Jeremy ‘made headlines’, but then again I don’t read
Road.cc…

> "That's one step. And I'm starting to think I want cars to pull over if
> they see me behind them because they know I'm faster," he added. "You
> look at it from their point of view: they bought this vehicle that they
> saw advertised speeding around a mountain at 120 miles an hour, and they
> can only move at seven. And they can't accept the fact that cyclists are faster."

If cyclists in London have themselves the 1.5m clearance that they demand
others give them, they probably wouldn’t move ‘fast’ at all.

> Vine, an outspoken proponent for safe cycling infrastructure, also said
> that proper segregation is crucial, telling the newspaper that "painting
> a lane just doesn't work".

> "Drivers ignore it. They sit in it, they park in it, they veer into it.
> We need to have segregated lanes, and there just aren't enough of them.

That’s a problem of enforcement, not provision,

> There are 15,000km of roads in London and 175km have a segregated cycle
> lane, so we're nowhere near having as many segregated lanes as we need,"
> he continued, pointing out that he believes many more people would cycle
> if they were not forced into frightening situations with dangerous drivers.

As the numbers rise, so will collisions between cyclists; how is St Jeremy
going to d red l with that?

> "At the moment, they think: 'No way am I putting my life in the hands of
> some van driver who's been up until two in the morning taking drugs' or
> whatever. They just don't like the odds. At some point they'll realise
> the odds have shifted in their favour and they'll start cycling.

For a while. Cycling mileage and cycle sales are falling.

> "My wife has told me I'm not allowed to drive any more because I drive
> too slowly. This is a very unusual situation in a marriage. And the
> reason I drive so slowly is that I'm suddenly so aware of the danger of
> two tonnes of metal that will go at 60mph if I just touch my right foot.

But, St Jeremy, only a little earlier you were boasting about the low speed
of traffic in London. So is it 60mph or 7mph? Make up your mind, sunshine,

> "The thing that makes the roads dangerous isn't even the cars, it's the
> driver's mind. And drivers, a lot of them, are still in the 1970s. They
> still believe they literally own the road. So we get this stuff about 'We
> were here first' or 'We pay tax and you don't'. And until we change that
> mindset, we haven't got a chance."

But you were saying earlier in your so-called ‘case’ that what you need is
more segregated cycle lanes. If you get those then it’s immaterial what
drivers think of cyclists.

> The Vine on 5 host also spoke about camera cyclists recording footage of
> bad drivers, topical given this week's comments from Nick 'Mr Loophole'
> Freeman — the lawyer who specialises in defending celebrities in court
> for their traffic-related cases, often by using legal technicalities.

And?

> Freeman spoke about CyclingMikey, real name Mike van Erp's reporting of
> motorists using their phone behind the wheel, accusing the cyclist of
> making an "industry" of submitting footage and sharing it on social media.

And?

> "Using a mobile phone in a car is dangerous and it is right that it's
> prohibited. But I don't think we want to live in a snitch society. I'm
> not saying the public don't have a role to play but, really, isn't that
> the role of the police?" Freeman asked.

Yes

> Speaking on the matter, Vine said he had reported "between 40 or 50"
> videos to the Metropolitan Police website himself and called CyclingMikey a "brave guy".

Others have differing opinions.

> "He sent me [a video] and said, 'What do you think of this? I'll put it
> on my YouTube, but you put it on your Twitter.' And I think the last time
> I looked it was at 18 million views, so it's the most viewed thing I've
> ever put out. And it's not even mine. It's infuriating."

And?

> https://road.cc/content/news/jeremy-vine-calls-ban-overtaking-cyclists-cities-303497

Poor work. 4/10. Must try harder.

--
Spike

Safety | 105 posts | 2 hours ago
0 likes

While doing 20 in a 20 limit recently I was dangerously undertaken by a van driver shouting "get off the F'ing road". I wonder if loophole Freeman would have got him off on a technicality if Mr Vines suggestion were law.

VAN MAN DOING WHAT VAN MAN DOES.
USED TO HAPPEN TO ME OUTSIDE SCHOOLS WITH SCHOOL BUSES WITH KIDS ON THEM SPEEDING.

swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> Safety | 105 posts | 2 hours ago
> 0 likes
>
> While doing 20 in a 20 limit recently I was dangerously undertaken by a
> van driver shouting "get off the F'ing road". I wonder if loophole
> Freeman would have got him off on a technicality if Mr Vines suggestion were law.
>
> VAN MAN DOING WHAT VAN MAN DOES.
> USED TO HAPPEN TO ME OUTSIDE SCHOOLS WITH SCHOOL BUSES WITH KIDS ON THEM SPEEDING.

Haven’t you mentioned speeding outside schools on previous occasions, but
in slightly different circumstances?

--
Spike

Absolutely the police wouldn't do anything about it in terms of on the ground action, however it would be a law that could very easily be enforced using dash cam/cycle cam footage, no arguments about speed or passing distance, quite simply you've made an overtake where it's not allowed, that will be £100 and three points, thank you.

On 27/08/2023 03:49 pm, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
> Safety | 105 posts | 2 hours ago
> 0 likes
>
> While doing 20 in a 20 limit recently I was dangerously undertaken by a van driver shouting "get off the F'ing road". I wonder if loophole Freeman would have got him off on a technicality if Mr Vines suggestion were law.
>
> VAN MAN DOING WHAT VAN MAN DOES.
> USED TO HAPPEN TO ME OUTSIDE SCHOOLS WITH SCHOOL BUSES WITH KIDS ON THEM SPEEDING.

What with you ALREADY on the footway exceeding the speed limit (as you
have already stated) - vans used to OVERTAKE you ON THE FOOTWAY?

Shame you haven't got any H^^^^T-Cam footage.

JV seems to be on his holibobs at the moment - the article seems to be straight up:

Jeremy Vine praises Devon drivers in hilarious video

He asked why London drivers can't be as considerate.

Quiz show host and radio presenter Jeremy Vine has praised Devon drivers. The star of Eggheads and Vine on Five as well as BBC Two’s daytime topical chat programme The Jeremy Vine Show took to X (formerly Twitter) to question why drivers in his home of London are not as polite as those in the rural areas.

The star is known for his pro-cycling posts and often calls out drivers on his commute in London who are dangerous or aggressive.

He said: “Why can't London drivers overtake with the same grace and consideration that this one in Devon just gave me?”

In a shot clip, filmed on Appledore Road near Northam Burrows, he posted a mock-up of a book featuring the coastline - including Speke’s Mill – titled ’25 things to enjoy in North Devon’ and put as no 25, ‘wide overtakes’.

In the video he is passed by a vehicle on a road in Appledore where the presenter is known for making appearances at the Appledore Book Festival. As the car passes, an animated trophy lands on its roof, while an animated truck passes through the gap, demonstrating how much space the car gave him. 'I Love You' then pops up on the screen.

He also posted about the development taking place at the nearby Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, which aims to reopen a link from the town to Barnstaple.

Mr Vine said: “They have a cracking team of volunteers who’ve brought the Instow-Bideford line back to life.”

Mr Vine has also enjoyed a trip to Devon’s southern coast, where he hosted Sidmouth Town Band’s Last Night of the Proms on Saturday, August 19.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/jeremy-vine-praises-devon-drivers-8706778